Chinese video site's deal to stream some HBO productions stirs online debate on access to more foreign TV series.
Chinese online giant Tencent Video's recent deal with HBO, to exclusively stream about 10 of the network's TV productions starting next year, has provoked mixed feelings in China's online world, where expectations of watching US TV serials had fallen.
The playlist, revealed at a news conference at the China National Convention Center in late November, is designed to fill the void of US TV serials in China by introducing popular shows that didn't have a chance to be legally shown here.
They include Game of Thrones, News room and True Detective. With a lucrative fan base in China, the three shows have enjoyed an average 9.2 out of 10 points for all seasons on Douban.com, the country's largest online film fan community and film review site.
Most of these fans have relied on download websites for access to these shows that were not legally licensed in China. The recent shutdown of such websites as YYeTs.com and translated subtitle provider Shooter.cn has caused an online uproar.
Malcolm Dudley-Smith, senior vice-president of Asia Pacific for Warner Brothers International Television Distribution, says that they have confidence in Tencent Video and expect these TV serials to expand their fan base in China.
The overall future of such shows, however, is still unclear as the country's top broad casting regulator tightens its management of foreign content online.
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television will likely restrict the number of foreign TV series to be licensed in 2015, and ask to review the whole seas on of a TV serial with ready-made Chinese subtitles before it can run on a video website, local media reported.
That means, at a minimum, that foreign programs will no longer be almost simulcast in China and their original countries. Foreign TV buffs also worry that nudity and violence scenes in shows like Game of Thrones will provoke ruthless cuts.
"One or two months ago, I was very pessimistic, "says Sun Zhonghuai, vice-president of Tencent Holdings, "but now I no longer am. I believe the policy is positive.
"Before this policy, video websites were acting in a grayarea. There was never a rule saying that we can do this (licensing and streaming foreign shows).This is the first time that we gained a legal identity, "he says.
Initiating a series of actions targeting foreign TV shows this year, the administration in March required online content to be examined by at least three government-trained specialists and shows to be pulled off immediately if they contained inappropriate information such as glamorizing violence, sex or gambling.
In April, it removed four American TV series from the Internet, including The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife, and in July it also removed some foreign content from set-top boxes.
Sun from Tencent says he believes the latest rule is an effective one to adjust the market.
"Video websites will act more rationally in licensing overseas contents. The prices will likely drop. And more attention will be paid to the quality," says Sun.
In addition to TV serials, Tencent Video will also launch an official National Geographic section on its page. Are cent survey shows that China ranks in the top five in terms of recognition of the documentary channel, yet last in terms of access to it.
While these foreign shows help build a large fan base, Sun believes the most sustainable way of development is for video websites to produce their own content.
As video websites have experienced less-strict content examination than TV stations, production companies find them influential and generous buyers of programs that can't be shown on television.
Rather than serving as a pure broad casting plat form, Tencent Video will try to "participate profoundly" in the production of shows, says Sun.
Lineups of original programs in 2015 include a reality show-jointly produced with Dutch program format company Tal pa that will bring 15 strangers to live on a rooftop for a year, and miniseries Wu Qu (Mist District).Featuring a possible end of-the-world scenario, the scifi show is jointly produced with Hollywood screenwriters and production teams who will deliver quality that "can be compared to American TV series".
Last year, Tencent Video had its successful trial run in producing its own programs, including the big-data-based entertainment show Are You Normal? and a well-received ghost-themed mini serial Blind Spot, starring controversial HongKong pop star Edison Chan.
The question remains: Will online productions still be able to feature an unlimited range of subjects?
"It won't be possible for shows to exist on video websites for a long time, if they can't be shown on TV channels," says Sun.