作者｜兰杰 编辑｜乔芊、杨轩 36氪独家获悉，据接近字节跳动人士消息，2024年字节旗下番茄系业务（包含番茄小说、红果短剧、番 茄畅听以及悟空搜索等在内）的收入超300亿元，整体利润约为30亿-50亿元。其中番茄小说贡献了大部 分收入。 另据该人士估算，今年番茄系整体收入有望超600亿元，其中番茄小说的收入超450亿，红果短剧收入超 150亿。 36氪向字节跳动方面求证，对方称上述数据不实。 横向对比同类业务，据财报信息，腾讯旗下阅文集团2024年的总收入是81.2亿元，利润是11.4亿元。 "DAU几乎是字节内部评判一个产品是否成功的最核心依据，它代表着规模与上限。"一位前字节中层 人士告诉36氪。也正因为如此，带出了番茄系业务的张超，绩效评级已经连续两年为O（Outstanding 杰 出），这是公司内部绩效考核的最高等级。 回看番茄系的崛起，是字节大力出奇迹的又一次验证。 番茄小说与红果短剧做起来的逻辑几乎是一样的。确定进入一个市场之后，字节会先通过挖人、收购、 流量扶持等方式，将上游的资源引入进来。再通过免费模式和大力投流手段，将门槛降的足够低，以尽 可能抓住最多的用户。 这一整个过程，都极为烧钱。据 ...

编辑｜乔芊、杨轩 36氪独家获悉，据接近字节跳动人士消息，2024年字节旗下番茄系业务（包含番茄小说、红果短剧、番 茄畅听以及悟空搜索等在内）的收入超300亿元，整体利润约为30亿-50亿元。其中番茄小说贡献了大部 分收入。 另据该人士估算，今年番茄系整体收入有望超600亿元，其中番茄小说的收入超450亿，红果短剧收入超 150亿。 36氪向字节跳动方面求证，对方称上述数据不实。 横向对比同类业务，据财报信息，腾讯旗下阅文集团2024年的总收入是81.2亿元，利润是11.4亿元。 作者｜兰杰 这一整个过程，都极为烧钱。据另一位接近字节人士消息，红果短剧在上线之初，曾在内部获得了1000 万元/天的消耗预算，这在公司内部横向对比其他业务，也属于极高的标准。 且据多位接近红果短剧人士消息，这一业务目前仍未盈利。 在成功打造一个拥有庞大流量和用户数的平台之后，番茄系会选择将触角伸向行业上下游，同时丰富业 务本身，以实现进一步的商业化。 番茄系利润偏低，主要原因是现阶段内部仍在扶持红果短剧业务，后者在过去近两年的时间里大力投流 买用户，不过一年多的时间就实现了DAU（日活跃用户数）近亿、MAU（月活跃用户数）破双亿的 ...

增长奇观的背后，仍是字节擅长的大力出奇迹。 编辑 | 乔芊 36氪独家获悉，据接近字节跳动人士消息，2024年字节旗下番茄系业务（包含番茄小说、红果短剧、番茄畅听以及悟空搜索等在内）的收入超300亿元， 整体利润约为30亿-50亿元。其中番茄小说贡献了大部分收入。 另据该人士估算，今年番茄系整体收入有望 超600亿元，其中番茄小说的收入超450亿，红果短剧收入超150亿。 36氪向字节跳动方面求证，对方称上述数据不实。 横向对比同类业务，据财报信息，腾讯旗下阅文集团2024年的总收入是81.2亿元，利润是11.4亿元。 番茄系利润偏低，主要原因是现阶段内部仍在扶持红果短剧业务，后者在过去近两年的时间里大力投流买用户，不过一年多的时间就实现了DAU（日活 跃用户数）近亿、MAU（月活跃用户数）破双亿的成绩。 QuestMobile数据显示，红果短剧9月的MAU已经达到了2.36亿元，同比增长94%，断层领先短剧赛道位列第二的河马剧场，后者的MAU为5158万。 字节通常如何决定做一个业务？总体可以概括为这一业务的规模是否足够大，以及是否足够赚钱。番茄小说和红果短剧在内的产品，就是足够符合这两点 要求的业务。它们 ...

