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12-06-2004, 11:14 AM
China bans Nike's LeBron commercial
December 6, 2004
BEIJING (AP) -- China has banned a Nike television commercial showing NBA star LeBron James fighting a cartoon kung fu master, saying it insults national dignity.
The commercial, titled ``Chamber of Fear,'' was broadcast on Chinese stations and the state television's national sports channel before being pulled last month.
The ad shows James in a video game-style setting defeating the kung fu master, two women in traditional Chinese attire and a pair of dragons, considered a sacred symbol in traditional Chinese culture.
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The advertisement ``violates regulations that mandate that all advertisements in China should uphold national dignity and interest and respect the motherland's culture,'' the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television said Monday on its Web site.
``It also goes against rules that require ads not to contain content that blasphemes national practices and cultures. ... The ad has received an indignant response from Chinese viewers.''
Maurice Zhou, a spokesman in Shanghai for Nike, said the company had no response except to say that it ``respected the government's decision.''
``We respect and follow the Chinese government's laws and regulations,'' Zhou said. He said he could not elaborate.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-china-nikeadban&prov=ap&type=lgns
December 6, 2004
BEIJING (AP) -- China has banned a Nike television commercial showing NBA star LeBron James fighting a cartoon kung fu master, saying it insults national dignity.
The commercial, titled ``Chamber of Fear,'' was broadcast on Chinese stations and the state television's national sports channel before being pulled last month.
The ad shows James in a video game-style setting defeating the kung fu master, two women in traditional Chinese attire and a pair of dragons, considered a sacred symbol in traditional Chinese culture.
ADVERTISEMENT
The advertisement ``violates regulations that mandate that all advertisements in China should uphold national dignity and interest and respect the motherland's culture,'' the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television said Monday on its Web site.
``It also goes against rules that require ads not to contain content that blasphemes national practices and cultures. ... The ad has received an indignant response from Chinese viewers.''
Maurice Zhou, a spokesman in Shanghai for Nike, said the company had no response except to say that it ``respected the government's decision.''
``We respect and follow the Chinese government's laws and regulations,'' Zhou said. He said he could not elaborate.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-china-nikeadban&prov=ap&type=lgns