Alibaba launches two new shopping platforms

The two companies have set up a joint-venture with a registered investment of US$15 million to run the new business.

The new TV shopping platform, Wasu TV Taobao Mall, marks China's first digital television shopping technology.

New digital portal Taohua.com on the other hand will focus around a one-stop shopping platform for video, e-books, music and other digital entertainment and educational products.

"Taohua.com will be China's first platform to consolidate digital materials for sharing and purchase, creating an environment that allows a wide range of small businesses to conveniently reach the vast consumer population on Taobao," said Jonathan Luk, president and CEO of Taobao.

Fang Jiansheng, chairman of Wasu Digital Television Media Group, said the new partnership also aims to fulfill "online shopping dreams of hundreds of millions of people in the television audiences".

Wasu Television Taobao Mall will be hosting 12 product categories, including household goods, consumer electronics and apparels.

Taohua.com will offer free and fee-based entertainment and education content over the internet. It is expected to have 4,000 motion pictures and 20,000 popular television shows at launch.

This event marks a second joint-venture activity for Alibaba Group. It has also partnered with Vendio Services in the US to its extend reach in the Western markets.