Too Much Drama on TV
Reports indicate that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (“SARFT”) will issue new rules to limit the growing number of TV dramas. Wang Weiping, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Teleplay Administration of SARFT confirmed that the agency has drafted a new set of rules stipulating that only two episodes of a given television drama can be broadcast consecutively during prime time (7 pm to 9:30 pm), and no more than three episodes will be allowed in the time period from 6 pm to 1 am the next day. No more than six episodes of one TV drama can be broadcast during daytime hours, while TV series will be restricted to 45 percent of the total programming schedule, limiting episodes to 46 minutes of air time. The new rules are expected to take effect in January 2010.
