Core Insights - The incident involving influencer Lan Zhanfei, whose accounts on Douyin and Xiaohongshu were banned from following, raises questions about the impact on partnered gaming products and the implications for related companies [1][3] Group 1: Incident Background - As of September 25, Lan Zhanfei had 24.9 million followers on Douyin and 130,000 on Xiaohongshu [4] - The incident may stem from two factors: his "wealth flaunting" remarks and statements that contradict mainstream trends, such as promoting a lifestyle without marriage [4][6] - Lan Zhanfei's comments about his income led to significant media attention, with his income disclosure trending on Weibo [4][6] Group 2: Impact on Partnered Products - DataEye research indicates that Lan Zhanfei has collaborated with multiple gaming products, including "Flame Awakening," "Dream of the Westward Journey," and "Yuan Guang 84" [7] - Despite the ban, the advertising strategies for these products remained largely unaffected, with "Flame Awakening" continuing to use Lan Zhanfei's materials [11] - Following the ban, "Flame Awakening" and "Dream of the Westward Journey" saw an increase in their rankings on sales charts, indicating a potential boost in visibility and engagement [15][17] Group 3: Implications for Gaming Companies - The incident highlights the need for gaming companies to assess the risks associated with endorsers, suggesting a shift from a focus solely on follower count to a more comprehensive evaluation of public image and compliance [21] - Companies should avoid over-reliance on a single endorser, as demonstrated by the minimal impact on "Dream of the Westward Journey" and "Yuan Guang 84," which did not depend heavily on Lan Zhanfei's materials [22] - Emphasizing product quality and brand integrity is crucial, as the unique outcome of this incident may not be replicable; companies should focus on enhancing gameplay and user experience rather than relying solely on endorsements [23]

Core Viewpoint - The majority of popular Chinese concept stocks experienced an increase on Monday, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rising by 2.03% [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Xunlei saw a significant increase of over 9% [1] - Bilibili, Alibaba, New Oriental, Sohu, and Youdao each rose by over 4% [1] - Li Auto and JD.com increased by over 3% [1] - Baidu, NetEase, and NIO rose by over 2% [1] - XPeng experienced an increase of over 1% [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the gaming industry [7]. Core Insights - The issuance of game licenses in September, with approvals for companies like Kaiying, Giant Network, and Point Point, indicates a positive trend in the new game cycle and overall industry prosperity. The performance of several new games, such as Giant Network's "Supernatural Action Group" and G-bits' "Staff Sword Legend," is expected to drive the product cycle and industry sentiment upward. The combination of new game cycles, favorable policies, and AI catalysis suggests that the gaming sector still has upward valuation potential, warranting continued attention to investment opportunities in this area [2][4][6]. Summary by Sections Game License Issuance - In September, a total of 156 game licenses were issued, including 145 domestic and 11 imported games. This brings the total number of domestic game licenses issued this year to 1,195, nearing the annual total of 1,306 from 2024 [6][9]. Market Performance - The gaming market in China showed a month-on-month growth, with August revenues reaching 29.263 billion yuan, a 0.61% increase from the previous month. The mobile gaming market accounted for 21.541 billion yuan, reflecting a 0.85% month-on-month growth [9]. New Game Launches - Several new games are set to launch or have recently launched, including Kaiying's "The Legend of the Adventure" and Heartbeat's "Yise," which quickly topped the iOS and TapTap charts. The report highlights a rich pipeline of upcoming games from major developers, indicating potential for revenue growth [6][9].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that the approval volume of game licenses in September remains high, covering various types of products and well-known manufacturers [1] - From the beginning of the year to date, a total of 1,195 domestic games have been approved, with 145 games approved in September, including titles from Tencent, miHoYo, NetEase, and others [1] - For imported games, a total of 80 games have been approved this year, with 11 games approved in September, including titles from Chuangmeng Tiandi and Xinghui Games [1] Group 2 - The game ETF (516010) tracks the animation and gaming index (930901), which selects listed companies involved in animation production, game development, platform operation, and related industry chains to reflect the overall performance of the sector [1] - The index focuses on innovation and growth in the animation and gaming field, covering the entire industry chain from content creation to distribution channels, showcasing distinct industry representation and market vitality [1]

