Xinhua recently reported that SAPPRFT (the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television), NDRC (the National Development and Reform Commission), the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly issued new policies on regulating the industry of TV series to ensure the “healthy improvement” of the socialist entertainment market. The government is compiling a list of TV series to be produced to praise the Communist Party, the motherland, the people, and the nation’s heroes. The TV series are required to promote “socialist values” and the regulations focus on prime-time TV programming. The TV series investment structure will be regulated as well to eliminate celebrity-based pricing. Central Television and provincial TV stations as well as satellite stations must devote a certain percentage of broadcast time investments to titles covering the “revolution history,” rural villages and minorities, or military topics. TV ratings companies will be required to have special licenses and the ratings cannot carry too heavy a weight on title pricing or evaluation of personnel. Online video series are regulated in the same way as TV series and online video series cannot air without SAPPRFT permits. All levels of the government are required to firmly deploy and support the new policies. The work will be audited.
Source: Xinhua, September 4, 2017
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2017-09/04/c_1121597445.htm