Xiaomi Internet TV STB Suspends Video Content Service
Tencent Tech, 11/23/12
On the evening of November 22, Beijing-based Android device developer Xiaomi posted a notice that its set-top box (STB) Xiaomi Hezi ("Xiaomi Box") would suspend video content services as of November 23 for systems maintenance. The notice contained no mention of when service would be resumed. Xiaomi was reportedly forced to suspend services for noncompliance with State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) regulations.
Senior Xiaomi management reportedly initiated contact with SARFT on November 19. A source inside SARFT stated that in order to comply with SARFT regulations, Xiaomi would be required to remove all direct links to online video content, leaving only content from Hangzhou-based DTV and IPTV operator Wasu Digital Television Media Group.
In its "Operation and Management Requirements for Licensed Internet Television Operators," issued in December 2011, SARFT dictated that only seven companies, including Wasu, BesTV (600637.SH), CCTV's national online TV station CNTV, and Southern Media Corporation, were licensed operators of internet television integrated platforms. The regulations also dictate that "internet television terminal products selected by internet television integration platforms may connect solely to internet television platforms, and may not have any other connections to the internet."
Xiaomi announced the RMB 399 Xiaomi Hezi on November 14. The device currently bears an internet television terminal serial number from Wasu. At launch, however, the device featured content from Sina (Nasdaq: SINA), Sohu (Nasdaq: SOHU), Tencent (0700.HK), Netease (Nasdaq: NTES), P2P streaming video platforms PPLive (PPTV) and PPStream, and wireless and TV new media company Phoenix New Media (PNM) (NYSE: FENG), a subsidiary of Phoenix TV (2008.HK), in contravention of the exclusivity mandated by SARFT regulations.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Xiaomi Releases Internet TV STB" MD 11/14/12 issue and "SARFT Issues New Internet TV Regulations" MD 12/24/11 issue.
Keywords: content IPTV television online video DTV SARFT set-top box Wasu Xiaomi Xiaomi Box license regulation Internet TV
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