Restrictions on foreign cartoons "not formal"

New government guidelines have been introduced limiting television broadcasts of foreign cartoons during prime time, but the industry regulator said the rules are "not formal". "Chinese cartoons only are encouraged to be on TV from 5pm to 8pm," Zhu Hong, a spokesman for China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said. Earlier this week, international media reported that foreign cartoons such as <i>The Simpsons<i> would be banned in favor of China-made cartoons based on tales like the Monkey King to boost the country's nascent animation industry. But broadcasters have balked at the move, saying it is difficult to find China-made cartoons that can attract viewers and advertisers, the <i>Wall Street Journal</i> reported.