Sina Weibo, ACFUN asked to stop video streaming services

Through its official website, China's TV and film regulator orders three major web portals, including Sina Weibo, to shut down video and audio services, June 22, 2017. [Photo: money.163.com]

China's TV and film watchdog Thursday asked three major web portals, including the Sina Weibo, to shut down video and audio streaming services that are in violation of state rules.

The popular twitter-like Sina Weibo, news portal Ifeng.com and ACFUN, a major online video site with "bullet screen" function where real-time comments from viewers appear on the screen, and other websites have provided audio-visual services without gaining the appropriate certificates, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said in a statement.

They have screened "many politically-related programs that do not conform with state rules and social commentary programs that propagate negative remarks and opinions," it said.

"The administration has ordered authorities in charge to take effective measures to shut down the websites' audio-visual services and make a thorough rectification, so to create a cleaner cyberspace," it said.

Weibo has about 340 million monthly active users, while ACFUN, nicknamed "A station," was one of China's first video sites to feature bullet screen interaction, and a major provider of cartoons and anime.

A statement from Sina Weibo says users without relevant licenses issued by Weibo are banned from uploading video and audio contents, June 22, 2017. [Photo: money.163.com]

The administration has repeatedly asked websites to gain the correct certificates before providing audio-visual programs. In May, it punished Tencent for spreading self-made political and live news programs and playing vulgar shows on mobile apps including WeChat.