Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures. China is a huge market for Paramount's films. Paramount has previously explored a 49% sale to China's Wanda Group, and they currently have extensive financial backing from the Shanghai Film Group Corp.[2]
If they wanted to, it's well within the purview of the CCP to apply pressure to Paramount's ability to finance its films or distribute those films in China (a huge source of international box office receipts), until such time as Paramount reigns in Trey and Matt.
Note that I wouldn't support such a move, and they strike me as the type of creators who would happily walk away from their cash cow rather than self-censor. I just mean this is one possible endgame.
On the other hand, if China is willing to cancel something as big as the NBA at the drop of a hat (or tweet, as it were), it really highlights the risks of doing business with China in a very stark way. Nothing is to big to fail if you offend the party. You operate at their whims. Transgress, and its lights out. Too many of these kinds of reactions could backfire (one would hope).
Self-censorship is still censorship. If these companies crater to the least common denominator, then free speech in the West is also doomed. We can't allow that to happen. Putting profits ahead of everything else is a sure way to go broke because it sacrifices quality and every other good for the sake of short-term profit. We saw Disney do this with Star Wars, trying to pander to Asian audiences and failing miserably. Now Disney has alienated their original fan base. Soon, nobody is going to care about anything Star Wars. Disney needs to smarten up.
Every company that thinks they can do business with communists needs to smarten up. Realize that you compromise your ethics completely and whatever short term gains you think you are making are eventually eaten away by the sheer clown world lunacy that is communism. Places like China can never right themselves simply because basic truths are banned from being discussed. How do they then move forward as a society? They don't, they can only move backwards.
I'm amazed at how South Park after 23 seasons can make me laugh out loud repeatedly while combining classic south parkisms with hilarious satire of current events.
I'm a big south park fan and these 2 episodes so far have been on point.
I'm not saying they don't have a political leaning, but they often focus their energy and 22 minutes on showing just how wildly absurd a situation is. For me, that's a big ingredient in why they've stayed so entertaining.
I'm not a South Park fan, but that ban got my interested so I watched the episode (Yeah, that episode is banned in China and few "reposter"s has been warned for posting South Park related contents).
Few days ago, a guy been sent to jail for 7 days because he was complaining the National Day military parade, saying something like "A civilized nation turn machine into soldier; a rouge nation turn soldier into machine". And he's not the only one been sent to jail for similar reason.
This country is not taking any critic any more. Cultural Revolution 2.0 Global Edition anybody?
I understand what you're saying. Some of the other commenters are being inconsiderate. It's dangerous when a nation loses the ability to criticize its government.
In France, there's 10 Southpark episodes censored, and no one cares. Also in France, repression against Gilet Jaunes was way more intense and there was less coverage, even on social medias...
That's not really the situation about South Park, Netflix chose to not make those episodes not available, there is no censorship from the CSA.
Nerflix claim that those episodes were censored originally was false as those were broadcasted on Gameone. The only thing that happened then is that the channel got a warning that (for 2 of those) the episodes should have been broadcasted after 22 and rated +12 due to the content.
Because Macron is one of “our guys”. Also, the way the recent Rouen chemical accident got treated by the people in charge and by the mainstream media there is a joke, had this happened in a country like China or Russia the international media would have rightfully been up in arms. These types of double standards really make our liberal/democratic society weaker and prone to populist attacks and even wins from within our own ranks, no need for a Russian or Chinese invasion or cyber-war.
Is it fair to assume that this is all of comedy Central giving China the finger as well as just the south park team?
I would imagine China would take this up to the producers? And I imagine Comedy Central is directly involved in the production/funding?
If so that's a pretty awesome and hold move on their part. I could see this leading to other shows feeling compelled to choose a side as well. I hope it does.
My understanding is South Park create the episode on the fly and deliver it to Comedy Central hours before airing it. They don't get any time to review it.
I tried to watch the episode. It's not blocked here in Thailand, but the site throws up a "Due to copyright and other issues...blah blah blah...targets for US audiences...blah blah blah. So what's with that?
I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd argue South Park was at its peak for the first 10 seasons. This episode was awesome but there has been quite a bit of junk between now and then. Obviously just my opinion though.
Where are the usual users saying "it's a private company, they can do what they want. It's not censorship."?
Are those usual users we hear on this platform when companies like Facebook or Google or Reddit or etc censor people and ideas silent in this case or are they being hypocrites?
The question is, why are they doing it? You'd have to be naive to think that the authoritarian grip China has on everything is not the exact reason the episode is being censored.
Contrast this to banning someone for saying bad words on a forum - that's not even remotely the same issue and I shouldn't have to explain why.
Are you under the impression that South Park censored their own show in China? I can assure you that no-one would claim that China is a private company.
