iQiyi Sports

What iQiyi Sports does

iQiyi Sports (爱奇艺体育) is the sports content vertical of iQiyi Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ), one of China's three dominant long-form video platforms alongside Tencent Video and Youku. Operating from Beijing and integrated within iQiyi's broader entertainment ecosystem, the platform offers free ad-supported and paid VIP live streaming and on-demand video coverage of premium international sporting events including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women's Champions League, La Liga, the AFC Champions League Elite, the TGL Golf League, FIBA 3x3 basketball, the UIPM Modern Pentathlon World Cup, IRONMAN triathlon, and the Asian Porsche Carrera Cup. The underlying technology stack centers on HD/4K video streaming with Dolby audio support, delivered via the sports.iqiyi.com website and the iQiyi mobile application, with payment processing through Alipay and WeChat.

The platform monetizes through three streams: (1) recurring VIP subscription revenue for ad-free 1080P access and bundled entertainment content at promotional price points; (2) advertising revenue on the free tier including display, pre-roll, and sponsored content; and (3) commission-based transaction fees from an integrated lottery (福利彩票) offering tied to sports events. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across web and mobile, with cross-promotion through iQiyi's main entertainment platform. Content is sourced through rights agreements with premium sports governing bodies — UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and La Liga — positioning iQiyi Sports as a significant licensed distributor of international sports content in mainland China.

iQiyi Sports is not a separately incorporated entity; it operates as a division within iQiyi Inc., which completed its NASDAQ IPO in 2018 and is incorporated in the Cayman Islands as a holding company for its China-based operating subsidiary Beijing iQiyi Technology Co., Ltd. No sports-specific financial disclosure, management roster, or independent funding rounds are reported — sports division metrics are absorbed into consolidated iQiyi Inc. reporting. The 2018 funding rounds listed (totaling approximately $124M across two Series 2 transactions) relate to the broader iQiyi capital structure ahead of and during its NASDAQ listing rather than to the sports division specifically.

Name

iQiyi Sports

Legal name

iQiyi Inc.

Website

https://sports.iqiyi.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

iQiyi Sports is the sports streaming vertical of iQiyi Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ), offering Chinese viewers live and on-demand coverage of premium international sports including UEFA, La Liga, and the AFC Champions League via web and mobile with VIP and ad-supported tiers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Sports Video Streaming

NAICS

Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Streaming Platforms (MPACAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Streaming Distribution & App Platforms (CTV, Mobile, Web) (MPAKAOAL), Sports Highlights, Clips & VOD Libraries (MPAKAOAF), International Sports Broadcasters & Rights Networks (MPABAJAE)

Keywords

• Live sports streaming
• Video on demand
• Sports content platform
• Subscription video service
• Online sports media

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. VIP Subscription: Premium membership subscription offering access to exclusive content, 1080P HD quality, early access to new releases, and ad-free viewing experience
2. Advertising: Advertising revenue from the free tier content, including display ads, pre-roll video ads, and sponsored content integrated into sports coverage
3. Sports Betting/Lottery Integration: Lottery (福利彩票) integration for sports events, generating commission-based revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

iQiyi Sports is the dedicated sports streaming vertical of iQiyi, offering HD live broadcasts and on-demand video coverage of premium international sporting events such as UEFA Champions League, European Cup, La Liga, Asian Champions League, TGL Golf League, World Cup qualifiers, basketball, combat sports, and tennis. The service is delivered via a free ad-supported tier and a paid VIP membership that unlocks 1080P quality, ad-free viewing, and exclusive content, integrated within the broader iQiyi entertainment ecosystem and accessible through web and mobile channels in China.

Product overview

iQiyi Sports is a dedicated sports streaming platform operated by iQIYI, offering high-definition live broadcasts and video-on-demand of top-tier sporting events. The platform provides coverage of UEFA Champions League, World Cup, La Liga, Asian Champions League, Europa League, TGL Golf League, 3x3 basketball, modern pentathlon, triathlon, and other international sports competitions. The service operates as an integrated component within the broader iQIYI entertainment ecosystem, featuring live streaming, news coverage, event schedules, and on-demand replays for sports enthusiasts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iQiyi Sports Streaming Platform (爱奇艺体育) Online sports streaming service offering HD live broadcasts and video-on-demand of premium international sports events (UEFA Champions League, European Cup, La Liga, AFC Champions League, TGL Golf League, World Cup qualifiers, basketball, combat sports, tennis) to Chinese sports fans via web and mobile, available on free ad-supported and VIP tiers.
• iQiyi VIP Membership (Sports) Premium subscription tier granting 1080P HD streaming quality, ad-free viewing, early access to new releases, and exclusive sports content within the iQiyi Sports and broader iQiyi entertainment ecosystem, billed monthly and payable via Alipay or WeChat QR code.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UEFA (Union of European Football Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2026iQiyi Sports holds broadcast rights for UEFA competitions including the Women's Champions League final 2025/26 and related UEFA content. The platform serves as a major distribution channel for UEFA sports content in China, enabling Chinese viewers to access live matches and related coverage.
• Asian Football Confederation (AFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriQiyi Sports broadcasts the AFC Champions League Elite (亚冠精英联赛), providing live coverage, match replays, and award ceremonies for Asian club football competitions featuring teams from Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other Asian nations.
• La LigacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of Spanish football league matches, including Real Madrid player profiles, match highlights, and team news covering players like B席 (Bernardo Silva-style content), 库库雷利亚, and team activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Migu Video: China Mobile's video and live sports platform, offering football and other premium sports content as part of telecom-bundled subscriptions. Directly comparable to iQiyi Sports in China with strong carrier-channel distribution.
• PP Sports (PPTV): Suning's sports streaming platform historically focused on football rights including Premier League and Serie A. Directly comparable Chinese sports OTT with a rights-driven content strategy similar to iQiyi Sports.
• Youku Sports: The sports vertical of Youku (Alibaba), one of China's three major long-form video platforms alongside iQiyi. It carries comparable live and on-demand sports content for the same Chinese audience, with Alipay payment integration.
• Tencent Sports: The dominant Chinese sports streaming platform, operated by Tencent and embedded in WeChat/QQ. It competes directly with iQiyi Sports for premium football, basketball, and combat-sports rights within the same Chinese consumer base.

Broad incumbents

• DAZN: Global sports OTT subscription platform operating across multiple markets. Comparable as a broad sports streaming incumbent, with similar SVOD economics, though operating in international rather than Chinese markets.
• ESPN+: Disney's U.S. sports streaming subscription service, offering live and on-demand premium sports content. Comparable as a parent-company-distributed sports SVOD anchored by exclusive rights.

Regional players

• beIN Sports Connect: MENA-region sports broadcaster with OTT streaming of premium football and other rights. Comparable as a regional sports streaming service with a rights-led, multi-league content mix, though serving a different geography than iQiyi Sports.
• StarHub TV / StarHub Sports: Singapore-based pay-TV operator with sports channel bundles and OTT. Comparable as a regional pay-TV sports distributor using subscription plus advertising monetization, though in a different geography than iQiyi Sports.

Emerging players

• Dongqiudi (懂球帝): Leading Chinese football-focused digital media platform with news, video, and live content. Comparable as a Chinese sports audience platform, with overlap in football coverage and audience segment.
• Hupu (虎扑): Major Chinese sports media community and content platform with growing live streaming and short-form video. Partially comparable as a Chinese sports content destination, though more community/UGC-driven than rights-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about iQiyi Sports