Renren and Viki Bring Subtitled Global TV for Users
Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN), a leading real name social network in China and Viki, a global TV website offering user-generated translations in 150 languages, today announced the launch of “VikiZone”, a dedicated section hosted on 56.com, Renren’s online video sharing website.
Viki will provide VikiZone viewers with hundreds of hours of Cartoon Network programs and popular TNT dramas originally broadcast in the United States, as well as other global TV content.
Starting in August, the shows will be available to Renren users on VikiZone, available 24 hours after airing in the United Sates. VikiZone will be promoted on both renren.com and 56.com, allowing users to easily share global video content across platforms.
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Earlier, Renren announced the release of its customized high-definition client application (“Renren HD”) for Microsoft’s Windows 8 application store. (Read: China’s Social Network Renren for Microsoft Windows 8)
And Viki brought the worldwide premiere of Leiji Matsumoto’s OZMA, a 6-part series by the Manga writer. The series was first broadcast on Japanese satellite broadcast provider WOWOW Prime. Then 24 hours after the broadcast, it debuted on Viki.com, where fans from more than 200 countries (excluding Japan) were able to view the show for the first time. (Read: Anime Series OZMA to be Released on Viki)
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Renren to introduce some of the world’s most popular TV shows and movies, with fan-powered translations, to hundreds of millions of potential new fans in China,” said Razmig Hovaghimian, Viki CEO and co-founder. “Viki has always had a community drive, which reinforces Renren platform’s social nature.”
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Furthermore, in collaboration with S.M. Entertainment, one of South Korea’s leading independent record labels, Viki will stream exclusive K-pop music videos and behind-the-scenes interviews.
In addition to the US-based content, Viki has partnered with Tezuka Productions and other large licensors to bring nearly 50 classic Japanese titles to Renren and 56.com.
“In our continuous pursuit to enhance user experience, we wanted to give our users a wide range of high quality video contents from across the globe. Teaming with Viki, an innovative and resourceful player in video streaming, is an important step towards our goal,” said James Liu, Renren’s chief operating officer.
The announcement was made today, July 13.
Photo courtesy: Renren
