State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Administration of Sino-foreign Cooperation in Production of Television Dramas Provisions

Promulgated: September 21 2004
Effective: October 21 2004
Applicability: The Provisions apply to the cooperation in production of television dramas (including animated television programmes) between domestic radio and television programme production entities (hereafter, the Chinese Party) and foreign legal or natural persons (hereafter, the Foreign Party) (Article 2). Cooperation in production of television dramas (including television animation) with legal or natural persons from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, and Taiwan shall be handled with reference to the Provisions (Article 21).

Main contents: Sino-foreign cooperation in production of television dramas (including animated television programmes) shall not be allowed without approval; and completed dramas from Sino-foreign cooperation may not be distributed and broadcast without examination and approval (Article 4). Sino-foreign cooperation in production of television dramas may be carried out in the following manners: (1) joint production, referring to joint investment, joint appointment of major crew, profit sharing and risk-bearing by the Chinese Party and the Foreign Party in the production of television dramas (including animated television programmes); (2) assisting production, referring to capital contribution and provision of major crew for filming all or part of the sites in China by the Foreign Party, provision of labour services, or equipment, apparatus and premises in assisting the production by the Chinese Party; (3) commissioned production, referring to the Foreign Party contributing the capital and commissioning the production of the television drama in China to the Chinese Party (Article 5). Application for Sino-foreign joint production of television dramas or animated television programmes shall fulfil such requirements as: (1) the Chinese Party shall be the holder of the Television Drama Production Permit (Type A) for television dramas or the Radio and Television Programme Production and Distribution Permit for animated television programmes; (2) joint investment by both parties, including direct investment in terms of currency, or investment in terms of labour services, advertising time or in kind, etc.; and (3) domestic and foreign copyrights of television dramas or animated television programmes shall be jointly owned by the Chinese Party and Foreign Party (Articles 6 and 8).
Repealed legislation: Administration of Sino-foreign Cooperation in Production of Television Dramas (Videos) Provisions