Does anyone know if Trey and Matt own the IP? What's preventing them from walking away from Comedy Central if the channel kowtows to China and just distribute it online?
Greed, comfort, and fear vs. courage and embracing consequences.
China seems to be a good test for our foundations and principles: democracy, freedom of speech and opinion on the one hand, and capitalism, profit of shareholders, fear of losing a job or losing a market or a supplier on the other hand.
Apple, Blizzard, NBA, South Park, ... There will be more, and, unfortunately, we prefer money over virtue.
[+] [-] toomanyrichies|6 years ago|reply
If they wanted to, it's well within the purview of the CCP to apply pressure to Paramount's ability to finance its films or distribute those films in China (a huge source of international box office receipts), until such time as Paramount reigns in Trey and Matt.
Note that I wouldn't support such a move, and they strike me as the type of creators who would happily walk away from their cash cow rather than self-censor. I just mean this is one possible endgame.
[1] https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/viacom-explores-sale-majori...
[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/paramount-pictures-gets-a-1-bil...
[+] [-] SmirkingRevenge|6 years ago|reply
On the other hand, if China is willing to cancel something as big as the NBA at the drop of a hat (or tweet, as it were), it really highlights the risks of doing business with China in a very stark way. Nothing is to big to fail if you offend the party. You operate at their whims. Transgress, and its lights out. Too many of these kinds of reactions could backfire (one would hope).
[+] [-] Iv|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dreamcompiler|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] avocado4|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] turk73|6 years ago|reply
Every company that thinks they can do business with communists needs to smarten up. Realize that you compromise your ethics completely and whatever short term gains you think you are making are eventually eaten away by the sheer clown world lunacy that is communism. Places like China can never right themselves simply because basic truths are banned from being discussed. How do they then move forward as a society? They don't, they can only move backwards.
[+] [-] quotz|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sorenn111|6 years ago|reply
I'm a big south park fan and these 2 episodes so far have been on point.
[+] [-] Waterluvian|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rqs|6 years ago|reply
Few days ago, a guy been sent to jail for 7 days because he was complaining the National Day military parade, saying something like "A civilized nation turn machine into soldier; a rouge nation turn soldier into machine". And he's not the only one been sent to jail for similar reason.
This country is not taking any critic any more. Cultural Revolution 2.0 Global Edition anybody?
https://twitter.com/ytchui_M/status/1181289272466231296
[+] [-] derrikcurran|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] product50|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] point78|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] guai888|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wei_jok|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] audessuscest|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] boudin|6 years ago|reply
https://information.tv5monde.com/info/netflix-zappe-des-epis... (in french)
[+] [-] paganel|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] anm89|6 years ago|reply
I would imagine China would take this up to the producers? And I imagine Comedy Central is directly involved in the production/funding?
If so that's a pretty awesome and hold move on their part. I could see this leading to other shows feeling compelled to choose a side as well. I hope it does.
[+] [-] jaimex2|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hkai|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] AFascistWorld|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sunkenvicar|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kevcampb|6 years ago|reply
So yes, banned in China (Hong Kong)
[+] [-] OJFord|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] big_chungus|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] skybrian|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] iamaelephant|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] geomark|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kennywinker|6 years ago|reply
I can go to the channel that has the rights to broadcast south park in canada and watch it there (much.com) - maybe you can do the same?
[+] [-] ugurnot|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jaimex2|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] anm89|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TYPE_FASTER|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tim333|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thinkingemote|6 years ago|reply
Are those usual users we hear on this platform when companies like Facebook or Google or Reddit or etc censor people and ideas silent in this case or are they being hypocrites?
[+] [-] WilliamEdward|6 years ago|reply
Contrast this to banning someone for saying bad words on a forum - that's not even remotely the same issue and I shouldn't have to explain why.
[+] [-] nabdab|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kthejoker2|6 years ago|reply
What am I missing?
[+] [-] bboygravity|6 years ago|reply
I wonder if it works like that for people who live in China. Is it something Chinese people often do (specifically seek out banned stuff)?
[+] [-] rangibaby|6 years ago|reply
Streisand effect!
[+] [-] jquery|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pimmen|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|6 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] klausjensen|6 years ago|reply
cart.mn
[+] [-] rasz|6 years ago|reply
BS, every Chinese pirate streaming service I checked still has full South Park catalog.
[+] [-] pcr0|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] playing_colours|6 years ago|reply
China seems to be a good test for our foundations and principles: democracy, freedom of speech and opinion on the one hand, and capitalism, profit of shareholders, fear of losing a job or losing a market or a supplier on the other hand.
Apple, Blizzard, NBA, South Park, ... There will be more, and, unfortunately, we prefer money over virtue.