Major video sites remove TV apps   

(ECNS) – Four major online video websites in China have removed or are removing their TV apps in response to the broadcasting authority's regulatory policies, according to the Guangzhou Daily.

The move comes after the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) interviewed seven network television license-holders, including Wasu Media, CNTV, BestTV, and CIBN, who later informed their partners to remove video services and apps that violate regulations.

Youku Tudou was the first to comply with the regulation in July. Tencent Video and PPTV followed up in late August, and LETV told app stores to remove its TV app by 12am on Tuesday.

The SARFT has enhanced supervision over set-top boxes, saying that some illegal content was being broadcast through the platforms. Several Internet TV content providers were urged to rectify their products by halting the download channels of third-party applications such as Youku, iQiyi and Souhu.