China's Internet TV Sites in $1B Battle for Foreign Shows

In less than two years, Sohu.com Inc., Youku Tudou Inc., backed by Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd., and Baidu Inc. have spent $1 billion on TV series and movies, primarily from the United States, Britain and South Korea. [...] In September, the General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said it must approve foreign content before it's aired, and set a 30 percent quota on the ratio of foreign to domestic media on streaming sites. [...] Insulating the domestic film and TV industry from unimpeded competition while it develops has echoes of similar moves designed to help China's tech sector, said Marbridge's Natkin. - Reuters via Voice of America [via/web:http://streaming-tv.us]