The future of Chinese BL dramas looking very bleak? If rumours are to be believed, China’s NRTA is in talks to potentially ban the broadcast of danmei or BL dramas even overseas. Leaked minutes from an alleged meeting convened last August 18 by the National Radio and Television Administration show that the bureau is considering declaring the broadcast of BL dramas overseas as illegal. This has come at a time when Chinese BL dramas like Revenged Love have found a lot of success having managed to “skirt” the censors in China to earn a broadcast on international channels.
Actors in BL Could Face Blacklisting?
Moreover, the document indicates actors who’ve appear in danmei works from September onwards may soon face the risk of being blacklisted in the industry. Whereas successful BL dramas previously meant instant fame for its male stars, the risk of getting banned might make it harder to find actors willing to accept roles in the genre.
International Platforms No Longer an Option?
To be clear, there’s nothing definitive yet – everything’s speculation at this point even the supposed minutes from the NRTA meeting. However, it’s worth noting that ABO Desire, a new BL drama streaming on international platforms, has already been removed from Youku International, WeTV International and QIYI International last July.
Previously, axed shows which have been filmed yet left unable to air due to the ban on BL in China may have found a workaround by opting for an international release. Whether it’s through streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube or Viu, many shows (and not just BL dramas) like The Spirealm, Justice in the Dark and even Castle in the Time which not only features Korean actress Park Minyoung but also cancelled actor Zhang Zhehan to boot, all these shows have managed to secure broadcast rights internationally.
But now that it appears the NRTA might soon be going after these avenues, the future of BL seems bleak.
Source: 1
Carl
See the difference of an authoritarian country like China that censors and challenges personal freedom and individuality compared to more open countries like Taiwan and the US that do not limit their peoples personal choices. This is clearly a highly manipulative control freak move to dictate every aspect of peoples lives.
Kokuto
Watch some news. In the US, gay marriage is going back to the crazy conservative Supreme Court, so it will be lost just like women’s rights. Anything that isn’t straight, white, pseudo Christian, and male is being stripped from our culture, history, and education. The government and the tech billionaires are busy consolidating all our personal information for surveillance and data mining and sues anyone into oblivion who speaks up or doesn’t do what it wants. China has it’s problems, but I certainly wouldn’t hold up the US right now as an open country with unlimited freedom of choice.
Linda Palapala
Very true now. so sad.
Anon
That’s pretty dumb and shallow statement.
Taiwan respects freedom of choice and opinions? They put politicians who opposed the “split from China” narrative into solitary confinement without trial for months on end. They can’t even hold a civil debate in parliament without erupting into a gang fight. They hound Taiwanese who expressed support for China, whether directly or indirectly – ask their celebrities.
And US? Use your brains- if tourists or social visitors have to hand over their social media accounts for them to check their history whether they have an “anti-american” leaning, how free or tolerant of different opinions do you think that country is? Ask Harvard whether they still believe that the US respects freedom of intellectual thought and opinions. Ask their CIA who really are the masters of spying, surveillance and data mining on their own citizens and the master of fake propaganda and dissemination of misinformation to manipulate your thoughts and opinions. The CIA could even tap Angela Merkel’s personal iPhone for years without even the German security knowing. And they are still doing it on other world leaders.
Is freedom to wave the rainbow flag or force deviant morals down kids’ throats or have vulgar displays in public or own a gun the real benchmark of what “freedom” is? And who are you to judge what moral values other countries want to preserve? Why don’t you go and speak up against the islamic countries, even the democratic ones? See whether you can get your rainbow flag in there.
Meimei
I saw some of the leaked minutes too and it said to reduced crime/investigation theme drama and poor quality drama like historical drama and contemporary romance drama. At this rate, China can only film comedy, family, or propaganda drama/movie.
avarachika
***GASP…Noooo, give me my romance and historical dramas….
Joni
Reduced does not mean banned. There are just too many poorly made ones around, with scripts that defy logic, sense and reality. I am all for reduction of crapped dramas and imposing standards of high quality in script, production and performance, especially those for international audiences. Even with these higher standards, there will still be thousands of dramas churned out every year. Chinese movies are already making their mark with the world audiences. So are drama series. And if you want to compare, there really is much more variety of genres in China than in Hollywood.
XZF
@Joni
I agree with you. I vote for good quality movies and dramas. Hopefully, they will stop churning out/flooding the market with nonsense productions.
trueblue
The ban for the BL got everything to do with domestic fans, they’re just so crazy with the hot search for the revenge loved actors. I don’t even watch the series but I know about the unnecessary news.
China cannot write a good scripts due to too many cooks, platform and investors hired people with huge fandom to get a better return on investment rather than making good series. Fans will flock to see their favorite even with the series is shite. I want to see a normal good script and not too many pretty looking people on screen or just romance focus storyline. At the rate how things are going with China entertainment, they’re going on the same route as TVB.
CuriousCat
Can someone explain to me the obsession with BL dramas? I used to think it’s because the story/writing is better, like the Untamed. But some of these other popular ones just seem smutty? Is revenged love actually good? The plot summary seems generic but I didn’t watch it, so can’t really judge
Elly
The fandom culture in China is super toxic, so toxic, girl fans rather support their male celebrity with a guy than an actress. That’s why BL is so popular. You see toxic fan girls chasing these BL actors, not males. BL dramas are as mediocre as mainstream ones. The guys? They’re okay looking but not top notch or anything.
Kelly
it’s not that the story is good it’s just the revenge love actors are all good looking,and their acting is ok, unlike the untamed they do have kissing scene and explicitly shows their love for each other.
Rocket
BL are only ever popular with the ladies. Don’t really affect male viewers.
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