Summary of NetEase Cloud Music (NCM) Research Call Company Overview - **Company**: NetEase Cloud Music (NCM) - **Industry**: Online Music Industry in China - **Rating**: Initiated with a Buy rating - **Price Target**: HK$350.00, implying a 30x 2026E PE [2][5][7] Key Insights Market Positioning - NCM is recognized as a leading online music platform in China, positioned as a runner-up in a stable duopoly with Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) [2][18] - The online music industry in China is expected to see a +15% CAGR in online music revenue and a +17% CAGR in earnings from 2025 to 2029, outperforming TME [2][43] User Demographics and Engagement - NCM has a strong penetration among younger users, with 47% of its monthly active users (MAU) aged below 25, compared to 41% for TME [16][37] - The platform emphasizes community engagement and interactive features, which enhance user retention and satisfaction [3][19][20] Monetization Strategy - NCM is currently in the early stages of monetization, focusing on user scale and subscriber growth rather than immediate ARPPU (Average Revenue Per Paying User) growth [4][47] - The company is projected to achieve an +11% CAGR in subscribers from 2025 to 2029, significantly higher than TME's +4% [10][50] Financial Projections - NCM's revenues are forecasted to grow from Rmb8,992 million in 2022 to Rmb12,254 million by 2029, with EBIT expected to rise from a loss of Rmb278 million in 2022 to Rmb3,583 million in 2029 [6][62] - The adjusted net margin is anticipated to improve from -14.9% in 2021 to 27.0% by 2027, driven by economies of scale and a favorable content cost structure [64][69] Competitive Advantages - NCM's content strategy includes a diverse library with a significant focus on independent artists and self-produced content, which accounts for over 70% of its streaming volume [15][29] - The platform has successfully secured licensing agreements with major labels post-2021, narrowing the content gap with TME [28][32] Valuation and Market Sentiment - NCM is currently trading at 23.2x 2026 consensus PE, which is considered undemanding compared to TME's 24.9x [74] - The company has seen a strong share performance year-to-date, with a +141% increase compared to TME's +111% [73] Additional Considerations - NCM's strategic partnerships, such as with Alibaba's 88VIP, have significantly contributed to subscriber growth, accounting for 20-30% of total subscribers [54] - The company is expected to gradually improve ARPPU as it transitions from a focus on subscriber growth to monetization strategies that include premium memberships and content offerings [75] This comprehensive analysis highlights NCM's strong market position, growth potential, and strategic focus on community engagement and content diversity, making it a compelling investment opportunity in the online music sector.

Core Viewpoint - Century Huatong has emerged as a significant player in the gaming industry, with its subsidiary, Diandian Interactive, surpassing major competitors like NetEase and miHoYo in global mobile game revenue, primarily due to its unique game offerings and strategic market positioning [1][6]. Group 1: Company Performance - Diandian Interactive distributed approximately 600 million yuan among 27 employees this year, showcasing its financial success [1]. - From June 2023, Diandian Interactive's global mobile game revenue exceeded that of NetEase, securing the second position in the industry, only behind Tencent [1]. - The flagship games, "Whiteout Survival" and "Kingshot," have generated cumulative revenues of over $3.3 billion and $300 million, respectively [5]. Group 2: Market Strategy - Diandian Interactive has focused on niche markets, developing games in less competitive segments, such as survival strategy and shooting card games, which has allowed it to capture player interest without facing intense competition [4][7]. - The company has successfully localized its games to cater to regional player preferences, enhancing user engagement and retention [4][5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The gaming industry is witnessing an influx of competitors attempting to replicate Diandian Interactive's success, particularly in the survival strategy genre, which may increase customer acquisition costs for the company [7][10]. - Major players like Tencent are also entering the same market segments, intensifying competition and potentially impacting Diandian Interactive's market share [10][8]. Group 4: Future Initiatives - Diandian Interactive is actively working on retaining existing players through updates and enhancements to current games, while also exploring new game genres and integrating AI technologies to improve game development efficiency [11][12]. - The company is expanding its workforce, particularly targeting experienced talent from larger firms, indicating a commitment to growth and innovation [12].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the media and internet industry [4] Core Views - The report emphasizes the trend towards specialization and quality in group broadcasting, indicating a shift from reliance on individual charisma to systematic innovation for stable growth [6] - The gaming sector shows strong resilience and potential for new game contributions, with expectations for financial validation in Q3. The current gaming market is characterized by product performance-driven valuation recovery without significant bubbles [5] - The film and television sectors are expected to see steady growth driven by quality films and new policies aimed at enhancing content supply [7][39] - The internet sector is advised to rationally assess platform strategies in the context of reduced competition, with a focus on innovation rather than price wars [8] Summary by Sections Gaming Sector - Major companies like Tencent and NetEase are expected to continue performing well, with a focus on high-quality products and new game releases [5] - Recommendations include monitoring top gaming companies exploring AI integration and the potential for value reassessment based on product performance [5] Film and Television - The film "731" has achieved over 1 billion yuan in box office revenue, indicating a positive trend for the film market [6][41] - Upcoming films and series are expected to contribute to market growth, with a focus on quality production companies and cinema chains [6][7] - The report highlights new government initiatives aimed at enhancing television content supply and improving production efficiency [7] Internet Sector - The report suggests a shift in the internet sector towards stable growth through innovation, moving away from aggressive price competition [8] - Key players like Tencent and Alibaba are noted for their resilience and strategic adjustments in organizational structure [8] AI Applications - The report highlights the importance of AI applications in various sectors, including e-commerce and gaming, with a focus on revenue-generating applications [10] - Companies are encouraged to explore AI integration in their business models to enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness [10] Card and Trendy Toys - The report notes a high level of interest in the card and trendy toy sectors, with companies expanding their product lines and market presence [9] National Publishing and Media - The report emphasizes the ongoing exploration of new business models by state-owned publishing companies, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions [11]

