China's SARFT Asserts Full Control over Internet TV
China Securities Journal, 4/27/10
According to two new documents from China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) - the "Management Regulations for Internet Television Content Services" and "Management Regulations for Integrated Internet Television Services" - SARFT will adopt a management model for internet TV based on "integrated services" and "content services," whereby it will issue two separate categories of licenses. Local broadcasting organizations will receive licenses for internet TV content services.
According to the two documents, SARFT will require that all integrated platforms for internet TV be fully bound to their respective client applications on internet TV sets, that client software installed on internet TV sets must be exclusively controlled and managed by a single internet TV platform, and that all internet TV sets must come pre-installed with an integrated service company's client.
With regard to broadcast content, the documents stipulate that "organizations holding integrated services licenses must verify the legality of the internet TV programming service platforms with which they are connected, and must not connect to any programming services platforms run by organizations lacking an internet TV content services license."
At present, internet TV integrated services licenses have been issued to CCTV's China Network Television (CNTV), Shanghai Media Group subsidiary Shanghai BesTV, and Hangzhou-based Wasu; to date, no licenses for internet television content services have been issued, though they may be issued to regional broadcasting organizations, such as television stations, in the future. At present, only CCTV is certain to receive both licenses.
As the majority of internet-enabled televisions sold to date do not meet the above requirements, SARFT is requiring television manufacturers to update their technology over the next half-year or so.
Keywords: license television CCTV Internet TV SARFT BesTV Wasu CNTV regulation
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