Chinese streaming video operator iQIYI said Thursday that it had amassed 10 million paid subscribers by Dec. 1, 2015.
That total is more double the 5 million figure that the company announced to the surprise of the industry in mid-June.
The company said that the new data came from the China Netcasting Services Association with the support of the China Internet Information Center. It appears to give a subscriber base bigger than the second and third placed platforms combined.
"The development of mobile payments and premium content, combined with the crackdown on unlicensed online content, has driven explosive growth in paid subscriptions in 2015,” said Yu Gong, founder and CEO of iQIYI.
It recently released show “The Legend of S (Shu Shan Zhan Ji)” to enable paid subscribers to access premium content prior to its broadcast on television. Earleir this year it enjoyed success with self-produced TV series “The Lost Tomb.”
iQIYI has inked partnerships with top-tier studios and production houses, including Paramount, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, BBC Earth and China 3D.
For 2016, iQIYI has announced that it will further invest in paid subscription content by purchasing or producing over 40 new shows, with costs approximately 50% of its full year subscription revenues.