On 5 January, it was reported that the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), the chief regulator for film and TV, hosted a meeting between 3 and 4 January. Other than the issues of TV and other web series, the meeting also involved new regulations for microdrama, the short-form web series that has taken China by storm since 2024.
Although this is not the first time the regulator has weighed in on the viral phenomenon, this time, it announced plans to create specific Administrative Measures for Microdrama that will solidify its previous instructions and explanations in print. The regulator also announced its intentions to push and direct the development of microdrama for better content and to create a prosperous industry.
However, there doesn’t seem to be a timeline or hint on what would be included in the Administrative Measures other than it will, at the same time, regulate and help develop the genre. The NRTA did, however, announce an initiative called “Microdrama+” to encourage microdrama content that promotes legal literacy, Chinese classics, travel and popular science. It also published a list of 49 microdrama series it recommends and will be shown on television during the period preceding the Chinese New Year (CNY).
Coincidentally, both WeChat and Weibo, China’s Twitter equivalent, announced that they will audit microdrama titles and crack down on those who aren’t compliant with its regulations. With the huge popularity of microdrama and the increasing presence of conventional long-form web series makers in the industry, it is natural that the “Wild West” stage for the short-form content will come to an end with more regulated and higher-quality work. However, with more diversified means of monetisation such as advertising and even e-commerce, regulating the business model of microdrama is equally important to the content.
