iQIYI Launches New System for Analyzing Video Popularity, Emphasizing Focus on Highest Quality Content

iQIYI will no longer show total numbers of views for videos on its platform, reflecting company's commitment to content quality and combating fraudulent 'view buying'

BEIJING, Sept. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI Inc. (NASDAQ : IQ ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, today announced the launch of a new system for evaluating the popularity of videos on its platform, taking into account diverse measures of viewer behavior including user interaction and sharing. As a result of the industry leading move to underline the company's commitment to the highest quality content, iQIYI will no longer display total numbers of views for videos on its online platform.

iQIYI's decision allows the company to focus on providing higher quality, more creative content and improve user experience, a distinction the company hopes will be followed by others in the industry. iQIYI's new system of evaluation allows the company to objectively assess the popularity of its video content, utilizing the company's technological advantages in areas such as AI and Big Data.

The use of overall view count as the primary measure of online content's success has caused myriad problems within China's online video market, a situation which iQIYI's decision helps to solve. The desire to maximize viewer numbers has led to both a willingness in some areas of the industry to overlook work of truly high quality in favor of 'clickbait' content, while also precipitating a sharp rise in fraudulent behavior, including incidences of third parties being paid to artificially inflate view count by 'buying views'.

"iQIYI's decision to use a more comprehensive measure of content popularity and no longer display total numbers of views on our platform represents a historic moment for China's online video industry," said Wang Xiaohui, Chief Content Officer of iQIYI. "The move symbolizes iQIYI's commitment to the creation and promotion of truly original content which is only of the highest quality. Our position as China's leading online entertainment platform depends on our commitment to improving user experience, which is achieved by finding even greater amounts of top quality content."

Online video content on iQIYI's platform, much of which is co-produced by iQIYI, has consistently attracted record breaking amounts of total views as well as widespread attention on social media and critical acclaim. The quality of iQIYI-produced shows such as Idol Producer, Hot-Blood Dance Crew, The Rap of China, Story of Yanxi Palace and Legend of Yunxi has continued to draw the attention of entertainment fans across China, attracted by iQIYI content's high production values and creativity.

About iQIYI, Inc.

iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company") 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 etc. For more information on iQIYI, please visit http://ir.iqiyi.com.

SOURCE iQIYI, Inc.