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Tag: China

  • Tom Online Inc. buys wireless entertainment firm Infomax

    Tom Online Inc. buys wireless entertainment firm Infomax

    MUMBAI: China’s wireless internet company Tom Online Inc is acquiring a wireless entertainment company Infomax with the maximum valuation capped at approximately $75 million.

    Through the acquisition, Tom Online will gain access to Infomax’s extensive TV distribution network which reaches out to millions of Chinese households. This acquisition is expected to further strengthen Tom Online’s leadership in China’s wireless Internet market.

    Following the acquisition, significant synergies between Infomax and Tom Online are expected to be created in the coming years. Tom Online has proven and pioneered the integration of TV and wireless media as a new way to inform and entertain Chinese consumers with the purchase of Treasure Base in 2004. By combining Tom Online’s own industry leading service platform with Infomax’s strong TV operator relationships and experience, the company believes the acquisition of Infomax will produce yet more benefits in the areas of product diversification, operational efficiency and content sharing.

    Through its unique relationships with TV operators and other entertainment companies, Infomax has been providing wireless interactive products and services to China’s national TV audience since 2003. Tom Online management believes the purchase presents tremendous synergy potential for enhancing Infomax’s existing product portfolio given Tom Online’s leadership in SMS, WAP, MMS, CRBT and IVR services.

    Tom Online CEO Wang Lei Lei said, “The achievements accomplished by Tom Online in the wireless Internet market today are not only the results of our ability to continuously innovate, they are also the results of our solid working relationships with mobile operators such as China Mobile. With that as a foundation, we work hard to build the most comprehensive and multifaceted distribution network in the SP industry, and focus on formulating strategies to develop entertainment and sports-related products. In the TV media alone, we have accumulated a vast amount of content cooperation experiences through our partnerships with more than 200 TV stations. I believe, with the addition of Infomax, Tom Online will be able to further enhance its TV distribution network, which in turn will help promote the growth of our entertainment services.”

    Besides TV alliances, Tom Online’s extensive distribution platform also brings many media partners from print, radio and the Internet, as well as audio and visual distributors and handset manufacturers. Through its acquisition of service provider Treasure Base in August 2004, Tom Online became the exclusive wireless content partner of China’s most watched sports channel.

  • China Mobile, News Corp & Star in partnership to explore wireless space

    China Mobile, News Corp & Star in partnership to explore wireless space

    MUMBAI: China Mobile Limited, News Corporation and Star Group Limited have announced a broad strategic partnership to explore wireless media business opportunities.

    By leveraging the content assets and interactive services of News Corporation and Star, the partners will combine their strengths to develop wireless media services based on China Mobile’s mobile platform, through which China Mobile serves over 260 million subscribers. The cooperation will explore wireless media business opportunities on a global basis, states an official release.

    Key areas of the cooperation will include development, production, aggregation and distribution of a wide array of wireless services ranging from music, broadband interactivity, and social networking to multimedia value-added products, informs an official release.

    China Mobile chairman and CEO Wang Jianzhou said, “The partnership with News Corporation and Star will lay a solid foundation for providing wireless multimedia services. This is a very important step for us in view of the global convergence of telecommunication, media and Internet. With News Corporation and Star’s popular and quality media content assets, we will be able to offer more exciting services to our customers.”

    News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch says, “Partnering with China Mobile gives us immediate access to a vast consumer base throughout China. News Corp. has been a world leader in wireless content while our services such as MySpace dominate the online social networking craze. It is my hope that this partnership will unleash the creative and technical abilities of the talented employees of News Corp. and China Mobile to bring new offerings to consumers across mainland China and Hong Kong.”

    Star Group CEO Michelle Guthrie adds,” Today’s partnership represents an important new media growth opportunity for Star. China Mobile’s world-leading expertise, customer base and exciting growth initiatives will allow us to expand the Star brands and services in the largest wireless market in the world. We look forward to working closely with them to bring a new level of wireless entertainment to the consumer.”

  • China Mobile buys 19.9% of Phoenix from Star Group

    China Mobile buys 19.9% of Phoenix from Star Group

    MUMBAI: China Mobile (Hong Kong) Group Limited has purchased a 19.9 per cent interest in Phoenix from Star Group Limited. After the transaction, Star will continue to hold 17.6 per cent of Phoenix.

    China Mobile and Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited have also reached a strategic alliance to jointly develop, market and distribute wireless content, products, services and new media applications.

    Under the strategic alliance agreement, China Mobile and Phoenix will jointly develop products and services relating to the wireless delivery of media content. In exchange for direct access to China Mobile’s network and customer base on favourable terms, China Mobile will have preferential access to Phoenix’s news and selected programs. 

