Tag Archives: Youku

News Digest: November 17, 2011

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The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on November 17. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.

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◙ Dangdang (NYSE: DANG) Announces Q3 Results (PRNewswire)

◙ Shandong Gold (Shanghai: 600547) Offers $1 Billion for Jaguar Mining (NYSE: JAG) (English article)

◙ Youku (NYSE: YOKU) Announces Unaudited Q3 Results (PRNewswire)

◙ Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU) Reports Unaudited Q3 Results (PRNewswire)

◙ Online Wine Merchant Jiuxian Secures Second-Round VC Funding (English article)

Baidu Video Tries Blockbuster Licensing

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Baidu’s (Nasdaq: BIDU) online video joint venture Qiyi seems to have learned a lesson from its pirating parent, announcing a new exclusive licensing deal for the China online video rights for the popular latest installment in Paramount’s (NYSE: VIAb) “Transformers” movie franchise. (English announcement) Baidu itself has found big success in allowing the exchange of pirated material, mostly music, over its web site in recent years and continues to offer such services despite ongoing government pressure on Chinese web firms to get out of the pirating business. But in a nod to that pressure, in July it formally launched a service for legally obtained music, and announced a series of high-profile licensing deals to offer music on it from several major Hollywood record labels, though added it had no intention of closing its piracy-plagued older music site. (previous post) This new strategy from Qiyi, which already appears to offer legal copies of popular US TV series, looks relatively smart to me, drawing on exclusive rights for individual big-name movies to draw in viewers. Still, it will have to compete with the likes of online video leader Youku (NYSE: YOKU) and the video site operated by Sohu (Nasdaq: SOHU), which have also signed similar though much bigger deals with major Hollywood studios in the last few months. Its unclear if Qiyi, founded less than 2 years ago, will be able to pay the big bucks that these older, more established companies are paying for exclusive rights to big-name films, which may explain its approach of buying of single blockbuster title rather than signing broader licensing deals which are much more expensive. The company also has the advantage of tapping a huge potential audience of users from Baidu, China’s dominant search engine with nearly 80 percent of the market. That tie-up, combined with this early approach to exclusive licensing for single blockbusters, could create a potent formula for success as Qiyi looks to establish its name in the online video space.

Bottom line: Online video site Qiyi’s signing of an exclusive deal for a single Hollywood blockbuster looks like an interesting approach, which, combined with support from parent Baidu, could boost its chances for success.

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Baidu Comes Under Government Fire 政府“修理”百度

◙ Baidu Seeks Diversification in Tudou Talks 百度求购土豆，寻求多元化

◙ After Years, Baidu Does the Right Thing 百度多年来的一个正确之举

Renren Finds Video Bargain in China Web Bubble 人人网低价收购56网 凸显中国互联网困境

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Renren (NYSE: RENN), often called the Facebook of China, appears to have purchased up-and-coming video sharing site 56.com for a bargain price in its first major M&A, casting a spotlight on the growing pressure that young Chinese web firms are facing in the current Internet bubble. The Renren news, which saw it buy money-losing 56.com for a modest $80 million, is just the latest sign of a Chinese Internet under duress, with media reporting new mass layoffs at two additional firms, B2B marketplace operator DHGate and group buying site Groupon.cn, which is no relation to US industry leader Groupon. Let’s take a look at 56.com first. (company announcement) According to industry data, 56.com has about 66 million unique visitors and nearly 1 billion page views a month. Video sharing leader Youku (NYSE: YOKU) has about twice as many unique visitors, and 4 times as many page views. And yet even after the latest market sell-off, Yoku still has a market cap of $2.3 billion, or nearly 30 times what Renren paid for 56.com. Obviously traffic alone isn’t the only way to determine a company’s value, but in the Internet world it’s one of the best measures of its potential. Combine that with the fact that 56.com lost a relatively modest $500,000 in the second quarter, and this looks like a very good deal for Renren. Now let’s look at the latest layoffs, which again point to the incredible pressure that money-losing web firms are facing to quickly turn a profit or risk being forced to close or sell themselves at bargain prices to companies like Renren. Domestic media are citing a company employee in saying that DHGate, has laid off more than half of its technology and marketing staff, reportedly under pressure from major investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers which has cut off additional funding until the company can show some better financials. (English article) That news comes as domestic media are also reporting that Gaopeng.cn has laid off more than half of its staff (Chinese article), not long after Gaopeng, the group buying joint venture between US-based Groupon and China Internet leader Tencent (HKEx: 700) made similar layoffs. Look for more of these mass layoffs, plus some sales of promising but money-losing web firms like 56.com at bargain prices in the months ahead as China’s Internet bubble works its way through a painful correction.

