Can the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's "Ex-Restriction Order" become a good opportunity for video websites to develop homemade dramas?

Recently, netizens who like to watch American dramas, Korean dramas and other overseas dramas on video websites can finally breathe a sigh of relief because overseas dramas are here!

God has closed a door for you, but also opens a window. This is true for many things we do, and this is what the so-called double-edged sword means. Here, I want to talk about the windows and doors of the "extra-restriction order". The "External Restriction Order" opened one door but opened two windows.

On April 1, 2015, the "Notice on Further Implementing the Relevant Provisions on the Management of Online Overseas Film and Television Dramas" issued by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television was officially implemented. This is the door hidden by the "Expeditionary Order".

Recently, the first batch of approved overseas dramas after the implementation of the "Notice" finally met with you. On June 30, South Korea's SBS TV's "Hyde, Jekyll and I" passed the review, and Youku Tudou received the permitted serial number, becoming the first overseas introduced drama on the entire network with a license;10 days later, Sohu Video announced that the eighth season of "The Big Bang Theory" received the permitted broadcast license of (Beijing) Drama Review Net Zi (2015) No. 0001, becoming the first American drama on the entire network to obtain a license after the "Exhibitions Order". After that, on July 27, the fifth season of "Game of Thrones" exclusively introduced by Tencent Video passed the review and obtained the broadcast license of (Guangdong) Opera Shen Wang Zi (2015) No. 0001.

Although overseas dramas have come, the author has a strange feeling about it, just like watching "classic nostalgic dramas". Because we watch "Hyde, Jekyll and I" from video websites 7 months later than South Korean viewers; and watch "The Big Bang Theory" from video websites 10 months later than American viewers. In the rapidly developing Internet era where everyone can communicate instantly, this kind of lagging "nostalgia" is inappropriate.

The lag in viewing time stems from the fact that the "Notice" stipulates that there are four main principles for introducing dramas on video websites: "quantity restrictions, content requirements, first review before broadcast, and unified registration." Among them, newly launched overseas film and television dramas must receive the "full season" and be submitted for review with subtitles. After passing the review, they can obtain the introduction license number before they can be broadcast online.

This kind of lagging time difference may cause some adverse effects

. After the "full film of the entire season" is broadcast, half a year or more will pass, so this kind of lagging time difference occurs. Judging from the current situation, this lagging time difference may cause some adverse effects.

Therefore, the "Expeditionary Order" opened a window.

First, it will directly stimulate the production of controversial copyright content. To be fair, in an era when the Internet is so developed, it is not difficult to watch foreign dramas simultaneously with foreign countries. Once a busybody synchronizes the overseas dramas being broadcast to China through different methods, and after some translation by the subtitle group that is still insisting on, some domestic viewers may be able to watch the overseas dramas several months in advance without having to go through video websites. In this way, copyright disputes will follow. Then, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's policies may have negative effects.

My worries are not groundless. On August 4, Tencent Technology discovered that "although some large BT websites have been shut down and 'overseas drama distribution centers' such as Renren Subtitles have been forced to transform, there are still many small and new BT websites have emerged and provided download resources to netizens. The latest piracy method is various cloud disks. Fans will set up their own groups on social apps and share cloud disk links and download passwords with each other in the group."

Second, it will seriously affect the broadcasting effect of video websites. Overseas dramas are all purchased from video websites with real money and are expensive. For example, the "2014 Tencent Entertainment White Paper" shows that the price of American dramas is relatively stable, with solo dramas costing US$30000 per episode, and non-solo dramas costing US$2,000 to US$4,000 per episode. If a series purchased at such a high price is too late and some viewers have already tried it in advance, thus affecting the overall broadcast effect of the video website, wouldn't the SARFT be doing a bad thing with good intentions?

Third, it will affect the exchange between domestic netizens and world culture. Excellent overseas dramas are a reflection of excellent overseas culture. Understanding world culture through overseas dramas is a way for domestic netizens to understand the world. And the time difference of half a year or even a year is no longer watching a drama series. It gives people the feeling of being in a lifetime. It's like looking at stars light years away and seeing them, what you actually see is them many years ago. In addition, the plagiarism of foreign dramas by some domestic dramas may also be hidden for a longer time.

How to solve this window?

Well, in my opinion, if the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's "extra-restriction order" could be relaxed a little, it might have good results. So, how to relax?

In my opinion, the best way is to flexibly submit the review, not limit it to "the entire season" and complete the submission with subtitles. It can be submitted quarterly (three months), every half of the drama, every third of the drama, or even monthly. In this way, although it is a little wordy, it can effectively solve copyright issues and alleviate the audience's hunger and thirst for foreign dramas. At the same time, it is also possible to expand the procurement scope of overseas dramas, which is not necessarily limited to American dramas and Korean dramas. It is also okay to look at dramas from other countries. I remember when I was a child, TV stations played some TV series from other countries, and the results were also very good.

Is the self-made drama on video websites facing a good opportunity for development?

The "Extra-restriction Order" also opened another window.

Of course, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's "extra-restriction order" also has positive significance, such as promoting the growth of online homemade drama industry. The sharp decline and lag in the number of overseas dramas, as well as the policy constraints of TV stations, have ushered in a great opportunity for the development of homemade dramas on video websites. Major video websites are already gearing up. Youku Tudou CEO Gu Yongqiang previously said that in 2015, the company invested 600 million yuan in making homemade content, double the investment announced in 2014.

Zhang Chaoyang also expressed the hope that the investment in homemade dramas in 2015 will double that in 2014, and homemade dramas will surpass variety shows and become the category second only to TV dramas in Sohu's video layout. A person from iQiyi predicts that "in the future, if TV series production is reduced at any time, iQiyi's investment in the entire copyright purchase will be reduced, and its investment in homemade will exceed 10%. At the same time, when copyright dramas are broadcast, online dramas will also be pushed to develop the entire brand."

At the same time, many listed companies and production organizations will also turn their attention here. On the evening of August 4, Enlight Media released its semi-annual report. The company achieved operating income of 414 million yuan in the first half of the year, an increase of 37.57% over the same period last year. However, operating profit was 91.0305 million yuan, a decrease of 22.65% from the same period last year. Enlight Media, which is already in decline, has made online dramas the focus. According to its financial report, in addition to investment in traditional TV dramas, Enlight Media will focus on producing super season dramas in the second half of the year and simultaneously produce online dramas in conjunction with movies.

The "Outer Restriction Order" concealed one door but opened two windows. Although the "extra-restriction order" has brought positive impacts, we cannot ignore the possible negative impacts of the "extra-restriction order". How do you balance this door and these two windows? We still have to watch slowly!

Editor: yvonne