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iQIYI leads genre-specific storytelling with the return of its trend-setting ‘Light On Theater,’ featuring seven new suspense dramas

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Five years on, the pioneering drama brand remains the benchmark for suspense

BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, announced this month the return of its acclaimed “Light On Theater,” celebrating the fifth anniversary of this suspense-themed drama brand. Featuring seven new titles with star-studded casts and renowned production teams, the lineup is set to reinforce iQIYI’s leadership in suspense storytelling and highlight the success of its genre-driven model.

The new slate follows the distinctive style of “Light On Theater” with gripping narratives and rich character development as a lens to explore the depth of human nature. Highlights include the drama “Low IQ Crime,” which brings a fresh dark comedy element to the genre, and “Let Wind Goes By,” which premiered on Dec. 26 and breaks new ground as one of the first suspense series set in Northwest China as it follows two generations of police officers entangled in a complex web of relationships. The lineup also features “A Life for a Life,” a compelling prison drama exploring the dynamic between a detention officer and an escaped convict. Other anticipated titles include “Drifting Away,” “Dead End,” “Breaking the Shadows” and “Justifiable Defense.”

Since its launch in 2020, “Light On Theater” has emerged as one of China’s first and most influential drama brands, offering a curated collection of premium suspense series. The label’s breakout hit “The Bad Kids” debuted that same year and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The series earned critical acclaim and dominated social media conversations, setting a new benchmark for Chinese suspense storytelling with its masterful pacing and nuanced exploration of social issues. This pioneering success has sparked a surge in high-quality suspense productions across the industry that continues today, helping establish suspense as one of the most sought-after genres in Chinese entertainment.

“Our dedication to premium suspense content has created an incredibly engaged viewer base, with high-quality productions driving strong user retention,” says Ying DAI, iQIYI senior vice president and head of “Light On Theater.” “We continuously innovate our content possibilities and boldly push the boundaries of storytelling within the genre, consistently surpassing audience expectations.”

Building on the success of “Light On Theater,” iQIYI has expanded its genre-based approach with “Love On Theater” for romance and “Laugh On Theater” for comedy series, both of which have been well-received by audiences. This year’s launch of “Dajia Theater,” meaning “master of literature,” and “Weichen Theater,” meaning “tiny dust,” which focus on literary adaptations and innovative mini-series respectively, further demonstrates iQIYI’s commitment to serving diverse audience preferences while maintaining premium production standards across genres.

Global recognition

“Light On Theater” has also gained overseas recognition for its premium content, becoming increasingly popular among global audiences in addition to traditional genres like fantasy period dramas.

Standout series “The Bad Kids” and “The Long Night” won consecutive awards at the Asia Contents Awards (ACA) of the Busan International Film Festival, while “Why Try to Change Me Now” marked a milestone last year as the first Chinese-language series to be selected for the Berlinale Series.

The strong reception in overseas markets demonstrates how iQIYI’s meticulously crafted stories resonate with audiences through their universal themes of human nature. Notably, “The Bad Kids” was adapted into a local version in Japan in 2024, highlighting its widespread appeal.

CONTACT: iQIYI Press, press@qiyi.com

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SOURCE iQIYI

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Chungnam National University Researchers Examines Corporate Social Responsibility’s Impact on Global Online Shopping

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Insights on the role of online purchasability and corporate social responsibility on global consumer behavior

DAEJEON, South Korea, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A study conducted by researchers from Chungnam National University explores how online shopping ease and corporate social responsibility (CSR) influence global product purchases in South Korea and Japan. The research highlights how CSR initiatives, when combined with user-friendly e-commerce platforms, boost purchase frequency. The finding reveals cross-country differences, with Japanese consumers showing a stronger response to CSR efforts, providing valuable information about consumer behavior and e-commerce strategies.

Online shopping is revolutionizing how we access and purchase products from international markets. Despite this growth, many consumers remain hesitant to purchase goods from foreign companies due to trust issues, cultural differences, and concerns about unfamiliar products. A new study led by Assistant Professor Ha Kyung Lee from Chungnam National University investigates how global companies can overcome these challenges by simplifying online shopping and highlighting their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. Their paper was made available online on 28th August 2024 and was published in Volume 81 of the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services on November 1, 2024.

