Medialink
{{Short description|Content distributor and brand licensing company of Hong Kong}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Medialink Group Limited
| logo = Medialink logo.png
| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|Medialink Film and Television (1994–2000)|Medialink Entertainment (2000–2018)}}
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{sehk|2230}}
| trading_name = Medialink
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|KYG5958A1013}}
| industry = Entertainment and retail
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994|3}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Lovinia Chiu|Noletta Chiu}}
| location = Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| area_served = Worldwide (primarily Asian markets)
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list
| Lovinia Chiu (CEO, chairman and executive director)
| Noletta Chiu (executive director)
| Ching Fung Ma (CFO and executive director)
}}
| products = Anime, motion pictures, and merchandise
| services = {{Unbulleted list|Content distribution|Brand licensing}}
| revenue = {{Decrease}} {{HKD|315.122 million}}{{Cite web|date=31 March 2020|title=Medialink Group Limited ANNUAL REPORT 2020|url=https://api.aconnect.com.hk/Attachment/55493|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120111502/https://api.aconnect.com.hk/Attachment/55493|archive-date=20 January 2021|format=PDF|access-date=20 January 2021}}
| revenue_year = 2020
| operating_income = {{Decrease}} {{HKD|50 million}}
| income_year = 2020
| net_income = {{Decrease}} {{HKD|36 million}}
| net_income_year = 2020
| assets = {{Increase}} {{HKD|619.092 million}}
| assets_year = 2020
| equity =
| owner = RLA Company Limited (75%)
| parent = RLA Company Limited
| num_employees = 99
| divisions =
| subsid = {{Unbulleted list|MediaLink Licensing Holdings|Medialink Entertainment Holdings|Medialink Investment Holdings}}
| slogan =
| homepage = [https://www.medialink.com.hk/ medialink.com.hk]
| footnotes =
}}
Medialink Group Limited is a content distributor and licensor based in Kowloon, Hong Kong specializing in the distribution of Japanese anime and brand licensing. Its offices are located at Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Registered from Hong Kong Companies Registry, Medialink was founded as Medialink International Limited by Lovinia Chiu in March 1994.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} In 2018, co-founders Lovinia and Noletta Chiu integrated Medialink Entertainment and Medialink Animation International into the Medialink Group, which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2019/0521/764083.shtml|title=組圖：影視劇發行商"羚邦集團"掛牌上市|trans-title=Photo: TV Programme Distributor "Medialink Group" Listed on the Stock Exchange|website=Hong Kong China News Agency|language=zh|date=21 May 2019|access-date=13 February 2021}}
Anime distribution
Medialink Entertainment handles the content acquisition and distribution of Japanese anime in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The company does not directly release its own properties, but instead selects some anime titles for release on home video through its distribution partners such as Asia Video Publishing in Hong Kong, CaiChang International Multimedia in Taiwan, Dream Express (DEX) and previously Rose Media and Entertainment in Thailand.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}
In addition, the company also sub-licenses select titles to streaming services and TV stations. In 2018, the company launched a new brand called Ani-One to simulcast new anime titles and distribute older series on their partnered platforms. Its notable clients include Netflix, Animax Asia, iQIYI, Bilibili, Dimsum,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2018/04/16/dimsum-ani-one-anime-content|title=dimsum partners with Ani-One to expand anime content|last=Seto|first=Kit-Yan|website=The Star|date=16 April 2018|access-date=13 February 2021}} and local streaming services in select served regions.{{Cite web|date=30 April 2019|title=Medialink Group Limited GLOBAL OFFERING|url=http://www3.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2019/0430/LTN20190430063.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190616095006/http://www3.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2019/0430/LTN20190430063.pdf|archive-date=16 June 2019|access-date=13 February 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2020/07/13/anime-distributor-turns-to-merchandise-and-e-commerce-amid-pandemic-for-growth|title=Anime Distributor Turns To Merchandise And E-Commerce Amid Pandemic For Growth|last=Wang|first=Yue|work=Forbes|date=13 July 2020|access-date=13 February 2021}} It also offers anime contents on its own YouTube channel since October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.medialink.com.hk/en/Anione.aspx|title=Medialink Group Limited Business - Ani-One|website=medialink.com.hk|access-date=13 February 2021}} On 10 April 2021, Medialink announced that they had reached a distribution partnership with Mediacorp, with Medialink titles being made available to stream on meWATCH.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-04-10/catch-anime-action-on-mewatch-with-mediacorp-and-medialink-group-linkup/.171607|title=Catch Anime Action on meWATCH with Mediacorp and Medialink Group Linkup|publisher=Medialink Group Limited|agency=Anime News Network|date=10 April 2021|accessdate=12 May 2021}} On 1 July 2021, Medialink launched a membership program called Ani-One ULTRA to simulcast select titles and old anime series under its Ani-One YouTube channel.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2021-06-30/ani-one-youtube-launched-channel-membership-program-with-popular-simulcast-titles-for-hkd-20-per-month/.174621|title=Ani-One® YouTube Launched Channel Membership Program with Popular Simulcast Titles for HKD$20 Per Month|publisher=Medialink Group Limited|agency=Anime News Network|date=29 June 2021|accessdate=6 July 2021}}
In 2019, Medialink began co-producing and co-funding anime projects.
Other businesses
=Brand licensing=
Medialink Animation International manages the brand licensing business. It is involved in the licensing of various brands, including Garfield, Popeye, Betty Boop, The Little Prince, and My Hero Academia.
=Ani-Mall=
In 2020, Medialink started venturing into the e-commerce business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched in August 2020, Ani-Mall is an online store selling anime-themed clothes, toys and other merchandise from Medialink's licensed brands.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/hkstock/ggscyd/2020-09-28/doc-iivhuipp6921303.shtml|title=羚邦集团推出电商网站Ani-Mall™及益智点播平台Ani-Kids™|trans-title=Medialink Group Launches E-Commerce Website Ani-Mall™ and Educational On-Demand Platform Ani-Kids™|website=Sina Corp|language=zh|date=28 September 2020|access-date=14 February 2021}}
=Ani-Kids=
On 19 September 2020, Medialink launched a new educational entertainment VOD platform on MyTV SUPER for children in preschools.
=Ani-Mi=
On 18 October 2023, Medialink announced the partnership with Bilibili to handled the distribution & licensing for their donghua series in Southeast Asian markets,{{cite web|title=MEDIALINK, BILIBILI Reach Strategic Cooperation on Overseas Development of CN Animations & Comics|url=http://www.aastocks.com/en/usq/news/comment.aspx?source=AAFN&id=NOW.1300449|website=AAStocks Financial News|date=18 October 2023|access-date=8 November 2023}} resulting the launch of Ani-Mi VOD platform.{{cite Instagram|author=Ani-Mi Asia|user=animiforasia|postid=CyigEygLmiN|title=🥳Ani-Mi Asia YouTube Channel is LAUNCHED! 🥳|date=18 October 2023|access-date=8 November 2023}}
=Movie production and distribution=
Medialink was also evolved in movie production, such as One Second Champion and Drifting with mm2 Entertainment. They also responsible for releasing Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle anime film in the Asian markets as well.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Official website|https://www.medialink.com.hk/}}
- {{anime News Network|company|11084}}
Category:1994 establishments in Hong Kong
Category:Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
Category:Companies of Hong Kong
Category:Entertainment companies of Hong Kong
Category:Mass media companies established in 1994