Hulu, launched in 2007, is a leading American streaming service known for next-day TV show streaming, original series, and current-season content. Hulu is not available in China. The Chinese streaming market, with approximately 5.5 billion users and over 300 million paid subscribers across platforms, is the world's largest. The closest equivalent to Hulu is Mango TV (芒果TV), which excels in variety shows and TV series with 38% of China's variety show viewing market share. The broader market is dominated by the "big three": Tencent Video (114 million paid subscribers, 363M MAU), iQiyi (356M MAU), and Youku (Alibaba-owned), plus Bilibili (340M+ MAU) for anime and youth content. Chinese platforms offer significantly cheaper subscriptions (¥15-30/month, $2-4) compared to Hulu ($7.99-17.99/month).
Chinese Streaming Platforms Compared
| Platform | Developer | Key Stats (2024-2025) | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mango TV (芒果TV) | Mango Excellent Media (300413.SZ) | 2024 revenue ¥101.79B; net profit ¥1.645B; member revenue >¥5B; 73.31M effective members (year-end); 38% variety share | #1 variety show platform; Hunan TV backing; free ad-supported tier |
| Tencent Video (腾讯视频) | Tencent (SEHK: 0700) | 114M paid subscribers (Q2 2025); 363M MAU; profitable since Oct 2022 | Largest paid subscriber base; NBA/FIFA sports; original dramas |
| iQiyi (爱奇艺) | Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) | 356M MAU (June 2025); Q3 2024 revenue ¥7.2B; original content leader | Strong original dramas (The Bad Kids); improving profitability |
| Bilibili (哔哩哔哩) | Bilibili Inc. | 340M+ MAU; 2024 revenue ¥37.5B (+25%); 97 min avg daily usage | #1 anime/youth platform; user-generated content; 弹幕 system |
| Youku (优酷) | Alibaba Group | ~300M MAU (est.); Alibaba ecosystem backing | Alibaba integration; variety shows and documentaries |
Detailed Breakdown
Mango TV (芒果TV) — Closest Hulu Equivalent
Mango TV is the closest Chinese equivalent to Hulu, specializing in premium TV content and variety shows. As China's only streaming platform backed by a major TV network (Hunan Broadcasting System), Mango TV has unmatched access to premium variety programming. In 2024, revenue reached ¥101.79 billion with net profit of ¥1.645 billion. Membership revenue exceeded ¥5 billion for the first time, with 73.31 million effective members. Mango TV commands a 38% effective viewing share for variety shows — the #1 position in China. Flagship shows include Happy Camp (快乐大本营), Singer (歌手), and Call Me By Fire (披荆斩棘的哥哥).
Key strength: Only streaming platform with a major TV network backing, providing unique premium content. Key differentiator: Variety show dominance and strongest brand recognition among Chinese streaming platforms.
Tencent Video & iQiyi — The Big Two
Tencent Video (114M paid subscribers, 363M MAU) and iQiyi (356M MAU) together dominate China's streaming market by subscriber count. Tencent Video has been profitable since October 2022 and leverages the WeChat ecosystem for user acquisition. It holds exclusive NBA and FIFA sports rights, making it the go-to platform for live sports. iQiyi has built its brand on high-quality original content like The Bad Kids (隐秘的角落) and The Knockout (狂飙). Both platforms invest heavily in premium content with production budgets rivaling Netflix originals, and both offer family-friendly content sections similar to Disney+.
Tencent Video key strength: Largest paid subscriber base and sports rights. iQiyi key strength: Award-winning original content with global appeal.
Bilibili (哔哩哔哩) — The Youth Platform
Bilibili is China's leading youth-oriented platform with 340M+ MAU and 2024 revenue of ¥37.5 billion (+25% YoY). While not a direct Hulu competitor, Bilibili dominates the anime, gaming, and youth culture space with an average daily usage of 97 minutes per user — among the highest of any Chinese platform. Its 弹幕 (danmaku) comment system, where comments fly across the video screen in real-time, has become a cultural phenomenon. Bilibili's user-generated content ecosystem and extensive anime licensing make it the primary destination for Chinese Gen Z entertainment.
Key strength: Most engaged youth community in China with the highest time-spent per user. Key differentiator: User-generated content ecosystem and anime/gaming specialization that no other platform matches.
China's Streaming Market vs. Western Models
China's streaming market is the world's largest by user count. Tencent Video alone has more paid members (114M) than Hulu, Peacock, and Paramount+ combined. Unlike the Western subscription-heavy model, Chinese platforms use a hybrid monetization approach combining subscriptions, advertising, and single-episode purchases. This creates a broader revenue base but also more complex user economics. Prices are dramatically lower — most Chinese platforms charge ¥15-30/month ($2-4) compared to Hulu's $7.99-17.99/month. Chinese platforms are also exporting content globally: Chinese dramas on platforms like Netflix and Viu have generated billions of views internationally. The market includes over 300 million paid subscribers across platforms, with room for continued growth as China's internet penetration increases in lower-tier cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Hulu is not available in China. It is a US-centric streaming service with no Chinese market presence.
Mango TV is the closest equivalent — like Hulu, it specializes in variety shows and TV series, and has a free ad-supported tier alongside paid subscriptions. It's the #1 platform in China for variety show content.
Tencent Video leads with 114 million paid subscribers, followed by Mango TV with approximately 73.31 million effective members.
All major Chinese streaming platforms offer free ad-supported tiers with limited content. Premium subscriptions unlock full libraries, ad-free viewing, and early access to new episodes.
Most platforms charge ¥15-30/month ($2-4) for basic plans, significantly less than Hulu ($7.99-17.99/month).
Hulu has a limited selection of Chinese content, but for the full range of Chinese TV series and variety shows, Chinese platforms are far superior.
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