BEIJING, June 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an
ongoing effort to offer its hundreds of millions of users unique
entertainment, Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE: YOKU), China's leading Internet television company,
recently announced the release of more than 20 programs and drama
series produced by its in-house production unit.
The unique content will be released throughout the second half
of 2014 and will include reality shows, talk shows and drama
series. Youku Tudou has made it of strategic importance to increase
investment to in-house production. With 500 million users on both
PC and mobile, Youku Tudou attracts more than 70 percent of Chinese
online video viewers, according to recently released data from
China Internet Network Information Center, or CNNIC.
The rollout of the new programming began earlier in June with
the release of the Internet reality show "Searching Divas," which
garnered more than 10 million views, and 10,000 comments within the
first two days of its debut on June
6. The show, modeled after the popular Korean reality show
"Running Man," features contestants who compete against each other
to complete challenging tasks and missions. Winners are able to
meet their favorite Chinese celebrities.
Other releases include four talk shows, including "Logical
Thinking," a show featuring readings and discussions, and
"Macroview," a program focusing on financial issues. Celebrity
hosts include Liang Dong, a former
TV personality, and Yuan Tengfei, a history teacher famous for his
sometimes controversial, yet entertaining, lectures. The decision
to bolster talk show programming was based on the extreme
popularity of online talk shows "Morning Call" and "Logical
Thinking," which were released on Youku last year.
Other programming includes the release of "Tiny Times," a drama
series based on the box office hit film that centered on young,
upwardly mobile Chinese and their lives in modern-day China. The "Tiny Times" drama series will
premier on Youku in July and later have possible syndication on TV.
"Midnight Taxi," a Tudou original drama series co-produced by the
award-winning Japanese director of Shinya Shokudo, will also be
released.
The in-house production of unique, original content enables
Youku Tudou to better serve and understand the entertainment needs
of viewers. Such content will be integrated with other features,
including social media platforms and e-commerce optimization
created for Youku Tudou's online and mobile video platforms.
"Our customized content in the emerging online entertainment
industry is vitally important to Youku Tudou's continued leadership
in the Internet television space," Zhu Xiangyang, Youku Tudou chief
content officer, said. "To create a multi-screen, entertainment
ecosystem is one of our most important strategic initiatives."
"Youku is integrating unique content with animation, games, live
interactive features and other services to create a holistic
offline to online entertainment experience for our viewers,"
Youku.com president Wei Ming said.
"Via traditional television programming combined with the Internet,
we are continuing to promote an entirely new industry chain that
will redefine China's online
entertainment space."
Youku Tudou has been a pioneer in in-house productions since it
began to create its own unique content in 2009. Iconic web programs
produced by the company include "Hip Hop Quartets," "Old Boys," "On
the Road" and "Surprise."
About Youku Tudou Inc.
Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) is China's leading Internet television company.
Its Youku and Tudou Internet television platforms enable users to
search, view and share high-quality video content quickly and
easily across multiple devices. Its Youku brand and Tudou brand are
among the most recognized online video brands in China. Youku Tudou's American depositary
shares, each representing 18 of Youku Tudou's Class A ordinary
shares, are traded on the NYSE under the symbol "YOKU."
Media Contact:
Jean Shao
Shaodan@youku.com
86-21 3325 3575
SOURCE Youku Tudou Inc.