Regardless of whether the popularity of American TV dramas in China was coincidental or inevitable, that model proved to be very effective, particularly in terms of expanding the user base. The user base is crucial for any company, much like actors and singers have their fans. The more dedicated fans there are, the easier it is to make money from them.
Take the simplest example. Pony Ma, despite being criticized by countless people in his previous life, still managed to live quite comfortably. Of the many reasons, the most significant was having a large user base. Even if people were disgusted by his various unbridled acts—such as only allowing himself to copy others without others being able to copy him, or enjoying high profits yet still receiving government subsidies—in the end, everyone on the internet was using QQ. Even if they switched to another instant messaging software, it was useless, so they ultimately had to hold their noses and accept it.
