The contest was broadcast on CCTV 4 on September 6 during the daily news program, "Today's Focus." This was the day of mourning day for the victims of the North Ossetian terrorist attack. It was suggested that the audience send text messages guessing the number of the victims during the footage. There was even a small prompt: the number of victims was somewhere between 302 and 402 people. A valuable prize was promised to the winner, though it was not specified. When the video was over, text messages were no longer accepted. The news presenter announced the correct answer: 330 dead, the majority were children.
The Chinese media were the first to condemn the contest, though only for the use of the text message lottery. "This is nothing but a trap," said the Shinyan Ribao newspaper published in northern China. "The chances to win are very slim. It is a cheat."
According to Novye Izvestia, the authorities reacted more appropriately. The producers of the program were fired.
