Changing Channels: Foreign TV Series Online Now Need Distribution Licenses
Talk about changing channels. As we previously touched upon regarding The Simpsons, China's top media regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) announced on September 5 that overseas movies and TV series must obtain a distribution license before March 31, 2015 in order for them to be viewed on the Internet in the Chinese mainland. Any shows that are not registered by April 1, 2015 will be removed from Chinese sites.
China Daily reports, “The policy came after a series of progressive restriction policies regarding Internet-based programs. In March, the administration required that online content be examined by at least three government-trained specialists.”
These new restrictions led to four popular American TV series, including The Good Wife and The Big Bang Theory, to be removed from video websites in April earlier this year without giving specific reasons.
Of course, news is surfacing that The Big Bang Theory will be back from its blackhole – read all about its relativity here. Regardless of the restrictions, online viewing is as popular as ever for China’s 450 million cinematic web watchers.
TechInAsia notes that, “Aside from Chinese serials, a number of dramas and comedies from the US, UK, and South Korea are particularly popular in China. The first season of the BBC’s Sherlock has been watched nearly nine million times on Tencent Video, while both seasons of Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black have been viewed a total of 37 million times on Youku."
They report, “New episodes of foreign serials go online less than 24 hours after their original overseas broadcast, replete with Chinese and English subtitles. China’s heavily regulated and enormously dull state TV channels show none of the very newest Western series and only one or two of the hottest Korean ones. Korean dramas tend to be very light and uncontroversial romantic comedies.”
SAPPRFT stated that these new regulations are to help the "development and prosperity of Internet culture, to inherit and carry forward Chinese culture and traditions while actively absorbing the world’s outstanding cultural achievements."
China Daily adds, “Programs should be removed immediately if they include inappropriate content, such as promoting superstition or glamorizing violence, sex or gambling.” So much for CSI Las Vegas re-runs ...
Photo: Soku
