Summary of Key Points
The 31st Shanghai TV Festival's New Media and Audiovisual Industry Conference focused on the integration of AI and ultra-high definition (UHD), exploring the direction for the transformation of the broadcasting industry. Shanghai has made significant progress in the application of UHD technology and AI-assisted content production (for example, AI is used in over 60% of content creation, and UHD live broadcasts cover 89% of events). The Jing'an District has become a hub for the UHD industry, with more than 200 companies settled there, forming a closed commercial ecosystem. The conference promoted the implementation of these technologies through partnerships between academia, industry, and government, as well as cross-sectoral collaborations. There is a consensus in the industry that AI is an essential tool, and broadcasting companies need to transition from being content providers to content service providers. However, there are still challenges to overcome in terms of human-computer collaboration. Overall, the integration of AI and UHD has moved into the practical application phase, with the next step being the effective implementation of these technologies across all relevant sectors.
I. Shanghai's Progress in UHD + AI: From Concept to Reality
In the past two years, Shanghai has transformed the integration of UHD and AI from a theoretical concept into tangible reality. For instance, over 60% of the city's audiovisual content (such as short videos and documentaries) is produced with AI assistance—AI helps with scriptwriting, video editing, and special effects, saving considerable manpower. The coverage rate of 5G+4K UHD live broadcasts reaches 89%, ensuring that viewers can see even the smallest details, such as athletes' sweat during events.
Additionally, Shanghai is upgrading home set-top boxes to enable ordinary households to access UHD programs. The city is also addressing issues related to complex TV pricing and user interfaces to make television more user-friendly. For AI-generated short-form content, Shanghai has introduced specific policies to support creativity while regulating the industry to promote healthy development.
II. Jing'an District: A Community of Over 200 Companies in the UHD Industry
Since its launch at the end of last year, the "Audiovisual Jingjie" industrial zone in Jing'an District has attracted more than 200 companies, including industry leaders like Himalaya (audio) and Digital Kingdom (special effects). These companies have formed a closed loop that includes content creation, technology development, and commercialization:
- Content: Successful animations like "Langlang Mountain's Little Monsters" have been produced.
- Technology: A UHD technology innovation center and an AI public service platform have been established, along with the country's first blockchain-based copyright system to prevent piracy.
- Commercialization: The Jing'an International Light and Shadow Exhibition attracted 5.85 million visitors and generated 1.07 billion yuan in revenue—demonstrating that technology can make events more engaging and profitable. In the second half of the year, the district plans to collaborate with CCTV to host an international audiovisual festival to further expand its influence.
III. Multistakeholder Collaboration: Universities, Companies, and Government Working Together
Three types of cooperation agreements were signed at the conference to drive industry advancement:
1. Academia-Industry-Research Collaboration: The Smart Media Laboratory has expanded to include East China Normal University and Shanghai University, along with domestic companies like Moore Threads (GPU) and JiuZhang Cloud Extreme (AI), to develop intelligent imaging and AI technologies and establish an AI evaluation system.
2. Government-Regional Cooperation: SMG (Shanghai Media Group) is collaborating with Jing'an and Huangpu districts to make local media more innovative, using cloud technology and AI for content production and operations.
3. Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: SMG and Tencent Cloud are combining Tencent's large-scale models and audiovisual technologies with SMG's content to create highly efficient human-computer teams.
IV. Industry Leaders' Consensus: AI is Imperative; Broadcasting Companies Must Transform
Industry experts shared the following key points:
- The Need for AI: Wang Wei from Weibo emphasized that AI is not about whether to use it, but how to leverage it effectively to save costs and improve quality.
- Broadcasting Companies Must Transform: Shu Wenqi from Tencent Cloud suggested that broadcasting companies should shift from being mere content distributors to providers of various services, including short videos and interactive content to meet user needs.
- Challenges to Overcome: Chen Zhi from Chengdu Sobe mentioned that although AI tools are already in use, there is still a need to improve human-computer collaboration, such as refining AI-generated content.
- Technological Independence: Jiang Wenbo from China Media Group stressed the importance of developing independent UHD technology to maintain control over the industry.
V. Future Trends: UHD + AI Entering a Critical Phase of Implementation
The conference highlighted that the integration of UHD and AI has moved beyond theoretical discussions. The focus now is on practical applications, such as improving the accuracy of AI in content production and expanding the use of UHD technology in various settings (such as shopping malls and tourist attractions). National initiatives are also underway, with 18 4K/8K UHD channels and 69 related standards already established. The industry's next goal is to transform these technologies and policies into practical products and services that benefit the general public.