2026-07-06 19:34:35 3 Companies Dominate Video Streaming in China – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

3 Companies Dominate Video Streaming in China

By U.S. News & World Report

In America, the streaming video advertising business is dominated by two companies–Alphabet (ticker: GOOG, GOOGL) and Facebook ( FB). But in China, where market size and growth rates could potentially be much more lucrative for investors, the competition in streaming video is extremely fierce.

A new report from Bernstein focused on search engine giant Baidu ( BIDU) detailed Baidu’s video battle with rivals Alibaba Group Holding ( BABA) and Tencent. Together, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent account for 71 percent of total online video streaming in China. Baidu’s iQiyi platform is the market leader with 31 percent share, with Tencent Video (24 percent) and Alibaba’s Youku (16 percent) close behind.

[Read: How to Invest in China’s Changing Economy.]

Last week, Bernstein analyst Bhavtosh Vajpayee wrote that, while American investors love to compare Google and Biadu, iQiyi isn’t on YouTube’s level just yet.

“Within video, none of China’s video platform’s are anywhere close to the level of YouTube’s dominance yet, and indeed a three-way struggle for leadership is currently on, with several smaller platforms still in the mix,” Vajpayee says.

There’s no question that Baidu has a powerful share in the online search category in China, but it has nowhere near the breadth of Google’s dominance in other categories, such as video.

According to Bernstein, the time Chinese internet users spend browsing social networks, watching online video, gaming and shopping online more than doubled from 2010 to 2016. Time spent on search is down 33 percent.

In an effort to break away from the pack in streaming video, Baidu recently signed a licensing deal with American streaming service Netflix ( NFLX) after Netflix spent years trying unsuccessfully to break into the Chinese market on its own.

Vajpayee says the Netflix deal could help establish iQiyi as the dominant video platform in China. Baidu has also recently done a great job of acquiring a handful of popular original shows at relatively cheap prices, he says.

“These are hidden skills that are often ignored by the markets, but could help differentiate the Baidu video platform in coming years,” Vajpayee wrote.

[See: 12 Best China Region Mutual Funds.]

Vajpayee said Baidu has an opportunity to break away from the pack in video and other categories outside search. But for now, the stock’s valuation is simply too high considering the unknowns and fierce competition Baidu is facing. Bernstein maintains an “underperform” rating and $152 price target for Baidu stock.

More from U.S. News

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3 Companies Dominate Video Streaming in China originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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