China will allow foreign investors to buy stakes in entertainment television production companies, beginning Nov. 28.

The change in regulations will widen access for international big name media companies in the world's largest TV market by allowing foreign investors to own up to 49 percent of entertainment program producers.

Foreign media companies will not allowed to make news programs, according to the regulation promulgated recently by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

The regulation also said ventures must have minimum paid-up capital of two million US dollars and use Chinese themes in two-thirds of programs.

"It is already a big step forward in China's TV industry. Two years ago, even the country's private TV companies could not get the favorable policies the foreign companies have got today," said an insider of the country's TV industry.