    The deal will complement China Mobile’s 3G strategies by widening its service offerings and providing enhanced media content to its mobile subscribers, and will broaden Phoenix’s new media content’s access to China mobile’s customer base, informs an official release.

    China Mobile chairman and CEO Wang Jianzhou says, “Phoenix offers a unique set of content to the Chinese community globally. By leveraging Phoenix’s media content via our mobile platform, China Mobile will be well positioned to provide wireless multimedia services to our customers.”

    Phoenix chairman and CEO Liu Changle adds, “The establishment of this new strategic alliance will provide an excellent opportunity for the further development of Phoenix’s new media business, and should have a very positive impact on Phoenix’s long-term commercial prospects, enabling Phoenix to distribute its content through China Mobile’s wireless platform and reach a broader market.”

    Star Group CEO Michelle Guthrie says, “We believe that bringing in China Mobile as a shareholder and strategic partner will create incredible growth opportunities for Phoenix in the future. We look forward to our continued involvement in Phoenix as the company extends its content to the largest wireless customer base in the world.”

    Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor to China Mobile. Merrill Lynch is acting as financial advisor to Star, according to the news release.

  • Destiny’s Child, Korn triumph at MTV Asia Awards

    Destiny’s Child, Korn triumph at MTV Asia Awards

    MUMBAI: The Siam Paragon venue in Bangkok was illuminated with international and Asian stars celebrating the fifth spectacular MTV Asia Awards 2006 on 6 May.

    Destiny’s Child got the Special Achievement in Music Award. In a special presentation during the show, MTV Asia Awards host Kelly Rowland accepted the Award on behalf of Destiny’s Child. The award winners included Korn’s Twisted Transistor which won for Favourite Video.

    The multi-platinum trio consisting of Rowland, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams, Destiny’s Child were honoured for their contribution to the music world and their immeasurable impact on pop culture.

    While Latin heart throb Ricky Martin was the viewers choice for Best Male Singer, the winner of the first edition of American Idol Kelly Clarkson was their choice for Favourite Female. The Backstreet Boys were voted the Favourite Pop act while Simon Webbe was the Favourite Breakthrough Artist.

    The Asian winners included India’s Jal, Vicki Zhao from China, Twins from Hong Kong and Thai singer Tata Young. Winners were determined by MTV viewers throughout Asia, who voted via SMS and online.

    The night started off with Korn performing their song Twisted Transistor. The 4,600 capacity-crowd were treated to a true blend of East and West throughout the night.

    Host city Bangkok got a special treat as Thai hip-hop group Thaitanium jammed with Simon Webbe in a performance of No Worries and Webbe’s Blue bandmate Lee Ryan partnered with Young for their version of the classic ballad Endless Love.

    Taiwanese favourite Jolin Tsai performed Dancing Diva. Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter got behind the piano and sang his hit Bad Day. The night ended with Korea’s Kangta joining forces with Taiwan’s Vanness Wu for a duet performance of 2nd Scandal.

  • Nokia wins GSM expansion deal with Sichuan Unicom in China

    Nokia wins GSM expansion deal with Sichuan Unicom in China

    MUMBAI: Nokia has won a GSM network expansion deal with Sichuan Unicom, a subsidiary of China Unicom.

    Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy its GSM radio and core networks, including the Nokia MSC Server mobile softswitch, in four cities in the Sichuan Province.

    Deliveries have started and the network expansion will be fully operational by August 2006, informs an official release.

    The is Nokia’s first agreement with Sichuan Unicom and is a milestone for Nokia, entering the GSM market in Sichuan and West China.

    The deal also highlights Nokia’s position in mobile softswitch systems deployment in the China area. The Nokia MSC Server mobile softswitch is a circuit core network architecture fully compatible with GSM/Edge and WCDMA 3G.

    “We are extremely delighted with our progress in the GSM business and deepening cooperation with mobile operators in China. The mobile market and the number of subscribers in China are growing fast and steadily. With our global experience and strong end-to-end localization commitment, we support mobile operators in bringing state-of-the-art mobile services to their customers,” said China Area Networks Nokia vice president Yuan Wei.

  • China plans nationwide launch of digital cable

    China plans nationwide launch of digital cable

    MUMBAI: China is planning to launch digital cable television across the country this year. The country had tested the switch from analogue to digital through a three-year pilot programme and the positive result has inspired the government to go ahead with the expansion plan.

    The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television administration vice director Zhang Gaitao said at a national conference on cable TV that the right time had come for China to popularize digital cable TV, as the country now has the technology and hardware following the three-year trial program.

