"The Voice of China" will likely need to follow new rules on foreign content adaptation. (Photo : Facebook/The Voice of China)
China's censorship initiatives have embarked a new phase as the country announced fresh measures to curb foreign TV shows.
In a notice, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) said that "overseas programs with imported copyrights are not allowed to be broadcast on satellite TV channels without the approval of local regulators and a complete filing procedure."
State-owned news agency Xinhua cited "The Voice of China" as an example of how local TV channels import content from foreign media outfits.
Under the new rules, "the broadcast of those foreign-inspired programs should be firstly put on records in local provincial regulators two months in advance, and the local regulators will report to the SAPPRFT after approving."
Satellite TV channels are also only permitted to broadcast imported programs within the 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. window frame. One new program is allowed to air each year, but it is not permitted to be shown during the said time frame in the first year, per SAPPRFT.
Starting July 1, imported TV programs are barred from airing without securing SAPPRFT's approval.
According to the agency, these measures come on the back of Chinese TV channels relying too much on foreign content at the expense of local programs.
"Only self-innovated TV programs with Chinese cultural inheritance and characteristics can better carry the Chinese Dream themes, the socialist core values, as well as patriotism and Chinese fine traditions," said SAPPFRT via Xinhua.
For some industry experts, the new measures would clear up the gray areas of regulation.
"The new rules provide a concrete standard and support originality by clearing up the gray area between foreign-based shows and original ones," 3C Media's chief executive Liu Xichen said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
3C Media imports BBC's "Just the Two of Us" and "Strictly Come Dancing."
However, others also fear that these measures could pave the way for copycat content.
"Now some producers can plagiarize openly, because they would say they have no alternative but to copy as they are not allowed to buy," Beijing-based Legend Media's Peng Kan told the WSJ.
