Shanghai, June 7, 2016 – SPB TV, a leading global provider of end-to-end OTT TV, IPTV and mobile TV solutions, and Shanghai Media Group (SMG), one of China's largest media holdings, signed a new agreement for SPB TV to broadcast more VOD-content from China all around the world via its applications. The agreement was signed by SPB TV’s CEO Kirill Filippov and vice president of Shanghai Oriental Pearl Media, general manager of Shanghai WingsMedia He Xiaolan at the 22nd Shanghai TV Festival. The first phase of transferring the rights for SMG’s VOD-content to SPB TV took place on May 30 at the World Content Market in Moscow.
A new phase of providing SMG’s VOD-content through SPB TV applications include more series, programs about Chinese culture, films and shows about Chinese society. Both documents continue the companies’ cooperation – a year ago an agreement was signed, providing for SPB TV to broadcast SMG’s live television channel Dragon TV International.
"We highly appreciate being chosen as an OTT TV partner for broadcasting SMG’s content worldwide, and are sure that it will be in-demand with our 60-million audience," said SPB TV CEO Kirill Filippov.
SPB TV started broadcasting content from China in 2013, when Xinhua information agency’s TV-channels CNC World Chinese and CNC English were launched. In 2015, Dragon TV (SMG media holding channel) was added to the application. In 2015, SPB TV signed an agreement with CNTV, Chinese internet-television (CCTV tele-holding’s affiliate) for broadcasting its CCTV-4 (Chinese International), CCTV-9 Documentary, CCTV NEWS, CCTV Français, CCTV Español, CCTV Russian and CCTV Arabian channels.
AG SPB TV AG is a leading global provider of end-to-end OTT TV, IPTV and mobile TV solutions. SPB TV solutions provide stable video delivery and playback across any network, award-winning intuitive UIs for TVs, computers, tablets and mobiles, effective monetization tools and engaging interactivity features. SPB TV solutions are integrated by large network operators and media companies, such as Lebara, MTS, Tele2, Beeline, Amedia, StarHub, and recognized through many prestigious awards, including CSI Awards, TV Technology Europe STAR Awards, Mobile Entertainment Awards, Google Developer Challenge and others. Over 60 million people worldwide watch OTT TV through SPB TV services. SPB TV AG is headquartered in Switzerland, with R&D headquarters in Russia and affiliates in Asia and South America.
Shanghai Media Group or SMG is one of China’s largest media and cultural conglomerates, with the most complete portfolio of media and related businesses. The Oriental Pearl New Media Company under the umbrella of SMG is the first cultural company with a market capitalization totaling more than 100 billion RMB on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It includes content, platform and services and ranks fifth among all Chinese internet companies in terms of market value. By June 2015, SMG has more than RMB 61 billion in assets and aproximately 17,200 employees.
SMG’s businesses span radio and TV network operations, signal transmission, newspapers and magazines, drama and film production and distribution, OTT and streaming, IPTV , online and console gaming, digital advertising, home shopping and e-commerce, financial data and information services, children’s arts training, TV post-production services, live entertainment, tourism and cultural investments, etc.
SMG has 15 cable and satellite TV networks, 13 radio frequencies, 15 subscription-based digital pay TV channels, eight newspapers and magazines and transmits signals via airwaves, cable, satellite and IPTV. On the content side, SMG is a leading powerhouse in China in the production of TV and films, animation and documentaries. New media is a top priority for SMG. It is poised to set up a new media eco-system with the operation of mobile TV, OTT, web portals, apps and cloud services. SMG is also a strong player in live entertainment, owning nine top art troupes, one circus school, eight theaters and a number of live entertainment companies. In addition, SMG possesses some of the most famous landmark properties in Shanghai including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Mercedes Benz Arena and the International Convention Center. On the e-commerce front, SMG’s home-shopping is one of the largest in China with sales revenue of 8.5 billion RMB in 2014. SMG is also setting foot in cultural investments. It holds 20 percent of the shares of the Shanghai Disney Resort and has invested in a number of cultural investment funds including the China Media Capital, Shanghai Culture Industrial Investment Fund and the LDVP Venture Capital Fund.