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Regulations on Administration for the Introduction and Broadcasting of Foreign TV Programmes

境外电视节目引进、播出管理规定

Regulations on Administration for the Introduction and Broadcasting of Foreign TV Programmes("Regulations")

Issued: September 23, 2004

Effective: October 23, 2004

Issuing Authority: SARFT

Main Contents: The Regulations provide that SARFT will approve the introduction of foreign films and TV series ("FFTV") and other foreign TV programmes ("other TV programmes") before FFTV and other TV programmes are broadcasted by satellite.

The introducing party shall first submit the application materials -- mainly including the Application Form, the Introduction Contract, the Certificate of Copyright, and all plots (only required only in case of FFTV) -- to the provincial counterpart of SARFT for approval.  The provincial counterpart of SARFT shall conduct a preliminary review and submit its opinion to SARFT in a timely manner along with the application materials. SARFT shall then makes its review and decide whether to approve the introduction within 30 days after its reception of the materials. If local TV stations only plan to introduce other TV programmes through non-satellite broadcasting, they only need to submit their application to the provincial counterpart of SARFT. 

The Regulations require that TV stations limit their broadcasting of FFTV and other TV programmes to no more than 25 percent and 15 percent of each station's total broadcast time. Furthermore, the Regulations demand that introduced other TV programmes be re-edited and not broadcasted as a regular programme of the TV station.  Lastly, the broadcasting of FFTVs is prohibited from 7-10 p.m.