Bottom line: Renren’s purchase of a solid video sharing site at a bargain price, coupled with mass layoffs at two other web firms, are the latest signs of distress in China’s Internet bubble.

人人网(RENN.N)似已低价收购视频分享网站56网，这是人人网第一笔大规模并购案，凸显中国年轻的网络公司在目前互联网泡沫时代所面临的压力。人人网斥资8,000万美元，收购目前亏损的56网，是中国互联网业承压的最新迹象。另有媒体报导，B2B小额外贸批发平台敦煌网（DHGate）和团购网团宝网（Groupon.cn）将进行新一轮大规模裁员，後者与美国Groupon并无关联。我们先来看看56网。行业数据显示，56网约有6,600万名独立访客，每月页面浏览量近10亿次。视频分享领军企业优酷网(YOKU.O)这两个数据约为 56网的两倍和四倍。即使经历了近期的市场抛售，优酷网市值仍有23亿美元，是人人网收购56网价格的近30倍。流量显然不是决定公司价值的唯一依据，但 在互联网领域，这是衡量一个公司潜力的最佳标准之一。再加上56网第二季度亏损50万美元，收购56网对人人网来说是一笔不错的交易。再看看近期的裁员事件。这再次表明，亏损的网络公司面临诸多压力，要麽迅速实现盈利或被迫倒闭，要麽以低价出售给人人网等公司。国内媒体援引一名企业雇员 的说法称，敦煌网技术和营销部裁员逾半，原因是主要投资方Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers（KPCB）削减额外资金，除非敦煌网财务状况有所改善。国内媒体还报导称，继高朋网裁员不久後，团宝网也裁员逾50%。随着中国互联网业经历 痛苦修正，预计未来数月还将有更多大规模裁员，以及前景看好但目前亏损的企业被出售。

一句话：人人网低价购买视频分享网站56网，敦煌网和团宝网大规模裁员，这些都是中国互联网陷入困境的最新迹象。

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ More Internet Froth in Alibaba Valuation, Dangdang Price War 阿里巴巴估值奇高凸显网络泡沫

◙ 360Buy IPO: Let the Delays Begin 京东商城放缓IPO进程

◙ Wal-Mart Finds Bargain in China’s Internet Bubble

DreamWorks Dreams of China With New JV

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The draw of China, with its legions of viewers who can’t get enough of Hollywood movies and TV shows, has seduced DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA), which is preparing to set up a joint venture to make films just for the Chinese market. Western media are reporting the animation arm of the studio founded by Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg has hired a recruitment firm to staff up a production operation in China, though additional details of the plan were thin. (English article) If true, this would mark the second big move in China for DreamWorks, which just last month signed a distribution agreement with leading online video Website Youku (NYSE: YOKU) (English article), and is part of a broader trend that has seen the major Hollywood studios take a recent new interest in the China market as demand for legal content grows. DreamWorks’ two moves would follow the phenomenal success of its latest “Kung Fu Panda” film, which broke the box office record for an animated feature in China, partly due to its Chinese theme that appealed to local audiences. DreamWorks wouldn’t be the first to set up a filmed entertainment joint venture with an eye to earning big bucks in China. Warner Brothers (NYSE: TWX) was quite bullish on the market when it established a similar joint venture a while back, but had difficulty competing with the pirates who made its films available on bootleg discs usually within days of their theatrical releases. What’s different here is that while Warner was going for a smaller slice of the Chinese market with lower-budget films, DreamWorks has shown with “Kung Fu Panda” that it can make blockbusters that can do well enough at the box office to support their big budgets. The latest “Kung Fu Panda” earned nearly $100 million at the Chinese box office this summer, proving the market is growing fast and could easily justify a made-for-China title with a budget of up to $20-$30 million. Given its expertise at making popular animated films and China’s growing fondness for such films, I would say DreamWorks’ China dream looks like more than just a fantasy, with a very good chance for big success.

