Alcatel’s Chinese IPTV Coup
Soon after the government authorities granted IPTV license to the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), this French telecommunication and Internet service provider joined in with the Chinese media giant. According to Light Reading, the newly established joint venture is already making initial moves despite some existing skepticism about the profitability of China’s IPTV market. Additional details and links are provided in this article for further information.
“China has nearly 330 million fixed lines and, with 30 million broadband subscribers, the broadband uptake is growing fast. And while SARFT has issued only one license, the major carriers are running trials and testing services and technology with a view to gaining full regulatory approval.”
China: Out from the Shadows
Since China’s media market is not yet an open market, censorship doesn’t seem to be a rare term in this industry that has long been closely supervised by government authorities. But with the trend of the entire movie industry gradually opening for international competition, the rules have started to loosen. Business Week has an interesting story about this change based on the true experience of a Chinese movie director whose recent movie was greenlighted for the first time in his career.
“With Chinese cinema under siege from Hollywood offerings and rampant DVD piracy, Beijing’s film authorities have decided to start letting directors decide what movies to make, says Wang. But he doesn’t expect rapid change.”
Chinese Film to Vie for Best Foreign Film at Oscars
As a greater number of high quality movies are being produced in China, Chinese filmmakers are eyeing bigger stages for increased international recognition. Xinhua News reports that a new Chinese movie will try its luck at next year’s Academy Awards. Set in Tibet, the movie has already received enthusiastic responses from the audience and is considered a masterpiece by film critics.
“Directed by Lu Chuan, ¡°Keke Xili¡± is a documentray-style story about saving and protecting the Tibetan antelope, also called the Chiru. Most of the cast members were local Tibetan people.”
China’s Internet Players Step up to Battle U.S. Giants
The Chinese Internet industry is developing so fast that some major players are posing challenges to their U.S. competitors. Some say that the visions and ambitions of these Chinese domestic Internet companies may be inspired by China’s recent acquisitions of U.S. business entities in the oil and banking industries. The story below from Investors.com provides a full picture of this confrontation, with specific mentions of the online gaming industry.
Hollywood Movie Studios See the Chinese Film Market as Their Next Rising Star
Following the government’s loosened restrictions on television and film production last year, China is becoming a real attraction to Hollywood studios. Although most of these media giants have established a presence in China over the past decade, this seems to be the first time for them to consider serious investments in the Chinese media market. From this article in The New York Times, you will be able to catch a glimpse of how some fresh Chinese flavors and elements are being incorporated with the traditions of Hollywood.
“China’s box office receipts are still small compared with ticket sales in the United States, where box office revenues were a record $9.4 billion in 2004, according to Exhibitor Relations. But analysts here say affluent Chinese are becoming avid movie-goers, particularly in big cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The domestic market is expected to grow to $1.2 billion by 2007, from about $500 million in 2004, according to China E-Capital, a private investment bank in Beijing.”