Chinese online video websites used to operate as supplementary¹ broadcast platforms for TV stations. But now original programs independently produced by some major video sites have achieved unparalleled success.

曾经，中国的在线视频网站一直充当着电视台的附属播放平台。但是现在，许多视频网站独立制作的原创节目取得了无与伦比的成功。

Domestic superhero parody² film Jian Bing Man (《煎饼侠》) has just become the sixth Chinese film in history to net more than 1 billion yuan at the box office. This is largely due to the success of online mini-series Diors Man (《屌丝男士》), which airs on Sohu and was created by Dong Chengpeng, who directs and is the leading actor in both the series and film. Since the show went online in 2012, Dong’s funny satirical style has quickly garnered⁴ the show a large group of followers⁵. The film gives diehard fans a chance to show their support for Dong. As an Internet catchphrase goes, “We owe Dong a film ticket.”

国产超级英雄喜剧电影《煎饼侠》票房成绩已经超过10亿元，名列华语电影史的第六名。这很大程度上要归功于网络迷你剧《屌丝男士》的成功。搜狐视频推出的《屌丝男士》由董成鹏制作，同时他也是该剧集以及《煎饼侠》的导演兼主演。自从2012年《屌丝男士》开播，董成鹏搞笑的讽刺表演风格，迅速吸引了一大批追随者。电影的上映也给了铁杆粉丝们一次机会去支持董成鹏。如同一句网络口号所表达的那样：“我们欠董成鹏一张电影票”。

Many other Internet-based shows also cater⁶ to the tastes of young audiences. Look at action and adventure drama The Lost Tomb ( 《盗墓笔记》) and time travel series The Emperor Through to the Modern (《拐个皇帝回现代》).

很多其他以网络为基础的剧集，也在贴合年轻观众的胃口，比如动作探险剧《盗墓笔记》以及穿越剧《拐个皇帝回现代》等。

Besides taste-tailored storytelling, online platforms have another appeal: They’re inclusive. Talk shows, debate programs, reality TV – any format⁷ that sells can be put online.

除了叙事方面很对口味，在线平台另一个极具吸引力的特点是包罗万象。脱口秀、辩论节目、真人秀——任何卖座的形式都可以放到网上。

“The Internet is a more open platform. It doesn’t draw conclusions, nor does it try to educate. It tolerates different voices,” Jiang Bin³, general manager of iQiyi’s program development center, told China Daily about the popularity of self-made programs such as the website’s talk show Morning Call (《晓说》).

“互联网是一个更开放的平台。互联网既不做结论，也不去教育人，并且可以容忍不同的声音，”爱奇艺节目开发中心总经理姜滨在接受《中国日报》采访时，谈到了自制节目（比如网络脱口秀《晓说》）大受欢迎的原因。

Online programs also enable interaction between viewers through a system called danmu or danmaku in Japanese.

在线节目的观众还可以通过弹幕系统进行互动。

Danmaku invites viewers to type in their thoughts while watching a show and simultaneously⁸ displays the comments on everyone’s video screen. For example: “Cautious! Exciting scenes are coming soon!” “He has undertaken all the CPs (couplings) in the show!”

通过发送弹幕观众可以在观看节目的同时发表自己的看法，这些评论都会实时出现在其他观众的屏幕上。比如：“前方高能预警！”“剧里所有的CP都被他承包了！”

Danmaku and other interactive⁹ functions “direct” video websites to adjust their programs. In 2014 Tencent’s original music show The Hit of China (《Hi歌》), the number of virtual flowers given to contestants¹⁰ by users determined¹¹ whether they’d go or stay.

弹幕以及其他互动功能还可以引导视频网站对节目进行调整。2014年，腾讯的原创音乐节目《HI歌》中，观众通过“献花”数量的多少可以决定选手的去留。

The year 2014 was called “the first year of the era of online shows”. But back then many assumed online shows only starred new faces and looked about as cheap as their budgets. But now all these preconceptions are being shattered. 2015 is truly giving Web series a shiny new coat of paint.

2014年被称为“网络剧时代元年”。当时，很多人都认定，网络自制剧里只有新人，水平就像制作成本那样低。但是现在，这些偏见正在被打破。2015年，网络剧换上了闪亮的新衣。