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Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show to be distributed in China

Ellen DeGeneres' talk show is headed to China.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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China is getting “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Warner Bros., which produces and distributes the daytime talker, said it has struck a deal with Sohu Video, an online distributor, to carry the show in China. The studio said it is the first time a U.S. syndicated talk show will be available in China.

Subtitled episodes of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will hit China within two days of their original broadcast here.

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Sohu is an over-the-top video service similar to Hulu. It will offer episodes of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in an on-demand type package.

“‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ is one of the most well-known talk shows in the U.S., and we believe it could also have strong appeal and relevance with the Chinese audience.,” said Sohu Chairman and Chief Executive Charles Zhang.

Although many daytime talk shows are known for thier salacious material that might not play well with Chinese officials, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is a fairly soft celebrity chat show that shouldn’t raise eyebrows with censors.

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“Ellen has clearly differentiated herself and her talk show from so many of the controversial conflict-oriented talk shows as it has become an increasingly positive alternative in daytime featuring the biggest stars from worlds of film, television and music,” said Jeffrey Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution.

That said, DeGeneres also isn’t shy about occasionally speaking her mind on potentially touchy subjects.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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