SOFTBANK Invests Into PPLive, an Operator of Leading Online TV Service 'PPTV' in China

SHANGHAI, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- SOFTBANK CORP. (Tokyo, Japan, Representative: Masayoshi Son, hereafter "SOFTBANK") announces that it has acquired 35% stake (voting right base after dilution) into Synacast Corporation, also known as PPLive (Shanghai, China, Representative: Vincent Tao), the operator of "PPTV", a leading online TV service in China (URL: http://www.pptv.com/).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110203/CN40955LOGO )

"PPTV" is the premier online TV service in China with a 200 million user installation base and 105 million active monthly users* throughout China. It started the service in December 2004. Collaborate with TV stations and premium content providers in China, PPTV provides online live streaming and video-on-demand services for most popular TV programs and professionally produced contents such as news, drama, movies, sports, and cartoon free of charge.  It also distributes paid contents such as movies, entertainment and educational programs. PPTV offers a very advanced Internet service with a variety of personalized or social functions for video viewing such as collaboration with SNS, chatting, 3D viewing, and multi-window viewing.

Online video market in China and worldwide is growing rapidly. SOFTBANK and PPLive will strive to contribute to the further development of the market in China and international through the capital alliance and the joint business development. Our goal is to offer the superior internet video services to any internet enabled devices including PC, TV and mobile to meet users' needs.  

* as of Dec 2010, installation base refers to the unique installation of the video streaming software.

About PPLive

PPLive is a leading online video company in China. Founded in 2004, as the first China online video media, PPLive offers the most influential and high sticky online TV services, PPTV, including both live streaming and video–on-demand throughout China, PPTV is the largest aggregator of China TV programs with over 120 TV stations, thousands of TV shows and programs.  PPLive has more than 200 million user installations and its active monthly user base (as of Dec 2010) is 105 million, i.e., PPLive has a 43% penetration of Chinese internet users. With its innovative user experiences, such as live chatting, and SNS, average viewing time per person per day has reached over 2 hours and 30 minutes, the highest stickiness among all China websites. PPLive has developed a world-class and very scalable video distribution platform that delivers better quality videos faster, smoother and more cost efficient than competitors. PPLive is positioned to be the best online TV platform providing the highest quality videos anytime anywhere on any internet enabled devices.  

About SOFTBANK

SOFTBANK is a leading Internet company that aims to provide a range of services including mobile communications, broadband infrastructure, fixed-line telecommunications, internet culture, and others.  SOFTBANK declares its company mission "Endeavoring to benefit society and the economy and maximize enterprise value by fostering the sharing of wisdom and knowledge gained through the IT revolution.", and it continuously strives to create synergies among various content and services within the Group.    For more information, please refer to http://www.softbank.co.jp/en/.

SOURCE PPLive