Youku Tudou Obtains Exclusive Right to The Voice Kids Format In China

BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE: YOKU), China's leading Internet television company, today announced that it has obtained the exclusive rights from Talpa Holding, an international media company, to produce The Voice Kids format in China. This project will be operated by the company's Tudou division. This collaboration combines the strengths of Youku Tudou and Talpa media with the power of The Voice franchise.

The Voice Kids was created by the Dutch media tycoon John de Mol as a sister show to the widely successful reality show, The Voice. The positive and compassionate nature of The Voice is easily transformed into a fun and enriching kids' vocal competition. Launched in 2012, The Voice Kids offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for talented children, as top recording artists guide them with care to help develop their talent from beginning to end. There are currently 25 local versions of The Voice Kids in production worldwide and the show has become a primetime success in its own right.

The Voice of China has already been a social phenomenon, and a smash hit in each of its three seasons, garnering the No.1 viewership rating among shows in its category. The Voice Kids is expected to build on the popularity of this franchise in China.

The Voice of China Kids will retain the classic format including blind auditions, electrifying battles, and professional coaching. As it is based on an internet platform, it will have opportunities for viewers to interact with the show across multiple screens.

"We're excited to bring this worldwide hit format to China and its integration into the Youku Tudou media and entertainment ecosystem will add further appeal beyond its already great interactive, participatory quality and unique design. I believe that The Voice of China Kids provides a wonderful opportunity for today's kids who are very expressive and want a platform to show their talents. By appealing to all ages, I'm sure it'll be great for families to watch together week after week," said Weidong Yang, President of Tudou.

"I am thrilled that The Voice Kids will come to the Chinese audience through a pioneering media outlet such as Tudou. The Voice Kids has already received high ratings and recognition from around the world. With the huge success of The Voice of China, I believe The Voice of China Kids will receive massive attention and generate a huge amount of buzz for the Chinese audience," said John de Mol, President of Talpa Media.

Tudou's cooperation with Talpa fits into the new partnership approach, designed to help build Youku Tudou's multiscreen media and entertainment ecosystem. The Voice Kids is a further addition to Tudou's impressive array of original content, which caters to a mostly younger and edgier audience, with currently 30 shows and 500 episodes of original content. In similar fashion, Tudou has pioneered popular original shows such as Tudou's Weekend Show, The Show, and Tudou K-pop, which were produced by teams of seasoned professionals, 2/3 of their core members were from the top content producers in China such as Hunan TV and Jiangsu TV.

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 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."

About Talpa

Talpa, based in Laren, The Netherlands, is the holding firm that incorporates John de Mol's media activities. The company focuses on several parts of the international media industry. Over the past few years, Talpa Holding has established itself as a full service development, production and distribution company primarily for television programmes. Talpa Content is the group's own creative development unit for television formats and multimedia concepts. Genres include reality, infotainment, entertainment, game shows, fiction, comedy and feature film. Talpa Productions is the group's in-house TV production unit. Talpa Global is dedicated to the worldwide licensing of Talpa Content's formats and finished series.

Talpa Media also has its own record label: 8ball Music (www.8ballmusic.nl).

Talpa Media Group is a shareholder in SBS Nederland (www.sbs.nl), which operates three TV stations, SBS6, NET5 and Veronica. Radio stations Radio 538 and Slam FM (www.radio538.nl) are also fully owned by Talpa. Next to this, Talpa holds a minority share in radio corporation 100% NL which operates a station under the same name and one called Radio 10 (www.100p.nl).

In 2010, Talpa acquired a stake in successful Russian producer Mir Reality. In 2012, the company set up Talpa Media USA, its own production company in Los Angeles. In 2014 Talpa Middle East, based in Dubai, was established. Talpa UK, Talpa Italy and Talpa Nordic are examples of 50-50 joint ventures Talpa operates together with local production companies in key international television markets. The goal is to jointly produce programmes in those markets based on Talpa formats and commissioned by local broadcasters. Examples of such partners are Shed Media in the UK, Shine France in Francophone European markets, Shine Iberia in Spain and Portugal and Shine Australia in Australia and New Zealand, Nordisk Film TV and Banijay Finland for Scandinavia and Finland, Toro TV in Italy. Talpa Germany is jointly owned with Axel Springer SE.

SOURCE Youku Tudou Inc.