Chinese authorities are suppressing streaming video over social media due to the rapid increase of online-only television content as well as live-streaming. This is the result of the effort by media regulators in consolidating control over the increasing number of new digital media content, which operates beyond the confines of the traditional media of China.
Social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo are now required to obtain their own licenses from the State Administration for Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in order for them to broadcast video/audio.
These platforms demand that the content distributed through social media should have traditional broadcast licenses.
Filmmakers, TV producers and video bloggers have created content for social media platforms, Web portals and set-top boxes beyond the purview of China's media censorship.
The regulators of the national media took a major step in putting down unlicensed programs in 2014, and they required that set-top boxes as well as streaming websites carry content only from chosen licensed distributors.
The new regulations will make films and TV series that are circulating on social media to fall under the same level of scrutiny as mentioned above, as they too will need to have the same licenses for public airing.
This follows the new Ministry of Culture rules released this month, which require live-stream operators to submit papers of identity for their stars as well as proof that they will be able to censor inappropriate content.
According to eMarketer, a consultancy company, the online mobile video consumption is booming in China, as advertising companies spent more on digital media compared to traditional television in 2016. This raises new challenges on the Chinese government, which has been watching over online content and discourse.
The Cyberspace Administration of China gave a warning last month that live videos streamed through popular social media platforms could destabilize national security as well as social stability by spreading rumors and fraud.
Tencent, the company that operates WeChat, has no responses/comments regarding this, while Weibo hasn't given a statement yet.