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Chinese fixed line telco China Netcom (CN) has launched the Video Network Plan broadband platform to offer online TV viewing services.

Content is being provided by eight media agents and content providers that CN tied up deals with, including Guizhou TV Station, Qinghai TV Station, ccidmedia.com, Hubei Film and Television Art Center and China Television Artist Association Television Commission.

CN is charging a service fee from media and content providers, while the latter will charge fees from viewers or through advertising. Providing a software operation platform, CN will oversee distribution, broadcast, and the billing system, as well as bandwidth and servers. The media agents and content providers will create and provide content creation as well as the development of copyright protection systems for the platform.

CN is also looking to roll out set-top boxes in 2008 to enable users to download video programs for viewing on TV sets.