Drama Section - The drama market is vibrant with both new and old works performing well during the summer season of 2025, with "In the Name of the Law" initially leading but later overtaken by "Drug Storm" [1][2] - "In the Name of the Law" scored 93.74, maintaining high viewership and social media engagement, but its Douban rating fell to 6.9 due to controversial ending [2][14] - "Drug Storm" saw a significant rise in ratings, achieving a peak Douban score of 8.0 and a daily viewership increase from 750,000 to over 3 million, becoming the second most-watched show [8][9] - Other notable dramas include "Morning Snow Record," "Mortal Cultivation," and "Splendid Blossoms," all of which performed well in various metrics [2][16] Variety Show Section - The travel exploration variety show "Earth Super Fresh" quickly rose to the top of the ratings, outperforming other shows like "Running Man Season 9" [19] - Three comedy variety shows, "Talk Show and Friends Season 2," "Comedy King Solo Season 2," and "Mahua Special Happiness Season 2," also ranked in the top five, indicating sustained popularity [22] - The increase in female comedians and topics related to women's issues in the comedy shows has contributed to their success, with a notable rise in female representation [22][23] - The new cooking show "One Meal to the Gods" faced plagiarism allegations, drawing attention for its similarities to the Netflix show "Black and White Chefs" [24][29]

Core Insights - The long drama market is experiencing a new round of competition with the release of several series, but the summer season is not as "hot" as expected, indicating a cooling trend in the market [1][3][5] Group 1: Market Performance - The leading series in the summer season, "In the Name of the Law," has an average viewership of approximately 50 million, while "Ling Jiang Xian" and "Shu Juan Yi Meng" are performing lower in market influence [3][6] - The top three series in the first half of 2025 were "Da Feng Da Geng Ren," "Cang Hai Chuan," and "Guo Se Fang Hua," with the highest viewership at 1.93 billion, which ranks fifth in 2024 [3][4] - The overall performance of the long drama market is declining, with fewer standout hits compared to previous years [3][5] Group 2: Genre Trends - The summer season has seen a diverse range of genres, including youth ensemble, historical entrepreneurship, fantasy adventure, ancient romance, and judicial crime dramas, indicating a shift from the dominance of ancient dramas [5][6] - Judicial crime dramas, particularly "In the Name of the Law" and "Drug Storm," have gained significant popularity and critical acclaim, suggesting a potential shift in audience preferences [6][9] Group 3: Audience Reception - Despite some series achieving high viewership, their ratings on platforms like Douban are not as impressive, indicating a disconnect between popularity and quality [9][19] - The ancient drama genre still holds a significant market share, with several series like "Ling Jiang Xian" and "Shu Juan Yi Meng" performing well in terms of viewership, although they do not match the success of previous years [6][9] Group 4: Industry Dynamics - The market is witnessing a debate over the standards for what constitutes a "hit" series, with platforms like iQIYI emphasizing the importance of comprehensive metrics for evaluating content popularity [15][19] - The trend of releasing similar genre series in succession rather than direct competition is becoming more common among platforms, aiming to capitalize on existing viewer interest [12][13]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the success of Youku's recent drama "In the Name of the Law," achieving a market share exceeding 30% according to Yunhe data, with daily views surpassing 100 million on the Lighthouse platform [1] - Another drama, "The Legend of the Sea," has also performed well, with Yunhe data indicating a market share of over 40%, specifically a 40.1% effective playback market share [1] - Youku leads the industry in urban-themed new dramas, capturing nearly 40% of the total playback volume, making it the top player in this segment [1]

