SARFT Regulates Online Short Videos
The Beijing News, 7/10/12
In response to the presence of vulgar content, low-class themes, and violent and sexual content in some online series and micro-movies, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and the State Internet Information Office issued the "Memorandum Regarding Further Strengthening the Management of Online Serials, Micromovies, and Other Online Audiovisual Programming" on July 9. The Memorandum dictates that online video companies shoulder the responsibility for reviewing all internet audiovisual programming content - including online serials and micro-movies - before broadcasting it. Companies will be required to form a team of censors to screen content as a precondition of making the content publicly available online. The Memorandum also calls for governmental agencies to press online video service companies to implement the requirements of the document.
Zhu Xiangyang, chief editor of Chinese online video site Youku (NYSE: YOKU), said that Youku had an in-house review committee which participates in the planning stages of the company's self-produced projects, and added that completed scripts are also sent to the committee for review as a precondition of programming production and broadcasting.
Liu Hong, COO of Chinese online video site LeTV (300104.SZ), which also hosts online serials, micro-movies, and self-produced programming, said that LeTV had already established a review committee for oversight of its self-produced programming. Liu said that the committee participates in review and censorship at all stages of the pre-production, production, and pre-broadcast process, and has set up a complaint mailbox for subsequent viewer responses.
Keywords: regulation Liu Hong Internet online video LeTV Youku SARFT Zhu Xiangyang 300104.SZ YOKU State Internet Information Office Leshi
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