By Catherine Wong Tsoi-lai Source:Global Times Published: 2015-2-4 23:28:02
A popular video website on Wednesday confirmed that it has received a notice from the State broadcasting regulator to pull down online streams of Hong Kong TV dramas for review.
“We received the notice about two to three weeks ago. We are complying with the rule,” a spokesperson of Youku told the Global Times.
The Hong Kong TV shows are the latest target of the State broadcasting regulator’s new rule on managing online streams of non-mainland and overseas-produced TV shows.
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) introduced the rule in September 2014, requiring a review of all overseas TV series, including those from the US, the UK and South Korea before they are shown online in the Chinese mainland.
The Youku spokesperson said that Hong Kong TV shows were also put under the “overseas production” category, and that they will also be reviewed before broadcast.
Chinese fans of overseas dramas will have to deal with a delayed online broadcast after the whole season ends.
Analysts said the new rule reflects the authorities’ commitment to regulating online content, and may give rise to more domestic productions.
Major online video sites Youku and Tudou signed an exclusive contract with Hong Kong broadcaster Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, to broadcast their productions.
None of this year’s recently aired Hong Kong dramas have so far been shown on the Chinese mainland’s video streaming sites.
The new rule has sparked lively discussions across the mainland’s cyberspace.
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