Core Viewpoint - The increasing popularity of mainland Chinese dramas among Taiwanese audiences during the Lunar New Year reflects a growing cultural influence and a new tradition in Taiwan [1][2][6]. Group 1: Audience Engagement - A Taiwanese television station began a 24-hour continuous broadcast of "Empresses in the Palace" on February 12, attracting over 34,000 viewers even during late-night hours [1]. - The viewership peaked at over 90,000 simultaneous online viewers during the most popular times, indicating a strong engagement with the content [1]. - Taiwanese audiences are increasingly participating in discussions about these dramas on online forums, expressing interest in additional series such as "Nirvana in Fire" and "Story of Yanxi Palace" [2]. Group 2: Cultural Impact - The trend of watching mainland dramas during the Lunar New Year has been described as a new "New Year custom" in Taiwan, showcasing the rising cultural influence of mainland China [6]. - Taiwanese viewers appreciate the detailed production and cultural elements of these dramas, with some using scenes from shows like "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" as educational tools [2]. - The success of various genres, including historical and contemporary dramas, highlights the diverse interests of Taiwanese audiences and their connection to the narratives presented [2][6].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the impressive viewership and popularity of actor Cheng Yi, with eight of his works achieving over 10 billion views each, showcasing his strong appeal and the vitality of his projects [1] Group 1 - Cheng Yi's eight works include "Lotus House," "Fragrant as the Dust: Fragrant Rebirth," "Glazed," "The Bottom Line," "To the Mountains and Seas," "Chang'an Twenty-Four Plans," "Heavenly Sword Heart," and "The South Wind Knows My Intent," all surpassing 10 billion views [1] - "Lotus House" has maintained a daily popularity surge of 111% nearly three years post-release, holding a record of over 930 days at the top of the platform [1] - The rating for "Lotus House" has increased to 8.5, indicating a positive reception and sustained interest from viewers [1]

Group 1 - The article discusses the ongoing 2026 Spring Festival travel season, highlighting the emotional connection of viewers with various TV dramas during their journeys home [1] - Several popular dramas are mentioned, including "藏海传," "长安二十四计," "锦绣芳华," "风与潮," "仙台有树," "生万物," "沉默的荣耀," "太平年," and "生命树," featuring well-known actors [1] - The article encourages readers to share their favorite dramas that accompany them on their way home, fostering community engagement [1]

Core Viewpoint - Actor Cheng Yi received 9 nominations at the 2026 Huanwang Big Data Annual Ceremony "Yipin Zhi Xuan," highlighting his rising popularity and commercial value in the entertainment industry [1]. Group 1: Nominations - Cheng Yi was nominated for Annual Male Actor and Annual Popular Male Actor [1]. - His works "Fushianshai" and "Chang'an Twenty-Four Strategies" received nominations for Annual Big Screen On-Demand Series and Annual Hotly Discussed Series [1]. - The upcoming series "Liujing Fifteen Days" is nominated for Annual Anticipated Series and Annual Popular Upcoming Drama [1]. Group 2: Commercial Value - Cheng Yi's projects "Fushianshai" and "Chang'an Twenty-Four Strategies" are recognized for their commercial value, indicating strong market potential [1]. - He is also nominated for Annual Anticipated Male Lead, further emphasizing his appeal in the industry [1].

Core Insights - The overall trend in the drama advertising market for Q4 2025 continues to show a slight contraction, characterized by a polarization between top-tier and mid-tier projects [1][4] - Top projects like "Chang'an Twenty-Four Hours" have excelled in advertising performance, securing 223 ads and 41 brand partnerships, while mid-tier projects struggle with nearly 70% having single-digit brand collaborations, highlighting the "80/20 effect" in the industry [1][6] Advertising Market Performance - The advertising market experienced fluctuations, with a notable decline in ad placements in November, where the overall ad rate dropped to 27% [3][4] - In October, "Anhe River" and "Water Dragon Song" led the ad placements with 144 and 175 ads respectively, together accounting for 54% of the month's total ad placements [2][3] - Despite strong performances from sequels like "Tang Dynasty Mystery" and "News Queen 2," the overall market remained sluggish, with many mid-tier dramas facing a "vacuum" in advertising interest [4][6] Brand Partnerships and Trends - Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands dominate the advertising landscape, with brands like Baishui Mountain and Aitame appearing frequently across both ancient and modern dramas [17][18] - A significant portion of advertisers (70.36%) only engaged in single ad placements, indicating a cautious approach due to market uncertainties and competition among dramas [18][19] - The preference for ancient dramas among advertisers is evident, with 73.3% of high-frequency advertisers focusing on this genre, aligning with the need for strong exposure and user memory reinforcement [19] Content Quality and Investment - The success of dramas in attracting advertising is increasingly tied to their content quality, star power, and established IPs, with a clear shift towards projects that combine these elements [8][19] - The competition for advertising dollars is intensifying, necessitating a more strategic approach to content that aligns with brand expectations and market demands [8][19] - The fourth quarter's advertising performance reflects a rational return to investment strategies, emphasizing the importance of high-quality content in securing brand partnerships [19]

