The South China Morning Post reports that Chinese authorities have ordered video streaming websites to stop showing four popular American TV shows, including The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife, representatives from two sites said on April 27. The move suggests government attention is intensifying on the online content-streaming industry, which is freer than state television and China’s cinemas to show foreign productions and other content and has stretched the boundaries of what can be … [Read more...] about Chinese websites ordered to remove U.S. TV shows
regulation
China limits prime-time TV series airing to freshen TV programming
Beijing (Xinhua) – The Shanghai Daily reports that China's television watchdog is to limit the prime-time airing of a TV series to two satellite channels, down from four, in a move to freshen up programming and boost competition. A statement issued on April 15 by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) also set a two-episode limit per day for every TV series aired during prime time. The new rules, which will go into effect on January 1, 2015, … [Read more...] about China limits prime-time TV series airing to freshen TV programming
Zee and STAR discontinue distribution joint venture
Zee Turner and Star Den Media Services (Star Den) have announced their intention to discontinue the distribution of their channels through the three-year old distribution joint venture MediaPro Enterprises India, pursuant to the change in regulation regarding aggregators. TRAI's Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2014 dated February 10, 2014, does not allow aggregators to bundle channels … [Read more...] about Zee and STAR discontinue distribution joint venture
Trouble brews in Thailand over World Cup broadcasting
According to The Nation and Thai PBS, NBTC vice chairman Natee Sukonrat has laid down that RS cannot screen World Cup matches through its new set-top box without them being simultaneously broadcast on free TV. He cited a Central Administrative Court decision in November that denied RS's appeal to exclude the soccer World Cup from the seven sporting events which must be televised by free TV as per NBTC regulations."Should RS or other companies advertise that people could watch … [Read more...] about Trouble brews in Thailand over World Cup broadcasting
TRAI announces new regulations regarding content aggregators
New Delhi – Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced on February 10 amendments to the existing regulatory framework with regard to distribution of TV channels from broadcasters to Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) viz. Cable, DTH, HITS and IPTV operators. This has been done to address the market distortions caused because of the present role assumed by the authorised agents (aggregators) of the broadcasters, which were also amply reflected during the Phase I and … [Read more...] about TRAI announces new regulations regarding content aggregators
TAM to move court against guidelines
Business Standard reports that TAM Media Research, India's sole television ratings agency, will move court this week against the guidelines on ratings agencies approved by the Union Cabinet on January 9, 2014. The guidelines prevent any entity from having paid-up equity of more than 10 percent in a rating agency and a broadcaster, an advertiser or an advertising agency, at the same time. TAM, a 50-50 joint venture between Nielsen and WPP's Kantar Research, has been … [Read more...] about TAM to move court against guidelines