Ku6.com to increase investment in content

Ku6.com, China's third largest video website, plans to invest over 200 million yuan ($29.29 million) next year to buy copyrighted content and large bandwidth to build a copyrighted, high-definition video platform.

The platform will appear as a new website, separate from the present Ku6.com, in the first half of 2010, according to CEO Kevin Li.

The company will also invest another 100 million yuan in Ku6.com for content integration.

"Copyright and high definition are what our strategy is all about," said Li, adding that the new video platform will be like an online TV station.

Another leading video website, Tudou.com, also has said that it would use 100 million yuan to develop content, including buying copyrighted resources and making video shows.

Copyright violation has long been a problem with China's online videos. Li expects that the industry will witness substantial progress on that issue next year, as more video websites realize its importance for the development of the industry.

Ku6.com was the first listed video website in China. Last month, it merged with the NASDAQ-listed Hurray! Solutions Ltd, a subsidiary of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited.