iQiyi will soon be offering films from Universal Pictures. (Photo : www.engadget.com)
China's iQiyi, the online video subsidiary unit of Baidu, has bought the Internet broadcasting rights of 800 titles from Paramount Pictures through a recently signed deal, the group remarked in a statement.
Included in the 800 Paramount titles to be shown via the iQiyi platform are the box-office hits "The Godfather," "Forrest Gump," "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar," "Terminator," and the series "Transformers" and "Mission: Impossible."
Apart from this huge list of films, some upcoming Paramount movies are also covered by the agreement.
The recent deal with Paramout Pictures is also expected to boost and promote the paid services of the Baidu-affiliated video subsidiary unit.
Currently, iQiyi has about 6,000 film titles--coming from China, U.S., India, some European countries, South Korean and Japan--in its library.
The online video viewing platform furthermore plans to make seven domestic titles and a Hollywood-pegged film in 2016.
During the Shanghai International Film Festival, iQiyi announced that it eyes to purchase distribution rights to over 1,000 U.S. movie titles. The move is the unit's answer to the increasing demand for Hollywood content from its users.
Last month, iQiyi stated that it has already reached five million paid subscribers. The plans it recently announced is part of its efforts to improve its content for its paying members.
The unit's founder and CEO Gong Yu said during the event that the firm is set to "continue to provide more excellent domestic and international content to members" in the coming months and years.