Core Insights - The summer film market of 2025 has not yet been ignited by a major blockbuster, with total box office revenue just surpassing 3 billion [1] - The drama market has also shown a lack of heat, with daily effective playback valuation hovering around 200 million since July, compared to over 250 million at the same time last year [1] - This summer's drama season is characterized by a shift towards realism, with a focus on judicial and criminal investigation themes, marking a transition from entertainment narratives to professional and social issue resonances [1][3] Group 1: Drama Market Trends - The absence of a leading drama has led to a diverse array of shows, with platforms like iQIYI, Youku, and Tencent Video launching multiple new series [1][5] - The four major dramas, including "In the Name of the Law" and "Justifiable Defense," focus on professional themes and real cases, replacing traditional generalized narratives [3][5] - These dramas have sparked significant audience engagement, with viewers resonating with the complex realities of justice and legal ethics presented in the narratives [7][9] Group 2: Innovations in Genre - There is a notable trend of genre fusion in costume dramas, with innovative attempts to break traditional frameworks, such as "Book Scroll Dream" and "Morning Snow Record" [2][11] - "Morning Snow Record" combines forensic elements with Chinese horror aesthetics, creating a unique viewing experience [15] - The success of "Jinxiu Fanghua" demonstrates a shift in focus from mere viewership to content-commercial synergy, indicating a broader strategy among platforms [15] Group 3: Future Expectations - Upcoming dramas like "The Legend of Mortal Cultivation" are anticipated to have significant potential, with high pre-release interest [16][18] - The integration of high-quality special effects in modern fantasy dramas is expected to attract a large audience base, particularly among fans of the original novels [23] - The hope is for this summer's drama season to feature a variety of successful shows across different genres, rather than being dominated by a few major hits [23]

Group 1 - The core theme of the article revolves around the character Zhang Wenjing from the series "In the Name of Law," highlighting the actress Dong Qing's portrayal and the impact it has had on her career [1][3][21] - Dong Qing expresses her deep connection to the character, emphasizing the importance of believing in the role of a righteous and resilient lawyer [3][8] - The character's complexity and the challenges faced by Dong Qing in portraying a lawyer are discussed, including her efforts to master legal terminology and courtroom dynamics [11][15][19] Group 2 - Dong Qing's preparation for the role involved extensive research, including watching courtroom videos to capture the essence of a lawyer's demeanor [11][15] - The emotional depth of the character is explored, with Dong Qing reflecting on the motivations behind Zhang Wenjing's actions and her unwavering commitment to justice [15][20] - The article highlights the audience's positive reception of Dong Qing's performance, noting how it has led to increased recognition and appreciation for her work [21][23][40] Group 3 - Dong Qing's past roles and her journey as an actress are mentioned, illustrating her growth and the significance of each character she has portrayed [25][27] - The article discusses the balance between past roles and current opportunities, with Dong Qing expressing her desire to continue evolving as an actress [30][37] - The impact of "In the Name of Law" on Dong Qing's career trajectory is emphasized, as it has opened doors for new projects and increased her visibility in the industry [40]

Core Viewpoint - The Central Radio and Television Station is preparing a diverse range of dramas for the summer season, focusing on realistic and historical themes to engage audiences [1][5]. Group 1: Focus on Realistic Themes - Dramas such as "The Age of Quenching" and "In the Name of Law" have gained widespread attention, reflecting the struggles and progress of Chinese manufacturing and providing insights into the judicial system [2][4]. - The summer lineup includes various realistic dramas that explore themes of female growth, the struggles of migrant workers, and historical narratives related to the Anti-Japanese War [2][4]. Group 2: Awards and Recognition - Recent awards at the 30th Shanghai Television Festival highlighted the success of realistic dramas, indicating a deepening of creative efforts in this genre [4]. - The increasing quantity and quality of realistic dramas have positioned them at the forefront of viewership and critical acclaim in the Chinese television landscape [9]. Group 3: International Expansion - Chinese dramas have become a significant cultural export, with 70% of the total audiovisual program export revenue coming from this genre, reaching over 200 countries and regions [11]. - Notable international successes include "My Alashan," which is the first Chinese drama to compete in the main competition at the Cannes Television Festival, and "Blossoms," which won an award at the Busan International Film Festival [11][13]. Group 4: Cultural Representation - The integration of traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics in historical dramas is crucial for expanding their international market appeal [13][15]. - Sci-fi dramas, such as "The Three-Body Problem," have also gained attention in international markets, indicating a growing interest in diverse genres beyond traditional narratives [15][17].

