36kr Research | Chinese Companies Overseas Streaming Industry Research Report

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In a report published by the prestigious 36kr tech media - the Chinese equivalent of TechCrunch- regarding Chinese companies that have managed to dominate overseas markets, AIG's flagship product Uplive was featured as the most successful live streaming app outside of mainland China. The study revealed the essential elements needed for the sustainable success of live streaming apps.

Many Chinese companies have tried to follow in AIG's footsteps, yet most of them were unable to gain a foothold in the overseas market because they could not adapt to local demands. Uplive has differentiated itself by creating a unique model of decentralized operations. All Uplive offices around the world share the same spirit of professionalism and high performance, but none of them are tied to a concrete set of procedures when it comes to content, as each Uplive region operates independently. If you live in Kuwait, Uplive content is produced by your fellow Kuwaitis, and if you live in Vietnam you will find your favourite local social media influencers, and most popular reality TV broadcasters on the app.

This unique business model is based on the appreciation of all cultures and garners its success from the strength of its diverse audience. Just last week, Uplive received the "Most Successful Overseas Business Award" from 36kr in recognition of its success. Chinese tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent and executives from the country's top tech investors and media, joined to the awards ceremony to support Uplive's growing role as a model for Chinese companies looking to expand overseas.

Which Chinese streaming platforms have a significant overseas presence?
Our report focuses on mainland Chinese (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) livestreaming platforms that have a significant overseas presence.
Currently, the main players include Uplive, Bigo Live, Live.me, Kitty Live, MOGO Live, etc.

Why have overseas streaming platforms gained popularity?
Many live stream platforms have found success overseas for 2 reasons: unique opportunities and taking advantage of untapped markets.

Unique opportunities:
1, Capital investment- Overseas countries are very open to Chinese investors and invested heavily with Chinese capital.
2, Market penetration- Chinese mobile phone manufacturers introduce cheap and high quality smart phones to underdeveloped countries, seeding leading positions in new markets and raising the popularity of smart phones internationally.
3, Low data costs- As mobile 4G networks continue to develop internationally, data costs are decreasing in tandem.
4, Mobile payment- The mobile payment industry has grown rapidly in the past 2 years, allowing Chinese mobile payment apps like Alipay and WeChat to provide direct and effective monetization channels for overseas live streaming hosts and users.

The Chinese advantage- since the live streaming industry is mature in China, Chinese live streaming enterprises bring a wealth of experience and insights to overseas markets.

Overseas streaming platform development advantages:

Emerging markets in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa alongside developed markets like the United States, South Korea, and Japan, are popular destinations for Chinese live streaming companies due to the strong purchasing power of their consumers.

Markets where live streaming platforms succeed generally possess strong economic development potential, a large population, and at the very least, a relatively developed network infrastructure.

Several foreign governments are promoting digitization policies, encouraging more media organizations and content creators to promote the digital transformation of traditional content platforms to mobile Internet platforms.

With the implementation of China's 'Belt and Road Initiative' (B&R) national strategy, regions such as Southeast Asia have received a large amount of Chinese investment, opening the door to Chinese livestreaming companies.

What are the characteristics of overseas streaming platforms?
Localized Content- localized operators handle content interaction and content creation guidance, which enhances user stickiness through PGC or PUGC users.
Innovative Profit Models - virtual gifting and various forms of advertising increase profitability, combining to profit models.

Industry Defining Features- several Chinese live streaming platforms are implementing short videos functionality, while various live streaming + formats have increasingly matured;

Rapid Technological Growth- CDN technology breakthroughs have decreased data pricing.

It is highly recommended that Chinese livestreaming platforms have domestic stability before looking to expand overseas. Small businesses are at greater risk of failure it they expand overseas prematurely. Current markets' BAT layouts for overseas industries mainly choose to invest in local enterprises rather than taking the initiative to start a new overseas business.

Uplive
The application of technologies on live streams such as Blockchain and live translation is Uplive's unique advantage

Uplive is an global livestreaming app based in China, and is a product under Asia Innovations Group Co., Ltd (AIG). It is also one of global leaders of overseas livestreaming platforms. Uplive's product features differentiate the platform from its competitors with gamified and social live streaming and the Gifto token, a mass-market blockchain project. In addition, multi-lingual live translation tears down the barriers of space and language, assisting global users to reduce communication barriers.

