Youku Tudou Presents Slew of Originals

BEIJING: The Chinese Internet TV company Youku Tudou is set to release more than 20 new programs, including reality shows, talk shows and drama series, produced by its in-house production unit.

Youku Tudou has been focusing on increasing its investment in in-house productions as of late. The new content, which will begin rolling out this month, includes the Internet reality show Searching Divas. The show, modeled after the popular Korean reality show Running Man, features contestants competing against each other to complete challenging tasks and missions. The winners will get the chance to meet their favorite Chinese celebrities.

There are four new talk shows coming as well, including Logical Thinking, a show featuring readings and discussions, and Macroview, focused on financial issues. In the way of drama, there are, among others, Tiny Times, based on the hit box office film, and Midnight Taxi, co-produced with the Japanese director of Shinya Shokudo.

"Our customized content in the emerging online entertainment industry is vitally important to Youku Tudou's continued leadership in the Internet television space," said Zhu Xiangyang, Youku Tudou's chief content officer. "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," added Wei Ming, Youku.com's president. "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."