iQIYI(US:IQ) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-04-30 12:44Core Insights - iQIYI has rebranded its fast version app to "iQIYI Micro Short Drama," becoming the first long video platform in China to launch an independent micro short drama application, responding to the growing demand for "short and refined" video entertainment [1] - CEO Gong Yu highlighted the challenges of long dramas, stating that only 30% to 40% of the 100 dramas produced are profitable, indicating a high risk of loss in the long video segment [3][6] - iQIYI plans to reduce the number of dramas produced and focus on high-quality content, a strategy previously implemented in 2021 to achieve profitability [5][8] Company Strategy - The company aims to adapt to changing viewer preferences by reducing the number of episodes in dramas, with a consensus among major platforms to limit series to 12 episodes if they do not air by the end of the year [8] - iQIYI's introduction of the "Jump Watch" feature is a response to the declining average attention span of users, which has dropped from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to 47 seconds in 2021 [10] - The company is positioning itself to compete with short video platforms by differentiating its offerings, with the iQIYI app focusing on paid long videos and the iQIYI Micro Short Drama app targeting free micro dramas through an ad-based revenue model [12] Industry Context - The long video industry is facing significant challenges, with over 50% of dramas reported to be unprofitable, prompting a shift in strategy among platforms to focus on shorter, more engaging content [12] - The rise of short dramas is seen as a necessary evolution for long video platforms to reclaim user attention lost to social media and short video platforms [10][12] - The competition for user attention has intensified, with the concept of "attention economy" becoming a critical factor in content strategy for video platforms [10]