Netherlands-based media giant Endemol announced on Tuesday that it is partnering with Chinese digital video platform Youku Tudou Inc. on the first Chinese version of the international reality TV franchise Big Brother.
Production is expected to start soon on the show, which is slated to run for 10 weeks in early 2015. It is a collaboration between Youku Tudou Inc. and Endemol China, a newly-established subsidiary based in Beijing.
Endemol China is part of Endemol Asia, which has sold more than 45 series across the region in the last year, including Your Face Sounds Familiar for Hunan TV and The Brain for Jiangsu TV.
The Big Brother format was introduced in 1999. This year, there will be 25 different versions of the show airing in 70 countries.
Youku Tudou Inc. currently has more than 500 million active users, generating more 200 billion views annually.