iQiyi to introduce open platform for content suppliers

Gong Yu, founder and CEO of iQiyi.com Inc, gives a speech at the iQiyi Technology & Entertainment World Conference on June 8, 2017.

iQiyi.com Inc, the Netflix-like video streaming arm of Chinese internet giant Baidu Inc, announced on Thursday that it would introduce an open platform to help content suppliers maximize revenues, a move aimed at attracting more suppliers with greater online content and for better business returns.

Employing data analytics and artificial intelligence technology, the platform will offer suppliers demographics of viewers, viewing habits, as well as technology support and marketing tools. The company said the platform will be launched in a few months.

Gong Yu, founder and CEO of iQiyi, said the company will provide the services not only for large content suppliers but also small ones, short video content suppliers.

"In the past, it was said short videos could hardly earn moneys. Today, with people's increasing need for personalized short video contents, short video producers are now able to generate more revenues from advertising."

According to the company, it will help the content producers to maximize their profits via advertising, paid membership, franchising, copyright sales, gaming and e-commerce.

"We will offer paid subscriptions for more good content, including animations，children's shows and documentaries. And we will use AI technologies to target viewers with appropriate video ads in the mix of short online videos, aiming to help the suppliers to generate more revenues." Gong said.

Founded in 2010, the company has an average of 310 million daily active users on its platform. In terms of time spent by viewers, its app ranks second after WeChat, according to a report released last month by internet research company iResearch Consulting Group.

Ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn