Participated · Equity · Apr 2016

Baidu Video is a video search and professional-generated-content (PGC) distribution platform that indexes over 800 million video items. It was split from Baidu and began independent operation in September 2016. The app has surpassed 600 million mobile downloads and, per iResearch July data, reached 70 million mobile monthly active users after focusing on short video since 2018. Baidu Video partners with mainstream streaming sites, MCNs, self-media, and PGC producers, and has made strategic investments in platforms including 36Kr, Renren Video, Hanju TV, Taomeng, and Beike Video. The company plans to increase investment in content production and content investments and to expand R&D in artificial intelligence. Its stated goal is to further build out and monetize a short-video content ecosystem. Baidu Video is a newly independent video service spun out from Baidu that says it reaches 300 million monthly viewers. The platform positions itself as a professional generated content video platform and will focus on platform development while providing video search and content aggregation services. A company spokesperson said Baidu Video aims to become the No. 1 professional generated content video platform in China. Making Baidu Video independent removes the drag of a capital-intensive business from Baidu’s finances and lets the company act like a more nimble startup that can raise capital and draw on experience from third-party investors. The spinout occurs amid intense competition in China’s online-video market, including Alibaba’s pending $3.5 billion acquisition of Youku Tudou. Baidu also owns iQiyi, which it plans to make private in a deal that could be worth up to $2.8 billion.