The deal marks another milestone in providing legitimate content on the online TV and movie market in China, which is the world's largest Internet market with 591 million users.
The pact will enable over 389 million Chinese online video users to get free streaming of Mandarin-dubbed and subtitled Nickelodeon programming on tv.sohu.com over the next 12 months, Sohu and Viacom said in a joint statement.
Sohu Video will start to offer over 200 hours of Nickelodeon programming on Sunday 15th December 2013, including titles such as "SpongeBob SquarePants", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Avatar".
In the last year, the number of people who surf the web from smartphones and tablets has risen by 20 percent.
The Viacom-Sohu pact comes shortly after The Walt Disney Company China and Shanghai Media Group's BesTV New Media unit announced a joint venture to combine the two companies' technology and marketing skills to tap into Chinese market.
Nickelodeon programming is also available to watch in mainland China via Nickelodeon China, a Nickelodeon-branded programming block on China Central Television (also known as Chinese Central Television; commonly abbreviated as CCTV), the predominant state television broadcaster in mainland China. Current Nick programming NickHeads in mainland China can watch on Nick China, a joint venture between VIMN Asia and CCTV, include "SpongeBob SquarePants", "Dora the Explorer", "Danny Phantom", "Kids' Choice Awards", "El Chavo", "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness", and "The Penguins of Madagascar". Former programming Nickelodeon China has aired in the past include the popular Classic Nickelodeon original animated series (Nicktoons) "Rugrats", "Hey Arnold!", "CatDog" and "The Wild Thornberrys":
Sohu Pacts With Viacom International for Online Video in China
Over 389 million users on tv.sohu.com are expected to get access to free streaming of Nickelodeon content.
Viacom International Media Networks Asia, a division of Viacom, and Sohu Video, a unit of Chinese online giant Sohu.com, have announced a strategic collaboration for online video-on-demand and video syndication in China.
The deal marks another milestone in providing legitimate content on the online TV and movie market in China, which is the world's largest Internet market with 591 million users.
The pact will enable over 389 million Chinese online video users to get free streaming of Mandarin-dubbed and subtitled Nickelodeon programming on tv.sohu.com over the next 12 months, Sohu and Viacom said in a joint statement.
"Nickelodeon's content has strong appeal and relevance with the Chinese audience. I hope that our collaboration will allow us to bring more exciting international children’s programming to our online users," said Dr. Charles Zhang, chairman and CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of Sohu.com.
"We are excited to collaborate with VIMN and welcome their well-established content on our platform," said Zhang.
Sohu Video will start to offer over 200 hours of Nickelodeon programming on Dec. 15, including titles such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar.
"Today’s announcement reinforces and strengthens us as a media content provider in the fast-growing new media and mobile internet industry in China," said VIMN Asia's executive vice president [EVP] and managing director [MD], Indra Suharjono.
"We have been focused on developing our brand's presence in China, and expanding business relationships with partners that allow consumers to access VIMN’s entertainment content across a multi-platform environment," said Suharjono.
In the last year, the number of people who surf the web from smartphones and tablets rose by 20 percent.
The Viacom-Sohu pact comes shortly after The Walt Disney Company China and Shanghai Media Group's BesTV New Media unit announced a joint venture to combine the two companies' technology and marketing skills to tap into Chinese market.
[Tags:] AVATAR, VIACOM, NICKELODEON, INTERNATIONAL, ASIA, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, VOD, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2013)
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