Smartphone Xiaomi signs deal with CNTV

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp reached an agreement with China Network Television, or CNTV, on Monday, in a bid to revive its set-top streaming device business.

CNTV is the online branch of China's dominant television broadcaster, the State-run China Central Television.

Customers will be able to use the Xiaomi set-top box to access CNTV's online content, a Xiaomi official told China Daily.

If Chinese regulators approve the deal, Xiaomi will start its Xiaomi Box sales and offer services in three Chinese cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou and Changsha.

Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi Box on Nov 14, 2012. The gadget aims to provide customers with aggregated video streaming services. However, Xiaomi halted the service a week after its debut, after media reported that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said that the company did not have an Internet TV license to offer the service.