Netflix, Chuan’r, and Chill: Is Netflix on Its Way to China?

Is Netflix China-bound? LeEco, one of China’s largest internet firms, dropped a big hint yesterday that it might be partnering up with the US streaming giant.

At an event in Beijing, Liu Hong, co-founder and vice chairman of LeEco said his company is in “very significant cooperation” with Netflix, but that the announcement will come later this year.

The news comes just a week after LeEco dropped USD 2 billion to acquire Vizio, the biggest US maker of TVs.

The match-up between the two companies makes some sense. After all, LeEco, which has businesses in online video streaming, smartphone, and smart TV production and autos, is often dubbed the “Netflix of China.”

RELATED: Xiaomi Looks to Rule the Road With New Mi QiCycle Folding Electric Bikes

It’s unclear whether the deal will is all about allowing Netflix-owned shows to play on LeEco’s video streaming platform in the US, or if it will mean Netflix shows will be allowed to stream in China.

Unfortunately, early rumblings seem to suggest the former and not the latter, but we’ll have to wait and see. 

Netflix may have one advantage though. Chinese censors require imported series to be approved in their entirety before going to air. That would seem to fit well with Netflix series which are released in full for binge-watching.

So, who knows? Maybe we’ll all be able to sit back with a cold Yanjing and a bunch of chuan’r to chill with Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black?

Image: muycomputerpro.com