One of China's leading internet service portals, NetEase, launched its 2012 London Olympic coverage strategy on February 21st. The strategy includes investment in mobile internet and mobile application products.
Li Yong, president of Netease's portal business, says Netease will integrate its mobile application and WAP platform products for services such as e-mail and news. It will also partner with services such as online video provider Youku, online social networking services Renren and Mop.com, as well as location-based services providers Jiepang and Foursquare.
Li Yong points out that compared to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China's total mobile user population has greatly increased over the past four years.
"Four years ago, China had 250 million internet users. The number has surpassed 500 million today. In 2008, China had 70 million mobile internet users, and now the number is more than 350 million. When the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games concluded, the media winner was said to be the internet, which became the main platform for people to watch the Games. Today, with the development of 3G and booming Iphone sales, we believe mobile internet will play a key role in the upcoming London Olympics."
In addition, Netease will partner with the International Sports Press Association, and various domestic media outlets such as CNTV to satisfy user demand.
Also the portal will organize a specialized reporting team including 50 journalists, four overseas reporting bureaus, and 488 editors to file reports, interviews, special coverage, short films and so on.
Like NetEase, qq.com is one of China's leading internet service portals that will invest heavily on the London Olympic Games.
The company says it will have a large team to cover the event. Its programs will be updated continually during the 16-day event.
Chen Juhong, editor-in-chief of qq.com says they believe Weibo will be important in covering the games.
"In 2008, our social network qq was very active. But in 2012, we believe weibo will play a significant role. Weibo has made information acquisition and sharing much more real-time."
Moreover, qq.com will launch 10 vedio programs for the Olympics. "China's Tea House" will be the leading one, in which well-known TV commentators will talk with star athletes. Other programs will include the recreational "Challenge the Champions" and an in-depth talk show called "Going for London".
Dan Chugg, Political Counsellor with the British Embassy in Beijing says he believes the 2012 London Olympics will be seen everywhere in China this summer.
"I think London 2012 is gonna be across all the media, it's gonna be on the internet, on TV, and also people are gonna pick it up on their iphones and smartphones, so I think wherever you look, there is gonna be stuff about London 2012 this summer."
For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.
