MIP-TV. Endemol Shine Group has announced a co-development partnership between Endemol Shine China and Youku to create and produce two new original series for the Chinese market in 2018.
In the deal, the two parties will co-create big budget, high quality non-scripted shows. International creative talent from Endemol Shine Group and Endemol Shine China will bring their expertise in content creation to the projects, across development, pilot and production consultancy, distribution and technology support. Youku will capitalize on their cutting edge audience research system, providing audience feedback data analysis throughout the development process.
Nicola Bamford, CEO, International Operations, Endemol Shine Group added, “This is a great opportunity to partner with Youku to create original, authentic stories that will resonate in China, and have the potential to reach global audiences through Endemol Shine Group’s international network and distribution.”
William Tan, Managing Director, Endemol Shine China, added, “At Endemol Shine China, we have very skilled talent developing new and original content, and our co-developments allow us to create locally relevant and engaging shows for audiences in China. The additional support from Endemol Shine Group’s creative talent and network resources is critical in enabling us to supercharge our content and export our shows around the world.”
Weidong YANG, President of Youku, Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, commented, ““Gone are the days where digital entertainment shows rely on imitating traditional linear channel shows. Digital entertainment shows will be the new engines of industry creativity.” He also made a statement last year during Youku Showcase to emphasize that the key trend in digital entertainment shows is to raise production values and story-telling techniques, together with the new innovative and creative directions that digital platforms are taking within the government’s standard censorship system.
