(Yicai Global) May 17 -- IQiyi is hastening the industrialization of China’s film and television sectors with the help of technologies such as fifth-generation wireless, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, according to the video-streaming giant’s founder.

The Beijing-based company has strengthened its role as “a great entertainment firm driven by technological innovation,” Gong Yu said during this year’s iQiyi World Conference held in Shanghai from May 13 to 14. About half of the firm’s employees are technical professionals, he said. 

“Improving the Chinese film and television industry depends on the creation of artists and breakthroughs in intelligent production,” said Gong, who is also iQiyi’s chief executive and has a doctorate in mechanical automation.

The company is building a new bridge of communication between creators and users through technological innovation and content innovation, according to Chief Technology Officer Liu Wenfeng. Tech innovations help artists and users think better, he added.

With intelligent production tools such as an intellectual property valuation system, intelligent casting system and co-reviewer platform, iQiyi can standardize the whole film production process from project review and approval through production and shooting to ensure content quality and improve efficiency, said Gong. 

The company has also launched its Production Business Intelligence System, Intelligent Integrated Production System, and Intelligent Production Tool System. Taking the PBIS as an example, it helps producers carry out IP assessment, forecast traffic, tell which users will like a particular work, predict revenues, and determine business strategies.

Interactive Experiences

Improving technology can also enable users to have a more interactive experience with content. Early this year, for example, iQiyi trialed multi-screen interactive live-streaming for a variety show and discovered that 90 percent of viewers used  the multi-screen mode and each user switched sub-screens 29 times. 

IQiyi has also used algorithms and AI to solve the online video lags and low quality issues that dog many streaming platforms. Last year, it launched an online movie theater standard for sound and pictures dubbed Qizhen -- meaning literally ‘a beautiful picture’ -- to support 4K Max+ videos. 

To appeal to millennials, iQiyi is using extended reality to create more virtual stages. Stage performances can deploy XR technology throughout a show, enabling users to use features such as virtual seating and avatars, invitations for attendees to go ‘on stage,’ and virtual glowsticks, which all contributes to a highly interactive and immersive experience that deepens the connection between idols and their fans.

With the use of ultra-low latency internet technology, iQiyi has also announced the rollout of a series of cloud services, including for performances and theaters, aiming to give users enhanced experiences through a variety of technical means.

IQiyi had secured 4,500 patents as of December, and it registered 390 invention patents last year, ranking it fifth among Chinese companies.

Apple Orchard

With 10 years behind it, iQiyi has transformed its ecosystem from an apple tree to an apple orchard, said Gong, with long videos at the center surrounded by literature, cartoons, live-streaming, video games, e-commerce and movie tickets.

“IQiyi is building video game platforms and hoping more partner can join us,” said He Senior Vice President Yunpeng, citing statistics to prove its strength in the new genre. 

IQiyi’s Battle Warship had revenues of CNY2 billion (USD310.6 million) as of last December and that is expected to grow, He said. Another video game, Kitten Match, which is targeted at women players, chalked up more than 20 million downloads as of the end of last year. 

With a diversified business, iQiyi’s net loss narrowed to CNY1.5 billion in the fourth quarter of last year from CNY2.5 billion a year earlier, while revenue fell 1 percent to CNY7.5 billion. Its subscriber membership stood at 101.7 million as of Dec. 31, contributing CNY3.8 billion, or 50.7 percent of revenue. 

Editor: Tom Litting