New SARFT Rules Further Restrict Cooperation and Interaction Between Domestic Radio and Television Stations and Foreign Counterparts

September 6, 2005

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) has "tightened its control over the cooperation between Chinese media and foreign companies" by issuing a regulation banning cooperation between local television and radio stations and foreign companies, according to state-run news media.

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) has "tightened its control over the cooperation between Chinese media and foreign companies" by issuing a regulation banning cooperation between local television and radio stations and foreign companies, according to state-run news media. In October 2004, SARFT issued regulations that allowed foreign companies to take non-controlling stakes in Chinese television program producers. On July 13 the People's Daily (English) and Xinhua (Chinese), citing the Beijing Morning News, reported that SARFT has issued new regulations that forbid domestic television and radio stations to lease their channels to foreign companies, and prohibit them from cooperating with foreign companies in the operation of their stations. The reports also said that the regulation bans any cooperation with foreign companies in "regular and live programs."

In its report on the new restrictions, the South China Morning Post quotes Renmin University media professor Yu Guoming as saying that local news media, particularly television stations, were "struggling to survive under the weight of regulations and China Central Television's monopoly on content, broadcasting channels, and advertising."

SARFT promulgated the rules, entitled Rules on the Administration of Radio, Film, and Television System's Local Foreign Affairs Work, on July 6, and they took effect the following day. SARFT did not post them on their Web site, however, until July 12. In addition to limiting foreign participation in radio and television, the new regulations also restrict how domestic radio and television stations may interact with foreigners:
 

  • Interactions between domestic radio and television stations and foreigners are subject to the "administration, guidance, and supervision" of provincial level People's Government Foreign Affairs Office and the SARFT Foreign Affairs Department.
  • Radio and television stations may not organize inter-provincial groups to go abroad to conduct interviews without SARFT approval.
  • Radio and television personnel who travel abroad to conduct interviews or produce radio or television programs on "important" or "sensitive" topics must request authorization from SARFT.
  • If local broadcast television agencies travel abroad to interview international organizations they must get approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • SARFT must approve any invitation from a radio or television station to a foreign official to participate in a program. The local provincial-level People's Government Foreign Affairs Office must approve all other invitations to "foreign personnel."
  • The local provincial-level People's Government Foreign Affairs Office must approve all invitations from radio and television stations to foreign radio and television stations to come to China to conduct interviews or hold industry trade talks.
  • Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SARFT must approve all applications for foreign radio and television journalists to come to China to conduct interviews.

This is the second time in 2005 that SARFT has tightened restrictions on foreign participation in China's television market. In March, SARFT issued an interpretive notice limiting foreign media companies to a single joint venture under the October 2004 regulations.

These restrictions ensure that Chinese authorities can continue to maintain their control over citizens' access to political news and information from foreign sources. The October 2004 regulations expressly forbid Sino-foreign joint ventures from producing "political news programs." In November 2004, China's state run media quoted one Chinese scholar as saying that the reason for this prohibition is:

[N]ews propaganda programs are the mouthpiece of the Communist Party and the government, and shoulder the responsibility of spreading the Party's voice to every household, and China's voice around the world. Therefore we must keep news and other programs that embody ideology firmly within our grasp.

The March 2005 interpretive notice said:

[W]e must control the contents of all products of joint ventures in a practical manner, understand the political inclinations and background of foreign joint venture parties, and in this way prevent harmful foreign ideology and culture from entering the realm of our television program production through joint investment and cooperation.