BEIJING -- Live streaming of the Olympics, either over the Internet or to mobile phones in the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administration Region (SAR), must be authorized by CCTV International, an official of the broadcasting organization said on Tuesday.
Hu Zhanfan, CCTV vice president, told a forum on copyright protection of the new media that "CCTV was granted the exclusive rights to conduct live streaming of the August Olympics in the Chinese mainland and Macao over the Internet and mobile phones after it won the rights of live streaming of the Olympics through TV."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had, for the first time, separately sold broadcasting rights over TV and over such new media as the Internet and mobile phones.
"Even local TV stations that have live streaming rights for TV are not entitled to transmit the Olympics on their websites or other mobile platforms," he said.
Hu, also the deputy director of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), said the SARFT will strengthen its monitoring of all local stations as well as news and commercial websites.
Violators will be warned and punished, he said. "Their bad records will be linked to approval of future program licenses."
More than 100 media organizations including Xinhuanet and the website of the People's Daily newspaper reached a consensus at the forum on opposing piracy and obtaining legal authorization.
Stephane Kanah, IOC Internet project manager, said all the authorized broadcasters had an obligation to oppose piracy and protect the interests of other broadcasters.
The IOC is committed to an Internet monitoring program whose goals include search and deletion of illegal content within minutes, he said.
