U.S. Media See a Path to India in China’s Snub
In a reversal from their previous optimism about China, foreign media companies are becoming disillusioned with their prospects there and moving to other markets, notably India. The New York Times reports:
Media executives still believe that Chinese audiences are receptive to Western culture — “SpongeBob SquarePants” is a big hit in China — but many companies have been pulling back out of frustration over censorship, piracy, strict restrictions on foreign investment and the glacial pace of its bureaucracy.
In recent weeks, America Online shut its operations in China, for the second time. Warner Brothers, the movie studio that shares a corporate parent with AOL in Time Warner, had plans as recently as 2006 to open more than 200 retail stores throughout China, with a local partner. Today there are no such plans.
“No one really has a decent-size presence there, and no one seems to know how to get one,” said Michael Del Nin, senior vice president for international and corporate strategy at Time Warner. “In terms of priorities, the focus is elsewhere.”
POSTED COMMENTS: 5 Responses
Which goes to show that India’s soft power is on the rise again…
India has been a soft power since ancient times, but so has China.
Opening up Confucius centres will not quite do for China if it does not want to be left behind.
As long as there is censorship, the potential of China’s culture is bound.
It will be interesting to see a China which accomodates all its people, be it Han, Uighur or Tibetans in a way that promotes everyone’s creativity!
jh In China these days market forces rule. Those media left because they are loosing against thei Chinese rivals. Google has no traction among Chinese netizen instead Baidu is the reigning king of Search engine in China Ditto with Alibaba.com who best amazon.com in retail The list go on and on
Blaming it on censorship is a way to lick their own wound and save their pride. If those western media left I say good riddance good luck to your venture in India!
China is more than capable to replace in in time dominate the internet commerce
Well, John…
The article was about MEDIA and CULTURE, wasn’t it?
It was not about COMMERCE.
No question that the Chinese know how to get the best deals – even I get my flights from a Chinese travel agent because she beats all the “regulars” ;-)
But mind you, the Americans know their business too!
What disappoints me regularly, though, is that Chinese seem to think about money ONLY!
Your argument was sure proof of it…
Actually everyone sees what one wants to see…
After re-reading the article I have to admit that it has a commercial tenor!
It was me who was focusing on the culture aspect.
As I said: everyone sees what he wants to see, and I tend to be less interested in money…
I think it has to do both with cultural and political restrictions as well as with economic issues. Companies world wide look for profits, and to get them in the easiest way possible. Wherever they can do quite easy money with free speech and free thinking, there they will establish and do business.