PVLF 2025

The Digital Publishing Sector in China is Rapidly Expanding

China's digital publishing industry grew 19% in 2023, driven by internet ads, gaming, and digital content. AI and online literature also play key roles in the sector's expansion.
on Sep 23, 2024

At the 14th China International Digital Publishing Expo in Hainan province, a child is seen writing with a Chinese calligraphy brush on a digital screen. The annual report on China's digital publishing industry for 2023-2024 reports that the industry is experiencing significant growth and providing high-quality outcomes.

The report was presented at the 14th China International Digital Publishing Expo, which started on Saturday in Haikou, Hainan province. As per the report, China's digital publishing industry generated a calculated revenue of 1.6 Trillion Yuan in 2023, marking a 19% increase from 2022.

Internet advertising, gaming, education, and digital music continue to lead the industry in revenue. In 2023, internet advertising revenue reached 719 Billion Yuan. Online gaming income amounted to 303 Billion Yuan, online education earned 288 Billion Yuan, and digital music earned 191 Billion Yuan.

The report highlighted the growth of specific digital publishing sectors, with internet journals, e-books, and digital newspapers collectively generating 11.3 Billion Yuan in 2023, an 8.56% increase year-on-year.

According to Wang Qing, chairman of the Central China Publishing and Media Investment Holding Group, digital publishing provides numerous opportunities for compelling storytelling and engaging readers in new ways.

Wang noted that the digitization process is shaping new content scenarios within the publishing industry. Compared to traditional publishers, digital platforms offer unique advantages in terms of content activation, user reach, and rekindling interest in reading.

"Publishing companies should harness data from their services to enhance the quality of their offerings," he added.

Virginie Clayssen, president of the digital commission at the French Publishers Association, urged publishers to embrace digital transformation in order to become leading providers of high-quality digital books. She stressed the essential role of technology in reviving out-of-print books and making forgotten literary heritage accessible to a broader audience.

Zhou Qing, chairman of Sichuan Xinhua Publishing Group, stated that in the age of artificial intelligence, the industry is evolving into a service sector centered around data, algorithms, and computing power. With its extensive content resources amassed over its long history, the traditional publishing industry is well-placed to transition from content resources to digital products through the establishment of large models.

"In the future, AI will be a tool for empowering the publishing industry, and the industry will also become a supplier of language data for artificial intelligence," he said. "The two will form an economic community where technology and content are integrated, and input and output are mutually driving."

The report highlighted the flourishing publication of online literature in China. In December, the number of online literature readers reached a record 537 million, and the number of online literary works exceeded 36 million, with over 24 million authors contributing content.

The emerging online animation sector also exhibited strong development momentum last year, achieving revenue of 36 billion yuan.

A focus on producing high-quality content, utilizing premium resources, and engaging in substantial development efforts has led to the creation of outstanding animated works and the establishment of well-known brand systems.

"Through thorough market research and clear user profiling, the industry has improved the targeting and applicability of its content, paving the way for the industrialization and high-quality development of online animation," the report stated.