LayarHijau – Debate over drama popularity data has recently intensified in China. Fans of the drama Shine on Me (骄阳似我) have protested Tencent Video’s claim that Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) is the first drama in 2026 to surpass a heat index of 30,000 on the platform.
The controversy began when Tencent Video promoted Pursuit of Jade as “the first drama in 2026 to exceed a heat index of 30,000.” The statement quickly drew criticism from some Shine on Me fans, who argued that the claim contradicts data previously released by the platform.
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According to figures circulated among fans, Shine on Me reached a heat index of 30,130 on Tencent Video on January 4, 2026. At the time, the platform also released an official report poster describing the drama as the “first breakout hit of early 2026” and stating that it had set a new record for modern romance dramas on the platform.
However, on March 11, 2026, after Pursuit of Jade reached a heat index of 30,007, Tencent Video promoted the historical drama as the first drama of 2026 to surpass the 30,000 mark. This statement subsequently triggered debate among fans of both dramas.
Some Shine on Me fans questioned whether the platform had changed its statistical rules. They shared the official report poster released in January 2026, which stated that the drama had “set the highest record for modern romance dramas in 2026,” and asked why the achievement is now no longer considered part of the same year’s statistics.
At the same time, some netizens offered more neutral explanations. They suggested that the difference in claims might be related to how the platform calculates its statistics, such as whether the data is categorized by production year, main broadcast period, or a different internal statistical cycle.
There were also users who defended Pursuit of Jade, noting that the drama did surpass the 30,000 heat index during its broadcast in 2026, which could explain why the platform highlighted that milestone in its promotional messaging.
The debate surrounding the two dramas also became a trending topic on Chinese social media. Several hashtags discussing the popularity data dispute between Shine on Me and Pursuit of Jade circulated widely on Weibo, with netizens debating whether the claim of “the first drama to surpass 30,000 in 2026” is accurate or simply the result of different interpretations of the platform’s statistical rules.
Amid the controversy, entertainment lawyer Li Zhenwu from Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm shared his perspective. He explained that as the party responsible for publishing and certifying the data, a platform has a legal obligation to ensure that the information it releases is accurate, consistent, and transparent.
According to him, viewers often make consumption decisions—such as subscribing to a streaming service to watch a drama—based on claims of “records” or “official certifications” announced by the platform. If such information proves inaccurate, it could involve consumers’ rights to accurate information and fair transactions.
Therefore, if inconsistencies or contradictions appear in publicly released data claims, consumers have the right to request clarification from the platform.
For now, the debate between fans of Shine on Me and Pursuit of Jade continues on Chinese social media, while many viewers are waiting for an official explanation from the platform regarding the statistical rules behind these record claims.
