China raises curtain on more Hollywood movies
Source: Agencies |
February 20, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Cheering as loudly as any movie audience, Hollywood and the Obama administration have hailed China's agreement to reduce barriers that have kept US-made films out of the booming Chinese market.
US Vice President Joe Biden called it a "breakthrough," and said the accord will "make it easier than ever before for US studios and independent filmmakers to reach the fast-growing Chinese audience."
He said it would support "thousands of American jobs in and around the film industry."
The agreement was a dramatic ending to a week-long visit by China's Vice President Xi Jinping that produced billions of dollars in business deals.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the pact would boost "one of America's strongest export sectors in one of our largest export markets."
It does not require China to lift its annual quota of 20 foreign films per year, but expands it through other concessions.
China will permit 14 premium format films, such as IMAX or 3D, which will be exempt from the quota, as will the 2D versions of the films, a US trade official said.
The Chinese box office share for US studios will also increase to 25 percent from around 13.5 percent to 17.5 percent, the official said.
"This is a major step forward in spurring the growth of US exports to China," Chris Dodd, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, said. "It is tremendous news for the millions of American workers and businesses whose jobs depend on the entertainment industry."
Walt Disney President Robert Iger said the deal would help US movie makers grab a bigger piece of the action in one of the fastest-growing film markets in the world.
Chinese box office revenue grew to US$2.1 billion last year, much of that coming from 3D titles.
"This agreement represents a significant opportunity to provide Chinese audiences increased access to our films," Iger said.
The US movie industry has long complained about China's restrictions on foreign films, which they say helps fuel demand for pirated DVDs.
The agreement grew out of a case challenging restrictions on the importation of copyright-protected materials won by the US at the World Trade Organization in 2009.
China took steps to improve access for books, newspapers, journals, DVDs and music, but the two sides continued to haggle over films.
The new pact strengthens opportunities to distribute films in China through private enterprises rather than the state film monopoly, and ensures fairer compensation levels for US films distributed by Chinese state-owned enterprises, Kirk's office said.
It allows any Chinese enterprise to be granted a license to distribute imported films and contains a "robust set of safeguard mechanisms" for US enterprises, according to US officials.
Xi left a stream of business deals behind on his tour.
Those included "Kung Fu Panda" studio Dreamworks Animation's venture to make films from Shanghai, and Chinese telecom giant Huwei's pledge to award US$6 billion in contracts over three years to Qualcomm Inc, Broadcom Corp and Avago.
US Vice President Joe Biden called it a "breakthrough," and said the accord will "make it easier than ever before for US studios and independent filmmakers to reach the fast-growing Chinese audience."
He said it would support "thousands of American jobs in and around the film industry."
The agreement was a dramatic ending to a week-long visit by China's Vice President Xi Jinping that produced billions of dollars in business deals.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the pact would boost "one of America's strongest export sectors in one of our largest export markets."
It does not require China to lift its annual quota of 20 foreign films per year, but expands it through other concessions.
China will permit 14 premium format films, such as IMAX or 3D, which will be exempt from the quota, as will the 2D versions of the films, a US trade official said.
The Chinese box office share for US studios will also increase to 25 percent from around 13.5 percent to 17.5 percent, the official said.
"This is a major step forward in spurring the growth of US exports to China," Chris Dodd, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, said. "It is tremendous news for the millions of American workers and businesses whose jobs depend on the entertainment industry."
Walt Disney President Robert Iger said the deal would help US movie makers grab a bigger piece of the action in one of the fastest-growing film markets in the world.
Chinese box office revenue grew to US$2.1 billion last year, much of that coming from 3D titles.
"This agreement represents a significant opportunity to provide Chinese audiences increased access to our films," Iger said.
The US movie industry has long complained about China's restrictions on foreign films, which they say helps fuel demand for pirated DVDs.
The agreement grew out of a case challenging restrictions on the importation of copyright-protected materials won by the US at the World Trade Organization in 2009.
China took steps to improve access for books, newspapers, journals, DVDs and music, but the two sides continued to haggle over films.
The new pact strengthens opportunities to distribute films in China through private enterprises rather than the state film monopoly, and ensures fairer compensation levels for US films distributed by Chinese state-owned enterprises, Kirk's office said.
It allows any Chinese enterprise to be granted a license to distribute imported films and contains a "robust set of safeguard mechanisms" for US enterprises, according to US officials.
Xi left a stream of business deals behind on his tour.
Those included "Kung Fu Panda" studio Dreamworks Animation's venture to make films from Shanghai, and Chinese telecom giant Huwei's pledge to award US$6 billion in contracts over three years to Qualcomm Inc, Broadcom Corp and Avago.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
