CHENGDU, China, April 16, 2026 (Globe Newswire) — On April 15, the 13th China Internet Audio & Video Convention, hosted by the Chengdu City Government, opened in Chengdu. Held in the same city for 13 consecutive years, this major industry event provides a glimpse into the internationalization of China’s audio and video sector, while also demonstrating Chengdu’s transformation from a cultural tourism destination to a global hub for digital creative industries.
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According to the “China Internet Audio & Video Development Research Report (2026)” released by the China Netcasting Service Association, Chinese streaming applications are steadily expanding their presence in major global markets. In 2025, a total of 26 Chinese apps (including apps from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) ranked in the world’s top 100 by revenue, an increase of 6 from the previous year. In terms of downloads, 31 Chinese apps were in the top 100, an increase of 12 from the previous year. Behind these numbers lies a major reshuffling of content creation paradigms due to changes in technology. In 2025, major video platforms churned out more than 2 billion pieces of AI-generated audiovisual content. That’s an average of more than 60 new uploads per second, an increase of more than 14x year-over-year. More than half of users have encountered AI-generated content, and more than 40% describe it as “new and engaging.” AI-generated short videos and microdramas ranked as the two most popular categories.
“AI is fundamentally reshaping the content supply structure,” said Sun Zhonghuai, vice president of Tencent and chairman of Tencent Online Video, who introduced the concept of “creative squads” at the event. This is a small team of five to 20 people who, through the use of AI tools, can now produce large amounts of content that previously required hundreds of people. From a global perspective, the agility of these “creative forces” is consistent with a push for global expansion. With minimal cost, Chinese creators can now adapt the core narratives of Chinese storytelling to suit the tastes of diverse audiences around the world. This new model is poised to redefine both the cost structure and creative logic of the global content industry.
Cross-border flows of capital and talent are providing real momentum for this transformation. For the first time, the conference introduced an on-campus recruitment fair, with more than 70 companies offering more than 5,000 positions, and AI-related roles emerging as top choices among graduates. Moreover, global industry leaders are increasing their investments in the Chinese market. Tony Zamekowski, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Streaming, Asia Pacific, The Walt Disney Company, reaffirmed that “China has always been one of our most important markets,” and revealed plans to increase investment in local stories in China to bring more original content to the world stage. This stance resonates strongly with the wave of Chinese microdramas that continues to spread overseas. At the same time that overseas players are actively “bringing” Chinese stories, Chinese creators are also leveraging the “creative team” model to “go global.” The convergence of these two forces is reshaping the global audio and video industry landscape.
