Why did films and television reduce theatre audiences in urban China?

In urban China, the decline in theatre attendance is largely attributed to the rise of competition from films and television, which have eclipsed traditional theatre in popularity.12

This shift is particularly evident among younger audiences, who increasingly prefer movies, television dramas, and popular music over traditional performance styles like jingxi (Peking opera). As these modern media forms became more accessible and culturally dominant, theatre troupes faced significant economic challenges. Following economic liberalization policies in the late 1980s, troupes were required to generate more of their own revenue through box-office income; however, the ongoing migration of audiences toward film and television made this difficult, leading to the downsizing or disbanding of various theatre groups.31