Bottom line: DreamWorks’ plans for a China animation joint venture looks like good business for this animation specialist, drawing on Chinese viewers’ fondness for slick Hollywood blockbusters.

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Hulu Makes First Global Stop in Japan, China Next?

◙ Youku’s New Formula: Sponsored Programs 优酷“新配方”：赞助项目

◙ Youku, TCL Discover Hollywood in New Tie-Ups 优酷、TCL双双联手好莱坞大品牌

 

 

PPLive, Phoenix Video Initiatives Offer News Alternative 凤凰新媒体与PPLive的新尝试

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Two of China’s up-and-coming Internet firms, video sharing site PPLive and new media site Phoenix New Media (NYSE: FENG) are getting bold in their bid to attract more viewers by offering news and current affairs programs in a quiet but clear challenge to Beijing’s state-run media establishment. In the most recent development, Chinese media are reporting that PPLive, one of the country’s hottest video sites and a frequently mentioned IPO candidate, has formed a tie-up with Xinhuanet, the online arm of the state-run Xinhua news agency, to create a joint venture to produce short news segments for streaming online. (English article; Chinese article) That news comes just a week after Phoenix New Media said it has launched its own online current affairs program (company announcement) on its online site. Both initiatives are part of a broader trend that has also seen video sharing leader Youku (NYSE: YOKU) also announce development of its own original programming in recent weeks. (previous post) This latest gamble looks very calculated and is also a smart move by both PPLive and Phoenix, both seeking to top demand for interesting alternatives from viewers tired of watching the same old state-sponsored newsspeak on TV. By choosing the well-connected Xinhua as its partner, PPLive should avoid angering Beijing too much, even as it explores interesting new formats and topics that central propaganda officials might consider inappropriate for mainstream TV. Likewise, Phoenix New Media is also well connected to propaganda officials through its parent, Phoenix Satellite Television (HKEx: 2008), which operates the only privately-owned and quite successful news channel in China. If one or both of these initiatives succeed, which seems likely, look for others like Youku and even Web portals like Sina (Nasdaq: SINA) and Sohu (Nasdaq: SOHU) to follow with similar news video offerings in the months ahead.

Bottom line: New online video news shows by PPLive and Phoenix New Media look like smart moves with a good chance of success, aimed at Chinese consumers looking for more news alternatives.

两家後起的中国互联网公司新秀——视频分享网站PPLive和新媒体网站凤凰新媒体(FENG.N)为吸引更多观众，作风可谓大胆。他们通过提供新闻和时事节目向官方媒体发起了无声但明确的挑战。最近有中国媒体报导称，PPLive计划与新华网络电视台合作成立一家合资公司，制作新闻短片。此前一周，凤凰新媒体表示，公司已在其网站上推出了在线时事节目。视频分享网站优酷网(YOKU.O)最近几周也推出了其原创节目。这些最新举动看起来是精心策划，PPLive和凤凰新媒体的举动也颇为明智，两者都在寻求满足观众多样化的观看需求。PPLive在探索寻找宣传部门可能不适宜主流电视媒体的有趣新模式和话题，与人脉广大的新华社合作，应避免过份激怒中国政府。同样，凤凰新媒体通过凤凰卫视(2008.HK)也与宣传部门的官员保持着良好的关系。如果这些想法获得成功，目前看来成功机会也很大，优酷甚至新浪(SINA.O)、搜狐(SOHU.O)等门户网站也有望在未来数月提供类似的新闻视频节目。

一句话：PPLive和凤凰新媒体提供的新型在线视频新闻看来是明智之举，且成功机率很大，因中国消费者正寻找更多类型的新闻节目。

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Hulu Makes First Global Stop in Japan, China Next?

