Chinese Websites Ordered to Pull Four U.S. Series

BEIJING: China's TV regulators have pulled a number of popular U.S. TV shows, including The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife, from a range of online video sites, including Sohu.

The Beijing Times reports that China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued a notice stepping up regulations on online TV shows and films “to prevent vulgar content, base art form, violence and sexual content in online videos having a negative impact on society.” 

The four shows—The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, NCIS and The Practice—were available through the online video companies Sohu, Youku Tudou and Tencent Holdings.

Going forward, all foreign TV shows will need prior approval before being shown online, according to reports.