New China watchdog: Cai to top national regulator SARFT.(appointment of Cai Fuchao as head of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television)(World News)(Brief article)

China has named Cai Fuchao, deputy mayor and propaganda czar of Beijing, as head of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the powerful media watchdog.

Cai, 60, replaces Wang Taihua, who has overseen rapid growth in the Chinese film and TV business in the past six years. The appointment comes before next month's annual parliament, the National People's Congress.

SARFT answers directly to China's cabinet, the State Council. As the country's main censor, it effectively decides what gets on TV and into theaters. It rules on the 20 foreign films that are released in China on a revenue-sharing basis under its strict quota system.

Cai will play a …