Xiaomi announced last year that it intends to pour around $1 billion into video content in the months to come and is starting things off the Mi Box, a streaming device that the company unveiled last month, and the Mi TV, a 47-inch smart television that’s powered by Android. Despite announcing that it will begin selling many of its products in the US in the near future, the Mi TV will not be available in the States due to how Chinese-centric the device and its content offerings are.
Chinese smart phone maker Xiaomi may be getting ready to sell some of its wares in the U.S., but its smart TV devices likely won’t be part of that U.S. line-up any time soon: Xiaomi VP of International Hugo Barra told me on the sidelines of a press event in San Francisco Thursday that Xiaomi’s TV set is heavily customized for the Chinese market, thanks in part to content licensing agreements, and the company isn’t looking to strike similar deals in the U.S.. The same goes for Xiaomi’s Mi Box mini, a streaming device that the company introduced last month. However, never say never: Xiaomi revealed last year that it plans to invest $1 billion in online video content, which could eventually pave the way to target Chinese expats, or even wider audiences, outside of China as well. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a closer look at Xiaomi’s Mi TV, the company’s 47-inch smart TV, which was on display at the press event as well.
