HEADLINES: China blames funding crunch for delay of pay-TV

China has delayed plans to launch pay-television services through its national broadcaster China Central Television's platform. Media agency sources said the country's broadcast regulator - the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television - blamed the postponement on a lack of funding. It is now understood that Sarft plans to set up a state-level pay-television giant by the end of the year alongside a plan to speed up the consolidation of its highly-fragmented cable television sector as well as unite provincial and municipal cable television networks under one roof.