◙ Youku’s New Formula: Sponsored Programs 优酷“新配方”：赞助项目

◙ Sina Taps On Back Door Into Tudou 新浪可能收购土豆

Hulu Makes First Global Stop in Japan, China Next?

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And the winner is … Japan. That’s the word coming from Hulu, the popular video streaming site backed by 3 top Hollywood studios, which has just announced that Japan will be the first stop in its international expansion. (company announcement) The fact that China wasn’t chosen isn’t all that surprising, as Japan and most of Western Europe boast far wealthier consumers to buy the mostly paid programming services offered by Hulu, whose primary backers include Disney (NYSE: DIS), News Corp (Nasdaq: NWS) and Comcast’s (Nasdaq: CMCSA) NBC Universal. But what’s interesting for China watchers is the language towards the bottom of the announcement, where Hulu describes itself as a company with offices in “Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Tokyo and Beijing.” That’s the exact wording, with Tokyo and Beijing listed as Hulu’s only offices outside the US, in that order. Does that mean that China will be the next stop on Hulu’s global expansion? I would say there’s a good chance the answer is “yes”, given the recent flurry of Hollywood deals to provide content to the growing number of Chinese video and music sites under growing pressure from Beijing to delete illegal content and offer legal material instead. Top online video site Youku (NYSE: YOKU) has been a leader in the recent trend, signing deals with Warner Brothers (NYSE: TWX) and Philips Electronics (Amsterdam: PHG) (previous post), while leading search site Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) also recently signed a deal with several major record labels to offer legal copies of their music. (previous post) The timing also looks particularly good for Hulu, as it could offer its programs not only over the Internet, but also potentially over a state-of-the-art digital home cable network being rolled out soon by China Telecom (HKEx: 728; NYSE: CHA) or via a future similar network being created through an ongoing national cable TV consolidation plan. If the Japan roll-out goes smoothly, I’d look for a Hulu announcement in China possibly as early as the end of this year, but more likely in 2012.

Bottom line: Hulu’s move to Japan presages a move into China for the second stop on its global expansion, most likely in 2012.

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Youku’s New Formula: Sponsored Programs 优酷“新配方”：赞助项目

◙ After Years, Baidu Does the Right Thing 百度多年来的一个正确之举

◙ TV Programers Dial Up Success on Internet 电视电影制片商迎来网络商机

 

Sina Taps On Back Door Into Tudou 新浪可能收购土豆

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After a few weeks of talk, leading Web portal Sina (Nasdaq: SINA) has come out and told the world through a public filing that it now owns 9 percent of Tudou (Nasdaq: TUDO), in what looks to me like a potential prelude to a future takeover of the newly listed online video site. Sina disclosed that it first acquired a 4.2 percent stake in Tudou for $31.2 million at the time of its listing, and then swooped in a short time later after the company’s shares sank on its debut to boost its holdings to 9 percent for an additional $35.2 million investment. (English article) While Tudou founder and chairman Gary Wang insists the investment is purely financial, it looks to me like Sina is testing the waters for a potential future takeover of the company. Similar takeovers have proven difficult in the past as the founders of such takeover targets are often major stakeholders in their companies, often controlling a majority of shares with the ability to quash any approaches. But in this case, Wang only holds 8.6 percent of Tudou shares, and is clearly under continued pressure to raise cash, as evidenced by his determination to go ahead with this IPO despite negative market sentiment. Many will recall that Sina has a poor record with major M&A, failing to close its purchase of Focus Media (Nasdaq: FMCN) several years ago and also fending off a hostile takeover bid by Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq: SNDA) before that. This Tudou purchase could be a more careful attempt to see how the markets react before making an outright offer for the company. Given the sudden interest in video sharing by nearly every major Internet company, including Tencent (HKEx: 700), which is reportedly in talks for a stake in industry leader Youku (NYSE: YOKU) (previous post), I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sina launch a takeover attempt for Tudou by the end of this year, with an aim to turning it into a profitable, well-run online video site.

