On February 9, 2012, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television ("SARFT") issued the Notice on Further Strengthening and Improving the Administration of Importation and Broadcasting of Foreign Films and Television Dramas, which came into effect immediately and superseded the notice of the same title issued in 1995, and the Notice on Administration of Replay Foreign Television Dramas by Local Television Stations issued in 1999. According to the notice, SARFT accepts applications for the importation of foreign film and dramas twice a year in January and July. SARFT encourages the importation of high-definition movies or TV shows of less than 50 episodes, but prohibits those with vulgar or violent scenes. Under the notice, TV stations are required to carefully review the approval document when playing foreign movies or television series and such programs may not be broadcast during golden hours (from 19:00 to 22:00). The notice also stipulates that the time for broadcasting foreign film or TV shows by a channel may not exceed 25% of the time allocated to TV shows that day.

The full Chinese text of the notice is available here.

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