NFB Films Featured On New Chinese Online Channel
PHOENIX NEW MEDIA LIMITED (FENG) TO FEATURE NFB DOCUMENTARIES AND ANIMATION ON FIRST CANADIAN-BRANDED DIGITAL CHANNEL IN CHINA
NFB deal showcases Canadian content to massive new audience; platforms garner 300 million page views each day
Montreal, June 11, 2012 — The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and Phoenix New Media Limited (FENG) of China have announced the creation of NFB ZONE, the first Canadian-branded online channel in the People’s Republic of China. This partnership will showcase approximately 130 NFB animated or documentary films on Phoenix New Media’s digital platforms in China, with titles made available for streaming, video on demand and download-to-own. The NFB is the latest international content creator and portal to partner with Phoenix New Media, following the BBC, which signed an agreement last year.
Phoenix New Media Limited (FENG) is one of China’s leading private-sector media companies, delivering content across a range of platforms and portals, with its web portal and mobile channel reaching 300 million page views each day.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Phoenix New Media. The NFB ZONE is part of the NFB’s new business plan to seek out strategic partnerships and cement our leadership role in the new global digital media landscape,” said Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada. “It’s also the latest result of years of engagement between Canada’s public producer and Chinese partners, working to forge relationships and utilize mobile media technology to build cultural bridges and business opportunities between our peoples.”
Mr. Shuang Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix New Media, commented, “We are very pleased to be partnering with the NFB, the most reputable Canadian content powerhouse. Our strategic partnership will not only enrich the NFB’s global distribution channels and ifeng’s video content library, but it will also offer Chinese audiences an ideal destination to reach the best Canadian-produced documentaries and animated films. As one of the most influential Internet media companies in China, we believe such initiatives show our dedication to continue improving the cultural communication between the Chinese people and the outside world, through premium and differentiated content offerings.”