In this study, the researchers analyzed the behavior of 1,033 online shoppers from South Korea and Japan. They found that companies’ social contributions—such as supporting environmental or social initiatives—strengthen the positive effect of online purchasability on purchasing frequency. Professor Lee explains, “When consumers find it simple to shop online, they are more likely to purchase global products. In fact, CSR initiatives significantly strengthen this link between online purchasability and purchase frequency.”

One of the most surprising findings was the difference in consumer responses between South Korea and Japan. While Japanese consumers, who are generally less active in online shopping than South Koreans, showed a stronger response to CSR. “Japanese consumers, CSR cues likely helped reconcile their positive perceptions of online shopping with their hesitancy to engage, making the influence of social contributions on purchasing behavior stronger in Japan than in South Korea,” Says Prof. Lee. This suggests that CSR can help build trust and overcome consumer hesitation, but that the effect of this might be influenced by cultural predispositions.

Businesses can apply these findings by improving usability and transparency while incorporating CSR messaging into their platform. This approach is particularly important in markets where trust in foreign brands is still developing. For companies entering new markets, CSR can act as a strategic tool to boost consumer confidence and overcome cultural or digital barriers.

Looking ahead, the study’s findings are likely to have long-term implications. CSR could act as a powerful tool when tailoring strategies to countries with lower online shopping adoption. Prof. Lee concludes, “Over time, CSR could become a standard feature in global e-commerce, helping bridge the digital divide and making online shopping accessible to more people.”

Reference
Title of original paper: How do online sales channels affect global product purchases? The role of CSR and cross-country differences
Journal: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services
DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.104049

About the institute
Website: https://plus.cnu.ac.kr/html/en/

Media Contact:
Gaeun Kim
+82 42-821-6239
388089@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Chungnam National University

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Parks Associates Announces its Annual Top Leaders in Technology List for 2024

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International research and consulting firm highlights industry leaders in entertainment and streaming, energy, connected health, multifamily and smart spaces, and connected home and security

DALLAS, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Parks Associates, the research and consulting authority on digital lifestyles and technology, today released 2024 Top Leaders in Technology, an annual list that recognizes technology executives who are featured speakers at the firm’s 2024 executive conferences. Parks Associates recognizes these leaders for their pivotal roles in market growth and their dedication to expanding industry knowledge.

Parks Associates’ events include its signature event CONNECTIONS™: The Premier Connected Home Conference; Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer; Connected Health Summit: Consumer Engagement and Innovation; Smart Spaces: Apartments, Hospitality and Community Living; Future of Video: Business of Streaming; and CONNECTIONS™ Summit: Business of Smart Home.

“We are ecstatic to highlight these exceptional leaders, emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration through networking and event opportunities,” said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. “These exceptional individuals deserve recognition because of their effort and dedication to advancing the industry they work in. We are proud to spotlight these accomplished individuals.”

Top Leaders in Technology include the following industry categories:

2024 Top Leaders in Technology
2024 Top Leaders in Connected Home and Security
2024 Top Leaders in Energy
2024 Top Leaders in Connected Health
2024 Top Leaders in Video and Entertainment
2024 Top Leaders in Multifamily

The firm hosted more than 2,400 executives through its virtual and in-person events, which highlight the impact of technology on the consumer and business landscape, including trends, growth, shifts in consumer and B2B preferences, and strategic business transformations. The research firm reports that 94% of US internet households own a smartphone, 88% have a streaming video service, 64% own a smart TV, 45% own a smart home device, and over one-half own a wearable.

“We thank the Top Leaders in Technology, who contributed their vision and support in 2024,” said Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, VP, Marketing, Parks Associates. “Conference attendees included C-level, vice presidents, product managers, marketing directors, government officials, media influencers, and more.”

Parks Associates 2024 events were sponsored by leading industry companies:

CONNECTIONS™ SUMMIT AT CES
American International Group (AIG)
Alarm.com
Calix
Cox Communities
Homebase
Ivani
Kaadas Smart Locks
Nice
Origin
Shelly
SkyBell
SmartThings
Ubiety Technologies
Universal Electronics

