I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

In the summer of 2012, the film and television industry was still dominated by satellite TV channels.

Whether a TV series can become a hit depends first on which channel it airs on.

Hunan TV is undoubtedly the leader, and the phrase "Golden Eagle Exclusive Theater" is a guarantee of high viewership ratings.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang followed closely behind, while Dongfang and BJ were eyeing the competition covetously.

Shandong TV is currently ranked eighth...

Meanwhile, online platforms are undergoing a reshuffling following a bloody battle.

This is the result of the "Second World War" in the video industry.

The first instance was around 2007, when there were more than 300 video platforms nationwide, which grew wildly by relying on piracy, copying, and UGC.

After several years of chaotic fighting, the major sects were almost destroyed, and only a few dozen survived.

The second time was in 2011, when the government cracked down on piracy, causing copyright prices to skyrocket, and small platforms that couldn't afford to buy legitimate content died out instantly.

Now, the five major sects rule the world.

First, there's Youku Tudou.

In March 2012, Youku and Tudou announced their merger. After the merger, Youku held a 35.5% market share and 2.69 million monthly active users, firmly maintaining its position as the industry leader.

With billions in funds at its disposal and an estimated total revenue of 25 billion, GG's position is unshakeable in the short term.

Second, Sohu Video.

Zhang Chaoyang personally took charge, and in 2012 he announced that he would spend a lot of money to acquire the exclusive online broadcasting rights for "The Voice of China 2", and declared that "the video is related to the fate of the entire Sohu Group".

Third, iQiyi is backed by the internet giant Baidu!

Fourth, LeTV.

The only listed video company on the A-share market, it focuses on copyright distribution and TV platforms, and holds a large number of popular dramas.

Fifth, Tencent Video.

They rose rapidly thanks to the social systems of QQ and WeChat, mainly because they had money, but they are still following behind.

Barely keeping up with the Big Four.

Besides the five major players, there are also second-tier platforms such as PPTV, PPS, Xunlei Kankan, 6rooms, and Youku.

There's another one...

Kuaibo...

This was the landscape of the entertainment industry in July 2012.

TV stations reign supreme, online battles rage, the era of legitimate content has arrived, and burning money has become the norm.

Every July, it becomes a fiercely contested battleground for satellite TV channels.

With students on holiday, family viewing peaks, and a hit drama can consume one-third of GG's annual revenue.

The summer movie season is already in full swing.

"The Magic Blade", starring Chung Han-liang, premiered on Hunan TV on June 24.

Adapted from Gu Long's martial arts novels, this was Hunan TV's summer appetizer, and its ratings are currently stable at around 1.5%. While it hasn't generated much buzz, it has maintained its core audience.

"Floating Life," starring Zhang Jiayi, Bai Baihe, and Wang Zhifei, will be broadcast on June 30th via four satellite channels: Dragon TV, Beijing TV, Shenzhen TV, and Zhejiang TV.

A workplace drama series with good reviews!

"A Woman's Choice" will premiere on Jiangsu Satellite TV on June 27.

This urban romance drama targets housewives and aims to compete with the previous two in a different market segment.

The three dramas each occupy a segment of the market, making the summer season seem saturated, but everyone knows that the real highlight is yet to come.

In July, two TV series were under close scrutiny within the industry.

One is "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky", produced by Tang Ren, scheduled to premiere on July 6th on Hunan TV's first weekly drama slot.

Hu Ge, Jiang Jinfu, Liu Shishi, Tang Yan, and Guli Nazha – an all-star lineup.

Director Li Guoli is the person in charge of "Chinese Paladin" and "Chinese Paladin 3".

With the iconic Tang Ren from the fantasy drama genre, coupled with Hunan TV's prime time slot, this combination is undoubtedly a nuclear weapon for the summer season.

Sohu Video has secured the exclusive online rights to it, which can be described as a formidable move!

The other one is "Gu Jian Qi Tan".

The game itself is currently very popular, and fans of the original work have high expectations!

The female lead is Yang Mi. After "Palace" became a hit in 2011, her popularity was at its peak, and she could single-handedly carry the popularity of half a drama.

The premiere date is currently set for July 7th on Shandong TV's Libra Theater, with exclusive online streaming on Tencent Video.

Both are adapted from games, both are fantasy dramas, and both have newcomers as male leads. It's obvious that they both want to promote their own new male leads and help them secure a rising star position.

Add to that the old feud between Yang Mi and Cai Yinong, and the battle for popularity among Liu Shishi, Tang Yan, and other actresses born in the 85s—all the conflicts that could ignite a topic have come together, making it a truly explosive combination!

The media in the entertainment industry have always been masters at stirring up trouble, and they've pulled off all sorts of outrageous stunts!

Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly was the first to speak out.

"Gu Jian vs. Xuan Yuan Jian: A War of Proxy Adaptation of a Game, and Yang Mi's War of Revenge".

Sina Entertainment followed up: "85 Flowers Battle for Summer Drama: Yang Mi Takes on Three, Liu Shishi Tang Yan Leads Newcomer Na Zha to Ambush Former Best Friend."

Sohu Entertainment revisits old grievances: "From Fantasy Zhu Xian to Gu Jian Qi Tan: Will the Six-Year Feud Between Cai Yinong and Yang Mi Be Resolved in the Ratings?"

The Beijing News's entertainment review was the most scathing: "Two fantasy dramas, one a family portrait of Tang Ren, the other a solo performance by Yang Mi—who will launch a new rising star?"

The film and television forums within the industry were in an uproar, with game fans, actor fans, and drama fans each holding their own opinions, and posts that drew criticism and provoked conflict quickly went viral.

Seeing the phenomenal popularity, Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly published an in-depth article.

The Tale of Two Swords: Who Will Have the Last Laugh?

The article is skillfully written; it appears objective on the surface, but is actually incisive and to the point.

"From the perspective of game IPs, both Xuan-Yuan Sword and Gu Jian are classic domestic RPGs. However, Xuan-Yuan Sword has a precedent for adaptation, while Gu Jian is being adapted into a film and television series for the first time. The original fans have high expectations, making the adaptation riskier."

"From a director's perspective, Li Guoli is a veteran of fantasy dramas, while Kong Sheng is a master of period dramas venturing into fantasy dramas for the first time. It's like asking the director of 'Bright Sword' to direct 'Princess Pearl'—the skills are fine, but the feel might not be right."

"From an actor's perspective, 'Xuan-Yuan Sword' boasts a star-studded cast, while 'Swords of Legends' features Yang Mi as the lead. The only advantage might be that the male lead in 'Swords of Legends' is indeed a bit more handsome than the one in 'Xuan-Yuan Sword.' But can good looks put food on the table?"

"From the perspective of the female stars, this is Yang Mi facing off against three others. Liu Shishi, Tang Yan, and Nezha, the three golden flowers of Tangren Media, are surrounding her."

"The difference is even more obvious when looking at the broadcasting platforms. Hunan TV is the leading satellite TV station in the country, with its Golden Eagle Exclusive Drama Theater and weekly drama theater running in parallel. In 2011, 'Palace' and 'Scarlet Heart' were both hit shows produced by this platform."

"Shandong TV doesn't even rank in the top five. The last drama on it to break the 1% ratings mark was three years ago. One is in the sky, the other is on the ground. Their coverage, brand appeal, and ability to attract viewers are all on completely different levels."

"The difference in quality is equally evident among online platforms. Sohu Video secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for 'Xuan-Yuan Sword,' with Zhang Chaoyang personally endorsing it. Sohu Entertainment's homepage featured a continuous rolling preview for two weeks, and the special page garnered over ten million clicks on the day it launched."

"Although Tencent Video is backed by QQ's social ecosystem, has money and a large user base, it is still in the follower stage. Its exclusive drama library is almost empty, and it doesn't have any representative works that it can be proud of. One is a mature platform that is among the top three in the industry, while the other is still building its resume."