As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, I can relate to the passion and frustration felt by Chinese fans of “The Big Bang Theory.” It’s like being suddenly kicked out of your favorite game, with no clear reason given, only to find out that others are still playing it elsewhere.
“The Big Bang Theory,” an iconic television show, has captured the hearts of people worldwide, not just in its homeland, the United States, but also far-off places such as China. The series was well-received in these regions, amassing a considerable following. However, there came a time when fans in various countries had to unexpectedly bid farewell to this sitcom.
2014 saw a peculiar occurrence where shows like “The Big Bang Theory,” along with several others such as “The Good Wife,” “NCIS,” and “The Practice,” were taken off the lineup of the nation’s most frequented streaming platforms (Sohu TV, iQiyi, and Youku). It was puzzling since shows with allegedly more risky content, like “Breaking Bad” and “House of Cards,” remained accessible.
Why was The Big Bang Theory banned in China?
As a dedicated fan, I’ve been wondering: Why can’t I access this show anymore? Unfortunately, no clear reason has been provided. However, The Times hinted at some intriguing possibilities. Given its staggering popularity – with over 1.3 billion views on Sohu TV since 2009, that’s nearly every person in the country! – it’s plausible that this sudden unavailability was a strategic move targeting Video On Demand (VOD) services, which enjoyed considerable freedom back then.
Before 2014, Chinese streaming platforms had the freedom to directly negotiate contracts with international content providers and offer the desired programs, without requiring formal approval – a significant departure from the more regulated structure of conventional TV broadcasting.
Initially, there were proposals to enforce rules comparable to traditional television on Internet streaming services, meaning that one would have to get approval to air a specific show. The initial move toward this was to prohibit certain shows, such as “The Big Bang Theory,” specifically.
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in China, referred to as SARFT, has provided a somewhat unclear rationale for the cancellation of certain TV series. They stated that the series were either past their copyright expiration or breached Clause 16 of the Online Broadcasting Rules, which bans content containing pornography, violence, and material that contradicts China’s constitution, threatens its territorial integrity, incites social unrest, promotes illegal religions, and stirs up ethnic prejudice.
The return of The Big Bang Theory to China
The Big Bang Theory was eventually brought back for fans in 2015, but with some changes. Now, each season needed approval before being released to the public in China, allowing the government to monitor and control the kind of foreign content that reached its citizens.
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2024-08-30 12:31