China's two largest online video firms, Youku and Tudou, have agreed to merge in a bid to cut costs and boost their market share, BBC reported.

Youku is to acquire rival Tudou via a stock swap deal valued at $1bn. The merger will create the biggest online video firm in China, the world's largest internet market.

According to analysts, competition between the two firms to buy rights to video content and to attract advertisers to their respective websites, have caused both large losses in recent months.

They believe that the merger will not only reduce licensing costs but also give the new unit, which is expected to have a market share of more than 35%, more leverage in negotiating with advertisers.

A joint operation may result in savings from between $50m to $60m over the next 18 months.

(China.org.cn, CNTV March 14, 2012)

據英國廣播公司報道，中國在線視頻業兩大巨頭——優酷和土豆，日前簽署協議宣布合并，以降低運營成本，擴大市場份額。

優酷將用換股方式，以10億美金股價兼并土豆，成為中國最大的在線視頻企業。當下中國互聯網市場廣闊，居全球之首。

分析人士指出，兩企業之間競爭激烈，涉及向內容商購買版權、拉攏廣告客戶等，近幾個月來，由此引發的虧損數額巨大。

此番他們認為，合并能降低版權成本并成立新實體，有望占領35%的市場份額，與廣告商合作將更有說服力。

未來18個月，本次合并可節余5000—6000萬美金。