February 4, 2007
Webcasting casts spell on Chinese Internet users but faces uncertain future
Almost half of China's Internet users were found to be focusing in on video-sharing websites which are home to millions of amateur films and animations, reports China Daily.
"About 76 million of the 137 million Chinese Internet users have visited YouTuBe-like webcasting websites last year, according to the Internet Guide 2007 released earlier this month by Internet Society of China and the Data Center of the China Internet.
... A quick check of Tudou, shows the website has more than 1.1 million short videos or animations in more than a dozen different categories.
The website calls on netizens to become the "director of their own lives".
Tudou.com is also providing clips to a Shanghai television station and to Fujian-based Southeast TV which have developed their own programs to showcase the creativity of China's digital camera users.
Despite their growing popularity webcasters are facing an uncertain future.
The government is concerned the growing phenomena because the video uploads are not officially authorized and many use copyrighted material to produce mocking parodies of original film and television programs.
An unnamed official with the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV said the country will soon start checking online video broadcasting, and allow only licensed websites to continue offering webcasts."
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