The Measures for the Administration of Mini-Drama Development (the “Measures”), issued by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), officially took effect on September 1, 2026. As China’s first departmental regulation dedicated specifically to the mini-drama sector, the Measures carry greater legal force than the industry guidance and normative documents issued previously, marking a shift in mini-drama oversight from stage-by-stage guidance to long-term, institutionalized, law-based governance.
For the first time, the Measures establish a national framework covering the entire chain of creation, production, distribution and supervision. At its core is a tiered classification system: based on investment scale and subject matter, mini-dramas are divided into Category I, Category II and Category III, each with its own filing and review requirements. The NRTA sets the classification criteria and will adjust them as the industry develops. The industry broadly expects high-budget productions and works on special subjects to face stricter approval procedures, while small and mid-sized productions stand to benefit from more efficient reviews under clearer rules.
The Measures also set out content standards and the responsibilities of each party across the entire chain. Distribution platforms are required to regularly assess their algorithmic mechanisms, give priority to recommending high-quality mini-dramas, and refrain from using algorithmic models that induce addiction or excessive spending. For the industry, compliance capability, content quality and platform governance will become the “hard thresholds” for competing in the next stage.
Of particular note, the Measures stipulate that for mini-dramas generated or produced using artificial intelligence, production companies and distribution platforms must comply with relevant national regulations and add a prominent disclosure label to each episode. This protects viewers’ right to know while drawing clear boundaries for the compliant creation of AI dramas and AI animated dramas.
HESHU Insight: The arrival of a dedicated regulation does not signal a contraction of the industry. Rather, it turns what was once a window for “learning by trial and error” into an arena where companies “grow stronger by playing by the rules.” For production, distribution and international expansion teams, adapting early to classified filing, labeling disclosure and content review requirements will be a must for the second half of 2026.