Beijing, China: Chinese tech giant Tencent has launched a 24-hour streaming channel for pets, offering content to keep cats and dogs entertained while their owners are away.
The service, called “PetTV”, is available on Tencent Video and features curated clips such as ducklings swimming and dogs patrolling neighbourhoods. Tencent said the channel is designed to keep pets company when left alone and provide shared viewing experiences for pets and their owners.
In a post on social media, Tencent Video described PetTV as a “24-hour happiness hub specially designed for your furry kids”. The company said pets perceive visuals and sounds differently from humans, and that the channel’s colours, refresh rates and audio frequencies have been tailored to suit their needs.
PetTV is available to paid subscribers. Tencent added that its research found 66 percent of dog owners leave the television on for their pets while they are out. Tencent also plans to include third-party content, including programmes from DogTV, a US-based channel designed for dogs.
China’s urban pet market is expected to reach 405 billion yuan ($59bn) by 2028, according to PetData.cn. On average, households spent more than 3,000 yuan ($435) per dog and over 2,000 yuan per cat last year on pet care.