Core Viewpoint - The drama "In the Name of Law" reflects the hidden function of prosecutorial investigation, emphasizing the importance of judicial supervision and fairness in the context of recent political directives [1][3]. Group 1: Theme and Content - The shift in the theme of "In the Name of Law" from anti-crime to prosecutorial investigation was influenced by the need to highlight judicial fairness as a critical societal value [1][3]. - The series is considered potentially the only one to depict prosecutorial investigation due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the subject matter, which limits the possibility of similar future productions [3][6]. - The production process involved extensive internal review and collaboration with legal experts to ensure accuracy while maintaining artistic expression [20][21]. Group 2: Audience Engagement and Perception - Concerns exist regarding audience focus on the issues presented in the drama rather than the judicial progress it aims to showcase, highlighting the challenge of managing public discourse [7][26]. - The casting choices reflect a challenge in finding new faces that embody the legal profession's characteristics, leading to a reliance on familiar actors [9][10]. - The series aims to reshape the public perception of lawyers, presenting them as integral to the legal community rather than as antagonists [13][22]. Group 3: Production Insights - The collaboration between the production team and legal experts was crucial, with real cases serving as inspiration for the narrative, ensuring a blend of realism and artistic storytelling [20][21]. - The series' length of 36 episodes was a strategic choice to provide a comprehensive narrative, countering the trend towards shorter formats in the industry [28][29]. - The production team emphasized the importance of content quality over market trends, aiming for a broad audience appeal while addressing serious themes [28][29]. Group 4: Future Implications - The series is seen as a tool to promote understanding of the prosecutorial role and its relevance to the public, contributing to the broader goal of advancing legal education and awareness [33][34]. - The impact of previous works like "In the Name of the People" has set a precedent for increasing interest in legal professions, which the current series aims to continue [22][34].

Industry Overview - The current state of the drama market is challenging, with only a few shows like "In the Name of the Law" performing reasonably well, while others from major production companies have not made a significant impact [1][9] - The first phase of the summer season has concluded with disappointing results for major players, as many anticipated dramas failed to resonate with audiences [9] Key Productions and Performances - Tencent Video and iQIYI launched "Lychee of Chang'an" and "Lingjiang Xian" respectively, but both shows faced content controversies that hindered their success despite strong production teams [1][3] - Notable dramas such as "The Age of Forging" and "Huan Yu" also struggled, failing to meet audience expectations due to weak storytelling and character development [3][6] - The summer drama landscape is expected to become more competitive as new productions are set to debut, including "Justifiable Defense," which focuses on self-defense cases and features a strong cast [10][12] Upcoming Projects - Several new dramas are scheduled for release, including "Justifiable Defense" on July 9, which is anticipated to be a standout due to its unique theme and high-profile cast [10][12] - New productions from established companies like New Classics Media and Zhengwu Media are also on the horizon, with a variety of genres being explored [14][18] - The upcoming dramas from Noon Sunshine and Lingmeng are expected to contribute to the summer lineup, with "Cherry Amber" and "Midnight Return" respectively [14][16] Market Trends - Compared to the same period last year, the overall quality of summer dramas has declined, with no standout series capturing a wide audience [20] - The industry is looking for high-quality productions to emerge in the coming months to reverse the current downward trend [20]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the report is that CIBN KuMiao has become the leading platform in the smart screen market with 148 million monthly active users by 2024, surpassing Galaxy Qiyi [1][5] - The report indicates that the total number of activated smart TVs in China reached 390 million by the end of 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 2.6% [5] - The daily average viewing time for smart TV users is 4.5 hours, which exceeds the average daily internet usage time on mobile phones, recorded at 4.1 hours [10] Group 2 - The report highlights that the viewing time for children's content has seen the fastest growth, increasing by 76% year-on-year [9] - Classic content continues to attract viewers, with 20 classic dramas accounting for 22% of the viewing time among the top 100 dramas [9] - Youku has upgraded its user experience across all platforms, focusing on content recommendation, immersive viewing, and visual upgrades to enhance user decision-making efficiency [10]

Group 1 - The article highlights the rising popularity of Chinese suspense dramas, particularly the success of series like "White Night Pursuit" and "White Night Dawn," indicating a strong audience demand for high-quality content with intricate plots [3] - The emergence of "White Night Theater" as a flagship IP by Youku aims to address the issue of content homogenization in the market by focusing on quality and diverse storytelling, moving beyond mere sensationalism to reflect societal issues [3] - The ongoing series "In the Name of the Law," part of the "White Night Theater" lineup, has garnered significant attention for its compelling narrative centered on judicial investigations, showcasing the platform's commitment to producing high-caliber dramas [6] Group 2 - The collaboration between Youku and Niulanshan, a premium liquor brand, emphasizes a shared dedication to quality, paralleling the meticulous craftsmanship in both the production of fine liquor and high-quality drama [3][8] - The article encourages viewers to engage with the "White Night Theater" series, particularly "In the Name of the Law," as a means to enhance their summer entertainment experience, suggesting a strategic marketing approach to attract audiences [8]