Chinese regulators are targeting TV dramas that overly focus on physical beauty and rely on sensational, traffic-driven plots. The goal is to encourage more high-quality, narrative storytelling across major streaming platforms.

TV drama regulators in China have taken aim at beauty-obsessed and traffic-driven programming in the industry, with a call for more “quality” storytelling. The National Radio and Television Administration’s drama department sent out the call on Thursday as it brought major streaming platforms and production companies together for a conference on “healthy aesthetics”. “[Efforts should be made] to avoid the tendency to value physical beauty above everything else and reliance on traffic-driven...