Tencent brings paid subscription to WeChat Channels in race against short video giants ByteDance, Kuaishou

Tencent Holdings is planning to launch a paid subscription service for videos on its flagship app WeChat, allowing content creators to charge users for watching certain videos, as the Chinese social media giant steps up its challenge to short video apps Douyin and Kuaishou.

As part of Tencent’s bid to attract more influencers to join its platform, WeChat will let content creators set up a pay-to-watch video section on Video Accounts, the WeChat video section marketed as Channels, the company announced on Tuesday at Weixin Open Class, its annual event promoting WeChat’s new functions and strategies.