China's broadcast regulator issues 15th Five-Year Plan for radio, TV and online video
In short
China's National Radio and Television Administration has issued the Radio, Television and Online Audiovisual 15th Five-Year Plan. CLS reported that it sets goals for 2030 and 2035 and lists 33 key tasks and 43 major projects, including stronger AI capacity and support for micro-dramas going overseas.
Read the full story 1 min read
China's National Radio and Television Administration has issued the Radio, Television and Online Audiovisual 15th Five-Year Plan. CLS reported the issuance on 22 October at 11:51 local time, and Yicai carried a report with the same headline two minutes later. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to CLS, the plan sets a goal that by 2030 reform and innovation in radio, television and online audiovisual work will achieve major breakthroughs, with broadcasters moving fully onto the main internet battlefield and forming a new pattern of coordinated development. By 2035 it aims for decisive progress in digital and intelligent transformation and high-quality development, in support of building a culturally strong country. The plan covers eleven areas, including strengthening mainstream opinion, building a new broadcasting network, improving services and experience, building a high-level security system, building a more effective international communication system and strengthening the talent pool. CLS said it sets out 33 key tasks and 43 major projects. [ 1 ]
In a separate item, CLS reported that the plan calls for stronger AI capability and application. This includes gathering audiovisual corpora, strengthening the layout of computing infrastructure and building industry-wide common technical services. It also includes creating industry-specific large models and agents and deepening AI use across content, networks, services, security and regulation. [ 3 ]
On overseas reach, CLS and 36Kr both reported that the plan calls for building multi-channel communication. It says it will support key online audiovisual platforms in localised development to raise their overseas market share, and support micro-dramas going overseas to consolidate their leading position in overseas markets. A CLS headline also referred to building a world story factory. [ 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The plan sets out the regulator's direction for the radio, television and online audiovisual sector through 2030 and 2035. The documents are short business and tech reports and give no reactions or figures beyond the plan's own targets.
Key facts
- The National Radio and Television Administration issued the Radio, Television and Online Audiovisual 15th Five-Year Plan on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- By 2030 the plan aims for major breakthroughs in reform and innovation in radio, television and online audiovisual work, with broadcasters moving fully onto the main internet battlefield, CLS reported. [ 1 ]
- By 2035 the plan aims for decisive progress in digital and intelligent transformation and high-quality development, supporting the building of a culturally strong country, CLS reported. [ 1 ]
- The plan covers eleven areas and sets out 33 key tasks and 43 major projects, according to CLS. [ 1 ]
- It calls for stronger AI capability and application, including gathering audiovisual corpora, building computing infrastructure and creating industry-specific large models and agents. [ 3 ]
- It says it will support key online audiovisual platforms in localised development to raise their overseas market share. [ 4 , 5 ]
- It says it will support micro-dramas going overseas to consolidate their leading position in overseas markets. [ 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The National Radio and Television Administration issued the Radio, Television and Online Audiovisual 15th Five-Year Plan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The plan says it will support micro-dramas going overseas to consolidate their leading overseas market position, and support key online audiovisual platforms in localised development to raise overseas market share. [ 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The full text of the plan and the detail behind its 33 key tasks and 43 major projects. The documents only quote summary passages; the figures come from a single outlet, CLS.
- How the AI measures, such as the industry-specific large models and agents, will be carried out. Only one CLS item describes them, and it gives no timetable, budget or responsible bodies.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reported that the National Radio and Television Administration issued the plan. [ 1 ]
- Yicai published a report of the plan's issuance. [ 2 ]
- CLS reported the plan's AI capability and application measures. [ 3 ]
- CLS reported the plan's support for micro-dramas going overseas. [ 4 ]
- 36Kr reported the same overseas micro-drama and platform measures. [ 5 ]