The decision comes just three months after the site was shut down for a week and a half. Although the website attributed the shutdown to maintenance work on its server, sources close to the site said China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (Sarft) was responsible as part of its crackdown of online video content.
Since then, 56.com had not received an online broadcasting licence from the government organisation.
56.com had ranked among the top three video-sharing sites in the country with former rivals Youku.com, which received a broadcast licence in June, and Tudou.com, which received one last week.
