By Darah Hansen

China’s newest SVOD service, Tmall Box Office (TBO), launched by the Alibaba Group in early September, has secured more than 2,500 half-hours of programming for children and families following a deal inked with DHX Media.

The deal gives Chinese subscribers to the service access to popular kids’ titles including Teletubbies, Caillou, Paddington Bear, Super WHY!, Rastamouse, Johnny Test and Martha Speaks. Users can now stream the content through Alibaba’s own Tmall Box, a proprietary television set-top box. According to Alibaba, subscribers can also tap into programming via OTT devices and various smart TVs in China; however, no further details were made available regarding the specific devices at press time.

The deal marks the first time DHX has paired with Alibaba on content, but it’s no stranger to the Chinese VOD market. In November, DHX paired with China National Television (CNTV), a newly created division of China’s state broadcaster, China Central Television, to launch a new streaming service dedicated to DHX’s children’s programming. Under that deal, DHX agreed to provide more than 700 half hours of content to the subscription and ad-supported VOD service. Among the series provided were Inspector Gadget, Madeline and Sonic the Hedgehog. The service, called Jai Jai Bao Bao, launched in early 2015. It is available only in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).

– From StreamDaily