Core Insights - The film and television industry is currently undergoing a significant "winter" phase, driven by multiple intertwined factors, with a notable decline in long-form series production and distribution licenses as of 2026 compared to 2025 [1] Group 1: Challenges Facing Long-Form Series - The primary challenge for long-form series is the fragmentation of audience attention, with over 60% of viewers accustomed to watching at increased speeds, which directly impacts the narrative depth required for long-form storytelling [2] - The rise of short-form content has diluted the novelty that new actors can bring to long-form series, making it increasingly difficult to attract audiences [2] - The industry is experiencing "hit anxiety" and "data worship," where some productions prioritize algorithm-driven metrics over genuine creative quality, leading to a misallocation of marketing resources and a focus on superficial data rather than substantive content [2] - The call from the National Radio and Television Administration in August 2025 to return to a "script-centered" approach highlights the need for a shift back to quality storytelling, although challenges remain for both original scripts and IP adaptations [2] Group 2: Path to Recovery - The path to recovery for long-form series is focused on consolidating top resources to create high-quality productions, emphasizing the importance of deep narrative and artistic value [3] - Successful examples demonstrate that when talented actors, directors, and writers collaborate, they can produce works that resonate both artistically and commercially, such as "The Story of the Rose" and "The Lychee of Chang'an" [3] - Even lesser-known IPs can achieve commercial success if they are well-produced and feature strong performances, as seen with "Lotus Tower" and "To the Mountains and Seas," which have generated significant revenue through merchandise and brand collaborations [4] Group 3: The Importance of Original Content - Original scripts that offer unique cultural insights and innovative storytelling techniques have proven to resonate with audiences, as exemplified by "The Long Season" and "The News Queen," which have sparked widespread social discussions [5] - The success of "Chang'an Twenty-Four Strategies," a meticulously crafted historical drama, illustrates the potential for original content to thrive in a challenging market, achieving impressive viewership and advertising success [6] - The overarching conclusion is that the way forward for the industry lies in a commitment to high-quality content creation, which can generate sustainable commercial value and earn market respect [6] Group 4: Future Directions - The current industry challenges are seen as an opportunity to eliminate excess and return to foundational principles, with a clear path for long-form series to focus on narrative depth and cultural significance [7] - The mission for long-form series is to become a comprehensive value entity that integrates culture, technology, and tourism, serving as a cultural bastion against fragmented consumption [7] - A collaborative effort among platforms, creators, brands, and audiences is essential to foster a healthy ecosystem that values creativity and quality, resisting the temptations of superficial metrics and poor marketing practices [7]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that the company, Zhongnan Culture, has invested in the popular drama "Chang'an Twenty-Four Strategies," but the expected profit impact on the company is not significant [1][2]. Group 2 - The company confirmed its participation in the investment of the drama, which is a collaboration between Beijing Youku Technology Co., Ltd. and Qiyao 191 (Xiamen) Film and Television Media Co., Ltd. [1] - The company advised investors to be cautious regarding investment risks, indicating that the drama's success may not lead to substantial financial gains for the company [1].

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Zhongnan Culture has invested in the copyright drama "Chang'an Twenty-Four Strategies," which is a collaboration between Beijing Youku Technology Co., Ltd. and Qiyao 191 (Xiamen) Film and Television Media Co., Ltd. [1] - The company stated that its participation in the project is limited and will not have a significant impact on its profits, urging investors to be aware of investment risks [1]

Core Insights - The 2025 ancient costume drama market is witnessing a fierce competition among four major platforms: Youku, iQIYI, Tencent Video, and Mango TV, each launching their flagship series to capture year-end viewership and rankings [1][2][4] Group 1: Upcoming Releases - Tencent's "Don't Disturb the Ascension" is the first to premiere, followed by Youku's "The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang'an," iQIYI's "Carefree," and Mango TV's "Tea Bone" [4] - The four series are referred to as the "Four Treasures of Ancient Costume," each aiming to fulfill the platforms' annual strategies and attract significant viewership [1][2] Group 2: Differentiation and Competition - The competition is characterized by distinct thematic focuses: "The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang'an" emphasizes power struggles, "Carefree" offers a fantasy adventure, "Tea Bone" explores domestic conflicts, and "Don't Disturb the Ascension" presents a light-hearted romantic comedy [24][26] - Each series adopts unique marketing strategies, such as leveraging star power, established IPs, and innovative themes to differentiate themselves in a crowded market [4][24] Group 3: Market Predictions - "The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang'an" is predicted to be a strong contender for the title of "drama king" due to its star-studded cast and compelling narrative [26][28] - "Carefree" is also expected to perform well, bolstered by its high-profile cast and production team, with the potential to become a major hit if it generates widespread discussion and maintains a solid storyline [28][30] Group 4: Performance of Previous Releases - The 2025 market has already seen several successful dramas, including "The Cang Hai Transmission" and "The Color of the Country," which have set high benchmarks in terms of viewership and critical acclaim [33][35] - These successful dramas have demonstrated the industry's shift towards quality content, breaking traditional boundaries and resonating with contemporary audiences [40]

Group 1 - Youku released its 2025 content lineup featuring over 200 series, with a strong focus on historical dramas and suspense series [1][3] - Notable titles include "Cang Hai Chuan," directed by Zheng Xiaolong and starring Xiao Zhan, which has already surpassed 3.6 million reservations on the platform [1] - The suspense genre is highlighted with 19 premium suspense dramas, including "Suspicion" and "Peeling the Onion," showcasing Youku's competitive strategy in the video platform market [3][5] Group 2 - The spy drama "Intelligence Uncapped," starring Xiao Zhan and produced by Hou Hongliang, is also part of the 2025 lineup [5] - Youku's suspense series have received high ratings, with several titles ranking in the top five for 2024, including "Bian Shui Wang Shi" and "Xue Mi Gong" [5] - The youth romantic drama "Nan Hong" has achieved significant viewership, topping various charts and accumulating over 1 billion views, indicating Youku's successful content strategy in the youth genre [5][6] Group 3 - The urban emotional drama "Man Hao De Ren Sheng" has seen a continuous increase in viewership ratings, resonating with audiences through its themes of marriage, career, and family relationships [6] - The 2025 lineup includes "Wo He Wo De Ming," adapted from a novel by Liang Xiaosheng, which is expected to generate significant discussion among viewers [6]