Tencent, the 5th largest internet company in the world, has inked a deal with both YG Entertainment and HBO.
YG Entertainment is one of the big three South Korean artist management companies whose roster includes popular Korean acts like Big Bang, 2NE1, and Psy, of Gangnam-style fame.
HBO is, of course, the cable channel that everyone wants to emulate. The company is a perennial kingmaker, creating iconic shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, True Blood, Game of Thrones, and True Detectives.
Tencent is securing its digital platform and online audience with licensed content. According to Tencent, starting January 1st 2015, Tencent will be the sole online partner of YG Entertainment in China. It plans to utilize its own online and mobile platforms, such as QQ Music and Tencent Video, to distribute contents from HBO, YG Entertainment, and Warner Music Group.
These various deals illustrate that media content is a game of thrones between large Chinese firms. Alibaba is rumored to be seeking media firms to acquire. China's Dalian Wanda acquired US-movie theatre chain AMC Entertainment in 2012 and is reportedly considering buying Lionsgate.
All this buying and partnering frenzy shows that China has an insatiable appetite for media content and that large Chinese firms are all vying for the throne.
No comments:
Post a Comment