SINGAPORE – DECEMBER 19, 2013 – Viki, the global TV site powered by fans, today announced a partnership with Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) to bring fully licensed TV shows and movies from around the world to the 237 million monthly active users of Baidu’s video search in China. Viki will begin streaming hundreds of hours of TV programming from around the world, translated by fans into Chinese and English.
Viki is the first global video streaming site to partner with Baidu Video, China’s leading video search engine with the largest user base in both the PC and mobile markets. Viki will offer full-length movies, dramas, comedies, anime and other shows from the US, UK, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and 10 other countries and regions. The content can be found at v.baidu.com and will be available across multiple platforms, including PC and smart mobile devices.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Baidu, one of the premier Internet brands in the world, to bring the best of global TV to Chinese viewers,” said Razmig Hovaghimian, CEO and co-founder of Viki. “We’re also opening up Chinese content including dramas, web movies and series to the rest of the world, breaking down barriers between great entertainment and fans everywhere.”
China is the world’s largest video market with 450M online video viewers, or nearly 80% of its internet-connected population. Netflix , YouTube and other popular streaming sites currently do not have access in China.
Viki is a subsidiary of Rakuten with offices in San Francisco, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo with plans to open an office in Shanghai in early 2014.
■ About Viki
Viki is a global TV site with TV shows, movies and other premium content, translated into more than 160 languages by a community of avid fans. With more than 26 million viewers each month, more than 2 billion videos viewed and over 450 million words translated, Viki uniquely brings global prime-time entertainment to new audiences and unlocks new markets and revenue opportunities for content owners. Viki was named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2014 and acquired by Japanese internet services giant Rakuten in September 2013. The company has offices in San Francisco, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo.
■ About Baidu
Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best and most equitable way for people to find whatever they're looking for. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu's ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU." Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.