The people of China apparently want a little more TV in their lives.
There is currently a huge black market forming around the installation of satellite TVs.
The Chinese government tightly restricts which channels and networks can be broadcast throughout the country. In rural areas this means satellite TV is allowed so that citizens can get their free Chinese programming.
The black market that is forming is centered around more powerful dishes that can take in signals from overseas. In 2008 over 10 million illegal, overseas-signal-capable, satellite dishes found their way into China and 40 million more dishes were shipped for installation last year.
What’s most surprising about this black market is that it’s cropping up in the urban areas as well as rural, meaning the urban community in China is willing to take risks for some overseas satellite TV programming.
The government is taking steps to stop the illegal installation of satellite TV dishes by requiring installation companies to buy permits. This allows the government to track where the dishes come from and where they are sold and installed. In addition to this, they are banning the sale of receiver equipment on the open market.
These restrictive new rules, along with an inability to enforce them, could potentially create a booming black market that local governments may be unable to stomp out.