Alibaba explores set-top box TV market

Alibaba Cloud Computing, a unit of the Chinese Internet company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, is planning a foray into the television screen market with a Web-enabled set-top box, sources said.

Unlike streaming-video websites, such as LeTV.com and PPTV.com that focus on content in their set-top boxes, Alibaba's product will aim to link multiple television screens and offer television shopping, sina.com reported on Wednesday.

Wasu Media Holding Co or Hunan TV Station are likely to go into alliance with Alibaba to explore the market, insiders pointed, as both companies set up joint ventures with Alibaba in 2010 and both received internet television licenses in 2010.