【09.12.26 印度时报】China instals remote supervision system on Karaoke bars

青蛙小王子

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/China-instals-remote-supervision-system-on-Karaoke-bars/articleshow/5382155.cms

BEIJING: Next time you visit a Karaoke bar in China, you will be contributing to the government’s data bank on what song is causing more people to swing and tap their feet and which ones are flops,

The country’s ministry of culture has already covered a vast section of KTV bars with the so-called National Karaoke Contents Management Service System. The Internet-based system records the songs being played in order to curb vulgar songs and bar access to illegal and unlicensed music.

Though the ministry did not specifically mention it, the system will also help the government keep a watch on whether any one is playing songs that are politically dangerous or espousing anti-national causes in Tibetan dominated areas or the Xingjian region, which is witnessing a violent separatist movement.

Karaoke is one of the most popular pastime hobbies in China attracting both young and the middle-aged in millions. The government has reasons to be worried that Karaoke bars could become breeding ground for political dissent in future, sources said.

The move will also help the government answer international criticism about large scale piracy of music and movie DVDs as the system is geared to curb use of pirated music and film clips. It will put pressure on thousands of KTV bars that depend heavily on pirated stuff.

The ministry began installing the Internet-based monitoring system in thousands of KTV bars across the country last May. The installation is free and bar owners do not have to spend anything. But they will need to play music in a way that the system records what is being played and how many times.

Besides making arrangement for the remote supervision of KTV bars, the government is also supplying them with a list of songs and videos that are not allowed. Newly added but unlicensed programs will also be blocked.

The system has been hailed a success in the crackdown on indecent materials.

The ministry did not specify how many such places have been covered by the new system but remains committed to cover all KTV lounges by 2009 end. The official media has suggested that the bars can make extra money as they system allows them to play some advertisement as well.