Shanghai Media Group


Pip Ahoy! docks in China

UK kids series Pip Ahoy! has debuted on IPTV, SVOD and satellite channels in China. Pip producer EHF Entertainment has joined forces with Yecheng Media Group, Shanghai Media Group-owned Wings Media and China Telecom to launch the show. The first 52 episodes have been dubbed in Mandarin, and have launched on networks such as Shanghai […]

Alibaba OTT nets bag exclusive DreamWorks deal

Alibaba’s over-the-top services in China will get exclusive access to content from Oriental DreamWorks after signing a three-year agreement. Included in the deal is upcoming SVOD series Trollhunters (pictured), which previously did not have a home in China as Netflix does not have distribution in the territory. Films such as Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and […]

VR firm Jaunt appoints Hearst exec as new CEO

Disney-, Sky- and ProSiebenSat.1-backed cinematic VR firm, Jaunt, has appointed Hearst executive George Kliavkoff as its new CEO. Kliavkoff (pictured) joins from Hearst, where he was co-president of entertainment and syndication – the company’s largest division that is responsible for: Hearst’s cable television networks, including ESPN, Lifetime, A&E and History; television production and distribution; newspaper […]

BBCWW in major China pact

BBC Worldwide and Shanghai Media Group will coproduce the tenth season of factual series Coast as a special on the Chinese coastline after the pair signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The BBC’s commercial arm has also agreed to coproduce new natural history series The Hunt with Chinese state channel CCTV9. The Silverback Films series includes […]

Star China appoints Yin replacement

Broadcaster Star China Media has appointed a replacement for FremantleMedia’s new recruit, Vivian Yin, in the shape of a company veteran. Yin has left the business to become CEO of FremantleMedia China, resulting in Iris Xia being named deputy general manager. Xia has been with Star TV Group and Star China for eleven years working […]

Red flag to a bull: James Ross, Lightning Int’l

It’s a common sight in Asia: husband and wife, together on the sofa – or possibly propped up on pillows in bed, each with a tablet watching their favourite TV shows. Not long ago, it was an entirely different story. When I first came to Asia almost twenty years ago, it was not unusual to […]

NATPE announces Prague newbies

NATPE says a raft of new companies are signed up for its flagship European event, which takes place in Prague next month. The roster of 120 companies in town selling programming, from 25 countries, includes about 20 first-time exhibitors. The new attendees include Gaumont International Television, HoHo Rights, Onza Distribution, Orange Smarty, Saban Brands and […]

SMG boss ‘removed’ from role

The group president of Chinese firm Shanghai Media Group, Li Ruigang, has been “removed” from his post, according to local reports. No reason was given for his departure, though he will remain as chairman of the company, which last year officially transitioned from a state-run company to an incorporated business, albeit one still affiliated with […]

TV Formats: Made in China

A decade ago China was considered the enemy of the international formats business, but today it is a key international buyer. Now, its producers and broadcasters are looking to export their own wares. “I’ve been doing business in China for the last decade. I was there trying to sell my formats when they were all […]

ABC signs ‘historic’ Chinese content deal

Australian content distributor ABC International has scored what it is defined as one of the largest ever programming and content distribution agreements with a Chinese media group. The international wing of Australian pubcaster ABC has signed the agreement with Shanghai Media Group, which operates numerous channels and has recently restructured to focus on selling Chinese […]