Bottom line: Sina’s purchase of a 9 percent stake of Tudou looks like a prelude to a future attempt to take over the company, with an offer possible as soon as the end of this year.

经过数周洽谈，中国第一大门户网站新浪(SINA.O)通过一份向监管机构提交的报告对世界宣布，新浪目前已经持有中国第二大在线视频网站——土豆网(TUDO.O)大约9%的股份。我认为此举可能为新浪未来收购土豆网拉开序幕。新浪透露在土豆网上市期间，首先投资3,120万美元购得土豆4.2%股份，土豆上市首秀股价大跌後，又追加投资3,520万美元，持股份额增至9%。虽然土豆创始人兼董事长王微坚称新浪目的仅在投资，但在我看来，新浪应该是在试水，看未来是否有可能收购土豆。以往此类收购通常比较困难，因为收购目标的创始人往往拥有多数股权，可以抵挡可能的收购意向。但在土豆网一例中，王微持股仅占8.6%，而且显然仍有筹资压力，在市场情绪下如此消极仍然继续IPO就是明证。很多人都应该记得新浪在重大并购案例中表现都比较差，比如，多年前并购分众媒体(FMCN.O)的失败之举，在此之前，盛大互动(SNDA.O)还曾企图敌意竞购新浪。新浪此次如有意收购土豆，可能会更加细心谨慎，直接向土豆报价前先看市场如何反应。中国几乎每一家主要互联网企业均突然对视频分享网站感兴趣，其中包括近来传洽谈购优酷股份的腾讯在内。考虑到这层因素，我认为新浪今年年底前有可能发起对土豆网的收购，并努力实现土豆网扭亏为盈，运转良好。

一句话：新浪持有土豆网9%股份看起来是未来收购土豆的序幕，新浪今年年底前可能就开始对土豆展开收购。

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Tencent Sends Out Mixed Video Signals 腾讯若持股优酷 有助进军视频业

◙ Sina, Tencent Pose Threat in SNS, E-Commerce 新浪腾讯攻城掠地

◙ Video Sharing: Let the Tie-Ups Begin

Tencent Sends Out Mixed Video Signals 腾讯若持股优酷 有助进军视频业

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As I glanced over today’s headlines, I couldn’t help wondering what is going on with Chinese Internet leader Tencent (HKEx: 700), which is sending out mixed signals about its intent in the hot online video sharing space. A top company executive told Chinese media that Tencent has spent some 100 million yuan, or more than $15 million, in recent months to build up its video sharing infrastructure (English article), following word earlier this year that it had budgeted $100 million to enter a space dominated by industry leaders Youku (NYSE: YOKU) and Tudou (Nasdaq: TUDO). (previous post) That’s all fine and good, except that just two weeks ago reports emerged that Tencent was in talks to take an equity stake in Youku itself. (previous post) Tencent clearly wants to get into the video space, and I applaud this decision as online video fits in well with its demographic base, made up of young people, mostly 25 years old and younger, who are the main users for its wildly popular QQ instant messaging service and online games. But it needs to make up its mind soon on which direction it will take, or end up spending lots of unnecessary cash and upsetting potential allies in the market, including members of a video alliance it helped to establish earlier this year. (previous post). My personal choice would be for a tie-up with Youku, preferably through a major equity stake, as this well-managed company is making lots of smart moves lately in its road to profitability, which could come by the end of the year. In the latest of those moves, the company announced a deal giving it first-of-its-kind online video rights to Dreamworks Animation’s (NYSE: DWA) “KungFu Panda” series, which has been hugely popular in China. That deal follows similar recent ones with Warner Brothers (NYSE: TWX) and Philips Electronics (Amsterdam: PHG) (previous post), and shows that Youku is clearly looking for a road to sustainable profits.

Bottom line: Tencent’s move into video is a smart one, catering to its demographic base, but it needs to quickly decide which path it will take, with a Youku equity tie-up looking most attractive.

