Korean drama Temptation of an Angel was listed to top 10 program with high audience rating when shown on Hunan TV last year. Source: Shenzhen Economic Daily.
The State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) has announced new regulations regarding the broadcasting of overseas films and TV dramas.
The notice, issued on February 9, specified that imported TV dramas should be no more than 50 episodes. SARFT's new regulations also require that TV networks take care to broadcast a fair proportion of programs from different countries to avoid favoring productions from one country.
Latest regulations about imported TV dramas:
◆Imported TV dramas should be no more than 50 episodes;
◆Foreign productions cannot be aired during prime time (7pm to 10pm);
◆No more than 25 percent of programming should be devoted to overseas broadcasts
Latest reports of Chinese media:
◆SARFT unveils new restrictions for foreign shows on domestic TV:
SARFT's new regulations require that TV networks take care to broadcast a fair proportion of programs from different countries to avoid favoring productions from one country. (Source: Global Times)
◆China limits overseas TV series imports
Foreign TV series imported into China must last for less than 50 episodes and may not be shown between 7 and 10 p.m., China's TV watchdog said on Feb 9.
(Source: Xinhua)
Latest reports of Foreign media:
◆New York Times: China Limits Foreign-Made TV Programs
In its latest move to reshape what Chinese viewers can watch on television, the government agency that oversees mass media has issued a new set of regulations that seek to restrict comedies, dramas and movies from abroad.
◆AP: China issues new rules to limit foreign TV shows
China's media regulator has issued new rules banning foreign television shows from being shown at primetime as the country tries to encourage domestic programming.
Comments:
◆Small screen needs a leg up on the competition
"It is reasonable to believe that China's small screen also needs a leg up on the competition for it to develop, thus offering audience satisfying works," GT comments, Feb 15
◆Bans to foreign dramas will break cultural ecology
"The bans to foreign TV dramas actually break the cultural environment of a country. This attempt to protect the domestic dramas will result in lack of competitive power to Chinese TV dramas,"eeo.com.cn comments, Feb 14
◆What will the bans bring to us?
"The spread of foreign dramas dosen't rely on the television. The ban has little influence to the fans of foreign dramas for the global Internet," famous author Xia Yucai, Feb 14
TV station reaction:
@Jangsu TV: Foreign dramas have little possibility to devote more than 25% of programming in domestic TV station. The latest regulation doesn’t bring many changes to us.
@Anhui TV: The large number of Thai dramas is the audiences’ demand. We will change our program according to the regulation.
Voices:
@拉风的麻雀: Those people, especially the young folks who often watch TV dramas from the US, Japan, or South Korea usually watch them online. Watching dramas online is free of advertising and not limited by time.
@钰迪钰迪_j6t: I think this measure is good. Nothing can be accomplished without rules or standards. Actually, many countries now limit new foreign dramas.
@五斗何能折我腰: I think what the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) should do is supervise and urge China-made TV programs to improve.
@祎丶小妞兒: It has little effect on me, for I never watch foreign dramas on TV.
@一点寒-Minne: I think SARFT should make more efforts to improve the quality of Chinese dramas. And resisting the introduction of foreign drams will only make domestic dramas less competitive.
The dilemma of Chinese TV dramas:
◆"Biggest drama producer of the world" has few drama with high quality
China is the biggest drama producer in the world with the annual output of 13,000 episodes to 15,000 episodes. However, only about 3,000 episodes can be broadcasted on TV. Among the 3,000 episodes, only about 10 sets give deep impression to audiences.
◆The high input cannot result in high profit
The salary of the drama stars and the cost of the scene set have risen quickly these years. It is usual to cost 100,000,000 yuan for one TV drama. However, only about 1,000 episodes of the total 3,000 broadcasted episodes can get a proit.
◆The scenarios of the domestic dramas are similar with the lack of creative power
When one drama becomes popular in China, many other new dramas will always follow the scenarios of the drama. Audiences feel bored with the repeated stories.
Hot Chinese TV dramas:
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Beijing Love Story
Episodes: 40
Plot: Three youngmen with different characters struggle for life in Beijing
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Palace
Episodes: 35
Plot: Luo Qingchuan is a simple and kind-hearted girl from the 21st century. One day she accidentally travels through time and ends up in the 1700s, in the Forbidden City, during the Kangxi Emperor. |
The current situation of foreign TV dramas:
◆Foreign TV dramas encounter the problem of piracy
Most of the newest foreign TV dramas are updated on Internet by web users. The problem of piracy cannot be sovled.
◆Some contents of the dramas don't meet the taste of Chinese audiences
Many bloody, violent and sexy pictures in the dramas cannot be received by Chinese audiences.
Hot US TV dramas
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The Big Bang Theory
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 103
Plot: Two brilliant young physicists, Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, are the kind of "beautiful minds" that understand how the universe works. But their Ph.Ds don't help them interact with people. All of this is about to change when a free-spirited newly single beauty named Penny moves in next door.
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Vampire Diaries
Seasons:3
Episondes:58
Plot: the series follows the life of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) a 17-year-old girl, who falls for a 162-year-old vampire named Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). |
Hot Thai TV dramas
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Battle of angels
Episodes: 20
Plot: Young airline stewardess Linda wins the high regard of the boss and the admiration of two youngmen. At the same time, she is also envied by some collegues. |
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Lady Lhaor-Orn
Episodes:45
Plot: A woman who experiences five dynasties, three marriages and a variety of encounters in her life finally wins the respect of others. |
Hot Korean TV dramas
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City Hunter
Episodes: 20
Plot: The story starts in 1983. The South Korean president and his delegates are visiting Myanmar when a bomb planted by North Korea explodes, killing some high ranking officials. |
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Full house
Episodes:15
Plot: Han Ji-eun, an aspiring script writer, lives in a house called "Full House" built by her late father. One day, her two best friends trick her into believing she has won a free vacation. While she is gone, they sell her house. |
Other disputable regulations of SARFT
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Dec 3, 2011
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Bans to time-travel dramas
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SARFT have issued new guidelines that ban TV dramas featuring time travel. |
Nov 28, 2011
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Bans to TV ads
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SARFT issued new regulations on TV ads, banning any inserted into drama shows, which will take effect at the beginning of 2012. |
Oct 25 ,2011
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Restrictions to TV entertainment programme
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SARFT will cutback entertainment programs on 34 satellite TV channels and to replace them with "healthy shows," which will take effect on January 01, 2012
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Aug 20, 2011
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Declaration about film classification system
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SARFT claimed that China will not adopt film classification system at present.
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