Alibaba to Launch Netflix-Like Video Streaming Service Called TBO

Everyone’s favorite neighborhood e-commerce giant Alibaba is planning to go up against Netflix, HBO, and other video streaming platforms in two months, and they will call it TBO, or Tmall Box Office. Highly original, we say.

Patrick Liu, head of digital entertainment at Alibaba, is quoted as saying that Alibaba is looking to “redefine home entertainment,” taking a step towards becoming like HBO or Netflix. The service would offer a mixture of foreign and local programming, with ten percent of the content free to view but the rest requiring subscription. There will also be a service to pay per view, the International Business Times says.

The serve will be offered through the company’s set-top boxes, as well as smart televisions that carry its operating system. Experts are skeptical, as few Chinese customers are used to paying for online content. We are skeptical, as we’d like to know which foreign shows they will or will not be showing on their platform.

Our skepticism arises from the fact that foreign shows now have to pass through censorship, and some have even been taken off streaming sites in the past year, sometimes for the sole reason of it apparently being too Western. Previously, online video platforms were not subject to many of these rules, and TV shows like Sherlock, House of Cards, and the Big Bang Theory quickly gained popularity.

We are also keen to find out how payment for the service works and whether there will be an English language version, but we will keep you updated on that front.

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Photo: ibtimes.com