In 2017, China launched 206 new online dramas, an increase of 46 percent compared to 2016. Total episodes of dramas have increased by 33 percent year-on-year, and the total duration of online dramas has increased by 65 percent over the same period of 2016, according to the Analysis Report on 2017 Online Original Program Development released by the Monitor Center of State Administration Center of Radio and Television.

The report also said that the creation of online dramas is moving toward professionalism, maturity and quality. Meanwhile, the themes of most dramas show the positive side of society and encourage viewers to be better people.

Zhang also believed that quality outweighed quantity in video content production and the effects of word-of-mouth cannot be ignored.

Liu Mingli, who is responsible for Sohu TV's self-produced programs, echoed Zhang's view, adding that "Sohu TV will take a bigger step in market segmentation, appealing to more user interests and producing more diversified TV dramas."