New rule pulls plug on US TV shows
Print Edition
A NUMBER of American TV series have been removed from Chinese video streaming sites after a regulation requiring permits to air foreign films and TV shows came into effect.
Streaming sites Sohu and Letv have taken down new series “Agent Carter” and “Empire.” While “Shameless,” which is in its fifth season, also went off air.
Streaming sites are responding by re-releasing classics, which garnered huge audiences when they were released some years ago.
Youku relaunched superhero drama “Heroes” while Sohu set aside a promotional banner for “Lost” and “Prison Break.” Tencent, which recently became HBO’s exclusive online content distributor, re-released “Sex and the City.”
First aired on American TV networks seven or eight years ago, these series were among the earliest to win over viewers in China.
According to some industry insiders it is easier for such TV series to pass Chinese regulators.
The regulation released by China’s media watchdog, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television last September, says that video streaming sites must get publication licenses for imported films and TV series if they want to broadcast them.
It also tells streaming sites to register all foreign films and TV series they are running or plan to run to media administrative departments by March 31.
As a result, it will be difficult for streaming sites to air newly produced American TV series in China as they are released in the United States.
Audiences will only be able to watch the show after the whole season has been released and reviewed by China’s regulators.
Younger Chinese audiences often complain that Chinese TV programs are dull, resulting in more and more turning to foreign TV.
The first season of “Prison Break” garnered a weekly hit of 2.1 million, ranking third among Sohu’s foreign TV shows. The first season of “Heroes” also ranked high on Youku.
Sohu did not return phone calls seeking comment.
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