A live streaming platform that broadcast the world’s most-watched TV show without approval was ordered to pay 500,000 yuan (US$72,610) in compensation for copyright infringement yesterday.

For many Chinese, CCTV Spring Festival Gala, produced by China Central Television, is a tradition of new year celebrations.

The 2016 gala attracted audiences of 1.33 billion around the world, according to CCTV.

To be entitled to broadcast the gala, some of the domestic leading online streaming sites such as LeTV paid nearly 15 million yuan to CCTV International Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of CCTV.

MoreTV, however, also provided a live broadcast, but didn’t pay anything.

According to Pudong New Area People’s Court, CCTV Spring Festival Gala is exclusively made by CCTV. It enjoys wide popularity and has a high market value.

Accordingly, Shanghai Qianshan Network Technology Development Co, which develops and operates MoreTV, was ordered to compensate CCTV International Network 500,000 yuan, the upper limit of compensation related to copyrights infringement.

The company was also ordered to cover a further 20,000 yuan of expenses resulting from the case.