LeTV Starts STB C1S Pre-orders on Sina Microblog Platform
Sina Tech, 3/26/13
An initial offering of C1S Internet TV set-top boxes (STBs) manufactured by Chinese online video site LeTV (Leshi) (300104.SZ) and Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn (2038.HK; 2354.TW) became available for reservation through Sina's (Nasdaq: SINA) Weibo microblogging platform at 10 AM today. Customers successful in reserving a C1S will be able to purchase the STB beginning at noon on April 1.
According to Zhang Zhiwei, VP of sales at LeTV's STB developer subsidiary Leshi Zhixin Electronics Technology, LeTV has made 50,000 units available for reservation, at a maximum of two units per Weibo user account. Customers will be required to pay the cost of the STBs with their purchase. LeTV will ship orders within one week, in order of payment.
The entire process, from reservation to purchase to payment, will reportedly take place through Sina Weibo. Payment will take place through the platform's "WeiboPay" (Weibo Qianbao) third-party payment platform.
LeTV will offer customers who already purchased the previous C1 STB a "gift package" containing a "LeMa" purchase code allowing them to purchase a C1S without having to reserve through Weibo, a "LeMa" granting them priority in purchasing a forthcoming "LeTV Super TV," and a coupon for RMB 100 applicable to the price of their purchase.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "LeTV Unveils Second Generation "C1S" Set-top Box" MD 3/19/13 issue.
Keywords: marketing television LeTV set-top box Sina microblogging 300104.SZ Leshi Leshi Zhixin Zhang Zhiwei pricing WeiboPay Internet TV