"Extra-restriction Order": Video websites are included in the supervision system "Total volume control is reviewed first and then broadcast"

On the one hand, the "restriction order" means that the State Administration of China has incorporated video websites into the regulatory system. On the other hand, it also means that online and overseas dramas have been recognized.

"Total control" is conducive to digesting the inventory of domestic dramas, and "review first and then broadcast" will make domestic and overseas co-broadcasting a thing of the past. On the one hand, the "restriction order" means that the State Administration of China has incorporated video websites into the regulatory system. On the other hand, it also means that online and overseas dramas have been recognized.

Recently, some media published the full text of 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 in early September (Xin Guangfa [2014] No. 204). Previously, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television had released a message to the public introducing some of the key points of this reaffirmation of the regulations. There have also been rumors in the industry that the State Administration of China plans to control the total number of overseas dramas online (no more than 30% of domestic dramas). After the full text of this notice was made public, all questions were solved one by one.

Although it reiterates the regulations, this notice is specially tailored for online overseas dramas, and the requirements for the review process are clear and detailed. As a result, the new policy for online overseas dramas has once again attracted the attention of the industry.

There

is no doubt that after the implementation of the New Deal, the two requirements of "total control" and "trial before broadcast" are the two requirements that deserve most attention.

In terms of "total control", the State Administration of China requires that, as industry rumors,"the total amount of overseas films and television dramas introduced and broadcast annually by a single website shall not exceed 30% of the total amount of domestic films and television dramas purchased and broadcast by the website in the previous year." This requirement will not have a significant impact on each website. The annual output of TV dramas in China is more than 10,000 episodes, and the annual output of movies is currently around 600-700. There are still a large number of movies and TV dramas that cannot enter the TV station and theater market, and the copyright prices are not high. If websites need to expand their procurement scale, they can consider buying these domestic movies and TV dramas at low prices to increase the base of domestic movies and TV dramas.

In terms of "review before broadcast", the requirements of this notice are clear and detailed: each website needs to register on the unified platform first, sign a contract with the copyright party after confirmation by the State Administration, and then submit it to the local provincial radio and television authorities for review. Finally, the State Administration issues a serial number. "Trial first and broadcast later" is actually not a new policy. Previously, the competent authorities have always required the Internet and radio and television to implement the same standards, and broadcast overseas dramas must first obtain "two licenses"("Film Release License" or "TV Series Distribution License"). Since the original regulations were mainly for traditional media, when video websites introduced a large number of foreign dramas in recent years, they did not apply in accordance with the established requirements. For the first time, this notice mentioned the "TV Series Distribution License" specifically used in the information network, clarifying that video websites are the main body of introduction, and also clarifying the detailed approval process. Since then, major websites may no longer be able to circumvent censorship by introducing foreign dramas.

The most direct impact of "trial first and broadcast later" is that American dramas and Shuimu operas are filmed while broadcasting weekly updates, and in the future, it will no longer be possible to simultaneously broadcast at home and abroad. However, netizens 'demand to follow dramas may make pirated download channels such as film and television forums and P2P tools popular again. As for whether they can become popular, it depends on the investigation and punishment of the competent authorities.

The status of overseas dramas online has been affirmed

. If we look at it from another perspective, in fact, the promulgation of the "Notice" also affirms the compliance of various video websites in disseminating overseas film and television dramas. Just as Wang Zhaonan, deputy editor-in-chief of iQiyi, previously expressed to the media: The various regulations of the State Administration of China incorporate video websites into the regulatory system, which actually recognizes this platform and is a guarantee for the website in the long run.

Some time ago, the State Administration of China strictly followed the provisions of Document No. 181 to rectify Internet TV. The TV version of terminal software of major video websites was required to be removed from the shelves. If they disobey orders, they may face the penalty of revoking their qualifications. Looking back at the requirements for foreign dramas, if the State Administration of China forces strict implementation of the relevant regulations previously promulgated, then most of the foreign dramas broadcast on various websites will be removed from the shelves. This time, the competent authorities set up a "TV Series Distribution License" specifically used on the information network and designed a detailed introduction approval process to manage the spread of overseas dramas online by "thinning" rather than "blocking" methods, which is equivalent to affirming the status of the Internet as an important transmission channel for overseas dramas.

As the "Notice" states at the beginning: "While maintaining the dominant position of my country's national culture, appropriate amounts of overseas films and television dramas will be introduced for information network dissemination to meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the people. Encourage qualified Internet audio-visual program service websites to introduce and broadcast overseas film and television dramas with healthy content, well-produced, and promote truth, goodness and beauty." In short, on the premise of maintaining the subjectivity of national culture and meeting the requirements of content and orientation, the competent authorities encourage video websites to introduce overseas film and television dramas. This basic attitude is implemented into regulations, namely,"total control" and "first Review and broadcast".

All countries will make some policy regulations on the introduction of film and television dramas. Previously, video websites introduced a large number of foreign dramas with the attitude of "pretending not to know" the policy. They can not help but worry that one day the killing stick of the competent authorities will suddenly hit them. This time, the State Administration of China has made it clear that the position on online overseas film and television dramas will undoubtedly be greatly reduced for websites that have already spent real money to purchase copyrights.

The introduction of the New Deal has left us with some other suspense: What will the review standard be after "review first and broadcast later"? The "Notice" only states a simple sentence: "The censorship standards for overseas films and television dramas specially used for information network dissemination shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant regulations on the content review of films and TV dramas." So what will happen when it is actually implemented? In addition, in the past one or two years, while overseas film and television dramas have become popular, many overseas variety shows have also met with domestic netizens through video websites. Considering that the competent departments for the production and broadcasting of variety shows on domestic TV stations are very strict, will the State Administration of China also make regulations for other types of introduced programs such as variety shows in the future? I am afraid that these issues will have to wait for some time before they can be clearly understood.