CCTV to reduce this year's gala shows by half

China Central Television is cutting half of its gala shows originally planned to be aired from September to December, according to Beijing Times on Friday.

The move is in response to calls from the disciplinary authority of the Communist Party of China to cut down on the number of lavish events and galas.

A total of 17 gala shows, out of the original 33, will be pulled from the screen for the following four months, and another 56 shows will be suspended in 2014, accounting for about 60 percent of the usual program list.

The annual Spring Festival Gala, the most watched holiday show that boasts an audience of 700 million worldwide, remains on the program list.

TV hosts, news broadcasters and other staff from the station are allowed to work for ceremonies, TV programs or events organized only by the station. The number of celebrities invited to gala shows will be reduced as well. And for the first time, the show to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 19 this year, will cancel the traditional firework display.