Gifto, a blockchain entertainment ecosystem represents a fusion of Uplive and blockhain technology, and has removed the geographical boundaries of traditional gifting and reduced credit card fraud through its global gifting model. Users no long have to deal with the hassle of exchanging multiple currencies especially in Japan, South Korea, the United States, China allowing for a high-degree of cross-regional gifting. Being able to send virtual gifts to anyone regardless of geography cross-border gifts enhances the bond between users. Gifto has been deeply integrated into Uplive, garnering the token over 1 million users.

Moreover, the game streaming function developed within the app also provides an important content supplement for Uplive users. The gaming experience is enhanced through watching live streams and playing games simultaneously. This is also one of the important responsibilities for generating users and revenue for Uplive.

Uplive's localized technical team enhancing its products' popularity among local users.

Uplive cooperated with Google to design its live translation functionality for multiple languages. The technology can convert a host's speech into a viewer's native language through subtitles. User comments can also be translated into a hosts' native language. Live translation opens up communication beyond boundaries, facilitating cross-regional gifting and increasing platform profitability.

Uplive was launched in June 2016 and has 14 offices abroad. Currently, it operates in five main regions, covering most countries and regions in the global livestreaming market, including Greater China, East Asia / Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa, India, the United States, etc.

Uplive has a technical team of 200 engineers, hailing from Internet companies such as Google, Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba. In addition, Uplive employs a team of former Baidu and Hao 123 engineers from the Middle East and North Africa. This expertise allows product content to be designed to conform to domestic tastes and culture, attracting local users and hosts. in result expanding towards the global market through localized considerations.

Uplive's profit model includes gifts, games and advertising. User's diversion pathways are also diversified Moderation and public opinion are factors that have significant impact on the livestreaming platforms different countries. Uplive's backend has a complete set of video recognition + manual identification moderation tools. Uplive has established an operation center in Hunan and has set up backend video monitoring tools in order to identify inappropriate and illegal audio and video such as porn, ending streams within 5 seconds if necessary. Moreover, network policing patrols conduct manual identification for inappropriate content and take action if required. Disciplinary action falls into three categories: mute, temporary account suspension, and permanent account termination.

Uplive's revenue has been growing steadily. Uplive's business model and operating model are also enriched Uplive has 3 main revenue streams:

Virtual Gifting
Third-party content during videogame livestreams. This is considered an additional profit direction;

Advertisement revenue including brand adverts, screen adverts, banner placement adverts, endorsement through hosts etc.

Uplive currently has more than 60 million registered users, with a monthly income of 10 million. The amount of hosts broadcasting daily exceeds 20,000 and the average time a user spends online is over 30 minutes. Revenue shares are flexible and divided into 50%-60% of the total revenue according to the international and regional differences. Contracted hosts receive a base salary plus commission. In order to reduce the cost of attracting potential consumers, Uplive advertises on multiple channels, such as Facebook, Google, App Stores, local operators etc.

About AIG (Asia Innovations Group):
AIG (Asia Innovations Group), a global mobile applications company, was co-founded in 2013 by the most experienced leader's in Asia's mobile entertainment industry, with founders from both eastern and western tech giants including Google, Tencent and Zynga, AIG now have over 100 million users for globally, and made 300 million dollars in revenue this year.

Based on the concept of innovative connectivity, the Group is committed to building a new generation of mobile internet group companies for global users based on social and online entertainment. Established branches in 14 regions including the Middle East, North Africa, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia

At present, the group has a number of star products such as UpLive, Superfans, Pengpeng, FunPepper, and GIFTO, with more than 100 million users. The Group also built a global entertainment mobile platform through the acquisition of Taiwan's MimiCam live broadcast platform and other high-quality assets of Southeast Asia's largest video production company BIGCAT, and expanded in the international market.

About 36kr:
36Kr has grown into a group company with three core businesses. 36Kr has been dedicated to serving technology startups and investment since its founding in December 2010. It has set up three subsidiaries in charge of different businesses from 2016. After seven years of development, it has grown into a group company serving technology innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The group owns 36Kr Media—one of China's most influential new business media, Kr Space—the leading co-working space, and JingData—the leading financial information provider in the new economy.

36Kr Group has established its strong influence on technology innovation and entrepreneurship in China. In the past seven year, 36Kr has served over 20,000 startups, covered 150,000,000 readers worldwide, and has set up 30 co-working spaces and a database covering over 500,000 projects in the primary market. The Group has grown into one of China's largest and the most competitive technology innovation and entrepreneurship service platform.

SOURCE Asia Innovations Group

Related Links

http://www.asiainnovations.com