Tencent joins forces with HBO

Dancers perform under a logo of Tencent Holdings Ltd at the Global Mobile Internet Conference in Beijing, June 27, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese Internet giant Tencent has signed a deal with Time Warner's HBO to distribute the latter's TV dramas and movies to Chinese audiences online.

The deal will see TV dramas such as True Detective and Game of Thrones, as well as HBO movies, available on Tencent's online video service V.qq.com.

Tencent, which operates in online games, social networks, video streaming, mobile apps, taxi calling and online shopping, has millions of users in China. HBO, the Home Box Office, is behind hit shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

The move comes as one of Tencent's major competitors, Alibaba, has diversified its own business portfolio.

Tencent said that each program to be distributed on its online video platform will require the approval of relevant government departments before they can be offered for streaming.