SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television), China’s main regulatory body governing the media, recently issued mobile TV licenses to China Radio International and China National Radio. With four of China’s largest media companies now holding mobile TV licenses (including Shanghai Media Group and CCTV) and none issued to China’s telecom operators and WVAS providers, it’s clear that SARFT is winning the power struggle over the MII (China’s main telecom regulator) in controlling the mobile TV industry in China. For foreign media companies, infrastructure vendors, and investors, this distinction will be very important as the industry develops because the two government regulators have a different set of regulations regarding foreign investments and market entry.
China Mobile, though, seems determined to become more than just the network provider for mobile TV as can be seen in its recent acquisition of 19.9% of Phoenix TV.