China is extending an existing ban on the broadcast of foreign cartoons by one hour, from 5pm to 9pm, in order to protect its domestic animation industry, the South China Morning Post reported. But the move may be a precursor to a complete blackout of such programs, industry sources said. Only locally-made cartoons approved by the State Administration for Radio Film and Television will be aired during those hours. The regulator also required television stations to observe a daily broadcast ratio of 7:3 for domestic and foreign cartoons and called upon broadcasters to increase funding to buy and develop local cartoons. This follows a 2006 ban on broadcasting foreign cartoons between 5pm and 8pm.