Physix Frontier · News Briefing Card (TMTPost · Nov 7, 2026)

AI comic-drama creators say 10k views earn just 5 yuan as platforms take most revenue

KEY FACTS

In the first five months of 2026, China's AI comic-drama market reached 22 billion yuan, with a full-year forecast of 40 billion yuan.
In the first half of the year, Douyin added 221,900 native AI dramas and comic-dramas.
At H&R Century, AI short dramas accounted for less than 1% of total revenue in the first half.
Qixiang Infinite posted first-half revenue of 24.5709 million yuan and a net loss of 5.6217 million yuan.
Creators say revenue per 10,000 views fell from 50 yuan last year to 5 yuan this year.

KEY DATA

22 billion yuanAI comic-drama market size, first five months

40 billion yuanFull-year forecast market size

221,900 titlesNew AI dramas and comic-dramas added on Douyin, first half

5.6217 million yuanQixiang Infinite net loss, first half

PHYSIX OBSERVATION

The market is expanding fast, but the money mostly stays with platforms and top companies, while producers' share has shrunk 90% in a year. At 5 yuan per 10,000 views, small and mid-sized teams can barely cover labor costs, and the industry is trapped in low-price, homogenized competition. If platform rules are not adjusted, AI comic-dramas may repeat the rapid rise and fall of web movies, with premium production sustained only by a handful of teams.

Source: TMTPost report