Baidu Launching Online Video Outfit

BEIJING: Baidu, China’s leading search engine, is planning to launch a new independent company that will provide licensed online video to Internet users. 

Functioning much like Hulu, the new company will work closely with content providers to bring copyrighted premium video content—movies, TV series, sporting events, animation and other programming—to Internet users through an advertising-supported model. Yu Gong, formerly the president and COO of China Mobile’s 12580 business, has been appointed as CEO of the new company.

"As China’s Internet industry evolves, we have seen increasing demand for high-quality video content on our search platform," said Xuyang Ren, Baidu’s VP of marketing and business development. "By establishing this new company, we will be able to better serve our users and customers with superior content and focused resources. I am very excited to work with Mr. Gong, who has strong experience in the internet industry in China, to grow our new company into a leader in the field through product innovation and a robust network of partnerships with leading content providers in China and globally."

Gong added, "Online video is a rapidly growing sector in China and I believe Baidu’s search platform will provide a solid foundation for the new company to address the increasing demand for premium content. I am very excited to embark on this new venture."