Core Insights - The report by Yunhe Data highlights the strong performance of Youku during the 2025 summer season, with two major dramas, "Cang Hai Chuan" and "Yi Fa Zhi Ming," taking the top two spots in the cumulative effective view rankings across all platforms [1][3] Group 1: Performance Metrics - In the summer of 2025, a total of six long dramas achieved effective views exceeding 1 billion, with Youku holding the top two positions [1] - "Cang Hai Chuan" has accumulated over 1.36 billion effective views since its launch on May 18, 2025, achieving a market share of over 40% [2][4] - "Yi Fa Zhi Ming" also performed well, with effective views surpassing 1.36 billion, ranking first in average views per episode during its peak [2][4] Group 2: Content Strategy - Youku's success is attributed to its mature content creation mechanism and operational strategies, covering diverse genres such as historical suspense, realistic judicial themes, fantasy, and urban romance [3][5] - The platform's efficient coordination in theatrical operations and scheduling has contributed to its high market share during the summer season [3][5] - The focus on diverse content aims to meet the varied preferences of different audience segments, as emphasized by the producers of "Cang Hai Chuan" and "Yi Fa Zhi Ming" [4][5] Group 3: Industry Trends - The strong rebound of Youku's summer lineup signifies a systemic evolution from merely betting on hits to sustainably producing quality content [5] - In addition to dramas, Youku has also made notable strides in the animation sector, with "Yun Shen Bu Zhi Meng" becoming a significant topic in the summer lineup, appealing to female audiences [5]

Group 1 - The drama market is heating up in June, with platforms like Youku, iQIYI, and Tencent releasing high-quality series that are gaining positive reception and viewership [1][25] - Youku's "Seven Roots of Heart" has quickly gained popularity, breaking 6000 in heat within 20 minutes of its premiere and surpassing 8000 on the same day [3][5] - iQIYI's "Ling Jiang Xian" has emerged as a dark horse, achieving a remarkable heat score of over 9000 within 24 hours of its release [9][12] Group 2 - "Seven Roots of Heart" features a unique narrative focusing on the growth of the main characters and their friendship, with innovative visual styles and real location shooting [6][8] - "Ling Jiang Xian" breaks traditional storytelling patterns, introducing a new "divorce fantasy" genre that captivates audiences with unexpected plot twists [14][16] - Tencent's "Chang'an's Lychee," adapted from a novel by Ma Boyong, combines humor and historical narrative, showcasing the struggles of ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty [19][23] Group 3 - The three dramas are part of a broader strategy by the platforms to maintain high-quality content amidst competition from short video formats, emphasizing the importance of premium IP and innovative storytelling [25][29]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is the launch of the fantasy adventure drama "Seven Relics of Heart" by Youku, which is based on the classic novel by author Wei Yu and features a new generation of actors [1][6] - The series follows a group of five young individuals with elemental attributes who form the "Phoenix Squad" to combat the dangers posed by the "Heart Relics" [6] - This is the second installment of the "Wei Yu series IP" following the success of "Si Ting," indicating Youku's continued investment in fantasy adventure genres [1][6][8] Group 2 - The show emphasizes the dual narrative of the "Phoenix Squad" battling the Heart Relics and their personal growth, highlighting themes of friendship and youth [6] - Youku has implemented a promotional strategy during the airing of "Seven Relics of Heart," including a limited-time free viewing of "Si Ting" to attract viewers [6][7] - Since the success of "Si Ting" in 2021, Youku has been actively producing and releasing more fantasy adventure content, receiving positive audience feedback [8]