Beijing yesterday announced favorable policies to facilitate the shooting, broadcasting and distribution of television series jointly made by the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Tian Jin, deputy director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), said that following approval by the relevant watchdog at the provincial level, all jointly-made TV series by the two sides from January 1 will enjoy the same rights as those solely made by the mainland. The areas covered include broadcasting, distribution and exhibition.

"The mainland will further simplify approval procedures for Taiwan actors, actresses and related staff engaged in TV series production to come to the mainland to produce TV series," he said.

"We will encourage more people from Taiwan to come to the mainland to make TV series. These new policies and measures will present new opportunities of development for them."

Wang Wei-jiang, president of Taipei Visual & Audio Production Association, expressed confidence the mainland and Taiwan will forge ahead a new era for Chinese TV.

"Taiwan has a much narrower market but with more creation and advanced marketing experience, while the mainland has greater funding and abundant employees in the area," Wang told China Daily on the sidelines of the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan Cultural and Creative Industry Forum, which opened in Beijing yesterday. "It will be a win-win situation."

You Xiaogang, chairman of Beijing Zhongbei TV Art Center Co Ltd, said joint production of TV series would "boom" with more cooperation between companies.

Previously, a maximum of five Taiwan actors or actresses were allowed in each mainland-made TV series.

Other restrictions meant that TV series made between the two sides, were not allowed to be shown during the broadcast "golden hours", or prime time, 7 to 10 pm.

"As all jointly-made TV series by the two sides will enjoy the same rights as those solely made by the mainland, they will have the same opportunities for broadcast during golden hours, bringing enormous economic and social benefits," You, one of the most successful TV series-makers on the mainland, said.

Also, broadcast approval by SARFT has been cut to one month from four months.

Over the past two decades the two sides have jointly produced more than 500 movies, TV series and other special broadcast programs.

Meanwhile, more than 4,000 Taiwan producers, actors, actresses and related staff have visited the mainland, and 3,000 went to Taiwan on exchanges.

(China Daily November 8, 2007)