China’s Broadcasting Regulator Urges Support for Live-Action Dramas Amid AI-Driven Microdrama Growth

China’s broadcasting regulator has called for greater support for live-action dramas as the government seeks to steer the booming microdrama industry towards higher-quality production and tighter rights safeguards amid the rapid rise of AI.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has created innovation and production possibilities for microdramas, while also posing challenges over content quality and rights protection, according to Wang Xiaoliang from the National Radio and Television Administration.

“Faced with this new challenge … our position is very clear. Live-action dramas are the mainstay of high-quality production and should be strongly supported,” said Wang, who heads the department overseeing online audiovisual content.

AI has rapidly expanded the scale and efficiency of microdrama production in China while intensifying concerns over copyright and the mounting pressure on human creators.