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Netflix in talks to offer its streaming library in China
President Underwood is already popular in China, but it looks like Netflix is prepping to offer more of its streaming library in that locale. The Wall Street Journal reports that Reed Hastings & Co. are in talks with online broadcasters BesTV and Wasu to expand its reach outside of the US. Negotiations are said to be in the early stages as issues like objectionable subject matter and restrictions on foreign content are details to be ironed out. And by objectionable, we mean sex, violence and political content -- like the House of Cards plot that chronicled the corruption of a Chinese businessman. Wasu hopes to stream to phones and other devices, and Netflix revealed a desire to send "original and other globally-licensed content" by "operating a small service" in China earlier this year. Back in February, Netflix announced plans to launch in Japan this fall, so the global expansion seems to be progressing nicely for the streaming service. [Image credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic]
Report: Microsoft sells 100K Xbox One consoles in China
Microsoft has reportedly sold over 100,000 Xbox One consoles in the system's introductory week in China. The sales figure comes from an interview with Shanghai Media Group Vice President Zhang Dazhong, courtesy of Chinese news site 17173 (translated by Kotaku). Dazhong also noted that Microsoft's Chinese partner BesTV aims to sell one million consoles in the region over the next year. The system launched in late September along with 10 games, and Microsoft said it is preparing an additional 70 games for the region. The Xbox One is the first official foreign console to arrive in China in 14 years following the government's move to lift its longstanding console ban in January. It then began drafting rules that dictates how companies can sell games and game consoles under Shanghai's free trade zone, settling on a new set of policies in April. Game sales in China are restricted based on whether the government determines that products threaten "China's national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity," whether they "instigate racial/ethnic hatred," include gambling-related features, promote drug use, obscenity, violence or violate China's constitution. [Image: Microsoft]
Xbox One launches in China with 10 approved games
The Xbox One is out in China, following a brief, last-minute delay. This launch marks the first time a foreign console has been allowed on the Chinese marketplace in 14 years. Microsoft partnered with Chinese media company BesTV on the release, and it reports that the Xbox One is now on sale in 4,000 retail locations in 37 cities around the country, Venture Beat says. The Xbox One hits China with 10 government-approved games, including Forza Motorsport 5, Kinect Sports Rivals, Dance Central Spotlight, Max: Curse of the Brotherhood, Rayman Legends and a Chinese ID@Xbox game, Naughty Kitties. See the full list of Chinese launch games below. Chinese authorities have established guidelines for the types of games allowed to be sold in the country, banning those that threaten "China's national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity," and those that promote cults, superstitions, obscenity, drug use, violence or gambling. Microsoft says it's working to get an additional 70 games on Xbox One consoles in China. Sony is looking to launch PlayStation products in China via a deal with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group, though it hasn't announced any firm plans. [Image: Microsoft]
Microsoft pushes back the Xbox One's launch in China
Bad news if you were hoping to pick up an Xbox One in Beijing next week: Microsoft has just delayed the game system's launch in China from September 23rd to sometime before the end of the year. The company isn't saying just what prompted the last-minute pushback, but it claims that it needs extra time to offer "first rate gaming and entertainment experiences" -- in short, something is still pretty rough around the edges. Whatever the reasons, Chinese gamers will have to wait a little while longer to get their first major console since the country lifted its years-long ban on fun-minded machines like this.
Xbox One launches in China on September 23
Microsoft is set to be the first company to launch a foreign console in China since the country lifted its 14-year ban on them back in January. Microsoft and BesTV announced a September 23 launch for the Xbox One today, with the system available at a starting price of ¥3,699 RMB, converting to just under $600. There's no clear-cut list of launch games as yet, but Microsoft said it expects the day one offering to include Forza 5, Kinect Sports Rivals, Powerstar Golf, Zoo Tycoon and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood "among others." Perfect World's Neverwinter Online is also due to be available at launch, and it will stay exclusive to Xbox One for its first six months. The MMO publisher is also developing Celestial Sword and Project X for Microsoft's system.
