Netflix acquires HK and Taiwan shows to grow audience base

Netflix has made a step further in luring in Chinese-speaking subscribers by introducing a slate of Chinese-language films and drama series from Hong Kong and Taiwan, after it has been prohibited from entering the mainland Chinese entertainment market.

The slate includes Taiwanese fantasy series “Agent From Above”, which was produced by Singapore’s mm2 Entertainment and Taiwan’s Good Films Production; Taiwanese LGBTQ+ show “The Nipple Talk,” which was produced by Sequoia Entertainment and directed by Lincoln Lai, is expected to stream by early 2023.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Netflix for further information.

The streaming platform has also acquired Hong Kong’s action film “Warriors of Future”, which revolves around the future of extreme environmental deterioration and follows a group of mecha warriors in their fight against lethal alien creatures. It will be available to stream on Netflix from 2 December.

This comes as the streaming giant stepped up efforts to appeal to Chinese-speaking audience and young children by adding a second show from Alibaba and acquiring children content company StoryBots in 2019.

According to Alibaba, the streaming giant has purchased rights to a romantic comedy titled I Hear You from Alibaba Group’s Youku video service, reported the The Straits Times.

The show aired in 190 countries and regions starting 15 May 2019. Previously, Netflix has purchased detective thriller Day and Night from Alibaba that drew more than four billion views in China in its first four months on Youku, reported ST. While Netflix is currently not in China, it has been expanding its repertoire of popular Chinese shows. Earlier, it has also acquired rights to one of the highest-grossing movie in China this year, The Wandering Earth and is planning to produce an original series in Mandarin as well, according to ST.

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