AI 对网文的冲击，早已不是新鲜事了。 早在去年3月，番茄小说每日首秀新书达到5606部——去年同期这个数字还只是400本左右。一年时间暴涨1302%，这显然不是「作者群体扩张了13倍」能 解释的。而到了今年3月，男频小说首秀依然有3000多部。 今年上半年，「网文编辑被AI逼疯」话题频频登上社交媒体热搜。在DeepSeek于今年初爆红之后，AI稿件开始潮水般涌向起点、番茄等各大网文平台。 有平台审稿编辑每天收到七八个AI长篇，有的编辑甚至一度关闭了投稿邮箱，还有编辑开始私下交流选哪个AI鉴定工具来审稿更好用…… 与此同时，网文产业链之一的配音市场也面临冲击，近日配音演员穆雪婷和亚马逊之间的维权事件也让"声音权保护"进入公众视野。 AI ，真的杀死起点番茄了吗？ 01 为什么中腰部网文作者不怕AI？ ChatGPT还没出圈时，小李就开始写网文了。几年时间完结了三本书，每月稳定能拿到三倍于主业工作的收入。 当我们问他「你觉得AI有没有冲击到你的行业」时，小李笑了。他说我们不是第一个问他这个问题的人，甚至不是第十个了。 同时，他给了我们一个直截了当的回答：没有。 「你知道吗，哪怕用上AI，95%-98%的新人网文 ...

Core Insights - ByteDance has recently integrated its technology teams for commercialization, e-commerce, and life services, establishing a new department called China Transaction and Advertising, led by Wang Fengkun, the head of Douyin's life service technology [1] - The restructuring aims to enhance the research and development efficiency of advertising and transaction businesses, specifically e-commerce and life services [1] - The integration only affects the engineering technology teams, contrary to earlier reports suggesting a broader scope of "technical team integration," which has been deemed inaccurate by internal sources [1] Summary by Categories - **Company Structure** - ByteDance has formed a new department focused on transaction and advertising to streamline its operations in e-commerce and life services [1] - The new department will leverage personalized recommendations, deep learning, and large model technologies across various products like Douyin, Toutiao, Xigua Video, and Tomato Novel [1] - **Operational Focus** - The integration is designed to build algorithm strategies and engineering architecture for core revenue-generating businesses, including Douyin e-commerce, life services, and advertising marketing [1]

Core Insights - Hongguo Short Drama has achieved a remarkable milestone with monthly active users exceeding 236 million, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 94%, making it the leading short drama application [1][3] - The rapid growth of Hongguo Short Drama is attributed to its strategic reliance on traffic support from Douyin and Tomato Novel, along with a model focused on free content and advertising monetization [3][4] - The platform's success is also linked to its continuous improvement in content creation and its ability to accurately meet user demands, especially as the market matures and content quality becomes a key competitive factor [4][20] User Growth and Market Position - Hongguo Short Drama launched in August 2023 and quickly surpassed 20 million monthly active users within four months, reaching 54 million by March 2024, and now stands at 236 million [3][4] - The second-ranked competitor, Hippo Theater, has 51.58 million monthly active users, reflecting a 100% year-on-year increase [1] Industry Trends and Regulatory Environment - The short drama market is transitioning from rapid growth to a phase of stock competition, where user aesthetic standards are rising, necessitating a shift towards high-quality content [4][5] - The National Radio and Television Administration has issued guidelines to curb excessive entertainment and ensure artistic integrity in short drama production [5][4] Content Strategy and Initiatives - Hongguo Short Drama has launched the "Guo Ran Plan" to promote the transformation towards high-quality short dramas through investment support and premium promotion [7][10] - The platform has established partnerships with various media and institutions to enhance the quality of micro-short dramas and share resources for better content creation [10][20] Content and E-commerce Integration - The recent hit short drama "Summer Fendela" achieved over 3 billion views within 17 days, showcasing the platform's ability to create engaging content that resonates with audiences [17][20] - Hongguo Short Drama is exploring a "content as e-commerce" model, allowing users to discover products featured in the dramas, thus creating a new traffic entry point for Douyin e-commerce [29][30] Ecosystem and Synergy - Douyin has established a "Short Drama Copyright Center" to integrate resources across Douyin, Hongguo, and Tomato Novel, enhancing copyright management and content quality [21][22] - This integration aims to leverage Douyin's vast user base and data algorithms to optimize the distribution and promotion of quality short dramas [22][30] Future Outlook - The collaboration between short dramas and e-commerce is expected to evolve, with Douyin likely to explore more efficient and diverse strategies in this area [31][30]

