Chinese online video giant YouKu, popularly known as ‘the Chinese YouTube’, has agreed to a deal with DreamWorks Animation that will make the Kung Fu Panda film series available through the site’s premium movie service.
According toReuters, the films – which have been accused of“twisting Chinese culture”– will initially be available through Youku Premium, its on-demand viewing channel, before debuting on the site’s Hollywood Movie Channel after the paid viewing window has closed.
The deal with DreamWorks follows June’s news thatWarner Brothers and YouKu had agreed a three year dealto add up to 450 of the US film producer’s titles, including Hollywood blockbuster Inception, to YouKu’s premium channel services.
YouKu, which listed on the New York stock exchange back in 2009, havingraised US $40 million in funding, has seen its share prices gain 7% following the announcement of the DreamWorks agreement.
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The site, which battles Tudou to be China’s most popular online video service, enjoys content licenses with more than 1,500 production companies – both in China and overseas – but has a long history of battling piracy, an issue notorious in China’s online video landscape.
Story byAlex Wilhelm
Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex on Twitter, and on Facebook. You can reach Alex via email at alex@thenextweb(show all)Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex onTwitter,and onFacebook.You can reach Alex via email atalex@thenextweb.com
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