我浏览了一下今天的头条新闻，不禁猜想腾讯(0700.HK)会有何动作，腾讯对其进军视频分享领域的意图发出不同信号。该公司一名高管告诉中国媒体，腾讯近几个月斥资约一亿元，打造视频分享基础设施，而今年早些时候有传言称，腾讯拨出预算1亿美元，进军优酷网(YOKU.N)和土豆网主导的视频分享领域。这些消息都还不错，除了两周前有报导称，腾讯正在谈判持股优酷网。腾讯显然想进入视频行业，我很赞赏这一决定，因为该服务与腾讯用户结构契合度很好，该公司的QQ即时通讯和在线游戏用户多为25岁以下的年轻人。但腾讯应尽快决定发展方向，以停止耗费大量不必要的资金，令潜在的市场盟友失望，包括今年稍早协助成立的视频版权联盟。我个人观点是腾讯应与优酷网结盟，最好是成为优酷网较大股东的方式，因为优酷网近期采取多项明智之举，年底前即有望实现盈利。优酷网最新举措是，宣布与美国梦工厂(DWA.O)签署《功夫熊猫》系列版权协议。此前，优酷还与华纳兄弟(TWX.N)和飞利浦(PHG.AS)签署类似协议，这表明，优酷显然正在探索持续盈利的途径。

一句话：腾讯进军视频业是明智之举，适合其较年轻的用户结构，但腾讯需迅速决定发展方向，以持股优酷网的方式与其结盟看似最具吸引力。

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Video Sharing: Let the Tie-Ups Begin

◙ Youku’s New Formula: Sponsored Programs 优酷“新配方”：赞助项目

◙ Tencent Takes Serious Shot at Video 腾讯重拳出击视频业务

News Digest: August 30, 2011

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The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on August 30. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.

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◙ SAIC (Shanghai: 600104) Profit Beats Estimates After GM, VW China Sales Climb (English article)

◙ Bank of America to Sell 13.1 Bln China Construction Bank (HKEx: 939) Shares (Businesswire)

◙ Youku (NYSE: YOKU), DreamWorks Animation In “Kungfu Panda” China Distribution Deal (PRNewswire)

◙ LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) Reports Q2 Financial Results (PRNewswire)

◙ Tencent (HKEx: 700) Video Invests Over RMB 100 Mln on Infrastructure (English article)

Youku’s New Formula: Sponsored Programs 优酷“新配方”：赞助项目

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At first glance, video sharing site Youku’s (NYSE: YOKU) new announcement regarding the creation of a new video series together with Dutch electronics giant Philips (Amsterdam: PHG) looks like little more than PR, which led me to pay little attention when it landed in my email box. (company announcement) But closer inspection reveals a more innovative tie-up, which has Philips essentially paying for the creation of an exclusive new video series for Youku in exchange for sponsorship rights, much the way advertisers pay for traditional TV series with their advertising dollars. According to Youku, the first episode of the series, about a young designer trying to win back his girlfriend from a wealthy man, was viewed 2 million times in its first 24 hours — numbers that would make most TV channels envious. While I’m still not completely convinced about Youku’s long-term viability as a stand-alone online video provider, initiatives like this, which are costing it nothing and bringing in millions of viewers, look like a smart formula for success as the money-losing company seeks ways to turn a profit. This latest effort follows another Youku initiative back in June, when it became China’s first big portal to sign a licensing deal with a major Hollywood studio, in this case offering content from Warner Brothers (NYSE: TWX) to its premium subscribers. (pervious posting) These kind of initiatives are exactly the kind of thing that Youku and video- and music-sharing rivals like Tudou (Nasdaq: TUDO), Xunlei and even Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) need to be doing in order to ensure their long-term viability. Recent talk that Youku may be in talks with for an equity tie-up with China Internet leader Tencent (HKEx: 700) (previous post) are making this company look like an even stronger bet to maintain its position as China’s leading online video site, and potentially even a profitable one in the near future!

