Chinese authorities have placed restrictions on American Idol-type talent shows – allowing license for one such programme per channel each quarter during prime-time viewing.

The move was first reported in July, when the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television published a statement explaining that it would be "controlling" the number, and airtime, of singing contest programmes.

Reasons stated were to avoid "uniformity", and to “increase encouragement and assistance to original television programs which are closer ...