Author | Huang Yu Editor | Liu Baodan Last year, thanks to the success of the "Speeding" on iQiyi, the company has had a difficult time recently. On the one hand, the explosively popular TV series is on hiatus, and on the other hand, the derivative concert of the variety show "Plant Some Goodness" has been criticized for "free offline but paid online." According to Wall Street News, the second Wheat Field Music Festival, produced by iQiyi's reality show "Plant Some Goodness," was held on June 6th. Some viewers had previously received free offline tickets through official activities, while online viewers, even iQiyi members, had to pay RMB 12 for viewing, and the viewing period was valid until June 14th. This differentiated pricing model has caused dissatisfaction among many viewers, who question that iQiyi's move is "cutting corners." In response, iQiyi's customer service said, "You can buy tickets to watch the concert live according to your own needs, and the edited content of the concert will be launched on the main platform in the future." In fact, this is not the first time that long video platforms represented by iQiyi have been accused of "cutting corners." In recent years, membership grading systems, early access, and inventory restrictions have often caused user backlash, in addition to paying extra for derivative programs. The differential pricing model reflects the growth anxiety faced by long-form video platforms such as "i优腾."

In today's weather is good. Today's weather is good.

Four years ago, with the flourishing of the photovoltaic industry, Zhonghuan changed its name to TCL Zhonghuan and had two very good years. Today, the global photovoltaic industry is still in a downturn, and its core veteran, Shen Haoping, has resigned as CEO, with Chairman Li Dongsheng temporarily replacing him. TCL Zhonghuan needs to come up with more effective strategies to win this 'midfield battle.'

On August 8, at the media exchange meeting of TCL Zhonghuan Ningxia crystal smart factory, TCL Zhonghuan emphasized that in the domestic red sea market, the first thing to do is to be relatively competitive, and TCL Zhonghuan must adhere to technological innovation and manufacturing transformation to ensure leadership in manufacturing, cost, and other dimensions. Secondly, what needs to be considered is financial strength, which mainly depends on its own financial health and the support of the group to achieve stable operation. In the overseas blue ocean market, TCL Zhonghuan will adhere to a global layout of manufacturing and patents. This is what Li Dongsheng has always said: 'If you don't go out to sea, you will be out of the game.'

TCL Zhonghuan is an old player in the photovoltaic industry, focusing on monocrystalline silicon rods and monocrystalline silicon wafers, and promoting the production capacity improvement of domestic solar cells and components with limited integration logic. Longi Green Energy Technology and TCL Zhonghuan are known as the 'double heroes' of photovoltaic silicon wafers, with their market share basically occupying half of the industry's territory.

Although TCL Zhonghuan has strong strategic determination, in today's market environment, it still has to fight hard whether in the red sea market or the blue ocean market.

Under the industry's stage of overcapacity, how TCL Zhonghuan will formulate production capacity strategies has attracted much attention.

According to TCL Zhonghuan, at the end of last year, TCL Zhonghuan's photovoltaic monocrystalline production capacity had been increased to 183 GW, and it will increase by 9% to 200 GW by the end of 2024. The overall market share will increase from 23.4% at the end of last year to more than 24% in the first half of this year.

During the process of increasing production capacity, TCL Zhonghuan will not add monocrystalline furnaces but mostly rely on upgrading its technology to increase production capacity of existing equipment.

TCL Zhonghuan's strategy of increasing production capacity is contrary to the choices of many photovoltaic companies. It should be noted that in order to cope with the profitability challenges brought about by overcapacity in the industry, in recent years, multiple photovoltaic companies have been exposed to closing some production lines and reducing operating rates.

TCL Zhonghuan's answer is that the company will continue to maintain relative competitiveness based on its own technological and manufacturing advantages, seeking optimal solutions under factors such as comprehensive production, sales, market share, and profitability.

In addition, TCL Zhonghuan believes that the photovoltaic industry is a heavy asset industry, with high asset depreciation. The lower the operating rate, the larger the asset depreciation. Each company has different asset scales, cost capabilities, and strategies, and therefore will have different choices.

Of course, TCL Zhonghuan's current choice of increasing production capacity has a premise, which is that the industry's downturn cycle will not last too long.

'Although it is difficult to say clearly when the turning point in the photovoltaic industry will come, we believe that we may see signs of a turning point in the industry as early as the fourth quarter of this year.' A relevant person in charge of TCL Zhonghuan said. He pointed out that the reason for this judgment is that the entire photovoltaic industry is in a highly competitive state, and the overall cash outflow of the industry is at a high level, with some companies facing financial constraints. The industry cannot afford such huge losses for too long, so the downturn cycle will be shortened.

Under the background of domestic competition 'inward contraction' and the trend of anti-globalization in trade, TCL Zhonghuan is also continuously strengthening its global layout and enhancing localization of photovoltaic manufacturing.

Therefore, TCL Zhonghuan needs to come up with more effective strategies to win the "midfield battle."

"Although it is difficult to say when the turning point of the photovoltaic industry will come, we believe that signs of a turning point in the photovoltaic industry may appear as early as the fourth quarter of this year," said the person in charge of TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology. "

'In the face of fierce competition and high cash outflow in the entire photovoltaic industry, with some companies facing financial constraints, the industry cannot afford such huge losses for too long, so the downturn cycle will be shortened.'

TCL Zhonghuan is an old player in the photovoltaic industry, focusing on monocrystalline silicon rods and monocrystalline silicon wafers, and promoting the production capacity improvement of domestic solar cells and components with limited integration logic. Longi Green Energy Technology and TCL Zhonghuan are known as the 'double heroes' of photovoltaic silicon wafers, with their market share basically occupying half of the industry's territory.

In July, TCL Zhonghuan signed an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) and Vision Industries to establish a joint venture to promote the localized production of solar photovoltaic crystal wafers in Saudi Arabia, with an annual capacity of 20 GW. Once landed, it will become the first local photovoltaic crystal wafer project in Saudi Arabia, and also the largest crystal wafer factory overseas.

Li Dongsheng recently mentioned that the investment in this project is huge. It is difficult to invest in heavy asset projects like the Saudi Arabia project by itself. The risk is also high. If the local area wants to develop this industry, it means that it is also willing to invest money, which greatly increases the probability of successful project.

Li Dongsheng emphasized that in the future, TCL will not only focus on consumer and terminal products, but also industrial and B2B products. The transformation and upgrading of the industry will also be realized overseas.

Obviously, the Saudi project is just the beginning of TCL Zhonghuan's overseas localization of crystal wafers manufacturing, and it will further assist in promoting its global strategy. This is crucial for TCL Zhonghuan to reach the top of the industry after successfully crossing this round of cycle.