China’s iQiyi Takes Exclusive Online Rights to ‘The Late Late Show With James Corden’ — The Hollywood Reporter
What happened: iQiyi and CBS Studios International announced Wednesday an exclusive licensing agreement on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” bringing the series to China for the first time. The show has become known for its “Carpool Karaoke” segment, which generated over 1.95 billion views on YouTube since its inception only a year ago. “Mobile viewing dominates iQiYi’s subscriber base, making it the perfect platform for ‘The Late, Late Show’s’ inventive content and viral moments,” said Armando Nunez, president, and CEO of CBS Global Distribution.
Why it’s important: The deal comes nearly two months after China’s film and TV regulator drafted regulations that would limit foreign video content to only 30% of any genre on streaming platforms. The regulations would ban shows that undermine so-called social stability, and stressed that imported content should enrich Chinese people’s spiritual and cultural lives. While other American late-night talk shows often veer into political satire and sexually explicit content, Corden’s show often focuses on celebrities and heartwarming musical segments.