The use of AI to broadcast news on television has sparked intense debate among netizens. Following the emergence of AI anchors in live streams and short videos, Hunan Broadcasting Group's recent deployment of AI for television news delivery has attracted widespread attention. AI anchors are now being used in programs such as news updates and weather forecasts, quickly becoming a trending topic online. While many marvel at the technological advancement, concerns have been raised about AI replacing human broadcasters, with critics pointing to a lack of genuine emotion and human warmth. In a Sina Weibo poll, 39.3% of participants supported the use of AI anchors, while 45.9% believed human anchors are irreplaceable.

Behind Hunan Broadcasting's push for AI news delivery may be considerations for cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Two of its listed subsidiaries, Mango Excellent Media and TVzone Media, both experienced a sharp decline in net profit for the first quarter of this year. Notably, TVzone Media's non-GAAP net profit plummeted by 6,539.19% year-on-year.

Data shows that in 2025, Mango TV faced the awkward situation of increasing membership numbers without corresponding revenue growth. Executives from Mango Excellent Media stated that the platform's membership pricing strategy would be dynamically optimized based on market conditions.

The controversy over using AI for television news has intensified, with nearly half of netizens expressing opposition. In a previous program, Hunan TV host Wang Han commented on AI anchors, noting that they require no makeup, make no mistakes, and can work 24 hours a day. However, he added, "Our audience consists of human beings. When they see an AI, the level of acceptance and emotional interaction might still be areas where we [human hosts] have a slight advantage." Shortly after these remarks, Hunan Broadcasting's AI anchors began their duties.

Reports indicate that since May of this year, Hunan Economic Television's "Economic News" program has officially introduced AI anchors named "Sheng Sheng" and "Shuang Shuang," utilizing them for segments such as news briefings and weather forecasts. During broadcasts, an "AI Generated" label is displayed in the upper right corner, with AI-directed automatic scene switching.

According to information shared by Gong Zhengwen, Chairman of Hunan Broadcasting System, at the 13th China Internet Audio-Visual Conference, the group's self-developed "Mango Large Model" has incubated over 80 intelligent agents applied across more than 30 programs, improving production efficiency by over 30%.

However, public opinion on AI-delivered news remains divided. Some viewers find the practice unsettling, expressing concerns about AI replacing human jobs and questioning the authenticity of AI-presented news. Others acknowledge AI as an inevitable trend but hope for more natural designs that avoid excessive anthropomorphism.

One netizen remarked, "I simply don't want to watch these artificial beings. Can they feel moved when reporting charitable news? Can they express joy when covering technological advances? Can they convey national pride when discussing sports? News is more than just information; we also seek the emotional resonance that comes from human storytelling."

In a poll conducted by Sina Technology on Weibo, 39.3% of respondents prioritized efficiency, believing AI technology could significantly reduce costs. Conversely, 45.9% argued that human anchors are irreplaceable, emphasizing the need for genuine emotion in news delivery. Approximately 14.8% remained neutral, adopting a wait-and-see approach toward technological developments.

An industry insider also voiced opposition to Hunan Broadcasting's pioneering of this "innovation," cautioning against excessive AI integration in news production by mainstream public media. The insider stated, "At a time when public anxiety about AI competing with humans for jobs is high, Hunan Broadcasting's example warrants particular caution."

With both listed subsidiaries reporting steep profit declines, the motivation behind Hunan Broadcasting's AI push appears geared toward cost-cutting and efficiency gains. As indicated by Chairman Gong Zhengwen, the aggressive adoption of AI anchors is indeed driven by considerations for reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.

Public records show that Hunan Broadcasting System owns two listed companies: Mango Excellent Media and TVzone Media. However, both companies reported disappointing financial results for the first quarter of this year.

Mango Excellent Media reported revenue of 13.813 billion yuan for 2025, down 1.89% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was 1.227 billion yuan, a decrease of 10.06%, while non-GAAP net profit fell 29.93% to 1.152 billion yuan. Specifically, revenue from Mango TV's internet video business declined by 0.52%, and content e-commerce revenue dropped by 13.86%.

Data reveals that Mango TV's membership base reached 75.6 million in 2025, but annual membership revenue amounted to only 4.646 billion yuan. In contrast, the platform had 73.31 million members in 2024, generating 5.148 billion yuan in membership revenue. This indicates that while membership numbers grew, revenue declined, with average revenue per user falling from 70.22 yuan to 61.46 yuan.

Performance in the first quarter of this year showed limited improvement. Mango Excellent Media reported revenue of 3.084 billion yuan, up 6.35% year-on-year, but net profit attributable to shareholders was 199 million yuan, a sharp decline of 47.37%.

Faced with membership growth that does not translate into revenue growth, Mango Excellent Media may consider raising membership prices. During a recent earnings conference, when asked about potential price adjustments, Zhang Zhihong, Vice General Manager, CFO, and Board Secretary of Mango Excellent Media, stated that the current focus is on safeguarding user rights and fostering healthy market development through product service upgrades and experience optimization. Pricing strategies will be reasonably and dynamically adjusted according to market conditions.

TVzone Media disclosed in its first-quarter financial report that operating revenue reached 1.077 billion yuan, an increase of 16.73% year-on-year. However, net profit attributable to shareholders showed a loss of 92.6485 million yuan, compared to a profit of 3.0152 million yuan in the same period last year, representing a plunge of 3,172.74%. Non-GAAP net profit was a loss of 91.6987 million yuan, down 6,539.19% from a profit of 1.4241 million yuan a year earlier.

TVzone Media attributed the profit decline to short-term fluctuations in secondary market stock prices, which reduced the fair value of its held tradable financial assets, significantly impacting current profits.

Given the substantial profit declines at both listed subsidiaries, Hunan Broadcasting's vigorous promotion of AI technology to cut costs and enhance efficiency comes as no surprise.