Kankanews

What Kankanews does

Kankanews (看看新闻) is the official digital video news platform of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), one of China's largest state-owned media conglomerates. It is operated by 看东方（上海）传媒有限公司 (East View Shanghai Media Co., Ltd.), a Shanghai-incorporated private limited company that functions as the digital arm of SMG's news operations. The platform distributes professionally produced, SMG-sourced video news content to general Chinese news consumers across domestic affairs, Shanghai local news, international events, society, culture and entertainment, education, technology, lifestyle, health, and documentary categories.

The product surface consists of two integrated properties: a web portal at kankanews.com and a mobile application (看看新闻APP) for iOS and Android, both featuring live streaming, on-demand video playback, multi-channel browsing, and personal account features (history, favorites, subscriptions). The content architecture is organized into 12 primary news channels and 40+ branded sub-channels that cover specific SMG-produced programs and verticals, including investigative segments such as 叩击 (Knock), 案件聚焦 (Case Focus), and 深度 (In-depth), as well as lifestyle and culture properties like 看呀STV and 东方番茄酱. Underlying technology is described as standard video delivery infrastructure supporting live streaming, on-demand playback, mobile app distribution, and multi-channel content management, with no disclosed AI/ML components, APIs, or third-party integrations. The platform operates under three government-issued media licenses — a broadcasting program production permit, an internet news information service permit, and an online culture operating permit — which collectively form the regulatory basis for its operations.

Kankanews operates as a free, direct-to-consumer service, distributing content exclusively through its owned web and mobile properties within mainland China, with no international footprint, no subscription or paywall, and no B2B revenue stream. Monetization is via advertising and sponsorship — display ads, pre-roll video, sponsored segments, and branded programming — with no publicly disclosed pricing or revenue figures. The platform has no venture capital, private equity, or external institutional investment; it is wholly owned and funded through its SMG parent and serves a strategic public-interest mandate in addition to commercial objectives.

Name

Kankanews

Legal name

看东方（上海）传媒有限公司

Website

https://kankanews.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kankanews (看看新闻) is the official digital video news platform of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), distributing SMG-produced news, current affairs, and lifestyle video content to general Chinese consumers via its website and mobile app under a free, advertising-supported model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Video News Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

News & Politics Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA), Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

Keywords

• Video news platform
• Digital news media
• Chinese news streaming
• Shanghai broadcasting
• State media content

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorship: The platform generates revenue through display advertising, pre-roll video ads, sponsored content segments, and branded programming across its news channels and mobile app.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Kankanews (看看新闻) is a video-focused digital news platform that aggregates and streams professionally produced news content from Shanghai Media Group (SMG) and its affiliated stations. It delivers live and on-demand video news across 12 primary channels (covering China, Shanghai, international affairs, society, culture, technology, health, and documentary topics) and 40+ specialized sub-channels featuring branded original programs. Content is distributed free of charge to general news consumers via the kankanews.com website and the 看看新闻 mobile application.

Product overview

Kankanews (看看新闻) is a video news platform operated by Shanghai Media Group (SMG/上海广播电视台). The platform offers a unified product consisting of a web portal (kankanews.com) and a mobile application, providing video news content across multiple specialized channels including China news, Shanghai local news, international news, in-depth reports, special topics, case focus, society, entertainment/culture, commentary, education, technology, lifestyle, health, and documentary. The platform also features sub-program channels such as 看呀STV (Kanya STV), 叩击 (Knock), 东方看大剧 (Oriental Drama), 申康科普 (Shenkang Health), 中国考古报道 (China Archaeology), and regional content channels like 港乜都有 (Hong Kong).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 看呀STV: A sub-brand channel under Kankanews featuring local Shanghai content and lifestyle programming.
• 叩击
• 东方番茄酱
• 义见
• 东方看大剧

Products and services

• Kankanews Video News Platform (看看新闻APP & kankanews.com) Unified video news platform delivered via the kankanews.com website and 看看新闻APP (iOS/Android), providing live streaming and on-demand video news across 12 primary channels (China, Shanghai, International, In-depth, Special Topics, Case Focus, Society, Entertainment, Commentary, Education, Technology, Lifestyle, Health, Documentary) and 40+ specialized sub-channels featuring branded original programs from SMG. Targeted at general Chinese news consumers seeking authoritative video news coverage free of charge.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Shanghai Media Group (SMG / 上海广播电视台)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKankanews (看看新闻) is the official video news platform of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), operated by SMG's subsidiary 看东方（上海）传媒有限公司 (East View Shanghai Media Co., Ltd.). The platform distributes SMG-produced news content, leverages SMG's production infrastructure, brand authority, and regulatory licensing, and functions as a key digital arm of the state media group's broadcast and news operations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• NetEase News (网易新闻): One of China's largest online news portals, operated by NetEase, with extensive video, live streaming, and mobile app products. Comparable to Kankanews as a major Chinese digital news platform with multi-channel content and advertising-supported monetization, but with a private (rather than state-affiliated) ownership.
• People's Daily Online (人民网): The official digital arm of People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. Comparable to Kankanews as a state-affiliated news and video platform with a direct-to-consumer model and a focus on authoritative news video content for Chinese audiences.
• Tencent News (腾讯新闻): The news product of Tencent, distributed across QQ, WeChat, and a dedicated mobile app, with extensive video news, live streaming, and AI-driven personalization. Comparable to Kankanews as a high-traffic Chinese digital news platform, but with vastly larger scale, private ownership, and tech-giant distribution advantages.
• CCTV.com (央视网): The official digital video and news platform of China Central Television (CCTV), the country's national broadcaster. Directly comparable to Kankanews as the digital video news arm of a major state broadcaster, with broader national reach and similar licensing-driven business model.

Direct peers

• The Paper (澎湃新闻): A leading Chinese online news outlet, also originally launched with state media backing (Dongfang Daily) and known for video news, investigative reporting, and live streaming. Comparable to Kankanews in being a state-affiliated digital-first news platform with strong video and live-streaming capabilities targeting Chinese news consumers.
• Xinhua Net (新华网): The official online news platform of Xinhua News Agency, China's state news agency. Comparable to Kankanews as a state-affiliated digital video news distribution platform with national scope, similar regulatory licensing, and advertising-supported monetization.
• Phoenix New Media (凤凰新媒体): A major Chinese digital media company operating ifeng.com, a leading online news portal with strong video, live streaming, and mobile app offerings. Comparable to Kankanews as a multi-channel Chinese-language news and video platform monetized primarily through advertising.

Emerging players

• Guancha (观察者网): A Chinese digital news and commentary platform with strong video and live streaming products, focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and current events. Comparable to Kankanews as a video-driven Chinese news platform covering national, international, and current-affairs topics with editorial commentary.
• Caixin (财新): A leading Chinese business and financial news outlet with a strong digital and video presence, known for investigative journalism. Comparable to Kankanews as a Chinese-language video news platform, but more focused on premium, subscription-supported business and financial news.
• Yicai (第一财经): A major Chinese financial news outlet with strong video, live streaming, and mobile app capabilities, originally backed by Shanghai Media Group itself. Comparable to Kankanews in being an SMG-affiliated digital video news platform, though more focused on financial and business news.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kankanews