I’ve stopped using the term “love affair” to describe the romance between Hollywood and China over the last 2 years, as it no longer seems sufficient to describe the flood of tie-ups that have emerged since China became the world’s second largest box office. The Long March of new deals has now gained 2 more members, with word that US film giant Warner Bros (NYSE: TWX) is in a major new movie financing deal with Shanghai Media Group (SMG), China’s leading regional maker of filmed entertainment. In a separate headline, other reports are saying that real estate giant Wanda Group is also deepening its own involvement in movie industry finance, by filing to make a domestic IPO for its movie theater business. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on October 18-20. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Taiping, Sinopec (HKEx: 386) in $800 Mln Shanghai FTZ Financial Leasing JV (English article)
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) Looks for Big Screen Boost as iPhone 6 Hits China (English article)
China’s Wanda Cinema Line Makes Fresh IPO Bid With Govt Regulator (English article)
Warner Bros, Brett Ratner Cut Deal To Create Chinese Investment Fund (English article)
Two of China’s larger tech and media names are in the headlines today for new US investments, highlighting a recent trend that is seeing Chinese firms step up such investing as they search for western expertise and technology. The larger of the deals will see Huayi Bros (Shenzhen: 300027), one of China’s most successful independent film producers, invest $130 million in a US-based subsidiary as part of its international expansion. The other will see LCD maker BOE Technology (Shenzhen: 000725) invest a more modest $5 million in a US start-up that develops technology for wearable products. Read Full Post…
The list of major Chinese entertainment firms jumping on the Hollywood bandwagon has just gained an important new member with word that Huayi Bros (Shenzhen: 300027) is on the cusp of investing in a major new production house. I’ve been following the China media scene for more than a decade now, and can say that Huayi was one of the nation’s earliest major players to emerge in a space that was extremely difficult for years due to tough restrictions and extreme fragmentation. But Huayi has shown not only an ability to survive, but also to thrive in a market where the movie theater business is suddenly booming and online video has quickly become an important new revenue source. Read Full Post…
They may be all the rage on video screens, but the globally popular Angry Birds franchise has sputtered into Shanghai as owner Rovio Entertainment kicks off an ambitious plan for the brand in China. The lackluster debut for China’s first Angry Birds store, while not completely unexpected, underscores the fact that even in an international city like Shanghai, big global entertainment brands face a tough uphill battle for recognition among Chinese who tend to flock to domestically developed brands with a more local flavor.
They may be all the rage on video screens, but the globally popular Angry Birds franchise has sputtered into Shanghai as owner Rovio Entertainment kicks off an ambitious plan for the brand in China. The lackluster debut for China’s first Angry Birds store, while not completely unexpected, underscores the fact that even in an international city like Shanghai, big global entertainment brands face a tough uphill battle for recognition among Chinese who tend to flock to domestically developed brands with a more local flavor.
