(Yicai Global) June 30 -- China's Ministry of Culture said yesterday that it recently ordered law enforcement departments in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang to raid 50 major online entertainment groups. Some 30 sites including Yy.com, Longzhu.com, Huomao.com and Miaopai.com were punished for broadcasting illegal content.

Law enforcement departments in 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities participated in inspections that covered 10,562 mobile live-stream apps. Some 29 mobile entertainment sites such as Tianshi Shequ and Inke.cn were penalized, and investigations into 23 sites including Nannan, Remen and Miaomiao were opened, while 5kong.tv and another 10 sites were closed down. Xingye is being closely examined for providing obscene content. The Online Cultural Business License issued to its owner, Puyang Xinyi Culture Media Co., has been revoked, and the company was ordered to shut its entertainment site.

The ministry conducted special inspections on major online app stores that list mobile livestreaming apps, checking the business qualifications of apps listed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. [HKG:0700], Baidu Inc. [NASDAQ:BIDU], Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. [NYSE:BABA], Beijing Qihoo 360 Technology Co. and Huawei Technologies Co. In a live-streaming app cleanup, 291 apps were removed from marketplaces, and 544 listing applications were rejected. The ministry shut down 11,929 'online studios,' ordered another 18,977 to make rectifications, meted out punishments to 31,347 performers and ended 9,721 entertainers' contracts.

YY Inc. [NASDAQ:YY] owns Yy.com. The firm's share price fell 8 percent yesterday. Longzhu.com is Shanghai PPlive Media Tech Co.'s multimedia arm and specializing in organizing and broadcasting e-sports events. Huomao.com is a live-streaming platform for gamers and is owned by Wuxi Qiaoxi Culture Media Co. Miaopai.com is operated by Xuan Yixia Beijing Technology Co.