China to unleash flood of TV dramas singing Communist Party’s praises
Watchdog warns broadcasters off ratings chase after popular station hauled over the ideological coals
China’s media watchdog has said it will ensure production a flood of new TV dramas singing the Communist Party’s praises over the next five years, just days after one of the country’s top stations was publicly shamed for not toeing the ideological line.
With just over a month to go until the party’s five-yearly national congress, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued more than a dozen guidelines on TV content on Monday.
The first of the 14 guidelines said the industry would ramp up production of “ a large number of TV dramas that sing the praises of the party, the motherland, the people, as well as its heroes”.
Domestic networks will also set aside prime time for programmes with major revolutionary and historical themes.
In addition, the guidelines “strictly forbid” broadcasters from airing purely ratings-driven content and assessing staff solely on ratings. They also pledge more support for distribution of TV shows abroad to increase China’s soft power, and require online video providers to be licensed.