CCTV loosens ban on pig advertising

BEIJING - CCTV has relaxed a ban on Chinese New Year television advertising carrying images of the pig, after significant pressure from advertisers and media agencies.

The ban, initially enacted out of religious respect for China’s minority Muslim population, stipulated that advertising celebrating the Year of the Pig should not include images of the animal, requiring all advertising submitted to be re-shot.

But according to agency sources, the national broadcaster has relaxed the ban after being pressured by advertisers and agencies, and is now asking for the original advertisements to be submitted for evaluation on a case-by-case basis.