American sitcom The Big Bang Theory has become the first foreign TV show to be granted permission to stream on Chinese websites after the country’s movie and television watchdog required all foreign TV shows to pass through a review.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) will allow the eighth season of the hit US sitcom on the video website, tv.sohu.com, on July 22, tv.souhu.com told the Global Times on Thursday.

SARFT removed The Big Bang Theory and three other US TV shows from video websites in April 2014 when it accumulated more than 1.3 billion views.

SARFT said some of the four TV shows failed to get its approval and violated regulations on having content which hurt the nation’s honor and interests, and encourage teenagers to break laws and spread violence, eroticism, gambling and terrorism.  

In September 2014, SARFT issued a regulation requiring all foreign-produced TV shows to be reviewed before being allowed online in the Chinese mainland. 

Some said the review process may take months for each show. 

There were mixed reactions on Chinese cyberspace. Some netizens said they were eager to watch the show, while others felt too many changes will be made to the original content.

All video streaming websites are required to have overseas movies and TV shows they plan to host registered in May and content not registered will be removed from online platforms.