Bookmark Vlog Blog
Feb
5
China Simultaneously Cracks Down and Lightens Up on Video Sharing Sites
Filed Under Video Sharing Sites
News out of the Chinese vlogging world points to signs that seem to be both hopeful and discouraging. Recently-enacted laws meant to crack down on videos that would portray the country in a negative light would make it mandatory for video-sharing sites to be state-run. An exception has been made, however, for those companies that were already in business before the law came into effect.
The Chinese government, with the ever-important PR behemoth known as the Olympics on the horizon, went into overdrive recently in order to do something about negative videos coming out of the country’s exploding online video market.
While Chinese video-sharing sites generally censor themselves, unflattering videos do still make it through from time to time.
So the good news here is that some private ownership is still possible. The bad news is that a crackdown is still on the way. More good news, however, is that industry analysts believe that the government is reluctant to bring too heavy a boot down onto the vibrant video sector.
Gauging from China’s history in controlling the country’s online activity, I would not be so bullish on the idea of a lenient hand — not until the Olympics have come and gone, in any case.
According to the China Post, the country’s most popular video sharing sites claim as many as 100 million visitors a day, “a scale that rivals China’s state TV channels.”
As for revenus, also according to the Post, we have the following numbers:
The government-sanctioned Internet Society of China is forecasting total revenues this year of 160 million yuan (US$22 million; €15 million) this year - nearly double the 2007 level. It says revenues will increase to 290 million yuan (US$40 million; €27 million) in 2009.
The eight top companies in the field have taken in US$190 million from private investors since 2005, according to BDA China Ltd., a consulting firm.
LINKS:
Some of the more popular Chinese video-sharing site:
Some articles on the topic: