56.com
56.com is a Chinese user-generated video-sharing platform founded in 2005, serving general consumer viewers and individual content creators across entertainment, news, education, and lifestyle verticals through its web, mobile, and live-streaming products within the Sohu Video ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersGuangzhou, China
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What 56.com does
56.com is a user-generated content (UGC) video-sharing platform founded in 2005 and headquartered in Guangzhou, China, serving general consumer viewers and individual content creators across more than 14 content verticals including movies, television, music, gaming, lifestyle, technology, education, automotive, children's programming, mother-and-baby, Cantonese-language, university, and micro-program content. The platform's product surface spans the 56视频 web property at www.56.com, the Qianfan Live (千帆直播) real-time streaming service at qf.56.com, the proprietary 56ican desktop upload client supporting HD video transcoding, and iOS/Android mobile applications together with a 3G mobile web portal, all backed by an Internet audio-visual business license and a set of Guangdong ICP and content-production qualifications. Underlying technology centers on online video streaming and sharing with HD transcoding at resolutions of 640x480 and above, while no public developer API, SDK, or AI/ML capability is documented.
The business operates within the Sohu (NASDAQ: SOHU) video ecosystem as a subsidiary or operationally integrated entity rather than an independent public company, with mutual content syndication between 56.com and tv.sohu.com and a shared self-media (自媒体) creator monetization program that recruits and pays creators via the Sohu Video onboarding flow. Two customer segments are served on a horizontal basis: general consumer viewers seeking free entertainment and information, and content creators/influencers publishing original material in pursuit of audience reach and platform-driven monetization. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the platform is monetized through advertising and creator-program revenue share rather than direct subscription or transactional fees paid by users.
The company is privately held by Sohu Video, has 251-500 employees, and has raised approximately $30 million in cumulative venture funding across two 2007 rounds from Adobe, CID Group, Hikari Tsushin Group, HSG, SIG China, and Steamboat Ventures. No subsequent funding rounds, acquisitions, leadership changes, or geographic expansions beyond China are documented in the available sources.
56.com firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 56.com
- Legal name
- 56.com
- Website
- https://56.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- 56.com is a Chinese user-generated video-sharing platform founded in 2005, serving general consumer viewers and individual content creators across entertainment, news, education, and lifestyle verticals through its web, mobile, and live-streaming products within the Sohu Video ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
56.com industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Video Streaming
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Generalist Live Streaming Platforms (Multi-Category) (MPACACAA)
Keywords
Where 56.com is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guangzhou
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
56.com business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
56.com product offering
Product offeringCore offering
56.com (56视频) is a Chinese online video sharing and streaming platform offering user-generated video content, professionally produced media across multiple verticals (entertainment, news, movies, TV, music, gaming, education, lifestyle, children), live streaming via Qianfan Live (千帆直播), and a creator self-media (自媒体) program integrated with the Sohu Video ecosystem.
Product overview
56.com (56视频) operates as a comprehensive video sharing and streaming platform providing user-generated video content alongside professionally produced media across multiple verticals. The platform architecture consists of a core video hosting and streaming service supplemented by live streaming capabilities (千帆直播), mobile applications, and a proprietary upload client (56ican). Content is organized into distinct channels spanning entertainment categories such as movies, television, music, gaming, lifestyle, technology, education, automotive, children's programming, and Cantonese-language content. The platform integrates with Sohu's ecosystem and supports content creation through self-media (自媒体) partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 56视频 (56.com) Video Platform A comprehensive video sharing and streaming platform offering user-generated video content, movies, TV shows, variety programs, music, gaming, lifestyle, education, technology, and children's content across multiple channels for general internet users and content creators in China.
- 千帆直播 (Qianfan Live Streaming) Live streaming service enabling real-time broadcast of content including beauty streams and other live events for audiences and broadcasters on the 56.com platform.
- 56视频 Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling video viewing, live streaming, and content browsing on smartphones and tablets for Chinese consumers.
- 56ican Upload Client Proprietary desktop client for uploading HD videos to the 56.com platform, supporting various video formats, high-definition transcoding, and multiple Chinese browsers including IE6-8, Tencent TT, Maxthon, WorldWind, Sogou Browser, and 360 Browser.
- 手机56网 (Mobile 56 Web) Mobile-optimized website version (3g.56.com / m.56.com) providing video streaming and download services for feature phones and smartphones in China.
Companies that use 56.com
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
56.com technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
56.com partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sohu Video (搜狐视频)core56.com has been integrated with Sohu Video ecosystem. The platform redirects some content to Sohu Video (tv.sohu.com) and hosts creator programs in partnership with Sohu. Content from Sohu is also syndicated on 56.com. Sohu Video acquired 56.com's former parent company Huace Media's video business.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
56.com competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bilibili: Major Chinese UGC video platform with strong creator community and long-form video focus. Directly comparable to 56.com in product category, target audience, and UGC model, but materially larger and better-capitalized.
- Miaopai: Earlier-era Chinese UGC short-video platform. Closely comparable in generation, target audience, and product format to 56.com, both representing the pre-Douyin wave of Chinese UGC video platforms.
Broad incumbents
- iQiyi: Baidu-affiliated Chinese streaming platform with UGC and premium professional content. Overlaps with 56.com in user-generated video but operates as a full streaming service with subscription model.
- Tencent Video: Tencent's online video platform spanning licensed premium content and UGC. Competes in the same Chinese video consumption market as 56.com with vastly greater resources.
- Youku: Alibaba-owned Chinese online video platform combining UGC with professional long-form content. Competes with 56.com for Chinese video audience but operates at much larger scale with proprietary content licensing.
Emerging players
- Douyin (TikTok China): ByteDance's short-form video platform that has captured dominant share of Chinese video attention. Competes for the same creator and viewer base as 56.com but in a short-form-first format.
- Xigua Video: ByteDance's mid- to long-form video platform targeting PUGC creators. Direct UGC model overlap with 56.com and backed by ByteDance's traffic and creator economy infrastructure.
- Kuaishou: Major Chinese short-form video and live streaming platform. Competes with 56.com for creator audience and live-streaming monetization in the Chinese market.
- Tencent Penguin Live: Tencent's live-streaming platform competing with 56.com's Qianfan Live service in the same Chinese live-broadcast creator economy.
- Weishi: Tencent's short-video platform integrated with WeChat and QQ. Competes with 56.com for creator mindshare and UGC distribution within Tencent's broader ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
56.com social profiles
Digital presence56.com compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
56.com financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
56.com leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
56.com funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
56.com M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 56.com
What does 56.com do?
56.com (56视频) is a Chinese online video sharing and streaming platform offering user-generated video content, professionally produced media across multiple verticals (entertainment, news, movies, TV, music, gaming, education, lifestyle, children), live streaming via Qianfan Live (千帆直播), and a creator self-media (自媒体) program integrated with the Sohu Video ecosystem.
Is 56.com a public or private company?
56.com is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 56.com founded?
56.com was founded in 2005. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is 56.com based?
56.com is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, in the Asia region.
Who are 56.com's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bilibili and Miaopai. Broad incumbents are iQiyi, Tencent Video and Youku. Emerging players are Douyin (TikTok China), Xigua Video, Kuaishou, Tencent Penguin Live and Weishi.
Does 56.com have an API?
No public API is recorded for 56.com.
What industry is 56.com in?
56.com's product category is Online Video Streaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACACAA, Generalist Live Streaming Platforms (Multi-Category). Its NAICS code is 5162 and its SIC code is 7370.