COL Group

Name

COL Group

Legal name

中文在线数字出版集团股份有限公司

Website

https://col.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Publishing & Online Literature

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

White-Label/Hosted Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise/Creator Video Hosting & OTT SaaS Platforms (MPACAAAL), Creator Licensing & Rights Monetization (UGC Licensing, Music/Video Rights) (MPACAFAK), IP Management, Patents & Trademark Software (BPAEAPAN)

Keywords

• Digital publishing services
• Online literature platforms
• AI content creation tools
• IP adaptation services
• Short drama production

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Reading / 网文 Subscription & Sales: Digital content distribution through proprietary platforms (17K小说网, 四月天小说网) and third-party channels. Revenue from paid reading subscriptions and content sales of original literary works.
2. IP Derivative Development (版权分发 + IP衍生): Licensing and development of IP across formats: audio, manga, dynamic manga, animation, short drama, film/TV, games, and merchandise. Includes premium IP like Luo Xiaohei, 罗小黑战记, and network novel adaptations. 2025 short drama and IP derivative revenue reached 896 million RMB (54.1% of total revenue), surpassing web novel revenue for the first time.
3. International/Overseas Revenue: Revenue from international short drama platform FlareFlow, content licensing to overseas markets (US, Japan, Southeast Asia), and global IP distribution. 2025 overseas revenue reached 679 million RMB, up 124% YoY.
4. AI Content Products (AI漫剧/AI短剧): AI-generated manga dramas and short dramas distributed on platforms including FlareFlow, Douyin, and international platforms. Revenue from paid serializations, in-app purchases, and ad-supported viewing. 2025 AI manga drama revenue in the hundreds of millions in just nine months.
5. AI Writing Platform Subscription (逍遥海外作者平台): AI writing tool subscription for international authors, generating over $20,000 USD daily revenue.
6. Short Drama Production Services (横琴国际影视城): Film studio rental and production services from Hengqin International Film Studio. As of June 2026, the studio had completed 36 drama productions, driving approximately 8,640 person-times of filming participation.
7. IP Merchandise & Licensing: Revenue from IP merchandise including Luo Xiaohei collaborations with Pop Mart's 共鸣GONG brand, as well as game adaptations, publishing, and derivative products.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

COL Group is a digital content and technology company that develops online literature platforms (17K小说网, 四月天小说网), AI-powered content production tools (中文逍遥 LLM, RocNovel, AI manga drama systems), and IP adaptation services spanning web novels, audiobooks, manga, animation, short dramas, film/TV, games, and merchandise. The company operates the full IP lifecycle from original content creation through global distribution via its FlareFlow platform across 200+ countries, alongside physical production facilities at Hengqin International Film Studio and blockchain-based copyright protection services.

Product overview

COL Group operates a comprehensive digital cultural content ecosystem built around four core business pillars: literary platforms (17K小说网, 四月天小说网, 奇想宇宙, 谜想计划, 网大公开课), IP derivatives (audio, anime, live-action film/TV, IP metaverse), international operations (FlareFlow, COL Media USA, COL Web Singapore, COL Japan), and intellectual property protection (权哨, 无抄, 版权街). The company has evolved from a digital publishing company into an AI-driven digital entertainment platform, with major AI products including the Xiaoyao AI model for content creation, RocNovel for end-to-end AI production, and the Xiaoyao Overseas Author Platform for global markets. The 2026 strategy emphasizes 'AI + Globalization' dual-wheel drive with annual AI short drama production capacity exceeding 3,000 titles, supported by the Hengqin International Film Studio infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 17K小说网: 公司核心的原创内容生产平台，提供玄幻奇幻、都市言情、武侠仙侠、青春校园等全品类内容
• 四月天小说网
• 奇想宇宙
• 谜想计划
• FlareFlow
• 中文逍遥
• RocNovel
• 横琴国际影视城
• RESTART重启宇宙
• 权哨
• 无抄
• 版权街

Products and services

• 17K小说网 (17K Novel Network) COL Group's core original content production platform providing full-category web novel content including fantasy, urban romance, martial arts, and youth campus genres, with 4 million+ registered authors and 5.6 million+ digital content resources.
• 四月天小说网 (Siyuetian Novel Network) Ancient-style female-oriented original novel website under COL Group covering various types of costume romance novels, targeted at female readers in the Chinese digital literature market.
• 奇想宇宙 (Qixiang Universe) COL Group's science fiction brand established in 2021, dedicated to uniting sci-fi enthusiasts, discovering exceptional stories, and cultivating sci-fi authors in the Chinese sci-fi literary market.
• 谜想计划 (Mixiang Plan) Pan-suspense platform for users who enjoy suspense and mystery content, providing interactive communication scenes and self-expression opportunities in the Chinese literature market.
• 网大公开课 (Wangda Open Course) China's first 'Online Novel University' initiated by COL Group in 2013 under the guidance of the China Writers Association, dedicated to cultivating creative abilities of novelists and providing author training programs.
• FlareFlow International Short Drama Platform COL Group's flagship international short drama platform serving 33 million+ registered users across 200+ countries, focusing on North America, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea with localized content production and distribution.
• 横琴国际影视城 (Hengqin International Film Studio) China's first short drama overseas filming base with 17,000 sqm professional indoor/outdoor facilities and 94 overseas scene sets, providing film production services and one-stop services from filming to global distribution to film and TV production companies.
• 逍遥海外作者平台 (Xiaoyao Overseas Author Platform) AI writing platform for international authors to create and monetize content, supporting 14 languages with AI translation cost reduced by over 90%. Generates over $20,000 daily revenue as of mid-2025.
• 次元神笔 (Ciyuan Shib) AI Creative Tool AI creative tool launched January 2025 that reshapes global content productivity paradigm, integrated with HappyHorse platform, enabling AI-assisted content creation for authors and creators.
• RocNovel AI Full-Chain Content Platform End-to-end AI content platform covering AI creation, AI publishing, AI material generation, AI ad placement, and AI monetization, creating a fully automated commercial closed loop. Supports 14-language content distribution with AI Agent generating 100-300 promotional materials per overseas short drama.
• RESTART重启宇宙 (RESTART Metaverse) China's first sci-fi themed metaverse built on COL Group's proprietary digital rights consortium chain and native metaverse system, based on Liu Cixin's 'The Wandering Earth' worldview, featuring survival, collection, and contribution systems.
• 权哨 (Qushao) IP Rights Protection Platform Global intellectual property one-stop service platform providing rights protection support, nationwide notary resources, IP lawyer teams, and professional investigation services for copyright owners and IP holders.
• 无抄 (Wuchao) Originality Protection Platform Original creation protection platform that provides clues about plagiarism, connecting professional lawyers to help solve copyright protection pain points including difficulty discovering infringement, identifying plagiarism, and pursuing litigation.
• 版权街 (Banquan Street) Copyright SaaS Platform Copyright confirmation, evidence, and asset management SaaS platform integrating copyright services, trademark services, patent services, rights protection services, and copyright asset management for IP service agencies and copyright content parties.

