SARFT Relaxes Censorship of Fiction, Retains it for History, Politics, and News

May 2, 2006

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) issued Interim Measures on the Administration of the Recording and Notification of Television Program Film Production on April 6. According to the circular under which the Interim Measures were issued, the Interim Measures abolish the requirement that television program producers obtain government approval for planned television dramas, and allow them instead to register the production with the government either before or after production is completed.

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) issued Interim Measures on the Administration of the Recording and Notification of Television Program Film Production on April 6. According to the circular under which the Interim Measures were issued, the Interim Measures abolish the requirement that television program producers obtain government approval for planned television dramas, and allow them instead to register the production with the government either before or after production is completed. The scope of this relaxation of censorship is limited, however, as it applies only to programs that do not relate to "important revolutions and historical subject matter." Under the Interim Measures, anyone wishing to film these types of television programs that have contents relating to "important or sensitive political issues, the military, foreign affairs, the united front, religion, ethnicities, the administration of justice, public security, education, and famous people" must first get the "opinions" of the "relevant department at the provincial level or higher." The Interim Measures also stipulate that programs relating to important revolutions and historical subject matter will continue to be governed by "relevant rules." This is presumably a reference to the Regulation on the Administration of Television Dramas issued by SARFT in June 2000, article 39 of which states that anyone producing these types of programs without authorization is subject to fines and having their license revoked. More specific requirements are also outlined in SARFT's July 2003 Circular Regarding Restructuring Inspection and Examination Measures for Important Revolution and Historical Material Movie and Television Projects and Completed Films, which requires screenplays that describe "major events and important leaders and their families in Communist Party, government, and military history" to be approved by both the government and the Party.

On April 11, SARFT issued the Circular Regarding Reiterating Rules on the Administration of Television International News. The circular repeats restrictions on dissemination of international news that were first put in place in 2002 in SARFT's Circular Regarding Further Regulating the Administration of Television International News. Both circulars prohibit local television stations from using news footage taken from foreign satellite programs and international news material acquired from channels that are not run by the government. Local stations instead must only use international news reports provided by China Central Television and China Radio International. The new circular said it is necessary to "ensure correct orientation of public opinion," because some foreign wire services and news media have distributed international news to local television stations. In doing so, the foreign sources have had "blatant political intentions," and therefore the circular calls on television regulators to "firmly establish political consciousness," "further increase political sensitivity and political discrimination," and "increasingly bring the administration of international news within the administration of propaganda work."