Although no such programs have been labeled as "piracy," it's obvious that most draw from similar programs broadcast abroad, with little originality and creativity. In order to win more viewers, some TV channels have directly purchased the copyright of popular overseas reality talent shows.

Copying successful products is not a problem existing in the entertainment market alone. It might have something to do with a current lack of creativity in current Chinese society. Vitality of the cultural industry comes from originality and creativity. To always follow and copy others will turn the Chinese entertainment market into another "workshop" of simple and low value-added products.

Opponents

Wang Chuanyan (shangdu.com): TV singing competition shows saw a surge on many satellite channels since Hunan TV station's Super Girl proved a ratings hit around the country. Particularly, with the broadcast of the second season of the Voice of China on Zhejiang TV Station, many satellite channels began to produce their own such talent shows.

However, to deal with singing TV shows, the best way out is not the application of administrative interference, but market rules.

Many TV programs, including reality talent shows, flashy TV serials and dating shows, always manage to thrive despite relevant regulation and control. Authorities hope to guide TV programs in a proper direction and hope that screens will not be packed with similar entertainment programs.

Nevertheless, such kinds of interference seem unnecessary. As long as they stay within the law and social moral standards, enough tolerance should be given to these programs. Excessive administrative interference might lead to a monotony of programs and affect audience ratings.

Apart from singing shows, we need to have more other reality talent shows, so that more people will have the opportunity to present themselves and chase their dreams.

Wu Yabin (taiwan.cn): What I'm worried about is not the monotony of TV shows, but what you end up without finding a satisfactory program after searching through more than 100 channels. Authorities have the right to curb the repetition of similar programs, but they are unable to order all TV channels to produce attractive or excellent programs.

This is not the first time that China's TV channels have copied each other and it won't be the last. Since TV channels often make this mistake, why don't relevant authorities make some effort to find out why?

One year back, would the SAPPRFT have announced the control over singing shows? Of course not, because at that time, singing talent shows were quite unpopular and almost no TV channels were interested in broadcasting them. It was also at that time that the Voice of China was born, not only becoming a rating hit, but also bringing the TV channel that broadcasts it a huge amount of revenue. As a result, singing talent shows hit a number of TV channels.

However, on weekends, the two most popular singing talent shows are the Voice of China and the Voice of Chinese Dream, and I don't think I will be interested in watching other similar programs. This is the result of market competition. The rush into a certain mode of programs will dilute limited resources, and finally no TV channels will be able to source enough excellent participants for their shows.

The golden time period on weekends will never be given to programs with low audience rating, and as a result, good programs will attract more viewers while poor programs remain silent. The latter will have to fight to find their own place.

On the other hand, if popular programs always "live a comfortable life," they might gradually become paltering while quality declines. The significance of market competition is that no one is allowed to always live comfortably at the top. Because of the threat from market competition, TV channels will be motivated to improve themselves and present better programs.