Welcome to iQIYI’s bi-weekly news round-up! Here you’ll find the latest news and stories from the company, from entertainment, tech to business and from local to regional. If you are interested in learning more about iQIYI, please do not hesitate to reach out to press@qiyi.com .

(Sep.12, 2022-Sep.23, 2022) 

CONTENT

iQIYI Releases Super Sketch Show Season 2, Bringing New Talents to Comedy

On Sep. 23, iQIYI released the second season of its Super Sketch Show, a comedy competition variety show co-presented by iQIYI and Mewe Media. Since the announcement of the show’s return, the news has created much buzz on social media platforms with strong anticipation from viewers.  To date, the highly anticipated show has received nearly 600,000 reservations to view on the iQIYI platform. 

Second season of the Super Sketch Show introduces a number of innovations in show format, content, and other areas. To start, the new season features more contestants and guest mentors. It also presents more comedy genres, showcasing works that are close to the viewers’ hearts to further demonstrate the artistic potential of comedy.

As one of iQIYI's most popular variety shows, Super Sketch Show has been a massive hit since its debut last year.  Featuring a wide array of innovative and appealing content, the show also brings comedy to a mass market. 

Chasing the Undercurrent from iQIYI Ends with Content Popularity Index of 10,082，Making It One of the Top-ranked Shows in 2022

The final episode of the iQIYI-presented suspense crime drama Chasing the Undercurrent was aired on Sep. 20. As of the finale night, the drama reached 10,082 in the iQIYI’s content popularity index, making it a third show besides A Lifelong Journey and Love Between Fairy and Devil to have a content popularity index of over 10,000 this year.

Chasing the Undercurrent tells the story of two generations of police who devote all their energies to the fight against criminal gangs and upholding the law. Since its launch, the drama has quickly won strong praise from users with its fast pace, strong plot and realistic story.

Love Between Fairy and Devil from iQIYI Sweet On Theater Holds Fans Meet-up and Receives 170 Million Likes from VIP Viewers

On Sep. 17, iQIYI held a VIP fans meet-up for the series Love Between Fairy and Devil. A special treat for iQIYI VIP viewers, the livestream fan meet-up received 170 million likes, led to the generation of over 200 online hot topics, and became iQIYI's top livestream event in 2022.

iQIYI also developed a variety of gifts and merchandise based to the show IP. The canvas tote bags, phone cases, roll-up banners of characters, mouse pads, masks, and cards, proved hugely popular and received a large number of orders online.

YANG Bei, iQIYI Senior Vice President, revealed that the script of Love between Fairy and Devil underwent 19 rounds of editing in three years. As the drama continues to unfold, its popularity as well as reputation grow.

The series has achieved a content popularity index of 10,572 since its release. The romantic drama also became a massive hit with the overseas audience as it topped iQIYI’s global rankings in less than four hours since its release and has continued trending on Twitter in Southeast Asia.

The Rap of China 2022 Concludes, Marking the Sixth Year of iQIYI’s Deep Involvement in the Rap Industry

On Sep. 11, The Rap of China 2022, an iQIYI original rap competition featuring top Chinese rap artists, officially came to an end.

With deep knowledge on popular culture and trends, iQIYI has been a part of China’s rap industry for six consecutive years, and the company continues to drive innovate developments on different rap-related IPs.

The Rap of China 2022 has proved hugely popular among many young viewers since its launch. According to Kuyun’s summer viewing data (Jun. 1-Aug.28), The Rap of China 2022 was the most viewed content across platforms with a 18.57% viewing rate. The show was also the only online variety show featured in the top five most-watched list. As The Rap of China 2022 wrapped up, it achieved a content popularity index of over 9,000 in addition to topping many third-party viewing rankings in China.

In Our Prime by iQIYI PICTURES Selected for "A Window for Asian Cinema” of Busan International Film Festival

On Sep. 7, the 27th Busan International Film Festival announced its selection list of films. In Our Prime presented by iQIYI PICTURES was selected for "A Window for Asian Cinema" section. The film’s recognition by a world-renowned film festival is a testament to the high quality of films presented by iQIYI PICTURES.

In Our Prime tells the story of a single mom who, while working hard to build a good life, faces challenges on multiple fronts but persists with her pursuit.

BUSINESS

iQIYI Releases 235 New Titles at 2022 iJOY Conference, Further Enriching Its Content Slate for Audience and Brands

iQIYI announced the upcoming release of 235 new films, drama series, and variety shows at its iJOY Conference held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Sep. 15. With a range of diversified and extensive genres, the new titles show iQIYI’s commitment to producing premium and innovative original content for viewers and ensuring a rich supply of material for brands.

GONG Yu, Founder and CEO of iQIYI, said: “We turned profitable for the first time this year and now maintain the ‘calm growth’ strategy. iQIYI will keep investing in premium content and create values for our users while achieving good revenue and profit.”

GONG Yu, Founder and CEO of iQIYI

“Producing premium content is always our core value at iQIYI and we are committed to providing continuous supply of great content to our loyal user base,” said WANG Xiaohui, Chief Content Officer and President of Professional Content Business Group (PCG) of iQIYI. Wang added the company will keep focused on producing popular dramas and variety shows.

Apart from the new titles, the company also showcases its integrated platform and rich marketing choices for clients at the event, including the popular drama Love Between Fairy and Devil and reality show Camping LIFE.

“Nowadays brands are increasingly looking for integrated marketing opportunities campaigns. iQIYI’s IP-centered model provides an effective and efficient one-stop solution,” said WU Gang, Senior Vice President of iQIYI.

iQIYI Executive Shares Company’s Tech-empowered Approach to Entertainment with Global Audience

On Sep. 23, ZHENG Xiaoyi, Vice President and Head of Communications of iQIYI, took part in the Future Stage Manifesto panel discussion. Co-organized by Harvard University’s metaLAB and the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, the panel gathered artists, academics, and industry participants from across Asia to discuss the emerging trends in arts and culture.

Zheng highlighted the key ways in which iQIYI leverages technology to capture the exciting opportunities in the new area of entertainment, with particular emphasis on how the company utilizes technology to drive industrialization of the film and television industry, enrich its content ecology, expand product offering for cultural consumption, and facilitate innovative and meaningful user-IP engagement.

Zheng said: “iQIYI aims to build a new social universe grounded in IP-based content, tech-enabled interactive immersive experience, and digital assets-empowered exchange.”

Zheng also remarked on the initiatives iQIYI has been actively launching for young talents explore, express and discover their potential. Citing iQIYI’s hugely popular Super Sketch Show as an example, Zheng highlighted how iQIYI leverages its keen understanding of youth culture and young people to create a positive impact.