Chinese subtitles turned off as websites shut down
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, November 24, 2014
Two Chinese websites offering free subtitled versions of foreign language movies and TV dramas have shut down.
On Saturday, YYeTs.com, which provides Chinese subtitles for English-language movies and TV dramas, suspended operations. It did not say if or when the service will resume.
"The website is cleaning content. Thank you for your love, support and accompanying all the way since we — a group of students studying in Canada — set up the website in 2004," its statement read.
"We have translated high-quality overseas film and TV programs and open courses provided by prestigious universities. We hope that has helped you, and if it has, we have felt enough," it added.
YYeTs, a non-profit organization, offered a wide range of films and TV shows with Chinese subtitles, with volunteers writing the subtitles.
It was popular due to its exclusive resources of independent or erotic productions, though most were pirated.
In October, YYeTs said on Weibo that it would be removing download links to unauthorized sources by the end of this month. But the post was quickly deleted.
According to TheWrap, an entertainment and media news website, the closure was linked to criticism by The Motion Picture Association of America.
On October 27, it highlighted the world’s most notorious marketplaces for pirated TV and film content and named a total of 27 offenders, including two in China, Xunlei.com and YYets.com.
Also on Saturday, shooter.cn, another non-profit website where volunteer translators help with Chinese subtitles for foreign films and TV shows, said the website had closed.
Shen Sheng, who manages the site, said: "The values of our website, which I hope, is to cross the limit of countries and help you to know different cultures. If you feel being helped by us, I can feel very satisfied. But now, the age for shooter.cn has gone."
Earlier this month, China banned websites from streaming or providing downloading services for foreign movies and TV shows that did not have prior official approval.
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