Expanding its on-demand catalog beyond Disney, Paramount, Dreamworks, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox, Chinese online video giant Youku announced today that it has partnered with NBCUniversal to bring classic movies and the studio’s upcoming releases to its Youku Premium service.
As part of the deal, NBCUniversal will provide a rotating selection of more than 100 titles to Youku Premium subscribers, including Schindler’s List, The Mummy trilogy and Jurassic Park franchise, but also its catalog of upcoming releases, which counts Contraband, Safe House and Snow White & The Huntsman amongst its titles.
The films will be available to Youku customers once they have hit theatres in China, helping to broaden NBCUniversal’s content in the Chinese market.
Youku traditionally battled its longtime rival Tudou to become China’s most popular online video service, but in March the two companies announced a merger. In a 100% stock-for-stock transaction, the two video giants formed a new service, Youku Tudou Inc.
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Both Tudou and Youku have fought hard to reduce the high levels in piracy in China, this deal sees Youku attempt to offer more content to limit it further.
[Image Credit: Scott Kinmartin]
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