13/11/2013

On 12th November 2013, Zespa Media co-organised and co-hosted the Creativity Investment Conference with China’s State broadcaster CCTV (China Central Television) at the Beijing Media Centre.

The event brought together senior decision-makers and production executives from CCTV with a delegation from the UK led by PACT, the trade association representing the commercial interests of the independent production sector in the UK. It gave 16 top British independent TV production companies a unique opportunity to meet CCTV and explore opportunities for collaboration in China’s rapidly growing creative and TV production sector.

In his speech to the conference Mr Wenjiang Zhao, Deputy Director of CCTV’s Programme Controlling Department, discussed the recent SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film & Television) restrictions on international formats being imported into China. The new regulation limits all satellite channels to license no more than one foreign format per year, which also cannot be broadcast in primetime starting from 2014, due to the proliferation of overseas formats on Chinese television in the last year. He provided clarification on the implications of the policy for CCTV and made it clear that the restrictions only apply to CCTV’s flagship variety channel, CCTV-1. “The new regulation of SARFT is to limit 'satellite and variety channels', which means CCTV-1 and all provincial satellite channels will be restrained. However, this does not apply to CCTV's finance, entertainment, sports and all other specialised channels, ” Mr Zhao remarked. CCTV’s other channels are not affected and therefore there are still plenty of opportunities for international collaborations.

More info on PACT’s Mission to China:
https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/uk-independent-television-production-mission-to-china-for-collaboration

More info on the recent SARFT’s format limit regulation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/15459367
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/indies/china-limits-foreign-formats/5062805.article