China's state broadcaster issued an apology Sunday after parents complained that a compulsory television program targeted at millions of school children was preceded by almost a quarter of an hour of non-stop advertising.
All elementary and middle school students and their parents were told by the education ministry to watch the program "First Lesson of New Semester" at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The program, produced by CCTV and the education ministry since 2008, is aired on Sept. 1 every year to mark the start of the new school calendar after a two-month summer break. This year, the program focused on the "spirit of creativity" as China observed its 40th year of opening up.