BEIJING, May 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI
Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative
market-leading online entertainment service in China, today launched its S-diamond Membership
package, catering to users' desire for free control over how they
view content on a wider range of devices and their growing diverse
needs for content-related services.
The S-diamond Membership entitles members to a wide range of
benefits and premium services, including: 1) early access to
on-demand drama episodes and S-diamond Cinema's films at no extra
cost; 2) integrated content offerings of the existing Gold
Membership, Galaxy QIYI Guo S-diamond Membership, FUN Membership,
Literature Membership, VR Membership and Sports Membership-General
programs; 3) access through multiple devices including mobile
devices, PC, Internet TV, tablets, and VR devices.
Viewing freedom: Early-access on-demand drama series and
S-diamond Cinema's films
The traditional model of weekly or daily releases of new
episodes is gradually becoming obsolete due to evolving content
offering modes and emergence of smart mobile devices, giving users
a greater freedom to how they view the content. High-quality
content and scheduling and streaming modes that meet users' demands
have become big draws to gain paid subscribers. Users are also
increasingly keen to gain early access to new episodes. iQIYI paved
the way in leveraging this trend through the launch of VIP
early-access and early-access transactional on-demand in 2015 and
2019, respectively. iQIYI's first VIP early-access show, The
Lost Tomb, proved a hit with users, and the service has since
become a key privilege of iQIYI's Gold Membership program. The
early-access transactional on-demand mode was applied by iQIYI for
the first time for episodes of Once Upon a Time in Lingjian
Mountain, and the mode has subsequently been applied to more
than 10 drama series on iQIYI's platform, which has been
well-received by users. With S-diamond Membership, all early-access
on-demand episodes of dramas will be available for its members to
watch at no extra cost.
iQIYI will also be launching an S-diamond Cinema for films,
providing S-diamond members free access to top-rated paid domestic
and international films at no extra cost.
Access to content: any device, anywhere, anytime
With the arrival of the 5G era and the popularization of AI
technology, streaming technology for video content has greatly
improved, and an increasing number of users now access
entertainment services across multiple types of devices. While
users generally view films and drama series on mobile devices, the
popularity of viewing content on Internet TV and VR devices is also
growing. S-diamond members will be able to enjoy the entertainment
experiences across smartphones, tablets, computers, Internet TV and
VR devices, anywhere, anytime. Whether viewers choose to
watch as a family on a large screen in the living room or privately
during their commute, or become totally immersed in the VR world,
iQIYI S-diamond members will enjoy highly engaging viewing
experiences.
Ecosystem-based integrated membership creates extraordinary
value and viewing experiences
iQIYI began building its IP ecosystem-based service model in
2015, and went on to launch a variety of entertainment offerings
including video, literature, comics, light novels, live streaming,
games, online malls, and film ticketing. The Company has also
constructed a membership system that caters to the diverse
entertainment needs of members. The membership packages include FUN
Membership, Sports Public Membership-General, Literature
Membership, and VR Membership programs. S-diamond members are
entitled to a comprehensive range of benefits, including access to
films and dramas, literature, comics and sports for a monthly
subscription fee of RMB 40 yuan. They
can also enjoy early access to drama episodes through
video-on-demand and S-diamond Cinema's films at no extra cost.
S-diamond Membership provides a comprehensive service package of
high quality, cost-effective and abundant entertainment options,
serving as a one-stop entertainment solution for film and drama
enthusiasts and their families.
User data shows viewers are embracing iQIYI's comprehensive
entertainment ecosystem. For example, in the hour following the
recent release of the Company's original drama series
Winter Begonia, the online
version of the original novel Winter
Begonia, which is available on iQIYI's platform,
garnered 6 million views. In another example, the popularity of the
animated version of The Great Ruler soared by nearly 50%
following the release of the The Great Ruler drama series.
The Great Ruler's comic book version also topped the list of
new comics chart on iQIYI. The data shows that iQIYI's
ecosystem-based integrated membership package not only offers
audiences easier access to crossover content but also provides
users with an immersive entertainment experience.
User preferences and platform services are undergoing
unprecedented changes in China's
paid online video market, which boasts hundreds of millions of
members. Streaming membership is experiencing explosive growth as
video platforms strive to improve content quality, scheduling and
streaming modes and service modes. This growth is accelerated as
more viewing device options are added and artificial intelligence
is increasingly deployed. These changes are also leading to
more diverse consumer needs and higher user requirements for
membership services.
"We believe that membership services should be constantly
innovated in response to the dynamic evolvement of market, users'
preferences and the platform's capabilities," Yang Xianghua,
President of the Membership and Overseas Business Group of iQIYI.
"The S-diamond Membership program is a milestone in the development
of iQIYI's membership services and marks the beginning of a new
phase in the development of our membership services and users'
needs. It is a prime example of our commitment to providing the
ultimate entertainment experiences to our users by incorporating
content, multi-device accessibility and ecosystem privileges into
our membership packages. We will continue to explore more quality
and high-value services for our S-diamond Membership users and I
hope that S-diamond Membership and Gold Membership will deliver
amazing entertainment experience to our users, allowing them to
view content in a systematic and simple manner."
About iQIYI, Inc.
iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online entertainment
service in China. Its corporate
DNA combines creative talent with technology, fostering an
environment for continuous innovation and the production of
blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features highly popular
original content, as well as a comprehensive library of other
professionally-produced content, partner-generated content and user
generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the online
entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered
by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary
technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with tremendous
user engagement, and has developed a diversified monetization model
including membership services, online advertising services, content
distribution, live broadcasting, online games, IP licensing, online
literature and e-commerce.
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SOURCE iQIYI, Inc.