NetEase Reportedly Wins WoW Future Operating Right

Posted on: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:12:00 EDT


Symbols: NTES, NCTY
BEIJING, Apr 15, 2009 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) --
NCTY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- NetEase.com Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) has reportedly won the exclusive operating right of World of Warcraft (WoW) in Mainland China from June 2009.

The company will also obtain the operating right of Wrath of the Lich King, WoW's second expansion pack, according to the rumor. The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY), the former licensed operator of WoW in the mainland, was said to have failed in the renewal of its contract with the game's developer Blizzard Entertainment.

Some analysts believe that NetEase.com already aimed to get the operating right when it introduced StarCraft II into the mainland in August 2008, because the latter would unlikely make a profit in China, where there is rampant piracy.

Tencent Holdings Limited (SEHK: 0700) participated in the fight for the operating right, citing a person in the know. The company needs a heavyweight online game to boost revenues and consolidate its status as a leading online game developer and operator.

The9 says that it will not give comments on the news. The company is not afraid of losing WoW, because it is also operating two games, FIFA Online 2 and Audition 2, and The9 Board Chairman and CEO Zhu Jun believes that they will replace WoW in the future.

Source: www.enet.com.cn (April 15, 2009)

For full details on Netease.com Inc (NTES) NTES. Netease.com Inc (NTES) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on Netease.com Inc (NTES) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

For full details on The9 Limited (NCTY) NCTY. The9 Limited (NCTY) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on The9 Limited (NCTY) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

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