Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive investment outlook for the gaming sector, highlighting its strong performance compared to other sub-industries within the media sector [3][4]. Core Insights - The A-share media sector reported an 8.2% year-on-year revenue growth and a 59.8% increase in net profit attributable to shareholders in Q3 2025, with significant differentiation among sub-industries [3][4]. - The gaming industry showed remarkable growth, with a 28.6% year-on-year revenue increase, marking six consecutive quarters of accelerating revenue growth and achieving a profit margin of 19.0%, the highest quarterly level since 2022 [3][4]. - The external environment for gaming continues to improve, with an increase in the average monthly number of domestic game approvals and relaxed third-party payment policies from platforms like Google and Apple, which are expected to enhance channel cost efficiency [3][6][10]. - The advertising sector, particularly focusing on Focus Media, has seen substantial growth in internet advertising spending, leading to improved profit margins and a return to historical highs in gross margins [3][4]. - The publishing sector has shown mixed results, with some state-owned publishing groups experiencing significant profit growth while others face challenges due to changes in educational material subscription methods [3][4]. Summary by Sections Gaming Sector - The gaming sector's revenue in Q3 2025 grew by 28.6% year-on-year, with a profit margin of 19.0%, the best performance since 2022 [3][4]. - Domestic PC game sales increased by 20% year-on-year, driven by titles like "Dream" and "Delta" [11]. - Key companies to watch include ST Huatuo, Giant Network, and Jiubite, which have shown significant growth [3][4][19]. Advertising Sector - Focus Media has optimized its cost structure, leading to a gross margin that has reached historical highs [3][4]. - Future observations will focus on the elasticity of internet advertising spending and the impact of new partnerships and acquisitions [3][4]. Publishing Sector - The performance of state-owned publishing groups varies, with some recovering from previous declines while others continue to face challenges [3][4]. - The overall trend indicates a need for adaptation to changing market conditions and consumer demands [3][4]. Long Video Sector - Mango TV is at a critical juncture, with expectations for operational improvements as policy support strengthens [3][4]. - The focus will be on innovative IP operations and product cycles in the coming years [3][4].

Group 1 - The gaming sector experienced a slight decline in early trading on October 13, with the gaming ETF (159869) dropping to around 1.5% [1] - As of October 10, the gaming ETF (159869) saw a net inflow of funds amounting to 2.102 billion yuan over the past five trading days, indicating strong investor interest [1] - The product size of the gaming ETF reached 10.936 billion yuan, facilitating investors' access to leading A-share gaming companies [1] Group 2 - On October 12, the official announcement of the game "Black Myth: Wukong" revealed an update aimed at performance optimization and bug fixes, set to be released on October 13 across platforms [1] - The update is intended to enhance player experience and strengthen the game's reputation and longevity, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance for AAA titles in the gaming industry [1] - Investors are likely to place greater value on companies capable of continuous content updates and technological iterations, shifting the competitive focus towards the full lifecycle operation of products [1] Group 3 - Citic Securities released a report indicating that the typical peak seasons for gaming are during summer and winter vacations, but this year, the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays showed strong performance in tourism and dining [2] - Several games, including "Delta," "Dream of the Westward Journey," and "Supernatural," achieved daily revenue during the holidays that was approximately 50% higher than the average daily revenue during the summer [2] - The gaming sector is experiencing multiple catalysts for transformation, including AI, content, and commercialization models, with the gaming ETF (159869) tracking the performance of the A-share listed companies in the animation and gaming industry [2]