Youku adds Universal deal
By Patrick Frater
Tue, 10 July 2012, 11:36 AM (HKT)
Chinese online video operator Youku Inc 優酷 has unveiled a licensing agreement with Hollywood studio NBC Universal International.
The multi-year deal covers video-on-demand (VoD) rights to a yearly rotating selection of 100 of Universal's library titles as well as upcoming features. These will be made available on Youku's speciality platform Youku Premium.
In a statement the companies said that new movies will be shown on the service after their China theatrical release and named Battleship, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, Contraband, Safe House and Snow White and the Huntsman as among those covered.
To date, only Battleship (pictured) has had a theatrical release in China (22 April). The Lorax is set for release in China later this month (27 July). Snow White is currently on release in much of Asia, but has not yet set a China release date. Safe House and Contraband were both given releases elsewhere in Asia in the first quarter of this year, but do not have China releases.
Among the library titles, the companies named Schindler's List, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III and Apollo 13.
Youku has other content deals with Hollywood studios including Disney, Paramount, Dreamworks, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox.
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