TVB faces burning issue in ban

Television Broadcasts is at a loss over why its drama series When Heaven Burns has been banned in the mainland.

 

TVB deputy controller for external affairs Tsang Shing-ming said the station found out about the ban from its mainland distributor yesterday and that the latter was, in turn, only informed of the ban a day before that.

 

The distributor, Shanghai Media Group, will contact the state Administration of Radio, Film and Television to find out the reason for the ban, although Tsang says the process may take a long time.

 

The ban was announced after scriptwriter Chow Yuk-ming admitted he had the Tianamen Square crackdown (鎮壓) in mind when he penned the series.

 

But Tsang said he doesn’t think the ban is politically motivated.

 

“it can be because the theme is too bold, and some of the scenes are a little bloody,” he said.

 

One of the scenes depicts (描述) cannibalism (吃人).

 

The drama centers on the lives of three former band members who are trapped (陷入困境) on a snow-covered mountain.

 

Tsang insists there are no political implications in the 30-episode series. Although Chow said he had the June 4, 1989, crackdown in mind, the drama is a collective product, Tsang said, with many people contributing to the story line.

 

He said the drama is about humanity and decision people make when facing a life-or-death situation.

"It makes people think," he added.

 

The ban has no impact on TVB revenues because mainland websites pay an annual fee that gives them broadcasting rights for all dramas.

 

A search for When Heaven Burnson mainland video website youku.com still shows results of the drama.

But the video cannot be played.

 

The last episode, a two-hour special, will be broadcast on Monday, featuring popular artists Bowie Lam Bo-yee, Moses Chan Ho, Charmaine Sheh Sze-man, and Kenny Wong Tak-bun.