Editorial Summary

The User Research Lab of Chinese Search (URLCS), set up in 2005 by Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) and Peking University, released the 2007 Video Search Industry Report on November 15, reports HC360.com. The report ranked online video sites based on how often users searched for them on Baidu. The top ranked video portals were Tudou.com (22.2%), 56.com (19.9%) and Youku.com (13.9%). Sina's (Nasdaq: SINA) video channel was the highest-ranking video channel on a portal, and China Telecom's (NYSE: CHA, 728.HK) ChinaVnet was the top video-on-demand (VOD) site, according to the report. According to the report, Baidu accounted for over 90 percent of search-engine generated traffic for the video portals.

Baidu began large-scale promotions of the online viewing channel (online.v.baidu.com) of its video channel (v.baidu.com) on November 14, reports Sohu quoting an insider. Baidu is running pre-roll ads in the videos, said the report. The new channel went live in August. Videos on other channels of Baidu's video site must be downloaded. Baidu cooperates with video content providers including Beijing-based UiTV.com for copyrights.