Group 1 - The U.S. stock market experienced a broad increase, with the Dow Jones rising by 0.65%, the Nasdaq by 0.44%, and the S&P 500 by 0.59% [4] - Major technology stocks showed mixed results, with Oracle down 2.7%, Meta down 0.7%, and Tesla up 4.0% [4] - The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index fell by 1.6%, with Alibaba, NetEase, and Baidu each dropping over 2% [4] Group 2 - The People's Bank of China emphasized maintaining ample liquidity and guiding financial institutions to increase credit supply to match economic growth and price expectations [5] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology projected an average annual growth of around 5% for the non-ferrous metals industry from 2025 to 2026 [5] - The petrochemical industry is expected to see an average annual growth of over 5% during the same period, with significant improvements in technological innovation and environmental performance [6] Group 3 - The National Development and Reform Commission highlighted the importance of private investment as a key indicator of economic activity and stability [7] - The 2025 World New Energy Vehicle Conference focused on expanding market consumption and optimizing tax incentives for new energy vehicles [8] - The National Bureau of Statistics reported that profits of large industrial enterprises increased by 0.9% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2025 [8] Group 4 - The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission emphasized the need for state-owned enterprises to enhance operational efficiency and focus on high-quality investment [9] - Jiangsu Province announced adjustments to its vehicle trade-in policy, affecting the implementation of subsidies [10][11] - The company Ningbo Huaxiang signed a patent licensing agreement with Jilin University for PEEK industrialization technology [16] Group 5 - The company *ST Tianmao will have its stock delisted on September 30, 2025, following a decision by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange [20] - Huajing Securities anticipates that the A-share market may continue a volatile trend in the short term, with limited risks during the holiday period [21] - The company Moer Thread's IPO application was approved in just 88 days, reflecting improved efficiency in the review process for hard technology enterprises [14]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" rating for the media industry [6] Core Insights - The media sector saw a slight increase of 0.16% during the week of September 22-26, driven by performance in gaming and film [11][12] - The report expresses optimism for the gaming sector in the second half of 2025, while also highlighting potential recovery in the film and television sector due to new policy drivers [1][11] - AI applications and IP monetization are identified as key areas of focus, with specific attention on companies that can leverage data and traditional cultural IP [1][11] Summary by Sections Market Overview - The media sector's performance was influenced by gaming and film, with a 0.16% increase noted [11] - The top-performing sectors included electronics and non-ferrous metals, while consumer services saw the largest decline [11][12] Key Events Review - A total of 156 games were approved for release in September, with 145 being domestic and 11 imported, indicating a stable rhythm in game approvals [2][18] - The launch of DeepSeek-V3.1-Terminus has improved reasoning and agent capabilities significantly, enhancing its competitive position in the AI space [3][18] - Tencent introduced the Hunyuan 3D Studio, a professional AI workstation aimed at streamlining the 3D design process [4][18] Subsector Data Tracking - The gaming sector is highlighted with specific companies to watch, including ST Huatuo, Giant Network, and Perfect World [1][19] - The film sector's box office for the week was approximately 225 million yuan, with "731" leading the charts [20][22] - The report tracks viewership for popular series and variety shows, with "赴山海" and "披荆斩棘 2025" being top performers [24][23]

Market Overview - The dynamic animation market is experiencing significant growth, with nearly 2000 new dynamic animations launched, but over 60% have accumulated less than 1 million views [1] - In August, the number of dynamic animations reached a historical high of 1802, with a month-on-month increase of 15% [1] - Total views for dynamic animations surpassed 9.5 billion, with an increase of 2.524 billion views in August alone, marking a 32% month-on-month growth [1] - The top 100 dynamic animations accounted for over 80% of the total view increase in August, indicating a concentration of viewership among leading titles [1] Content Trends - The share of popular content is increasingly concentrated, with the top 20 accounts accounting for 77% of the view increase in the last three months [2] - The proportion of comedic animations has significantly decreased, dropping from over 60% to around 30% in terms of quantity, and from 63% to 26% in view increase [2] - Other genres, particularly fantasy and adventure themes, have seen a surge in popularity, with view increases reaching 1.563 billion in August, nearly three times that of comedic animations [2] Popular Titles - In June, the top three dynamic animations were all comedic, with "Mountain Village Little Master Season 1" leading the view increase [3] - The trend continued in July, with "Genius Falls to Pick Up Medicine Residue" topping the list, and a significant number of older titles maintaining their popularity [5] - By August, the top title shifted to "Hong Huang: Managing the Teachings, Fooling a Bunch of Saints," with a notable increase in new titles [7] Player Landscape - Major players in the dynamic animation sector include Chinese Online, Judian, Mofang, Youhe, and Jiangyou, all of which have established a presence in the market [10] - The top 20 accounts accounted for over 5.4 billion views, representing 57% of the total platform views, highlighting the strong siphoning effect of leading accounts [10] - Institutional accounts dominate the market, with 15 out of 20 top accounts being operated by organizations, while individual creators primarily focus on comedic animations [11] Monetization Strategies - The majority of dynamic animations are available for free, but there is a noticeable shift towards paid models, especially as the share of comedic animations declines [6][9] - In August, 23 out of the top 30 animations adopted a paid strategy, indicating a significant change in monetization approaches [9]