Xbox One launching in China this September
Microsoft will launch the Xbox One in China this September, following the Chinese government's decision in January to lift its ban on the sale of foreign video game consoles. The ban stood for 14 years, and with its dismissal China crafted new rules to regulate console and game distribution. Among those rules is the requirement for foreign companies to work with local organizations to produce consoles within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, which Microsoft can fulfill thanks to its partnership with Chinese media company BesTV. The Xbox One manufacturer teamed up with BesTV in September 2013 to create E-Home Entertainment. Microsoft holds a 49 percent stake in E-Home and BesTV holds 51 percent, both combining to invest $237 million. E-Home Entertainment plans to establish an "innovation program" that will foster Chinese development on Xbox One. Microsoft launched the Xbox One in 13 regions in November and announced plans last month to bring the system to 26 more markets in September (with China now making that 27). [Image: Microsoft]
China is getting the Xbox One in September
Microsoft's Xbox One is coming to China in September, making it the first major console release in the country since it lifted its long-standing ban on video games. This comes after the company joined forces with China's BesTV shortly before the country reversed its 13-year old gaming ban. While that law opened the door for international companies to sell consoles in China, it did retain one restriction: games have to be approved by the Ministry of Culture before they can be sold. Now, we just can't help but wonder which titles made the cut.
Microsoft joins with China's BesTV to develop 'games and related services'
Microsoft has signed a deal with a Chinese IPTV firm BesTV to develop "games and related services," according to Xinhuanet. What that means is anyone's guess though, because there aren't many concrete details other than the fact that the duo are working together on something. When we asked for further info, a Microsoft representative could only tell us that the companies are "looking to explore new opportunities in Shanghai and China" because the two believe the region holds "great market potential and partnership opportunities." Funny that, considering the year-long gap between the Xbox One's Asian and North American debuts.
Microsoft, BesTV partnering on Chinese home entertainment
Microsoft has partnered with Chinese media company BesTV to develop games and related services in China, initially called E-Home Entertainment Development. Microsoft and BesTV are investing a total of $237 million, with BesTV holding a 51 percent stake in the company and Microsoft holding 49 percent, Xinhua reports. Microsoft will choose E-Home's CEO and BesTV will appoint the board chairman, the site says. BesTV is a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group and has 18 million IPTV subscribers across China, southeast Asia and eastern Europe. The company will likely be registered in the new free trade zone in Shanghai. Theoretically, the free trade zone will allow China to enter the international financial market on a level that is impossible with banks closed at the borders. In January, we reported that China was reconsidering its ban on game consoles, which was enacted in 2000 in the interest of protecting children's development. Microsoft launched a Chinese-language Xbox Live site in August 2012. Other companies have also been looking to the Chinese market, and in July 2012 the PlayStation 3 passed safety certification in China, valid through 2016.
Lenovo launches four Android-powered K-series Smart TVs in China this month
We first saw Lenovo's Android 4.0 tellymabob back at CES, now the firm is getting ready to unleash the full K-series of Smart TVs on China. Four models are on offer, the 55-inch K91 and K81 models, along with a 42-inch version of the latter and another at this size -- the K71. You may remember that Ice Cream Sandwich is running on a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU and Lenovo claims the interface is a mix of touch, air mouse, gravity sensor, smart keyboard and conventional remote -- lots more to lose down the back of the couch, then. The firm's joint venture with SMG's BesTV -- iSmartv -- will provide on demand HD content, and its "Le Store" developer community will serve up the apps -- with over 1,000 claimed to be available already. Prices will range from 6,499 RMB to 14,999 RMB (about $1030 to $2370) and should be in stores across China this month.
Italy's Mediaset sends 3D content over terrestrial connection, isn't actually broadcasting 3D TV
While Mediaset appears to be (one of) the first to convey 3D content over a terrestrial connection, it isn't actually serving up any 3D television -- it is "datacasting" or ever-so-slowly downloading 3D movies to a set-top box, which you may later consume directly from the hard disk that received them. The innovation here is in the utilization of spare airwaves to basically trickle a movie into your Motive Bestv STB -- we know, it's an irrelevancy to most of you cable- and internet-connected media mavens, but it's one way to deliver 3D content to less technologically developed nations. Motive is already in talks with companies in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Turkey about doing the same, but Italy gets the honor of being first with a choice of 50 3D titles on Mediaset's 3VOD service. Let's see what the Azzurri think of it, eh?
