HONG KONG--Sino-i.com said it has teamed up with Hutchison Global Crossing Ltd., a 50/50 joint venture between Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and Global Crossing Ltd., to bid for a pay-TV license due to be issued early next year, though the company declined to confirm whether Hutchison has a stake in the pay-TV venture.
Sino-i.com, along with nine other candidates, submitted a bid for a pay-TV license in October, through its wholly owned company Hong Kong Network TV Ltd. ``We can't tell whether Hutchison Global Crossing will take a stake in the pay-TV venture at this stage, but it is sure that the role of HGC is more than just a network partner,'' said Karen Tang, the company's chief operating officer. She added that HGC could contribute its network infrastructure while Sino-i.com would provide content.
Though no details on the business plan were revealed today, the companies disclosed in October that they would invest up to HK$400 million (US$51.5 million) in the service.
Meanwhile, Sino-i.com said it would adopt Sun Microsystems Inc.' product as its Internet platform and it plans to launch 50 Chinese language portals within two years.
Sino-i.com, formerly South Sea Development Co., has bought Internet and financial information service provider businesses in mainland China to reposition itself as an Internet content provider.
Copyright 1999, Bloomberg L.P. All Rights Reserved.
Play video
There are currently no comments for this post.