    Reportedly, the pilot program has been testing the switch from analog cable television to digital cable television in 49 areas since 2003. The digital switch has already taken place in the cities of Qingdao, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Mianyang and now the process has moved to municipalities including Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Guangxi.

    China has more than 120 pay television channels licensed by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, with over one million digital cable TV users.

  • India, China to propel Asia- Pacific broadband revenue to $55 billion by 2011; study

    India, China to propel Asia- Pacific broadband revenue to $55 billion by 2011; study

    MUMBAI: India and China seem to be the key countries, that are likely to propel the growth and increase of broadband revenues in the Asia-Pacific region and double from 20.7 billion US dollars last year to 55.1 billion US dollars in 2011, as indicated by the Arizona based In-Stat research agency.

    The research indicates that the broadband future hinges on developing countries. Thus, Asia’s broadband future depends on countries like Thailand, India, China, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

    These findings highlight that the broadband user base stood at 86.6 million in 2005 and the number will set to increase nearly threefold to 235.7 million users in five years.

    “In less developed markets like China and India, broadband access services are expected to demonstrate impressive growth through 2011, and constitute the bulk of Asia Pacific’s broadband subscriber expansion,” says In-Stat analyst Bryan Wang.

    He added, “Wide availability of low prices in cyber cafes in these markets is allowing people to experience broadband services without a fixed charge, which will stimulate potential new subscriptions.”

    Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore have been the key drivers of the growth broadband space in the past.

    Tier-1 markets Japan and South Korea contributed more than 60 per cent of total revenue in 2005, followed by Tier-2 markets Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and Singapore contributing around 15 per cent, the research firm says.

    The findings also highlighted that the next-generation broadband services strategy in markets like Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong is to promote value-added broadband services, driven by the launch of compelling broadband content (i.e. IPTV and VoIP) and innovative broadband pricing plans.

    Various connection technologies will be competing through 2011, with the current dominating technology, DSL, facing price competition from cable modem and satellite. In the long run, compelling content or ‘killer broadband applications’, will be the key to success.

    This research is part of In-Stat’s Asia Consumer Convergence Service, which takes an in-depth look at digital home networking related products by country as well as applications markets. This makes it an unique service for anyone interested in consumer markets, in extremely dynamic Asian markets such as China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

  • MTV to explore internet and MVAS markets in China

    MTV to explore internet and MVAS markets in China

    MUMBAI: Viacom owned music broadcaster MTV is planning to broaden its sphere in the areas of internet and mobile value-added services (MVAS) in China, according to China Daily.

    MTV Networks vice chairman and MTV Networks International president William Roedy has been quoted in a report as saying that, the company will launch broadband services in China at the earliest. According to Roedy, MTV’s services in China will be provided either by partnership with local firms or through acquisitions.

    The report said, MTV and China Mobile, one of China’s mobile carriers, had agreed last year to offer MTV content to China Mobile users in the form of ring tones, music and picture downloads.

    In China, MTV is aired only in the Pearl River Delta in southern province and at a number of upscale residential compounds and hotels in other areas.

  • China associates with Venezuela for broadcaster training, program exchange

    China associates with Venezuela for broadcaster training, program exchange

    MUMBAI: Venezuela and China have signed a mutual agreement on program exchange and training of television and radio broadcast professionals.

    The deal was signed between Venezuelan communications minister William Lara, and deputy head of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) Tian Jin, said a Venezuelan communications ministry statement.

    As per the agreement, Venezuela will broadcast two channels of Central China Television programs in Venezuela and will also have access to China Radio International’s programs in a variety of languages. “Radio, television and cinema are the frontline” of Venezuela’s revolution, and the Latin American country needs China’s know how to fight on this terrain”, said Lara.

    Tian expressed hope that the cultural and information exchange would boost friendship between the two nations, as radio and television are the easiest ways to get information.

  • NGCI, CCTV consolidate partnership

    NGCI, CCTV consolidate partnership

    CANNES: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and China Central Television (CCTV) have announced the completion of a two-part high-definition television documentary Inside the Forbidden City.

    NGCI CEO David Haslingden says, “We are delighted to partner with CCTV in producing a historically and culturally rich film for our global viewers this fall. It is a valuable step forward as part of NGCI’s commitment to developing local content everywhere and expanding our collaboration with CCTV”.

    Inside the Forbidden City brings the epic tale of China’s Forbidden City to a vast global audience. Until the early 20th Century, any commoner who dared enter the palace would pay with his or her life. Now, this historic two part series gives viewers unparallel access to the Forbidden Palace.