Although private cinemas have quickly become fashionable among young people, there are now so many that regulations are needed to manage them, said lawyer Ouyang Chenyu, writing in a commentary for the
Guangming Daily.
In order to promote the healthy and prosperous development of the film industry, regulations on the management of on-demand cinemas, issued by the State Administration of Radio and Television, were implemented on March 30, 2018. Huangpu District government in Shanghai recently released similar regulations as well.
Ouyang praised private cinemas, which are located in residential areas, and sometimes are only large enough for two or three people. This ensures people's freedom and privacy to watch movies. But inevitably, due to the private nature of the spaces, there can be illegal behavior, with the rooms being used to show pornography, or for drug abuse and gambling. Some do not have permission to show certain movies, and there are safety and fire protection dangers.
This is why some local authorities have closed down private cinema spaces. Huangpu District in Shanghai has closed seven out of 15 private cinemas they inspected, media reported.
Nevertheless, Ouyang warned that authorities should not be too hasty when they enact regulations on private cinemas. Before regulations are rolled out nationwide, there should be field investigations based on local conditions.
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