AI-made micro-dramas exceed 90%, China steps up oversight

China's audiovisual regulators on Thursday voiced support for live-action dramas in the face of AI-made productions accounting for more than 90% of the country's micro-dramas released in the first eight months of 2026.

"Our position is clear: live-action dramas are the mainstay of quality productions and should receive strong support," said Wang Xiaoliang, an official with the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), at a news conference on the sector over the next five years.

Authorities will step up the implementation of a program to support the production and distribution of quality works, guide platforms to create dedicated sections for live-action dramas, and provide financial support to ensure that such productions find an audience and generate returns, according to Wang.

His remarks came as micro-dramas – series whose episodes run for less than 20 minutes – have surged in popularity in China and gained a growing following overseas.

Official data show China released 430,000 micro-dramas from January to August, 13 times the number released in all of 2025.

The country now has more than 800 million micro-drama viewers, while the market exceeded 100 billion yuan (around $14.8 billion) in 2025.

Chinese regulators, however, are not opposed to using AI in screen production.

AI technology has opened new possibilities for creative expression in micro-dramas, while helping cut costs and improve efficiency, but it has also posed challenges for content quality and the protection of rights and interests, Wang said.

Such dramas must carry clear content labels, and efforts are underway to push platforms to follow rules on authorizing the use of people's likenesses and voices, he added.

China identified micro-dramas as an emerging form of cultural business to be vigorously developed in its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

The country implemented a policy document on the development and management of micro-dramas on September 1, while introducing a unified label as part of efforts to bring the sector under proper regulation.

At the news conference on Thursday, officials said China will step up efforts to expand the global reach of micro-dramas, leveraging AI to strengthen their leading edge in overseas markets.

Chinese micro-dramas have gained popularity in more than 200 countries and regions, accounting for more than 80% of the overseas micro-drama market, according to He Biao, deputy head and spokesperson of the NRTA.

Shao Jiang, an associate professor at Beijing Union University, said Chinese micro-dramas are shifting from a scale-driven approach focused on downloads and paid traffic to one centered on content, intellectual property and cultural resonance.