Chinese-Speaking Markets
Netflix Set To Take On Asian Tigers
Netflix has announced plans to launch in the four Asian tiger economies of South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan in early 2016.
Korea & Japan
Netflix, Amazon Prime Go Head-To-Head In Japan
As Netflix and Amazon Prime Video launch their assault on Japan, they may find their biggest battle is not with each other, but with domestic competitors and the idiosyncrasies of the Japanese market.
Australia & New Zealand
EzyFlix Becomes First Netflix Casualty In Australia
Australia’s EzyFlix has ceased operations, becoming the first indigenous streaming service to close since global giant Netflix entered the market in March.
Korea & Japan
Viki Acquires Korean Fan Site Soompi
Singapore-based global streaming platform Viki.com has acquired Korean fan community site Soompi from Crunchyroll.
Middle East
BBC Worldwide Signs VOD Deal With Tata Sky
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK broadcaster, has signed a distribution pact with direct-to-home provider (DTH) Tata Sky, marking its first VOD deal in India.
Korea & Japan
DramaFever Signs Distribution Deal With CJ E&M
US-based streaming service DramaFever has signed a multi-year deal with Korean powerhouse CJ E&M for exclusive rights to a package of Korean TV series and movies.
News
Angelina Jolie To Direct Cambodia-Set 'First They Killed My Father' For Netflix
Angelina Jolie Pitt will direct a feature adaptation of Loung Ung’s memoir, First They Killed My Father: A Daughter Of Cambodia Remembers, for Netflix.
News
ErosNow Enters Original Programming
ErosNow, the streaming arm of Bollywood studio Eros International, has announced its upcoming movie line-up along with plans to enter the production of original TV shows.
Middle East
Starz Play Arabia Seals Content Deal With CBS
Starz Play Arabia, the new OTT streaming service for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has signed a multi-year licensing deal with US network CBS Studios International to bring CBS and Showtime content to the region.
Chinese-Speaking Markets
Tencent’s JOOX Enters Malaysian Market
Tencent’s music streaming service JOOX has launched in Malaysia with three different user interfaces, reflecting the multicultural and multi-language nature of the Malaysian market.
Chinese-Speaking Markets
Alibaba Makes First Hollywood Investment
Alibaba Pictures has announced that its making an unspecified investment in Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, as well as cooperating on the online ticketing, merchandising and promotion of the film.
Chinese-Speaking Markets
Who’s Afraid Of The Big, Bad B.A.T.?
Most of the talk at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival revolved around whether China’s internet giants – Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent – will engulf the local film industry before its had a chance to mature.