China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has issued
a circular Wednesday ordering a crackdown on companies illegally broadcasting TV
programs on the Internet.
The SARFT circular prohibits cooperation
between SARFT-affiliated institutions and "online TV stations" that have been
broadcasting TV programs including news programs without legal permission, using
names such as China international economic TV (ccnettv.com), and China network
TV (cntv.net.cn), according to the circular.
Some of the illegal "online
TV stations" even forge government permissions to recruit reporters, set up
branch stations, and profit from advertising revenue.
According to
China's Regulations on the Management of TV and Radio Stations, TV and radio
stations can only be established by government departments and
government-affiliated radio and TV groups.
China's Management Measures
for Transmitting A/V Program over Internet and Other Information Networks, which
took effect in October 2004, also stipulate that online broadcasters of audio
and video programs must obtain permission from SARFT before broadcasting.
Online program broadcasters are not authorized to make their own
programs.
Broadcasters in violation of the regulation could be fined up
to 30,000 yuan (3,750 U.S. dollars) and even prosecuted.
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