China's top media regulator has issued new orders for limiting imported TV shows and remakes, as it aims to promote original homegrown content on Chinese television.

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) said the new directives will make it mandatory for all television stations to stop broadcasting unapproved programs starting from July 1.

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The new rules also makes it compulsory for TV stations to submit imported shows for content review two months before their scheduled broadcast. Only those shows that pass the content review test will be allowed to air on national television.

In addition, channels cannot broadcast more than two imported shows during prime time between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

"The reliance on imported program formats has been squeezing out the creative incentive of domestic producers and broadcasters," the SARFT statement said. "Audiences are craving more Chinese original programs that are fun to watch and feature healthy tastes."

The trend of foreign shows on Chinese television picked up in 2012, and since then their popularity among Chinese viewers has grown dramatically. Experts say that due to lack of production expertise in China, producers end up acquiring foreign content or simply remake them using the Chinese language.               

Experts further claim that foreign or foreign-adapted shows excessively promote alien culture among Chinese viewers, which is making Chinese culture take a backseat.

Some of the foreign shows that have become popular in China over the years include South Korean show "Running Man," and "The Voice of China," which is imported from Holland.

Tagschina, SARFT, Chinese TV Shows, Chinese Television