The comedic Northeast
Economic factors aside, the characteristics of Northeastern hosts - outgoing, frank and talkative - may be an even bigger factor behind their popularity.
"They are very different from those hosts from the South, who are gentle in speech and are sensitive about negative comments," Windy Dong, a netizen from East China's Anhui Province who enjoys watching live streams, told the Global Times.
"Hosts from the Northeast stream more often and have more range when it comes to content. When a host gets into a fight with the audience, he might starting singing a song, which eases tensions."
When talking about Northeastern folk culture, what first comes to most people's minds is comedy - from the sketch performances at every year's nationwide CCTV Spring Festival Evening Gala to online pop songs from more grassroots bands. It seems the comedic spirit flows through Northeastern Chinese's veins as everything is funnier when it comes out of the mouth of a Northeasterner.
Yang Tai, a professor at Liaoning University, once analyzed comedy in Northeastern culture in an essay saying, "It is not difficult to sense the optimism, generousness, humor and amusement in Northeastern folk culture. Such humor is often demonstrated in some straightforward and frank ways, which makes it distinctive from the folk culture of other regions."
As part of their culture, Northeastern Chinese often "reject styles and performances that are overly refined and polished… even serious dramas and tragedies have comedic elements added in Northeastern folk arts to better suit local preferences," Yang concluded.
A more diversified future
While showing off one's talents at singing or dance is one of the most popular forms of live streaming, Liu thinks hosts will have a hard time staying on top in the future if they continue with performances that are not different than what people can find in a theater.
Liu explained that live streaming may have gotten its start with these "talent shows," but as the industry has developed and content has become more diversified, audiences have begun to become more interested in ordinary people who may live a different life but share something in common with them spiritually.
As such he said that the most important key to a successful online broadcast is the interaction a host has with his or her audience.
"We have hosts who are professional singers, but even though they are extremely talented, they are only successful for the first few broadcasts. You need more than talent to keep attracting fans," Liu said, explaining that actively communicating with a host is far more interesting for the audience than sitting and passively watching someone singing or dancing.
When it comes to this, Northeastern hosts may have an advantage due to their openness and tendency towards being bold.
"However, different netizens do have various tastes and some do like cold beauties," Liu added.
