BEIJING, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI Inc.
(NASDAQ: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative,
market-leading online entertainment service in China and G.H.Y Culture & Media Holding
Co., Limited ("GHY"), today announced a strategic joint
venture to boost their presence in the Southeast Asian media and
entertainment scene. The two entities signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to establish a talent management agency to be
based in Singapore.
This joint venture entity aims to identify and promote talent
across Southeast Asia. A talent
search programme that aims to uncover hidden talent across region,
particularly in Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the
Philippines, is also in the pipeline. The talent search
programme will be streamed exclusively on the iQIYI International
platform and iQ.com. More details will be announced at a later
stage.
Tay Ping Hui, who is currently
represented by GHY, and is a veteran actor and cast member of iQIYI
and GHY's first Southeast Asian original production, The
Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, is primed to be the first talent
to be represented by this new talent management agency. Tay, who
most recently played the role of Yan Nantian in Chinese period
drama, Handsome Siblings, is known for his versatility in
acting roles, bilingualism, and is an established name in the
regional media and entertainment scene.
Yang Xianghua, President of Membership and Overseas Business
Group, iQIYl, said, "GHY has been a longstanding and valued partner
of iQIYI and we are excited to take our working relationship
further. With iQIYI's technical abilities and commitment to
providing high quality Asia
content to global users, and GHY's deep experience and end-to-end
production expertise, we look forward to providing Southeast Asian
talents a gateway to one of the biggest entertainment markets in
the world, turning them into household names."
"The establishment of this new joint venture will be a key
milestone in our ongoing partnership with our strategic business
partner and shareholder, iQIYI. We have earmarked Southeast Asia to be a growth market and this
investment will further expand our footprint. As we diversify our
pipeline of multi-genre dramas and films, it is crucial to identify
local talent to support our growth ambitions." said Guo Jingyu,
Executive Chairman and Group CEO, G.H.Y
Culture & Media Holding Co., Limited.
"The success of The Little Nyonya demonstrates a growing
appetite for Southeast Asian stories in China and we see the vast potential and
opportunity for artistes here to tell these stories together with
iQIYI, said Kuek Yu-Chuang,
Vice-President, International Business, iQIYI. "The joint
announcement with GHY to establish the talent management agency
cements our commitment to the region as we scale our business after
the launch of our international headquarters in Singapore."
iQIYI is currently working with GHY on its first Southeast Asian
original production, The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, which
will be released later this year. The adaptation of iQIYI's 2014
Chinese cult-classic The Ferry Man stars iQIYI International
VIP ambassador Lawrence Wong, Qi
Yuwu, Kate Kinney, Tay Ping Hui and
Jeanette Aw.
This strategic joint venture established by iQIYI and GHY
signals iQIYI's continued global ambitions. iQIYI International has
made breakthroughs in Asia in 2020
with the opening of their International Headquarters in
Singapore, a three-year
partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and its first
ever Korean original production, My Roommate is a Gumiho. At
yesterday's Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART),
iQIYI International also shared the company's investment in
bringing best in class mandarin-language originals to the world
with their upcoming slate of shows, which includes, The
Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, Wisher, Who is the
Murderer, Rainless Love in a Godless Land and Danger
Zone — the last of which stars homegrown actor Christopher Lee.
About iQIYI
iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online
entertainment service in China.
Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with technology,
fostering an environment for continuous innovation and the
production of blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features highly
popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library of
other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content
and user generated content. The company distinguishes itself in the
online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform
powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core
proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with
tremendous user engagement, and has developed a diversified
monetization model including membership services, online
advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting,
online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce.
About iQIYI International
Headquartered in Singapore,
iQIYI International is an on-demand video streaming service
providing beloved pan-Asian entertainment to international viewers.
Offering both ad-supported and VIP subscription services, iQIYI
International delivers premium drama series, movies, variety shows,
and anime; with local languages and subtitles; powered by
cutting-edge technology. iQIYI International also makes its
technology available to other entertainment services through SaaS
partnerships. iQIYI International can be enjoyed on any device via
iQ.com and the app. iQIYI International is owned by iQIYI, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IQ).
About G.H.Y Culture & Media
G.H.Y Culture & Media Holding Co., Limited ("GHY" or
the "Group") is an entertainment business that focuses on
the production and promotion of dramas, films and concerts in the
Asia-Pacific region. GHY has
produced several dramas and films in the PRC, Singapore and Malaysia that have been broadcasted and/or
distributed on major TV networks and leading video streaming
platforms in the PRC. The Group has also undertaken the production
of concerts for well-known international artistes in Singapore, with upcoming concerts to be held
in Malaysia and Australia.
GHY has strong in-house production teams, with scriptwriters,
directors and producers who have been involved in various notable
dramas and films. The production teams have consistently produced
quality dramas and films and the Group also possesses expertise and
capabilities across the business value chain.
Currently headquartered in Singapore and the PRC, with over 120 employees
across Singapore, Malaysia, the PRC and Australia, the Group also engages in concert
production, talent management services, and costumes, props and
make-up services.
For more information, please visit
https://ghyculturemedia.com/
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