A report from China Netcasting Services Association suggests the country's internet audio and video industry experienced a boom last year. Market size grew by nearly 40 percent in 2018. An estimated six-hundred million people are believed to have streamed content -- nearly half of the country's population. And these online platforms are looking to produce more of their own shows. CGTN's Wang Mengzhen finds out.

One year ago, a talent survival show "Idol Producer" hit the Chinese internet, viewers chose 9 hopefuls from over a thousand young trainees to form a new boy group called "Nine Percent". The influence still continues. Sophia Xu, a white-collar worker in Beijing, is among millions of fangirls, she can't take her eyes off her idol.

SOPHIA XUFAN OF IDOL PRODUCER "It's the first time China has its own show on trainees, we participated in the whole process through voting. We know how hard-working they are in highly competitive selections and trainings. Just like what its slogan says, the harder you work, the luckier you are."

"I've become more outgoing because of it, and I even make many friends who share the same interest online."

Chinese online streaming giant iQiyi, which produced the 4-month show, says the concept penetrated the entire process.

WANG XIAOHUI, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICERIQIYI "This is something new, we wanted to show the motivation represented in the show, as these young trainees overcome various difficulties and always fight for their success."

In 2018, iQIYI's self-produced programs captivated viewers of different ages and backgrounds from variety shows to series. "Content is the king." As more streaming platforms reach the consensus, original content production now rules.

WANG XIAOHUI, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER IQIYI "Currently, the ratio of iQiyi-produced shows to licensed ones through copyright purchases is 1 to 9. But with our new content strategy, we would like make the ratio to 3: 7 or even higher."

But observers say this won't be easy.

WANG MENGZHENBEIJING "In 2018, over half of viewers paid for content on Chinese online audio and video platforms as more young people have got used to that and as such, more quality paid-content is expected in the future. Wang Mengzhen, CGTN, BEIJING."