Bottom line: Youku’s foray into sponsored video series looks like a good move with strong future potential as it weans itself from pirated content.

乍看起来，中国视频分享网站优酷(YOKU.N)与荷兰电子厂商飞利浦(PHG.AS)联合出品系列网络电影的新项目不过是公司公关而已，所以一开始邮箱里出现这条消息时，我并未在意。但是进一步的观察发现，其实这一合作还有着非常创新的一面：飞利浦其实通过出资为优酷创作独家网络电影，以换取赞助权。据优酷介绍，系列电影第一支短片《爱有多久》首映24小时内，点播量高达200万，这一数字足以让多数电视频道感到眼红。短片讲述一名年轻设计师如何从一名富翁手中赢回自己的女朋友。虽然我对优酷能否长期扮演在线视频提供者的角色还存有质疑，但此类创意举措，用不着优酷花钱，还能吸引数以百万计的观众，看起来像是优酷寻求扭亏为盈的“巧妙配方”。此前，优酷6月份宣布与华纳兄弟(TWX.N)合作，由优酷通过视频付费点播服务，向高端用户提供450部华纳影片，并成为第一家赢得好莱坞主流片商授权的中国大型门户网站。此类做法正是优酷、土豆(TUDO.O)、迅雷，甚至百度(BIDU.O)等类音乐与视频分享网站需要去做的事情，因为这样可以保证他们的长久生命力。而且最近还有传言称优酷可能正在与腾讯(0700.HK)洽谈股权合作事宜，似乎意味着优酷保持国内在线视频网站领头羊的机率更高，甚至有可能近期扭亏为盈。

一句话：优酷涉足有赞助的网络电影项目看似是明智之举，未来颇为看好，有助于其摆脱盗版内容。

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Video Sharing: Let the Tie-Ups Begin

◙ Tudou IPO Set to Stumble Out of the Gate 土豆上市首日难有精彩表现

◙ Youku, TCL Discover Hollywood in New Tie-Ups 优酷、TCL双双联手好莱坞大品牌

Video Sharing: Let the Tie-Ups Begin

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Just a day after Tudou’s (Nasdaq: TUDO) disappointing IPO that saw its shares drop 12 percent on their trading debut (English article), there’s buzz in the market that Tudou’s top rival, industry leader Youku (NYSE: YOKU) is in talks for an equity investment by Chinese Internet leader Tencent (HKEx: 700). (English article; Chinese article) Such a tie-up would bear a remarkable resemblance to Google’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) landmark purchase of global online video leader Youtube several years back, and testifies to the fact that online video is a much better business prospect when it has strong support from a company like Google or Tencent, which can use their wider array of services to steer traffic to these more specialized video sites. The development is also interesting because Tencent itself has already flagged video as a major focus area, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into a business it hopes will help to jump-start its sputtering growth. (previous post) If and when it happens, such a tie-up will give money-losing Youku, which already enjoys a market cap more than 4 times the size of Tudou, an even bigger advantage in the video-sharing market, providing the clout of China’s top online game and instant messaging service provider. Such a move could leave Tudou, whose chairman Gary Wang has little or no interest in similar tie-ups, no choice but to find its own partner. Rumors of such a tie-up were already rife in the run-up to Tudou’s IPO, with talk that it was seeking investment from leading online search site Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU), which no doubt would still be interested in such a tie-up. (previous post) Other video sharing sites like Xunlei, which had to abort a planned IPO last month as market sentiment tanked (previous post), could also be forced to search for new tie-up partners if a Youku-Tencent alliance takes shape.

Bottom line: An equity tie-up between Youku and Tencent would throw a new dynamic into the video sharing market, forcing other players to seek similar tie-ups.

Related postings 相关文章:

◙ Youku, TCL Discover Hollywood in New Tie-Ups 优酷、TCL双双联手好莱坞大品牌

◙ Tencent and Alibaba: It’s Not Easy Being Big 腾讯和阿里巴巴：想当老大不容易

◙  Tudou IPO Set to Stumble Out of the Gate 土豆上市首日难有精彩表现