Youku Debuts Socially Aware Web Applications

BEIJING, November 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Youku Inc. (NYSE: YOKU), China's leading Internet television company, revealed Youku Classroom and Youku Music Box, two new web applications from Youku Labs. The two applications leverage Youku APIs to extend the Youku platform to support new services.

Initially conceived as a front-end application for open lecture videos, Youku Classroom (http://classroom.youkulabs.com) presents lecture videos, notes, subtitles, and slideshow presentations in a single intuitive interface. Designed from the ground up to be compatible with any desktop or mobile browser with HTML5 support, Youku Classroom integrates Youku's video resources with the social features of other platforms (including SINA's Weibo micro-blogging platform and Dict.cn's Chinese-English dictionary) to create an online space for viewers to learn and interact with virtual "classmates."

Youku Music Box (http://youku.fm) draws on Youku's vast library of music video content to present an online "video radio" station allowing users to select from different channels. Music Box learns from users' preferences and takes into account their social behaviors on Youku's platform in recommending music to match their tastes.

"Creativity and innovation are key parts of the Youku story," said Youku CTO Jian Yao. "From our early work in developing an industry-leading content-delivery network, to Youku Labs graduates like iKu Mini, Youku has always promoted the development of new technologies and applications that push the edge of what's possible. Youku Classroom and Youku Music Box continue that tradition, and provide a glimpse of the sort of applications that will be possible with our upcoming public API."

Deriving from Youku's corporate culture of innovation, Youku Labs has been running within the Company virtually since its founding as a way of encouraging engineers to channel their enthusiasm for Youku's platform into new tools and functions. From software tools allowing home media PCs to view Youku video to full-fledged new tools like Youku Classroom and Youku Music Box, Youku engineers have extended the Company's Internet television platform in new directions.

About Youku

Youku Inc. is China's leading Internet television company. Our Internet television platform enables users to search, view and share high-quality video content quickly and easily across multiple devices. Youku, which stands for "what's best and what's cool" in Chinese, is the most recognized online video brand in China. Youku's American depositary shares, each representing 18 of our Class A ordinary shares, are traded on NYSE under the symbol "YOKU."