China's largest search engine, Baidu Inc, is in the process of acquiring Chinese online video firm PPS Net TV for between $350 to  million, China Business News reported on Thursday, quoting sources.

Late last year Baidu acquired a majority stake in its loss-making online video unit, iQiyi. China's online video industry is hypercompetitive and content costs are expensive. In early 2012, Youku Tudou Inc acquired Tudou in an all-stock deal, making the newly formed company the largest online video player in China.

When acquired, PPS and iQiyi will continue to operate as independent brands, but will share back-end technical integration, the newspaper reported.

A Baidu spokesman declined to comment, and a PPS spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

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