Core Insights - The article highlights the emergence of three standout applications in the content platform sector: Xiaohongshu, Hongguo Short Drama, and Qishui Music, which have shown remarkable growth despite a general slowdown in the internet market [2][7]. Group 1: Growth Drivers - Xiaohongshu's rise is attributed to its unique positioning as a "useful" platform, filling a gap in the Chinese market for practical information sharing, particularly among young, urban female users [5][19]. - The commonality behind the rise of the "Tomato Series" applications (including Tomato Novel, Hongguo Short Drama, and Qishui Music) lies in their integration of ByteDance's strengths in personalized recommendation and data-driven operations, creating a demand-driven supply cycle [5][26]. - The article argues that the content consumption landscape is evolving, with a shift from traditional supply-driven models to those that prioritize user demand, allowing for greater market opportunities [5][26]. Group 2: Market Positioning - Xiaohongshu differentiates itself by focusing on text-based content, which aligns with user preferences for "useful" information, contrasting with the video-centric trends seen in platforms like Douyin [15][19]. - The article discusses the potential for free music platforms like Qishui Music to become significant players in the copyright space by leveraging demand-driven strategies rather than traditional supply-driven approaches [6][38]. - The positioning of Xiaohongshu as a community-driven platform allows it to build trust among users through authentic content from everyday users rather than relying solely on influencers [20][44]. Group 3: Content Consumption Trends - The article notes that the rise of short dramas and short videos reflects a broader trend in content consumption, where users prefer formats that deliver high engagement and emotional stimulation [31][34]. - The production model for short dramas has shifted towards a more decentralized and market-responsive approach, allowing for quicker adaptation to user preferences and lower production costs [32][34]. - The article emphasizes that the demand for story-driven content is a fundamental human need, which explains the popularity of short dramas and videos that prioritize narrative engagement [31][34]. Group 4: Commercialization Strategies - Xiaohongshu's brand "grass planting" strategy is rooted in psychological principles that enhance user trust and engagement, making it a unique player in the e-commerce space [46][47]. - The transition of Xiaohongshu to a "buyer’s e-commerce" model reflects its adaptation to community dynamics, where creators act as curators of shopping information, enhancing user experience [47]. - Hongguo Short Drama's success is attributed to its innovative free + advertising revenue model, which has allowed it to capture significant market share in the short drama space [49][35].

Core Insights - The short drama market in China is rapidly growing, with a projected market size of 634 billion yuan by 2025 and expected to exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2027, surpassing movie box office revenues [1][2] - The Red Fruit Short Drama app has gained significant traction, achieving 212 million monthly active users by June 2025, marking a 179% year-on-year increase, and surpassing Youku [3][4] Market Overview - The short drama market in China reached 504.4 billion yuan in 2024, with 696 million users by mid-2025, representing nearly 70% of internet users [1] - The market is expected to continue its growth trajectory, with estimates suggesting it will reach approximately 634 billion yuan by 2025 and exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2027 [1] Company Performance - Red Fruit Short Drama, launched in August 2023, has partnered with over 600 institutions to release more than 15,000 short dramas [3] - The app's user base has grown significantly, with a monthly active user count of 212 million by June 2025, surpassing competitors like Youku and closing in on Bilibili [3] Operational Advantages - Red Fruit Short Drama benefits from a flow pool effect, leveraging its parent company ByteDance's user base from platforms like Douyin and Toutiao to achieve low-cost customer acquisition [4] - The app employs a "free + advertising" revenue model, which has led to significant revenue growth, with revenue sharing exceeding 3 billion yuan by November 2024 [5][8] Content Strategy - The platform has developed a content ecosystem by adapting popular IPs from Tomato Novel, with a significant portion of its hit dramas based on these adaptations [8] - Red Fruit has initiated a "premium plan" to support high-quality short dramas, encouraging diverse themes and high production standards [8] User Engagement - The app has introduced a "watch and earn coins" mechanism, attracting users from lower-tier cities, with 70% of its user base coming from these areas [9] - The average daily usage time for users in lower-tier cities is 1.38 hours, surpassing major long-video platforms [9] E-commerce Integration - The introduction of the "search for similar items" feature allows users to shop directly from the content, creating a seamless shopping experience [12] - This feature utilizes technology from Douyin, enhancing the shopping experience by allowing users to view and purchase items without switching apps [12] Industry Impact - Red Fruit's entry into e-commerce signifies a shift from traditional influencer-driven sales to content-driven commerce, expanding the types of products that can be marketed [19] - The integration of e-commerce with short dramas creates a new consumption model that focuses on emotional connections rather than just transactional interactions [19][20] Conclusion - The launch of the e-commerce feature by Red Fruit Short Drama reflects ByteDance's ambition to redefine the value of content and cultural consumption [22] - By creating a natural extension of viewing into shopping, Red Fruit aims to enhance user experience while driving commercial success [22]