SMART ENERGY SUMMIT
Arcadia
Resideo
SkyBell
SmartThings
Universal Electronics

CONNECTIONS™
Affiliated Monitoring
Alarm.com
Becklar
bluesalve partners
Calix
Cardinal Peak, an FPT Software Company
Cognitive Systems
Cox Communities
Ivani
Johnson Controls
Kaadas Smart Locks
Kwikset
Midea
Moen
Nice
Origin
Rapid Response Monitoring
RSPNDR
Savant
Schlage
Shelly
SkyBell
SmartThings
Trident IoT
Ubiety Technologies
VectorSolv
Xailient
Z-Wave Alliance

SMART SPACES
ADT Multifamily
Calix
Cox Communities
DoJo Networks
Homebase, a Quext Company
Kwikset
Nice
Salto
SkyBell
SmartRent
VANTIVA
WireStar Networks
Xfinity Communities
Zentra Access

CONNECTED HEALTH SUMMIT
Alarm.com
Becklar
Calix
FPT Software

FUTURE OF VIDEO
Adeia
Bango
FPT Software
JWP Connatix
SymphonyAI
Wurl

Parks Associates’ 2025 event schedule is available at https://www.parksassociates.com/events. For more information, contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, 972-490-1113.

About Parks Associates
Parks Associates, a woman-owned and woman-led internationally recognized market research and consulting company, specializes in emerging technology solutions serving the consumer and small to medium business (SMB) markets. Parks Associates is a partner to companies navigating the changing consumer technology landscapes through data-driven market insights, extensive consumer and industry intelligence, custom marketing services and executive networking experiences and conferences.

The company’s expertise includes home automation, control systems and security, digital media and platforms, entertainment, home networks, internet and video services, connected health and independent living solutions, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer electronics, and energy management solutions. https://www.parksassociates.com

Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein
Parks Associates
972.490.1113
388079@email4pr.com

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New Jerseyan Wins $2 Million Powerball on Jackpot.com, Two Days Before the $1.15 Billion Mega Millions Draw

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The latest win on the platform adds to the excitement as customers continue to use Jackpot.com to try their luck at tonight’s $1.15 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawing

TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Jackpot.com, the online website and app that allows individuals to safely and securely order official state lottery tickets and scratchers from their mobile phone and other devices, announced today that a New Jersey resident has won a $2 million dollar Powerball prize after purchasing a ticket on the Jackpot.com app. 

This latest claimed prize comes amid a surging Mega Millions jackpot that now sits at $1.15 billion. The lucky player, who wishes to remain anonymous, is still relatively new to the Jackpot.com app, though they experienced some quick luck, scoring a massive win just three weeks after signing up with the lottery courier.

“This time of year is always busy for the lottery industry, and now even more than usual given all the buzz around the over one billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot, but it’s great to celebrate any life-changing win,” said Akshay Khanna, CEO and co-founder of Jackpot.com. “For those who have yet to purchase lottery tickets online via Jackpot.com, don’t wait! We are very excited to award this prize to our winner and hope people continue to leverage the ease and accessibility of ordering lottery tickets digitally, you never know if you’ll be the next winner.”

Jackpot.com has launched a special promotion for new players that join the website or app, giving a FREE Mega Millions ticket on their first play by using promo code XMAS.

This latest prize is part of a flurry of activity within the lottery industry that took place over the course of 2024. The record-breaking year started off strong as a once-in-a-lifetime $842.4 million Powerball jackpot was won on New Year’s Day, shortly followed by a second lucky winner that took home a $1.13 billion Mega Millions prize in March, and a $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot that was won in April, all of which signify some of the largest prizes ever awarded.

Following its New Jersey launch in May 2024, Jackpot.com has become one of the major players in the Garden State lottery landscape, contributing to a fiscal year 2024 sales amount totaling $3.63 billion, the fourth-highest sales result in the New Jersey Lottery’s history.

Currently live in eight states (AK, AZ, CO, MA, NJ, NY, OH, TX) with more on the way, Jackpot.com has significantly invested in responsible gaming protocols and player safety by allowing customers to set limits on both spending and daily deposits, as well as providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected. Jackpot.com is also the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

About Jackpot.com
Jackpot.com allows customers to order official state lottery tickets from their mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas, Jackpot.com is expanding its safe and secure lottery courier service to additional markets across the US. An Associate Member of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), Jackpot.com has invested significantly in responsible gaming safeguards, with default spending limits and other features built in throughout the experience, earning it iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gaming. To learn more, visit www.jackpot.com or download the iOS or Android app.

Contact: jackpot@5wpr.com 

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SOURCE Jackpot.com

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