Porn still available in some hotels

By Shi Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-16 09:18

Guests can tune in to selection of blue movies in room, despite crackdown

Porn can still be accessed in some of the hotels in Beijing that have Video On Demand (VOD) installed in hotel rooms, even after the authorities launched a 60-day crackdown early last month.

VOD is a system that allows users to select and watch video on demand and porn films can often be found on hotels' VOD systems, with movies bought from a supplier on a regular basis.

A waiter at one three-star hotel, within a short distance of the National Stadium, admitted: "Yes, we do have porn in our hotel rooms. We have a new film this month, called The Chongqing Beauty. It costs 18 yuan. And there are some other options, ranging from 28 yuan, 38 yuan to 68 yuan."

Another waitress at the hotel said that most of the porn films are from South Korea, Japan and the United States. But there are also some from the Chinese mainland, she said. All the films are a similar duration to any other kind of feature film.

A four-star international hotel, popular among tourists for its convenient location in Dongcheng district, said they also provide porn movies to guests through their VOD system; most of the movies are from Europe and the US.

"Each of the films costs 58 yuan to view and can be watched only once. The fees will be included in the room charge," said a female receptionist at the hotel.

A five-star hotel located in west Beijing said they charge about 100 yuan for every film put on the VOD system, and they update the films on a monthly basis.

"Most of the movies come from the US. But we have no idea whether there are any porn movies. Anyway, we have the approval from the Beijing Administration of Radio Film and Television," said one staff member from room service at the hotel.

An official from Chaoyang Cultural Market Law Enforcement Brigade said the porn movies are illegal and should be reported at once.

"When they broadcast these movies in their hotel rooms and charge fees, it becomes illegal," said the official.

The agency said they started the 60-day crackdown on Feb 3 to ensure a safe cultural environment, especially during the two sessions of NPC and CPPCC.

Cracking down on pornographic audio-visual products was given great importance.

So far, 28,343 pirated discs have been seized.

An official at BARFT the Beijing Administration of Radio Film and Television in charge of the regulation of VOD system told METRO that they have received no reports alleging that there are porn films in Beijing hotels.

"As long as the hotels are granted VOD approval, they are networked in our system. They will be instantly discovered once they provide porn films. The police will then look into the case," said an official surnamed Bao.

A receptionist at the hotel near the National Stadium said: "It is by no means illegal. We have got approval from the police."