Economy

Chinese Internet firm to stream Warner Bros movie

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-01-06 09:31

A screen print displays the movie page of Chinese Internet television company Youku, which has signed a deal with Warner Bros.studio to stream the movie "Inception" over the Internet in China. [Photo/Youku.com]

NEW YORK - Chinese Internet television company Youku.com Inc. has signed a deal with Warner Bros. studio to stream the movie "Inception" over the Internet in China.

The company says the sci-fi blockbuster film is now available on its premium on-demand paid video service. Youku also has online resale rights to the film, the company said in a statement issued Tuesday.

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Youku users who watch the film can comment on it, share film recommendations or discuss the plot with other users on the site, the company said.

Youku said in the statement that in addition to films, it has more than 10,000 hours of lectures and self-study materials offered with ChinaEDU, Crystal Education, and other partners.

"Through building long-term partnerships with copyright holders and communicating with our media partners, Youku Premium is creating a whole new way for people to find and watch the content they want, when they want it," Youku founder and CEO Victor Koo said in the statement.

The statement did not say if Youku had deals with Warner Bros. for other films.

US-traded-shares of Youku rose $1.57, or 4.4 percent, to $37.21 in morning trading.