Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) Signs Licensing Deal with China’s Largest Video Site

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has signed a major deal to distribute its content in China, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter via Tech Crunch.

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China is a difficult but still very attractive and profitable market for the Western companies. Under the deal with Chinese video portal iQiyi, Netflix will be able to stream its movies and shows in China.

The deal was confirmed by Netflix. However, the streaming giant has not provided any details.

Netflix has been facing regulatory hurdles in its way to offer its service in China. At this time, the company apparently sees licensing deals as the best option to enter the world’s second largest economy.

“We’d love to have direct relationship in China and it’s just a matter of when and how, and that’s something that we’re trying to figure out over time,” Robert Roy, vice president of content acquisition at Netflix, told The Hollywood Reporter.

iQiyi

iQiyi is owned by Chinese search engine giant Baidu. It is deemed to be the largest online video site in China with more than 480 million users.

Launched in 2010, the online video platform competes with Alibaba-owned Youku Tudou, Sohu and Tencent in China. Recently, iQiyi raised $1.5 billion for new content and build a Netflix-subscription service.

Netflix Presents in 190 Countries

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) launched its streaming service in more than 190 countries in 2016. The streaming service is not available in China due to regulatory hurdles. It also is not available in Crimea, North Korea, or Syria due to U.S. government restrictions.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, Netflix added seven million new subscribers. The streaming giant now has over 93 million subscribers worldwide, including over 49 million in the United States.

In other news, Netflix is looking for the best translators around the globe as it now supports 20 languages. The company has launched a new online tool, called HERMES, in a bid to find talented translators.

Shares of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) were trading up 5.79% on Tuesday. The stock is up nearly 23% year-to-date.

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