iQiyi, a leading Chinese streaming platform, hascome under fire for its newly announced VIP membership rules, which many users see as a thinly veiled attempt to extract more money from subscribers.
The new rules,which take effect on November 12th, introduce a Golden VIP Family Card allowing users to purchase a new Golden VIP account at a discounted price.However, the most controversial change is the limitation of simultaneous playback to one device for new subscribers. While existing members can still enjoy simultaneous playback on two devices, new members will be restricted to a single device even though they can log in on up tofive devices.
This move has sparked widespread criticism, with many users accusing iQiyi of being greedy and using the guise of user protection to justify the change. One user commented, The sky is falling! They say it’s toprotect user rights, but it’s just a cover to make us pay more.
In response to the backlash, iQiyi has stated that the single-device playback limitation is intended to mitigate the negative impact of password sharing and account rentals, which they claim disrupt the viewing experience and pose security risks. The companyalso emphasized that the new rules do not affect the benefits enjoyed by existing members.
However, the explanation has failed to appease many users, who argue that the new rules are simply a way for iQiyi to squeeze more revenue from its subscribers. They point out that other streaming platforms, such as Tencent Video and Youku,still allow simultaneous playback on two devices for their VIP members.
The controversy highlights the growing tension between streaming platforms and their subscribers over the value proposition of VIP memberships. As platforms seek to maximize revenue, users are increasingly demanding more value for their subscriptions, including features like simultaneous playback on multiple devices and ad-free viewing.
It remains to be seen whether iQiyi will reconsider its new rules in light of the public outcry. The company’s response to the backlash will be closely watched as it could set a precedent for other streaming platforms grappling with similar challenges.
References:
- 爱奇艺回应“VIP 新规被吐槽变相加钱”：为降低体验干扰和账号安全风险 – IT之家 首页
- 爱奇艺推出黄金 VIP 加 8 元亲情卡，新会员将仅支持 1 台设备同时播放 – IT之家
- 网友吐槽视频会员暂停仍有全屏广告：官方称关不了，罗永浩怒批产品经理 – IT之家
- 爱奇艺体育就国足直播事故致歉：退还重复购买金额，补偿权益受损用户一张观赛券 – IT之家
Note: This article follows the writing guidelines provided and incorporates information from the source material. It also provides abalanced perspective on the issue, highlighting both iQiyi’s argument and the users’ concerns.
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