USA: The government-run China Movie Channel launches an online service to deliver streaming movies and also inks a deal with Paramount Pictures to begin streaming films in China

Record ID: 495580

  • Title: USA: The government-run China Movie Channel launches an online service to deliver streaming movies and also inks a deal with Paramount Pictures to begin streaming films in China
  • Date: 29th June 2012
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 28, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JIAFLIX CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARC GANIS, JIAFLIX MANAGING DIRECTOR, SAYING: "The venture that we put together include subscription video on demand and transactional video on demand and has the capabilities for pay-per-view as well. For the subscription video on demand, that will include Chinese movies as well as international movies and for transactional video, it will be the international movies. These movies will be provided in a high quality, high definition in many cases or very strong standard definition, legal manner that will be available on multiple devices: televisions, computers, iPads, tablets, and also very importantly, mobile telephones." VARIOUS OF JIAFLIX CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) LONGFEI LIANG, M1905'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, SAYING: "We would like to help Hollywood studios and filmmakers bring their content into China online and also help them with anti-piracy protection measures." AUDIENCE SEATED AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) LONGFEI LIANG, M1905'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, SAYING: "For our cooperation with Jiaflix, we want to create new business opportunities that will help expand the market in China and the U.S. for films." MEMBERS OF JIAFLIX AND M1905 POSING FOR PHOTOS
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Education,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA1ULBQT4HCFO8D954NWHJ5DQNH
  • Story Text: The government-run China Movie Channel will launch an online service like Netflix in China this year, promising a big new revenue source for Hollywood by streaming its films and TV shows to subscribers in the world's most populous nation.
    The new service is set to open in the fourth quarter, according to its backers, who say they have signed their first content agreement with Paramount Pictures.
    China Movie Channel plans to create the new service with an already existing movie streaming company, M1905, and Jiaflix Enterprises, a group that includes former Columbia Pictures chairman Sid Ganis.
    "The venture that we put together include subscription video on demand and transactional video on demand and has the capabilities for pay-per-view as well. For the subscription video on demand, that will include Chinese movies as well as international movies and for transactional video, it will be the international movies. These movies will be provided in a high quality, high definition in many cases or very strong standard definition, legal manner that will be available on multiple devices: televisions, computers, iPads, tablets, and also very importantly, mobile telephones," said Marc Ganis, a cousin of Sid Ganis and a Jiaflix managing director.
    Hollywood studios have been largely excluded from doing business in China by government-imposed import limits. China has imposed strict controls on the Hollywood shows allowed within its borders, limiting the number of movies screened in theaters and confining broadcasts to cable channels marketed primarily to an expatriate population.
    Rampant piracy - with DVDs of blockbuster films sold widely for often as low as one dollar apiece - has also curtailed the expansion of Hollywood.
    "We would like to help Hollywood studios and filmmakers bring their content into China online and also help them with anti-piracy protection measures," said said Longei Liang, managing director of M1905.
    In addition to Paramount Pictures, negotiations are underway with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and other studios to begin streaming their movies in China as well.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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