Although the full Netflix subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service is still not available in China, some of its shows – including Bojack Horseman, Make a Murderer and Chef’s Table – are now available for subscribers to the Chinese digital video platform iQIYI.
“As the online video industry embraces paid subscription business model, iQIYI will see a wider range of premium content – not only online dramas and internet films but also documentaries, children’s shows and animations – go behind the paywall,” the Baidu subsidiary said in a statement.
“iQIYI will continue looking for licensing deals from its global partners to ensure access by its VIP viewers to premium content of broader varieties great content while working closely with the partners to maximise revenues for all,” it added.
The Netflix animated satirical sitcom Bojack Horseman – which is now available to subscribers – is expected by iQIYI “to resonate well with the younger generation in China that in the grip of ‘Sang’ culture – where pessimism, lack of motivation and purpose in life” among the young is said to prevail. The first three series of Bojack Horseman began streaming on iQIYI on 19 June 2017.
Making A Murderer has been available on iQIYI since 6 June, and has been well received by Chinese viewers, who gave it a 9.3/10 rating on Chinese review aggregator Douban. The real-life thriller explores the premise for what constitutes truth in criminal cases by examining mainly the entangled life of a man who was convicted over sexual assault and attempted murder and then fully exonerated in 2003 and again convicted over murder of another person. The documentary was filmed over a ten-year period and was first shown on Netflix.
Also making its debut in China this month is the first season of Chef’s Table, a Netflix original cooking show from David Gelb, who directed the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. The second season as well as a special about French cuisine, Chef’s Table: France, will stream on iQIYI from June 22 and 29 respectively.
The move to add Netflix content follows a licensing agreement between iQIYI and the US SVOD giant sealed in April which allows the Chinese operator to stream Netflix drama, animations, documentaries and reality shows.