BEIJING, July 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI Inc. (NASDAQ:
IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative market-leading online
entertainment service in China,
recently launched the "Watch Party" feature on its streaming
platform. By synchronizing video playback among groups, Watch
Party allows iQIYI users to have the experience of watching
movies, dramas, variety shows and anime with friends
without having to be with them in the same room. To
experience the personalized, interactive viewing experience that
Watch Party provides, users simply open iQIYI's app and select
"Watch with Friends" to get an invitation link, which can be shared
with other users.
The Watch Party mode allows up to ten users to be in a joined
session and stream the same content at a time, where they could
also send each other voice messages in the chatroom to share their
reactions and thoughts in real-time. While the host controls
the video playback, each user has control over the volume of their
own voice and that of the content. Ultimately, Watch Party enables
iQIYI users to have a communal yet personalized streaming
experience and thereby become even more engaged with the
content.
For the younger generation, content consumption is more than
just watching videos.
The popularity and success of Watch Party since its launch point
to the users' desire for social interaction even while consuming
content. Nowadays, content consumption is more than just watching
videos. On the one hand, users are eager to interact with video
content and want tailored content that meets their aesthetic. On
the other hand, they also want to connect their thoughts with
others, be it strangers, friends, or family. In short, even in
streaming, the younger generation craves the opportunity for
self-express and connection.
According to the "Report on the Development of China's Internet Audio-and-video Industry
(2021)," which examined the behavior of online audiovisual content
users, nearly 30% of users search for news related to the
drama series they watch. The report also found that
younger users with a higher level of education are more likely to
make purchases and speak with their friends as they stream
content.
In response to this emerging trend, Watch Party is the
latest in a long line of innovative interactive features iQIYI
rolled out. Previously, the rolling out of the AI radar "Qiguan"
enables users to identify any unfamiliar character or music they
encounter with the click of a button, and "Revolving Bullet
Comments" allows viewers to further engage with the content.
As users become more deeply engaged with content, they
become more than just viewers, and, at the same time,
iQIYI becomes more than just a content provider. Thanks to the
Company's groundbreaking technology, users can switch between
different modes of content viewing and even participate in the
shaping of the content by deciding how a story would
unfold.
For example, at "iQIYI Shout out for Love
Gala 2021", online viewers were able to control a range
of aspects of the show including the program order, choice of the
artist, and viewing angles, etc. Viewers embraced this flexibility
with great enthusiasm and took advantage of these innovative
features to personalize and improve their own viewing experience.
For instance, 90% of users switched the screen an average of
29 times using the innovative "four-in-one" screen
feature.
Another case in point was "X-City," the immersive extended
reality (XR) concert held in March of this year for the
Chinese girl group THE9. X-City marked the first
time that cinematic class LED
stage with photorealistic virtual production and
XR-powered live broadcast technologies were combined for the
production of a concert. To offer a more immersive experience, the
event also offered other interactive elements, such as virtual
seats, virtual avatars, on-site screen interaction, and virtual
light sticks for real-time interaction. Going forward, iQIYI is
committed to further leveraging its technical prowess to add new
features that will enhance the viewing experience of its users.
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SOURCE iQIYI