Viki Launches Global Chinese Service

SAN FRANCISCO: Viki, a global TV site powered by fans, has launched both a traditional and simplified Chinese version of its website and apps and has entered into an agreement that sees Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi become its video streaming partner in select international markets.

The Chinese sites are available immediately and feature TV series and movies from around the world, including almost 350 shows from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Viewers will also have access to a selection of on-air and library shows from Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, among other territories.

Viki will offer seamless integration of localized versions of the Chinese site on the Xiaomi mobile browser and make its licensed content available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil, with new markets expected to be added in the future.

“As the Chinese entertainment industry establishes itself as an entertainment powerhouse globally, Viki is uniquely positioned to stream its TV shows and movies to a new audience of fans around the world, as well as the growing Chinese diaspora,” said Tammy H. Nam, Viki’s CEO. “More than half of our viewership of top Chinese shows such as My Best Ex-Boyfriend and the recent historical hit Nirvana in Fire comes from the United States, subtitled in nearly 20 languages, thanks to our amazing crowdsourced community of fans. We expect to create global hits for many more Chinese shows in 2016.”

Viki recently inked a co-production deal with Jetavana Entertainment in China for its first original series, Dramaworld, which is set for a spring 2016 release. Later this month, two newly licensed Chinese series—the romantic drama Beautiful Secret and espionage thriller The Disguiser—will premiere on Viki.

Viki also has partnerships with major Chinese producers and content partners such as Sohu, iCNTV and Huace Film & TV Co., among others.