Hu Ge, at his studio in Shanghai, is known for the spoof videos he posted inline. AFP
WHEN Assembly (Jijiehao) came out at the end of December, some fans decided not to watch it at the cinema. Instead, they powered up their computer and viewed it over the Web, for free.
In fact, many Chinese choose to watch or re-watch their favorite TV shows or movies on video-sharing websites. The State Administration of Radio Film and Television said earlier this month that in just two years, more than 300 such websites have appeared in China.
And, according to Nielsen Research, the daily number of video views at Chinese video-sharing website Youku in December reached 100 million. The increase in views is nearing the record mark set by YouTube, the world's leading video-sharing website.
But while most Chinese sites have followed YouTube's lead, they offer significantly different content.
Entertainment on demand
According to a survey conducted by the iResearch Consulting Group, an Internet research company, the most popular videos of 2007 on Chinese websites were entertainment like movies and TV dramas, especially those from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. These accounted for 75 percent of video content.
In the US, news-related video is most popular, accounting for 62 percent of all video.
This contrast is partly due to China's comparatively young online population, said Li Zhu, CEO of Beijing UUSee Interactive Technology, an Internet television company.
According to iResearch, 38 percent of online video users in China are aged 19-22.
But in the US, according to Jupiter Research, the 18-24 group only make up 16 percent of those who watch online video. People aged 25-44 make up 50 percent of all video users.
"Young people tend to look for fun when they come to the Internet," said Li.
Huang Zhichao, 20, a student at Shantou University appears to agree: "TV programs in China are always boring." So he said he and his friends have been driven to the Web, where they "can find interesting Japanese cartoons and Taiwan entertainment shows".
While Chinese watch their favorite shows and films online, many Americans are sharing personal videos made by themselves, said Mai Tian, CEO of Mayi.com, a site that recommends products to users.
Getting personal
Mai gave the example of a popular TV program called America's Funniest Home Videos. On the show, viewers submit humorous family videos in hopes of winning cash prizes for those voted to be the "funniest".
"Since the 90s, this program has encouraged people to film themselves and share it. Recently, the show has expanded to the Web. You can even find a channel for short family clips on YouTube."
Mai believes Americans' habit of sharing personal videos is partly cultural: "Most [Chinese] do not have the habit of recording our own clips and sharing them online," he said.
"I think it relates to a difference in human ethos: Chinese value the quality of modesty, while Americans [are often more] extroverted," Mai said.
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copyright 版權(quán)
ethos 氣質(zhì)
upload 上傳
WHEN Assembly (Jijiehao) came out at the end of December, some fans decided not to watch it at the cinema. Instead, they powered up their computer and viewed it over the Web, for free.
In fact, many Chinese choose to watch or re-watch their favorite TV shows or movies on video-sharing websites. The State Administration of Radio Film and Television said earlier this month that in just two years, more than 300 such websites have appeared in China.
And, according to Nielsen Research, the daily number of video views at Chinese video-sharing website Youku in December reached 100 million. The increase in views is nearing the record mark set by YouTube, the world's leading video-sharing website.
But while most Chinese sites have followed YouTube's lead, they offer significantly different content.
Entertainment on demand
According to a survey conducted by the iResearch Consulting Group, an Internet research company, the most popular videos of 2007 on Chinese websites were entertainment like movies and TV dramas, especially those from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. These accounted for 75 percent of video content.
In the US, news-related video is most popular, accounting for 62 percent of all video.
This contrast is partly due to China's comparatively young online population, said Li Zhu, CEO of Beijing UUSee Interactive Technology, an Internet television company.
According to iResearch, 38 percent of online video users in China are aged 19-22.
But in the US, according to Jupiter Research, the 18-24 group only make up 16 percent of those who watch online video. People aged 25-44 make up 50 percent of all video users.
"Young people tend to look for fun when they come to the Internet," said Li.
Huang Zhichao, 20, a student at Shantou University appears to agree: "TV programs in China are always boring." So he said he and his friends have been driven to the Web, where they "can find interesting Japanese cartoons and Taiwan entertainment shows".
While Chinese watch their favorite shows and films online, many Americans are sharing personal videos made by themselves, said Mai Tian, CEO of Mayi.com, a site that recommends products to users.
Getting personal
Mai gave the example of a popular TV program called America's Funniest Home Videos. On the show, viewers submit humorous family videos in hopes of winning cash prizes for those voted to be the "funniest".
"Since the 90s, this program has encouraged people to film themselves and share it. Recently, the show has expanded to the Web. You can even find a channel for short family clips on YouTube."
Mai believes Americans' habit of sharing personal videos is partly cultural: "Most [Chinese] do not have the habit of recording our own clips and sharing them online," he said.
"I think it relates to a difference in human ethos: Chinese value the quality of modesty, while Americans [are often more] extroverted," Mai said.
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copyright 版權(quán)
ethos 氣質(zhì)
upload 上傳