Currently, there are nine similar series on air and three more are scheduled to be broadcast in the next two months. On Sunday, 11 programs are broadcasting on the same day, including reruns of previous episodes.

Most are based on US or UK formats. “Chinese Idol” is based on “American Idol”, “Voice China” is the Chinese version of “The Voice”, and “Chinese Duets” originates from “The Duets”.

While some Chinese web commentators agreed that singing contests had come to dominate the schedules, many are cynical about SARFT’s motivation.

Fans celebrate after Li Yuchun was declared winner of the 2005 Super Girl contest finals, in Shanghai.

Blogger Wang Rui wrote: “SARFT is always manipulating when it see a local station that has higher rating than Central China Television. I miss Super Girl”.

Nalan, a popular blogger who has 254,000 followers, pointed out that all China’s TV stations broadcast the same news program for half an hour, starting at 7pm.

He asked: “To avoid similar programs at the same time, does that mean they are going to change 7pm CCTV news?”

Long Minfei, a columnist with Life News, appeared to speak for many in China when he wrote: “SARFT extends its hands too far. Just leave the control to the public. The public will switch their remote controls if the program is not good.”

Despite the SARFT announcement, TV stations have not been given instructions directly.

Zhejiang satellite TV, which produces a show called “Voice China”, said it had no plans to change its schedule.

“I do not know about other stations but I can say the new policy is not going to affect Voice China,” said a chief editor who gave only his family name, Bao, as is customary when interviewed by foreign media.

Hunan Satellite Television made a statement on its website that the schedule of its singing contest program will remain the same.

Hans Steinmuller, a China anthropologist at the London School of Economics, said the popularity of talent shows and their contestants may have irked officials.

“Most of the Communist party hierarchy doesn’t really have any culture to speak of, so it is logical that they would seek to limit popular culture,” he said.