Reorganized media regulator operational

BEIJING - China's reorganized media regulator, the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, went into operation on Friday.

During a recently concluded annual legislative session, the State Council, or China's Cabinet, announced a plan to merge the country's press and broadcasting regulators responsible for overseeing the press, publication, radio, film and television sectors as part of efforts to cut red tape and reduce administrative intervention.

A woman passes by the new sign for the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, in Beijing, March 22, 2013. [Photo by Wang Jing/Asianewsphoto]

The General Administration of Press and Publication and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television were subsequently integrated into the ministerial-level State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

The administration's roles include policymaking for the development of the press, publication, radio, film and television industries, regulating market players in these sectors and copyright management.

Media researchers said the integration will pave the way for the emergence of cross-industry cultural conglomerates.

Chen Shaofeng, vice-dean of the Institute for Cultural Industries, Peking University, said the integration will not only address the problem of overlapping government functions, but also remove obstacles for mergers within the cultural and media industries and give media groups greater space for development.