LayarHijau—The National Radio and Television Administration, or internationally known as the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), officially issued a stern warning to the entertainment industry during a symposium titled “Healthy Aesthetics in Television Dramas” on April 2, 2026. This meeting served as a strong signal from the government to overhaul creative trends deemed to be deviating from true artistic values.
The event, led by the Television Drama Department, was attended by top executives from major streaming platforms such as iQIYI, Mango TV, Tencent Video, and Youku, as well as renowned production houses like Daylight Entertainment and Huace Media. The primary focus of the meeting was the demand for the industry to immediately halt the phenomenon of “Visual Worship”, where an actor’s physical appearance is often considered more important than the quality of the story itself.
In addition to criticizing appearances, the NRTA also highlighted the industry’s dependence on “Traffic Stars”. This phenomenon is considered to be damaging quality standards because many production houses force actors with high social media popularity to fill lead roles, even though they lack adequate acting skills.
A Shift from Star Dominance to Script Strength
In response to these issues, the government has mandated a radical transformation within the drama production system in the Middle Kingdom. The industry is strictly required to abandon the “star-centric system” that has long given top celebrities excessive power in determining the creative direction of a project, which often undermines the original storyline.
Instead, the entire production ecosystem must shift to a system that is fully centered on the strength of the script. This change aims to restore the principle that “Content is King,” where a solid script must be the primary reference in the drama-making process, rather than merely following the whims or image of the lead star.
In line with strengthening the script, the aspect of characterization is also a serious concern. The NRTA wants every character in a drama to be created as a “flesh-and-blood” figure with genuine emotional depth. The fundamental requirement is clear: every performer must have the ability to “act according to the character” so that the roles they play have a soul that can be felt by the audience.
Sharp Criticism of Excessive Production Aesthetics
On the other hand, the authorities also launched sharp criticism against production aesthetics—encompassing costumes, makeup, and props—which have recently been judged as losing logic. Many dramas are considered to be forcing the appearance of players to always look perfect and excessively “polished” through the use of heavy makeup that does not match the situation in the scene.
This inconsistency often makes characters look unnatural, for example, when an actor still appears with perfect makeup and styled hair even though the character is in a difficult situation or at war. These shallow aesthetic trends are ordered to be immediately abandoned and replaced with beauty concepts that are simpler, more natural, and more meaningful.
This aesthetic improvement step was taken with a clear reason: to strengthen national Cultural Self-Confidence. The government wants Chinese dramas to be able to display a healthier and more dignified signature style, while showing a strong cultural identity without having to be trapped in unnecessary visual polishing or the excessive use of face filters for the sake of pseudo-aesthetics.
Building More Soulful and Durable Shows
Closing the symposium, the government emphasized that the public’s need for television drama has never been limited to handsome or beautiful faces alone. Instead, viewers long for stories that are “durable” to follow, where the quality of writing and acting strength are the main reasons why a drama remains in the hearts of viewers for the long term.
To ensure these rules are implemented, the NRTA will work with industry associations and broadcasting platforms to tighten supervision and provide professional training for art practitioners. The entire creative process, from the writing stage to broadcasting, will be strictly supervised to remain on a healthy aesthetic path.
Through this new policy, the government hopes that story integrity and acting quality will return to being absolute standards in the industry. Instant popularity and the power of big capital are no longer allowed to dictate the quality of artistic work, for the sake of creating shows that do not just sell visuals, but also leave a deep impression on the wider community.
