China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) says that it will soon release new management rules to regulate the "unrestricted Internet video frequency market" and include this new sector into its management range.
Under the new management rules, SARFT will loosen the access conditions and qualifications for some online video frequency service providers. Local media report that companies like Sina.com (SINA), Sohu.com (SOHU), Netease (NTES) and Tom Online (TOMO) should not have any problem under the new rules, but video upload websites like Toodou.com may not be covered under these rules.
At present, SAFRT is collecting feedback about the new rules before finalizing and issuing them to the public.
Luo Jianhui, deputy director of the Social Management Department of SARFT, disclosed that SARFT is already operating an advanced online video program monitoring center with three branches in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, respectively, which will cooperate with provincial police departments to form an effective monitoring system.