BEIJING, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Youku Tudou
Inc., China's leading Internet
television company (NYSE: YOKU) ("Youku"), kicked off the 100-day
"True Dou" differentiation campaign for Tudou today with the
unveiling of a revamped site design and the introduction of new
social features and original programming. Youku Tudou's first major
campaign following the merger of its parent companies on
August 23, 2012, "True Dou" will
further distinguish between the Youku and Tudou brands operated
under Youku Tudou's dual-platform strategy.
The campaign highlights the youthful, fashion-forward nature of
the Tudou brand with a clean new site design and compelling new
content and features. A larger, sleeker video player is front and
center in Tudou's new layout, while an all-new discussion feature,
"Doupao," makes it easier than ever for viewers to discuss videos
in real time. Three new channels of Tudou-specific content -- Tudou
Original, Entertainment, and Animation -- guarantee that viewers
will have plenty to talk about. The new website will go live to the
public on September 26, 2012.
Tudou's new "Doupao" feature makes video-watching a social
activity again. Pop-up bubbles on top of videos display real-time
feeds of video comments, making online conversation about videos
easier and more natural than ever before. Rather than shunting
comments to the bottom of the video page, or sending users to
microblogging services for discussion, "Doupao" integrates the
conversation into the video viewing experience in a natural,
transparent fashion.
Tudou also announced three new self-produced programs under its
youth-focused Tudou Original brand. The first of these, "Yif
Magic," premieres on Tudou in conjunction with
the revamped website, and will offer weekly installments of
entertainment programming every Friday. The forthcoming "Tudou
Surfin'" and "Tudou Groovin'" series will present regular video
magazine-style updates on global pop music, celebrities, and the
entertainment industry.
"The Chinese online video industry has been characterized by
fierce competition for the past several years," said Youku Tudou
Chairman, CEO Victor Koo. "Now that
Youku and Tudou are no longer competing with one another, it's time
to let both sites be themselves. Tudou's new design and identity
position it to appeal to younger, more independent audiences than
the more general audience served by Youku."
"We're excited about Tudou's potential following the recent
merger," said Yu Zhou, Senior Vice
President of Youku Tudou Inc. and Chief Strategy Officer for
Tudou. "Ever since it launched in 2005, Tudou has positioned itself
as the best choice for entertainment-focused, fashion-conscious
young people with a combination of innovative technology and top
content. The site redesign, new social features, and the True Dou
campaign will make it clear to viewers that we aren't resting on
our laurels."
Youku and Tudou, China's #1 and
#2 online video platforms, have a combined reach of as many as 310
million unique viewers per week, with only 14% daily overlap and
18% weekly overlap in users. A recent report from Chinese market
research firm iResearch estimated that Youku Tudou serves a total
of 1.6 billion hours of video every month.
Following the merger of its parent companies, Youku Tudou is
continuing to develop Youku.com and Tudou.com as
separate, distinct platforms sharing a unified advertising client
support system. The system enhances advertising partners' potential
marketing coverage while eliminating unnecessary duplicate reach,
for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in ad buys.
About Youku Tudou Inc.
Youku Tudou Inc. is China's
leading Internet television company. Through Youku and Tudou,
China's two largest online video
platforms, Youku Tudou offers viewers a rich library of content of
premium licensed content, user generated content, and original
in-house productions. According to iResearch, Youku and Tudou
combined reach 310 million viewers per week in September 2012. Youku Tudou's American depositary
shares are traded on NYSE under the symbol "YOKU."
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations:
Jean Shao
Director, International Communications
Youku Tudou Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5885-1881 x7128
Email: shaodan@youku.com
Investor Relations:
Ryan Cheung
Corporate Finance Director
Youku Tudou Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5885-1881 x6090
Email: ryan.cheung@youku.com
SOURCE Youku Tudou Inc.