China restricts content and number of overseas TV

American TV shows are one of the major attractions on China's video websites. Photo provided to China Daily

In its latest rulings on video websites, China's top media regulator has made it clear that overseas television programs will be restricted in both content and number.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television announced on Sept 5 that overseas movies and TV series that don't obtain a public screening and distribution license cannot be streamed on video websites.

Such sites are required to register details of their ongoing programs with the administration before March 31; starting on April 1 all unregistered shows should be removed.

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. Programs should be removed immediately if they include inappropriate content, such as promoting superstition or glamorizing violence, sex or gambling.

In late April, it required four popular American TV series, including The Good Wife and The Big Bang Theory, to be removed from video websites without giving specific reasons.

In July, the administration called meetings with seven licensed Internet-television content providers, which provide online content to set-top boxes, to warn of a possible license withdrawal because all have acted against rules in varying degrees. As a result, many US programs are now missing from LeTV box, a namesake Internet TV set of video portal LeTV.com.

The new policy is simply a restatement of previous regulations, eMovie Inc's CEO Bao Ran told Sina Entertainment, but it means that video websites will be restricted in the same way as TV stations are, regarding licensing overseas programs.

Previously, video websites needed to simply register before broadcasting overseas content, rather than apply for a formal distribution license. The shows reportedly have been examined mainly by the websites' own personnel, who are trained by the administration.

The new procedures are more complicated and stricter. According to news portal Sina Technology, before the end of each year video websites will have to report their year-round purchase plan for the next year to provincial media authorities, who will then forward the proposals to the administration.

Each February, shortlisted programs will be posted on an online platform. After video websites actually license a program, they still have to register the program information on the platform for a recheck. Each program will then be issued a serial number, which must be screened before a show starts.