Talking Entertainment: The Hobbit Release Uncertain, Plus Youku to Boost Content in 2014

Nick Richards | Dec 6, 2013 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 1721 reads

With Gravity and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire behind us, the next big release to look forward to is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug which is scheduled to be released around the world next week, including Hong Kong and Taiwan on December 12. Unfortunately no date has appeared yet for the Chinese Mainland release.

In October, insiders predicted the film would still be released here when concerns over the rapidly filling 2013 foreign quota arose. We will keep an eye out for a date. In August, The Great Gatsby was approved and released in China at the last minute.

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Youku Tudou is planning to make huge investments in their content during 2014. Plans include developing more original programming, user-generated content, international aquisitions and co-productions according to The Hollywood Reporter. The online video platform's original show Surprise is now getting 22 million views per episode, and foreign programs such as Downton Abbey, Naruto and The Walking Dead have been huge hits on the service.

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A steady advertising revenue stream, recent lawsuit victory and booming mobile viewership are giving the company more confidence and it hopes to generate more income from licensing agreements and subscriptions among others in the future. This could mean even better programing for iPad, PC and smartphone TV junkies in the coming year.

Here are some arts and entertainment events to look forward to this week:

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Photo: flicksandbits.com