Almost half of China's 730 million internet users use live video streaming sites and apps, according to authorities. The live broadcasting market was worth 21 billion RMB (USD 3 billion) in 2016, an increase of 180 percent from the year before, according to market research company iResearch.
In its latest crackdown on the industry, the Ministry of Culture said today that it had shut down 10 hosting platforms and given administrative punishments, including fines, to 48 companies.
The ministry said it had also given out punishments including unspecified fines and the confiscation of "illegal earnings" in relation to more than 30,000 broadcasts.
A total of 547 people have had broadcasting contracts terminated.
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It said a well-known platform, Huajiao, was punished for broadcasting a live show earlier this month in which the host falsely claimed she was in Beijing's Forbidden City after closing time. The show was actually made in a studio.
Authorities have in the past handed down penalties to platforms, saying they have been found broadcasting pornographic and other objectionable content.
They are increasingly bringing out rules for the industry, including requiring platforms to obtain government licenses and hosts to register with their real names.
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