As the New York Times’ David Barboza reports today, Viacom’s MTV Networks announced yesterday a deal with China’s top search engine Baidu.com to supply the “Google of China” with 15,000 hours of entertainment content from MTV and Nickleodeon.
The deal marks a first for a major U.S. entertainment company in China — Baidu will offer a branded area on its service called MTV Zone, sponsored by Motorola and P&G. The section will feature free or premium content along four categories:
—MTV China’s locally produced shows such as MTV Music Wire, Tian Lai Cun, MTV Chart Countdown, MTV English, MTV Mega Star and MTV China’s live music events.
—MTV hit reality shows including Pimp My Ride, Cribs and Laguna Beach.
—Nickelodeon’s hit shows, including animations SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, as well as live action series Unfabulous and Drake & Josh.
—Music videos from four Chinese labels, as well as one Asian label.
Is it funny or sad that the first American entertainment programs that millions of Chinese will see are “Pimp My Ride” and “SpongeBob SquarePants?” The latter program, however, has been running for a few months on state-controlled China Central Television. And MTV Networks has signed agreements with four mainland Chinese record companies to distribute via the new service music videos that feature Chinese musicians and bands. Music videos from a fifth music company, Avex, which represents various pan-Asian groups, will also appear on the Baidu service.
The deal follows on MTV Networks pact to offer clips, music and ringtones to China Mobile and China Unicom.
Cynthia Brumfield at 7:59 AM|Comments(0)
Blogs We Read
