Invite colleagues
Only a few months ago, Baidu announced the start of its independently operated video website Qiyi.com. This was a shot across the bow of Chinese video sharing sites and clearly upset the status quo of this growing sector.
In response, Chinese video website Youku.com has now launched an independent video search website called, Soku.com. This site which allows users to search for videos on Youku.com as well as those on other websites.
I say, let the games begin and expect to see more action in this sector as the other video sharing sites move to differentiate their offerings and services.
As background, Youku.com reportedly bought the domain name of Soku.com this March (seems very close after the Baidu announcement of their video sharing site) and has opened this new video search service in past few days. It was reported in local news that an insider from the company said this search platform is completely developed by Youku.com and is currently in beta testing.
Though Youku.com did not implement large-scale promotion for this new website yet or give much official comment on it, industry watchers said the launch of this new video search website aims to aid Youku.com's competition with Baidu.com's newly launched video subsidiary Qiyi.com.
Baidu's video website Qiyi.com appears to be aiming at providing free-of-charge and quality video services to Chinese users as well as providing a new platform for advertisers that is sure to impact the revenues of the other video sharing sites.
Additional Sources: China Tech News
Written on Tuesday, 20 April 2010 19:27 by Matt McDougall
