China's broadcasting watchdog has issued a notice banning local broadcasters using news footage taken from foreign satellite programmes and international news material acquired from channels other than state-run.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said in its latest notice that local television stations should stick to international news reports provided by the state-run China Central Television and China Radio International.

"Recently, some foreign news agencies and media have used a variety of methods to sell international news material to domestic local TV stations, which have clear political intentions," the notice said..

The notice said that local broadcasters should avoid using international news material form foreign sources to make international news programmes or special coverage about international affairs.

It also bans television stations using news footage taken from foreign satellite programmes broadcast with news reports from the official Xinhua News Agency.

The notice demands broadcasting administrations at all levels to check up on local broadcasters and require correction for any wrong operations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)