Middle East
Middle East OTT Heats Up With Viu Launch
Competition in the OTT space in the Middle East is intensifying with PCCW’s Viu becoming the latest platform to roll out across the region.
Chinese Speaking
Alibaba Invests $200m In South Korea’s Kakao
Alibaba’s payment affiliate Ant Financial is investing $200m in South Korean messaging service Kakao, as part of the Chinese tech giant’s move to build out online payment systems around the world.
Chinese Speaking
FESTIVALS: HKIFF To Screen Edward Yang’s Films
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (April 11-25) is presenting a retrospective of the work of late Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang.
Middle East
FilmDoo Scoops Up Slate Of 19 Asian Titles
UK-based streaming platform FilmDoo has acquired TVOD rights to 19 Asian films from distributors including Asian Shadows and Stardust Pictures.
Chinese Speaking
Sony, iQiyi To Co-produce Chinese Version Of 'Chosen'
China’s iQiyi has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) to co-produce a Chinese-language adaptation of US drama Chosen.
Chinese Speaking
Lionsgate Extends Output Deal With iQiyi
Lionsgate has signed a new long-term output deal for library titles and upcoming films, including Robin Hood and Patriots Day, with Chinese streaming platform iQiyi.
Chinese Speaking
Netflix Beats Subs Forecast, Scraps China Plans
Netflix posted better-than-expected earnings and subscriber numbers for the third quarter of 2016, while confirming that its China plans are on hold due to a challenging regulatory environment.
Chinese Speaking
TRAILER: Sky Ladder: The Art Of Cai Guo-Qiang
Netflix has released the trailer for documentary Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang, directed by Kevin Macdonald.
Chinese Speaking
Verizon, Wanda & LeEco: What’s Behind This Week’s Big Acquisitions?
The relentless pursuit of scale in users bases, data and digital advertising was the driving force in the Verizon, Wanda and LeEco acquisitions that made headlines this week.
Chinese Speaking
Baidu Chief Drops Proposed Buyout Of iQiyi
Baidu chairman and CEO Robin Li has withdrawn his offer to take streaming site iQiyi private following objections from a major Baidu shareholder.
Chinese Speaking
Baidu Shareholder Challenges iQiyi Sale
Baidu shareholder Acacia Partners has asked the company’s chairman Robin Li to withdraw his bid to take streaming site iQiyi private, claiming that the sale price is far too low.
Chinese Speaking
Tencent Acquires CMC As China Strives To Grow Music Market
Chinese digital giant Tencent has acquired a controlling stake in China Music Corp (CMC) in a move that could help carve out a legitimate online music market in China.