Quantifiable outcome

• AI manga drama production cost reduced to 30% of traditional model; 2026 3D animation per-minute cost reduced by over 75%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 寒木春华 (Hanmu Chunhua)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023COL Group acquired 51.04% stake in animation company 寒木春华 for 138 million RMB in 2023, bringing the Luo Xiaohei (罗小黑战记) national-level anime IP under its portfolio. This is a core strategic acquisition enabling the company to own and develop one of China's most recognized animation IPs.
• 泡泡玛特 (Pop Mart) 共鸣GONGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOL Group partnered with Pop Mart's 共鸣GONG brand to launch Luo Xiaohei co-branded designer toys (谷子经济), expanding the IP into game, publishing, and merchandise derivatives.
• GKIDS (North America)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGKIDS, a leading North American animation distributor, partnered with COL Group to distribute 罗小黑战记2 in North American theaters. The film was released in over 260 theaters across North America.
• DMM.com (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOL Group sold five works to Japan's top e-manga platform DMM.com for digital distribution in Japan.
• 手塚製作公司 (Tezuka Productions)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of NFTs for three major Tezuka Productions works including Astro Boy (铁臂阿童木) and Jungle Emperor (森林大帝), leveraging COL Group's NFT platform capabilities.
• GMO Adam (Japan NFT Platform)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Japan's leading NFT platform GMO Adam for selling Liu Cixin's '烧火工' (The Light Priest) NFT rights.
• 腾讯云 (Tencent Cloud)majorTechnology or IntegrationCOL Group joined Tencent Cloud's T1 Club, accelerating 'AI First' strategy implementation through cloud infrastructure and AI technology collaboration.
• Meta (Facebook)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMeta's Head of Industry participated in the Hengqin Global Micro-Drama Summit, discussing platform cooperation and market strategy for overseas short drama distribution.
• TVB / 芒果TV / 爱奇艺majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHead-end entertainment studios collaborating with Hengqin International Film Studio for production projects. Partnerships established for micro-drama shooting and content production.
• 凤凰文艺 (Phoenix Literature & Art)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOL Group partnered with Phoenix Literature & Art to release AI premium manga drama 《山海契约》, exploring new models for content production and IP development.
• Refinery MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOL Group collaborated with Refinery Media to create the world's first top IP reconstruction reality show micro-drama, combining COL Group's IP with Refinery's production expertise.
• 清华大学新闻学院元宇宙文化实验室 (Tsinghua University Journalism School Metaverse Culture Lab)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOL Group is a supporting unit for Tsinghua University's Metaverse Culture Lab, collaborating on future media technology, metaverse cultural creation, and virtual human index research. This is China's first university-affiliated metaversity lab with cultural attributes.
• 火龙 (Huolong)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOL Group's AI short dramas distributed on 火龙漫剧 platform, with multiple works ranking #1 on the platform's hot drama list.
• 杭州遥望 / 澳门科大 / 亚洲艺术电影节 / DataEye剧查查majorStrategic or Co-development Partner14 key strategic partnerships signed at Hengqin Global Micro-Drama Summit covering platforms, universities, and industry institutions, building a full industry chain from research to application.
• 北美头部制作方 (10+ North American Production Companies)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOL Group established deep cooperation with over 10 North American production companies and multiple MCN agencies and talent agencies for actor services, user growth, and content distribution.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• DramaBox (Storymatrix): Top-three overseas short-drama app competing head-to-head with FlareFlow in North America and Southeast Asia; comparable business model (vertical drama pay-per-episode + subscription) and AI-driven content production.
• Crazy Maple Studio (ReelShort): Operates ReelShort, a leading overseas short-drama app that directly competes with FlareFlow for global micro-drama audiences. COL Group holds a stake in Crazy Maple Studio per its portfolio disclosure, making this a simultaneously partner/competitor relationship.
• China Literature (阅文集团 / Yuewen): Tencent-backed operator of Qidian and other web novel platforms with the deepest Chinese IP library; directly competes with 17K for authors, readers, and IP licensing, and parallels COL's international ambitions via Webnovel.
• GoodNovel / GoodShort (Crescitec): Operates GoodNovel (web novel platform) and GoodShort (overseas short-drama app), directly competing with both 17K小说网 in Chinese web novels and FlareFlow in international micro-drama distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Kuaishou (快手): Short-video platform incumbent with its own short-drama investments and overseas presence (Kwai); competes with COL for short-drama distribution audiences and creator attention in China and emerging markets.
• Bilibili (哔哩哔哩): Major Chinese anime/UGV platform that distributes and produces IP adapted from web novels; overlaps with COL's IP derivative (animation/manga) and short-drama businesses, though it operates a much broader community/content portfolio.
• iQIYI (爱奇艺): Chinese streaming incumbent with parallel IP adaptation strategy (web novel to drama/animation). Competes for premium IP rights from COL's catalog and overlaps in short-drama and animation production.
• ByteDance / Douyin (TikTok): Operates Douyin (China) and TikTok (overseas), the dominant distribution channels for COL's AI manga dramas and short dramas. Both a critical platform partner and the most powerful potential competitor in AI short-form video.
• Tencent (Literature + Video + Tencent Cloud): Parent of China Literature and operator of Tencent Video / Tencent Cloud; strategic collaborator (COL joined Tencent Cloud's T1 Club) but also an aggregator competitor across COL's literary, video, and AI compute stack.

Emerging players

• Pocket FM: India-headquartered audio series platform that overlaps with COL's AI audiobook (AI主播) and serial-content ambitions; comparable AI-driven audio content production with international reach, though narrower in video format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about COL Group