BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of online livestreaming service users in China had reached 560 million as of March 2020, accounting for 62 percent of the country's total number of internet users, according to a report on China's internet development.
The number represented an increase of 163 million from the end of 2018, said the statistical report released by the China Internet Network Information Center.
China had 904 million internet users as of March 2020, with the internet penetration rate reaching 64.5 percent, according to the report.
The user numbers of live game streaming and live host shows had grown by 22.04 million and 43.74 million from the end of 2018 to 260 million and 207 million, respectively, by March, accounting for 28.7 percent and 22.9 percent of all netizens, said the report.
Live sports broadcasting and live concert streaming users stood at 213 million and 150 million, respectively, accounting for 23.5 percent and 16.6 percent of the total.
The number of users of a burgeoning business model that integrates e-commerce with livestreaming had hit 265 million by March, making up 29.3 percent of the total, according to the report.
The new model has added fresh vitality to the livestreaming industry with an upgraded user experience that could lead to higher user stickiness.
In addition, e-commerce livestreaming has also contributed to poverty alleviation by boosting sales of agricultural products, particularly in impoverished regions, said the report.
China has seen improved management and supervision of the livestreaming industry, it said.
Regulations on online livestreaming platforms and hosts have been rolled out by local industry associations and the platforms. A special action plan was made by departments including the State Administration for Market Regulation last October to punish violations of food safety in e-commerce livestreaming, said the report. Enditem
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