philip lelyveld The world of entertainment technology

Online TV revenue in China to reach $1.38b in ’16 (story about webTV in China)

Domestic video websites, whose revenues rely mainly on advertisements, have felt pressure in the reality of soaring charge of copyrights and increasing bandwidth costs. Compared to the massive campaigns in 2011, domestic video websites start "intensive cultivation" in 2012. Whether in extensively searching for partners or in new market entering through hardware terminals, with the increasing popularization of three networks integration and increasing rich of application, video websites are now seeking the direction of future development by adapting the strategy of "walking with multiple legs".

Comparing domestic video websites with foreign ones, the biggest difference lies in the self-made programs. ...

On-line video websites' entry into television benefits firstly from the certainty of policies. According to the Management Requirements for Operation of Licensed Internet Video Organizations, issued by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), the status of the internet set-top box is no longer ambiguous. In accordance with the rules, on-line video websites, when in line with controllable and publishable policy, can cooperate with licensed parties and enter this market in advance.

Under this preferential policy, letv.com announced last week that its TV 3D Cloud video Ultra-clear player will be officially put into commercial use. Through cooperation with CNTV, the video service under letv.com will be supervised by CCTV international broadcast and control platform. As for the audience, by using this little box, which adopts the same chip as that of the cinema digital play device, they could watch ultra-clear on-line videos and 3D movies on TV directly when connected to the internet. According to Liu Hong, CEO of letv.com, letv.com will launch related business in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Changsha, the first three pilot cities of three-network integration. Meanwhile, in accordance with the provisions, they plan to launch this business in other pilot regions under the permission of future policies. ...

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