Under review

Enhanced government scrutiny of overseas TV programs could delay their release in China, but industry insiders are embracing the new policy. Han Bingbin reports.

Starting next year, US TV serials are likely to run on Chinese video websites at least six months later than their premieres in the US, due to the time-consuming process of content examination, local media report. Chinese video websites used to examine the content by themselves, but the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television will reportedly ask to review whole seasons of TV serials in 2015 with ready-made Chinese subtitles before they can run on a video website. The number of foreign TV series to be licensed in 2015 is also likely to be restricted to no more than 30 percent of content.

Southern Metropolis Daily recently quoted sources from the administration as denying the six-month delay, yet confirming that content of foreign TV serials will be examined before being shown in China.