State administration of radio and television sets ambitious AI penetration goals for media sector by 2030

The State Administration of Radio and Television (SARFT) released the Broadcast and Television and Online Audiovisual '15th Five-Year Plan' in October of this year, outlining major goals for the industry. A key target set by the plan is achieving an artificial intelligence penetration rate of 95% or higher across the broadcast and audiovisual sector by 2030, alongside surpassing 150 million new terminal applications. The plan emphasizes building a comprehensive dissemination system that integrates large and small screens and long and short videos, while also requiring the development of industry-specific large models and intelligent agents to innovate across content, services, and regulation. It is important to note that the 95% AI penetration target refers to the integration within the industry, not the percentage of AI-generated content viewed by audiences. Separately, SARFT officials recently clarified their stance on short-form dramas, stating a clear policy of supporting live-action dramas while regulating AI-generated ones. This follows data showing that the national micro-drama user base exceeded 800 million, with the market projected to surpass one hundred billion yuan in 2025. Furthermore, in the first eight months of this year, 430,000 micro-dramas were launched, representing a thirteenfold increase from the previous year, with over 90% of those being AI-generated.