收视率造假 (shōushìlǜ zàojiǎ): Forging audience ratings

The National Radio and Television Administration has announced on its official website that it will launch an investigation into allegations that TV audience ratings are forged in return for money. It also said individuals and organizations who have violated the rules will be held accountable.

The administration's move is in response to TV play director Guo Jingyu's online report on the industry which, he said, is rife with shady deals to forge audience ratings. Guo said a satellite TV channel demanded that he pay the cost for forging the audience rating for his new TV play, Mother's life, as a condition for them to broadcast it on their channel.

He has appealed to the entire TV industry to join hands to fight corruption in all its forms in the industry.

In recent years, forging audience ratings has become common, because the higher the audience rating of a TV show the more advertisers it will attract, which in turn will increase profits for the production company and related players.

Forging of audience ratings not only undermines fair competition in the TV play industry, but also results in low-quality productions. People have been criticizing the TV industry for producing substandard shows, which will harm the industry because audiences will turn away from TV shows.