Apple
- Apple’s livestream of its iPhone 12 launch event on Tuesday was not available to watch on top Chinese social media platforms.
- Tencent Video, iQiyi, Bilibili, and Weibo didn’t stream the event.
- Bloomberg reported that the platforms canceled coverage without explanation.
- The event garnered massive interest in China, Apple’s second-largest market by revenue, and the iPhone 12 was the top topic on Weibo.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Top Chinese social media platforms reportedly pulled their planned coverage of Apple’s iPhone 12 livestream on Tuesday, despite massive interest in the event.
When Apple revealed the iPhone 12, its first 5G phone, video platforms such as Tencent Video, iQiyi, Bilibili, and Weibo didn’t carry the event, despite originally planning to, Bloomberg reported.
The report said the platforms gave no explanation for not showing the event in China, Apple’s second-largest market by revenue.
The iPhone 12 was later ranked the top topic on Weibo, with users posting photos of the new phone.
Bloomberg reporter Yuan Gao said in a tweet that the platforms usually hire translators and commentators to ensure the event is covered late into the night.
—Gao Yuan (@GaoYuan86) October 14, 2020
In an analyst note, financial services and investment firm Wedbush said the news "speaks to the ongoing 'cold tech war' tensions between the US and China."
It estimated that around 20% of iPhone upgrades in the coming year will come from China.
Representatives of Tencent Holdings, iQiyi, Weibo, and Bilibili didn't respond to Bloomberg's requests for comments.
During the event, Apple revealed four new 5G phones, starting at $699.