China's censors pull the plug on unauthorised smart TV apps that allow mainlanders to access foreign shows and Hong Kong's Phoenix network

Fans of overseas dramas like and received unwelcome news over the weekend when they switched on their internet-connected televisions - a blue screen with a message saying Beijing was pulling the plug on a popular way to access the shows.

"To comply with the requirements from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (Sarft), we decided to upgrade our operating system," the message says.

"Thereafter, 81 third-party applications declared illegal by Sarft will be shut down."

Many mainland viewers have downloaded these applications from stores on the mainland and installed them onto their television smart boxes. The software gives them access to foreign shows and news broadcasts such as Hong Kong's Phoenix TV, bypassing the censors in the process. Viewers get a wider choice of entertainment and it is cheaper than paying for cable.

But Sarft is cracking down on the practice and issued an order on November 6 telling the manufacturers of the smart boxes they must delete unauthorised apps from the operating systems of the devices, state media reported.

Sarft has issued licences to produce internet content for television to seven state-owned media companies.