China to curb star-oriented pricing of TV dramas

China's television regulator is moving to curb overvaluing and over-emphasis on TV stars during the purchase and broadcast of TV dramas, according to a circular made public on Friday.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) in its circular banned broadcasters from nominating actor, defining the range of actors for selection, or fixing the price based on the stars involved when they purchase or broadcast TV dramas.

They should also avoid overhyping stars during promotion of TV shows, the administration said, adding that the shows' ideological significance, artistic style, production quality and teamwork should be highlighted instead.

"A few TV stations have been pricing TV dramas simply based on the stars involved, which led to an unreasonable composition in the budget and an imbalance in distribution," the circular reads. "It hampers the industry's healthy and orderly development."

The SAPPRFT asked broadcasters to appraise TV dramas in a more comprehensive way with their quality as the core criterion. Endi