I stumbled across a short article in ChinaTechNews today which noted that four different Chinese regulators are currently hammering out a new regulatory framework for video uploads in China:

Led by China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), several ministries in China, including the Ministry of Information Industry, Ministry of Culture and General Administration of Press and Publication, are working on a new regulation for the management of online video frequency service.

A representative from SARFT has told local media that research regarding the new regulation has been completed and a report has been submitted to the higher authority for approval. SARFT hopes that the final regulation will be rolled out around the end of this year or the beginning of next year. However, the detailed schedule cannot be settled right now as there are many different parties involved.

I'd be amazed if these three bodies can come to a consensus about how video uploads should be regulated, given that they have somewhat different agendas and legacies. SARFT, for instance, is not known for its progressive outlook. Some months ago it already floated a proposal to funnel all video uploads through the big portals where, it was felt, they might be more easily managed. That proposal appears to have died a quiet and well-deserved death, but it was a good window into the "control information" mentality, as opposed to the "stimulate innovation" agenda that MII might (within limits) prefer. There is every chance that a raging, political turf war is unfolding behind the scenes.

Still, a little reconciliation wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. As the article pointed out, there are a lot of rules now, some of which are contradictory, and the environment is pretty confusing. The article went on to note:

Although there is no clear deadline for the unveiling of the new regulation, one thing for sure is that the new regulation will strengthen the management and supervision of online video frequency content and it will redefine the access criteria for online video frequency service providers and probably be opened more to privately run companies.

Strengthen the management and supervision of content, huh? Well, if nothing else, they can probably agree on cracking down on smut, no matter how much their agendas might differ. That means you can expect to see less of things like this, from YoQoo, the skin-happiest of China's video upload sites. (Via Danwei. Warning: NSFW.)