Video site aims at summer season

Summer is a busy time not only for theaters, but also for many Chinese video sites. On Tuesday Sohu Video announced its summer campaign which includes ensuring the latest American TV shows are released at the same time as the US as well as plans for the site's own original programing.

A total of 20 American TV dramas will be airing on the site, according to the press conference. Sohu TV's representative Ma Ke explained that thanks to the intense competition among TV networks in the US, quality dramas which used to be aired in late September have actually started to hit small screens ahead of schedule. These highly anticipated dramas coming to the site include Extant starring Halle Berry, The Strain and time-travel war production Outlander. American shows popular among young people in China, like Saturday Night Live and the Conan O'Brien Show will also be part of the line up.

Charles Zhang, chairman of Sohu, explained that Sohu Video plans to double its 2014 budget when it comes to original content and that original drama Back in Time will start to air on August 3.