Websites like
Sohu.com and Youku.com have a greater opportunity to promote fee-based online
video services. Deng Ye, Vice President of Sohu Entertainment Media Division,
says Camisetas De Fútbol the company has invested a lot in
purchasing TV dramas and movies with first-run or exclusive-run copyrights.
“We’ve bought more than ten TV dramas with
exclusive running rights on average during the past two years. So far, we’ve
got 30 such dramas already. Each one needs an investment of 10 million yuan.”
The investment has
rewarded the websites with high viewing rates. Within two months before the end
of last year, the popular TV drama “Marriage Battle” was viewed 600-million Manga
Larga Para Niños times
on Sohu.com. But at the moment, most online video providers make a profit from
advertisements played at the beginning of the videos rather than user fees.
But a small number
of websites have already tried to charge fees. For example, Youku.com promises
users they can watch online videos an unlimited number of times for only 20
yuan per month.
But for most
Chinese netizens who are used to enjoying free online entertainment, fee-based
services may be unwelcome.
“I won’t watch the first-run TV dramas or
movies online since they eventually will air on TV. I love the feeling of
expecting to watch several episodes every day on TV. Online watching is not
suitable for Juventus
Camisetas De Fútbol the
whole family to share and talk about the story. The advertisements don’t bother
me at all since you can also take a rest during the commercials.”
“I personally can accept the online service
charges, but the prerequisite is they must offer programs with fascinating
stories and high-quality images. Most importantly, there must be no
commercials. It’s very irritating that many sitcoms broadcast on TV always put
in lots of advertisements.”
Recent statistics
indicate the number of online video viewers has reached 265 million, accounting
for 63 percent of the country’s total number of netizens. The prosperous online
video business has also cultivated a new market for film and television drama
producers.
Content producers
are sharing profit from online broadcasts with major internet portals rather
than selling running copyrights Juventus
de camisa to
traditional media like TV stations or selling DVD copyrights to publishers.
Film Director You Xiaogang says moviemakers in China are now following the new
trend in the industry.
“The era of fee-based film watching has
arrived, so movie producers need to think about whether they should cooperate
with online portals to share profit and risks. For example, should they split
the profit fifty-fifty?”