Global Trade Alert

On 13 February 2012, the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) tightened the regulation for foreign TV programs. The regulation includes a ban of foreign TV shows and films between 7.30pm and 10pm. Furthermore, at most 25% of all TV series can be foreign made. The measure can be seen as some sort of cultural conservation, but the President Hu Jintao confirmed that the regulations "were aimed at giving the domestic television industry a leg up on Asian competition" (NY times 13 February 2012).