Agglomerative patterns and cooperative networks of the online video industry in China

ABSTRACT This paper examines the impacts of new digital technologies on the geographies of cultural production. Drawing on a large dataset collected from a leading Chinese online video platform, it analyses the geographical distribution and cooperative networks of a newly emerged subsector of cultural industries, namely the online video industry. The results reveal the transformative impacts of new internet platforms on the agglomeration of cultural industries, which deviates from the traditional agglomerative patterns and reflects the new ‘digital divide’ between cities. The findings also demonstrate the dominant role that external networks play in the formation of online creative projects.

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