Time Warner Announces Warner Bros. Available Through VOD in China

The first Hollywood studio to take this step, Warner Bros. announced that it is now planning to make new video releases digitally available through video on demand (VOD) to China. In one of the largest broadband markets in the world, transactional VOD will be pioneered by the Warner Bros. studio. Being the first deal of its kind, this VOD contract will provide new movie releases, some of which have yet to be released in theaters in China. Viewers can now pay a small price, between 4 and 7 Rmb, to rent titles such as Speed Racer, and I Am Legend via Voole.com. New movie releases are just the beginning however, as VOD will also offer classics and other movies to the consumers of China.

Marc Gareton, the Warner Bros. Executive Vice President of International, said “ We believe that China is a significant market for us to expand our digital distribution strategy and this partnership with Voole is an important first step in helping us to reach the broadest audience for our movies.” He added, “ I am proud of the team that made it possible for us to be the first US studio to offer this pioneering service, allowing fans of Warner Bros. movies in China to watch them when and how they want.”

Currently, there are approximately 300 websites that offer some time of video service in China, with very few of them offering full-length movies. Now if you have Internet access in China, you can rent full-length films on your computer. Because the Chinese market is already a large participant in the online viewing of videos, this is expected to be a large success. The Managing Director of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in China, Tony Vaughan, said “ The fast-growing Chinese market already has significant broadband usage, with a projected 230 million users by the end of 2008.” He added, “ Over 80 percent of the total China internet population has viewed online video content in the last six months alone, and now we can offer them a wider selection of top quality entertainment the way they want to watch it.” Time Warner is excited to announce this latest advancement in technology to users worldwide.