China to control micro drama distribution in tighter regulation push
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The move will enable tighter control on what content gets published online.
PHOTO: AFP
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HONG KONG - China will mandate a licensing requirement for broadcasting micro dramas, enabling it to foster their "healthy and prosperous development", authorities said, in a move that will enable tighter control on what content gets published online.
The move comes as a boom in micro dramas in China has brought scrutiny from the Communist Party.
Micro dramas, vertically shot, minute-long episodes featuring frequent plot turns designed to keep millions of viewers hooked to their cellphone screens - and paying for more - have mushroomed in popularity in China in recent years.
China's National Radio and Television Administration said on Feb 5 all micro short dramas must first hold an online drama film distribution permit.
"Online audiovisual platforms must not go online to disseminate micro-short dramas that do not have a permit or filing number, nor must they attract or push traffic to them."
Valued at US$5 billion (S$6.75 billion) a year, the short format videos are an increasingly dominant competitor to China's film industry, some experts say, which is second in size only to Hollywood and dominated by state-owned China Film Group.
Between late 2022 and early 2023, the National Radio and Television Administration regulator said it organised a "special rectification campaign" during which it removed 25,300 micro dramas, totalling close to 1.4 million episodes, due to their "pornographic, bloody, violent, low-brow and vulgar content." REUTERS
