Discovery partners with Baidu

BEIJING - Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific and Chinese search engine Baidu have teamed to launch Discovery Channel's Chinese website, allowing TV audiences in China to interact on a digital platform for the first time.

The domain, at discovery.baidu.com, will be constructed, operated and managed by Baidu, while its customised Chinese-language content will be updated by Discovery.

According to the companies, the site will be ad-supported through third-party advertising sales teams, with both Baidu and Discovery sharing revenue.

Baidu executives said the partnership is in line with Baidu’s aim to facilitate information to Chinese audiences, while Tom Keaveny executive vice-president and managing director of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said Discover would benefit from “Baidu’s high traffic flow and large market share” and reach more netizens.

In 2008, Baidu claimed 246 million users in China, approximately 65 per cent of the country’s search market share.
Source: Campaign China