Core Insights - The article explores the rise of Zhang Chao within ByteDance, particularly his leadership of the Hongguo Short Drama and Tomato Novel platforms, highlighting his strategic decisions and the impact of his work on the company's growth [4][30]. Group 1: Zhang Chao's Background and Career Path - Zhang Chao, a Tsinghua University graduate, joined ByteDance in 2016 from Baidu, initially focusing on the novel channel and creator platform for Toutiao [7]. - Under the leadership of Chen Lin, Zhang Chao contributed to the content ecosystem of Toutiao, which saw its daily active users (DAU) double to 120 million within a year [8]. - Zhang Chao's career progressed as he became a key figure in the company's commercial success, particularly after Zhang Lidong took over the commercialization efforts, leading to significant revenue growth [9][10]. Group 2: Innovations in Free Reading and Short Dramas - Zhang Chao identified a market opportunity in the free reading model, which was gaining traction against established paid models, leading to the rapid rise of Tomato Novel [16][18]. - The Tomato Novel platform utilized a free + advertising model, achieving 61.62 million monthly active users (MAU) within a year of launch, positioning it as a leader in the digital reading industry [23]. - The success of Tomato Novel was attributed to ByteDance's strong control over upstream copyrights and effective user targeting through its advertising engine [18][20]. Group 3: The Rise of Hongguo Short Drama - The Hongguo Short Drama app, launched in late 2023, adopted a free + advertising model, achieving 140 million MAU and 40 million daily active users within a year [29]. - By March 2023, the app had surpassed 210 million MAU, overtaking Youku Video for the first time in the short drama sector [30]. - Zhang Chao implemented a "blind box" mechanism to enhance content quality, resulting in a significant increase in the success rate of produced dramas [31]. Group 4: Zhang Chao's Leadership and Strategic Vision - Zhang Chao's ability to navigate internal dynamics and foster cross-department collaboration was crucial for the success of both Tomato Novel and Hongguo Short Drama [20][22]. - His approach to product and operational strategy emphasized efficiency, allowing him to maintain a lean team while achieving substantial growth [13][14]. - The article concludes that Zhang Chao's success is not solely due to personal talent but also the support from mentors and the favorable market conditions he capitalized on [33].

Core Viewpoint - The rise of AI-generated content is causing significant disruption in the literary industry, leading to protests from human authors against the unauthorized use of their works for AI training and the encroachment of AI on their creative space [1][21][25] Group 1: Author Protests and Legal Actions - Notable authors, including Grady Hendrix and Jennifer Robertson, have filed a collective lawsuit against Apple for allegedly using their works without permission to train the AI model OpenELM [1] - Over a thousand authors signed an open letter demanding publishers never release machine-generated books, emphasizing the importance of human emotional expression in literature [1][21] - In China, authors like Xiao Shen have reported instances of their works being replicated and modified by AI, leading to a sense of infringement and loss of income [2][3] Group 2: Impact on the Online Literature Industry - The influx of AI-generated content on platforms like Tomato Novel has surged dramatically, with new book releases increasing from 400 to 5606 in a year, a 13-fold increase [3][4] - Despite attempts by platforms to control AI content, the volume remains high, with nearly 2000 new books being released daily as of mid-September [3][4] - Authors are struggling to gain visibility and income as AI-generated works dominate the platform's traffic, leading to a decline in opportunities for new writers [4][5] Group 3: Author Experiences and Adaptations - Authors like Cang Shu have experienced a complete halt in their work's visibility on platforms, leading to a loss of income and forcing them to seek alternative avenues [4][5] - Some authors are transitioning to other creative fields, such as adapting their works into short dramas, in search of better financial stability [6][7] - The pressure to produce content has increased, with some authors reporting writing outputs significantly higher than average, yet still being overshadowed by AI capabilities [6][7] Group 4: AI's Evolving Capabilities - AI tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with capabilities to generate coherent and contextually relevant content, making it difficult for readers to distinguish between AI and human-written works [8][10] - The emergence of advanced AI writing tools has raised concerns about the future of the writing profession, as fully autonomous AI content generation could threaten traditional authorship [11][12] Group 5: Monetization and Market Dynamics - Individuals and teams are leveraging AI to produce large volumes of content quickly, with some reporting significant traffic and engagement on their AI-generated works [14][17] - The market for AI writing tools and courses is growing, with some users successfully monetizing AI-generated content through various platforms [18][19] - Despite the challenges posed by AI, platforms are currently siding with human authors, implementing measures to limit low-quality AI content while still allowing for some AI-assisted writing [21][25]