Tencent launches free short-drama service inside WeChat

Tencent has launched a free short-drama mini program inside WeChat called Lüpaopao Duanju. The service offers live-action, animated and AI-generated dramas, with advertisements shown between episodes. The mini program includes a browsing section and a vertically scrolling recommendation feed. Its homepage features newly added series, viewing charts and recommendations showing what friends and nearby users are watching. The service’s user agreement identifies Tencent as its operator. By offering the platform as a WeChat mini program, Tencent allows users to watch without downloading a separate app, entering a market where ByteDance’s Hongguo has built a large audience for free, advertising-supported short dramas. [Beijing Daily, in Chinese]