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April 14, 2006
Further Restrictions on Media
One can only approach the idea of investment in China's media industry with a healthy skepticism. A recent regulation, while not directly dealing with inbound investment, reminds us a good deal of the atmosphere permeating the Chinese media.
This notice, 《广电总局关于重申电视国际新闻管理规定的通知》, issued by the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), on April 11, reaffirms a strict ban international news footage for use by television stations at all levels, local and provincial. According to this article, the relevant provisions state that all television broadcasts must use the international news provided by Central Television and China International Broadcasting. In addition, news directors are strictly forbidden to use footage obtained from international news by means of satellite feeds or "other methods."
Since this is a reaffirmation of a prior stricture, one can only imagine the difficulty the propaganda departments are having keeping inbound information under control nationwide. Clearly, media rank and file, while appearing to copy down with eagerness the droning oratory of an adminstrative leader at a political training session, have not really been paying attention.
Mainichi runs with a worthwhile summation of the situation from Interfax China. Chinese TV insiders are unabashedly voicing their unhappiness. As if you didn't already know it, you readers who are intellectual property counsel for media interests may wish to take note of a Chinese news editor's complaint: "Firstly and economically, TV stations need not pay for the pictures they get from programs of foreign TV stations."
Interestingly, as of today, the SARFT website does not carry the regulation. However, a Google search for the regulation shows that it was once carried on the SARFT website.
国家广播电影电视总局 - [ Translate this page ]
广电总局关于重申电视国际新闻管理规定的通知(2006-04-11). ·, 广电总局关于印发《 电视剧拍摄制作备案公示管理暂行办法》的通知(2006-04-10). ·, 广电总局关于福建教育 ...
www.sarft.gov.cn/downstage/page_35_1.jsp - 13k - 12 Apr 2006 - Cached - Similar pages
One can only guess when and why SARFT removed it. I reproduce the regulation in full below with the caveat that it may be incomplete. If you have the full and complete current text, please email me.
《广电总局关于重申电视国际新闻管理规定的通知》
《通知》指出，近来，一些国外通讯社和媒体通过多种渠道向国内地方电视台推销国际新闻素材，带有明显政治意图。
为保证电视国际新闻报道健康有序发展，确保正确舆论导向，切实加强电视国际新闻管理，重申如下规定：
一、各级广播电视行政管理部门必须牢固树立政治意识、大局意识和责任意识，进一步增强政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力，把加强对电视国际新闻的管理纳入到宣传工作的管理中来，严把导向关，切实负起管理责任。
二、要充分发挥系统优势，充分利用中央电视台、中国国际广播电台现有国际新闻资源。
三、各级电视台播出的国际新闻必须统一使用由中央电视台、中国国际广播电台提供的电视国际新闻。
四、严禁擅自使用从境外卫星电视收录或从其他渠道获得的国际新闻素材制作、播出广播电视国际新闻节目和国际时事政治专题节目。
五、不得将境外卫星电视图像配以新华社文字稿进行播出。
六、各省级广播电视行政管理部门接到本通知后，要立即按照通知要求，对所属播出机构进行一次检查，对违反规定的要坚决纠正。
七、要进一步加强对播放电视国际新闻的监管力度，各级广播电视行政管理部门对发现的问题要及时通报处理，并责令有关电视播出机构立即整改。
八、要严肃政治纪律和宣传纪律，切实做到有令必行，有禁必止，坚决制止上有政策、下有对策，拿不准的问题要及时请示报告。
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