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Mr. Hao Cao, Vice President of DouYu, commented, "Our revenue diversification strategy yielded strong results in 2024, showing a substantial shift in our revenue mix. Revenues from our innovative business, advertising and others grew by 63.6% for the year to RMB1.2 billion, accounting for 28% of our total revenues in 2024. Despite current profitability pressure, we expect that our planned structural cost optimizations and operating expense controls will improve our gross margin and narrow our net loss in 2025. Reinforcing our commitment to financial stability and shareholder returns, we declared our second US$300 million special cash dividend in January 2025. Moving forward, we will further strengthen our fundamentals and business resilience while pursuing growth opportunities to drive sustainable, long-term shareholder value."

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Total net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 12.3% to RMB1,136.0 million (US$155.6 million), compared with RMB1,296.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Livestreaming revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 28.4% to RMB730.9 million (US$100.1 million) from RMB1,020.8 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in both the number of total paying users and average revenue per paying user, as a result of continued macroeconomic softness and evolving user spending patterns.

Innovative business, advertising and other revenues (formerly known as advertising and other revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased by 47.2% to RMB405.1 million (US$55.5 million) from RMB275.2 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was primarily driven by higher revenues from our voice-based social networking service and game membership service.

Cost of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 8.8% to RMB1,066.2 million (US$ 146.1 million) from RMB1,169.7 million in the same period of 2023.

Revenue-sharing fees and content costs in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 9.3% to RMB896.2 million (US$122.8 million) from RMB988.6 million in the same period of 2023. For comparison purpose, we reclassified certain costs related to our innovative business from other costs to revenue-sharing fees for the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in content costs, as well as a decrease in revenue-sharing fees due to lower livestreaming revenues. The decrease was partially offset by increased revenue-sharing fees related to revenue growth in our innovative business.

Bandwidth costs in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 30.0% to RMB70.3 million (US$9.6 million) from RMB100.5 million in the same period of 2023. The decline was primarily due to a year-over-year decrease in peak bandwidth usage.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2024 was RMB69.8 million (US$9.6 million), compared with RMB126.2 million in the same period of 2023. The decline in gross profit was primarily driven by a faster decrease in livestreaming revenues relative to the cost of revenues. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 6.1%, compared with 9.7% in the same period of 2023.

Sales and marketing expenses in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 5.5% to RMB79.3 million (US$10.9 million) from RMB84.0 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in staff-related expenses.

Research and development expenses in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 42.2% to RMB34.2 million (US$4.7 million) from RMB59.1 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in staff-related expenses.

General and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased by 10.4% to RMB71.7 million (US$9.8 million) from RMB80.0 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was mainly attributable to decreases in staff-related expenses and provision for receivables. The decrease was partially offset by an expense related to our ongoing employee streamlining initiatives.

Loss from operations in the fourth quarter of 2024 was RMB183.5 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB120.4 million in the same period of 2023.

Adjusted loss from operations (non-GAAP), which excludes impairment loss of goodwill and intangible assets, was RMB108.1 million (US$14.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with RMB86.4 million in the same period of 2023.

Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2024 was RMB163.7 million (US$22.4 million), compared with RMB62.2 million in the same period of 2023.

Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP), which excludes net loss excluding share of (income) loss in equity method investments, impairment losses and fair value adjustments on investments and impairment loss of goodwill and intangible assets, was RMB68.8 million (US$9.4 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with RMB5.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS^[4] in the fourth quarter of 2024 were both RMB5.43 (US$0.74). Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS (non-GAAP) in the fourth quarter of 2024 were both RMB2.28 (US$0.31).

Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Total net revenues for the full year of 2024 were RMB4,270.8 million (US$585.1 million), compared with RMB5,530.4 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by the year-over-year decrease in livestreaming revenues, which was partially offset by the increase in innovative business, advertising and other revenues.

Gross profit for the full year of 2024 was RMB323.8 million (US$44.4 million), compared with RMB684.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Adjusted loss from operations (non-GAAP), which excludes impairment loss of goodwill and intangible assets, was RMB488.7 million (US$67.0 million) for the full year of 2024, compared with RMB130.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) for the full year of 2024, which excludes net loss excluding share of income (loss) in equity method investments, gain on disposal of investment, impairment losses and fair value adjustments on investments, and impairment loss of goodwill and intangible assets, was RMB239.9 million (US$32.9 million), compared with an adjusted net income (non-GAAP) of RMB154.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS for the full year of 2024 were both RMB9.65 (US$1.32). Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS (non-GAAP) for the full year 2024 were both RMB7.78 (US$1.07).

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and bank deposits

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, restricted cash in other non-current assets, and short-term and long-term bank deposits of RMB4,467.8 million (US$612.1 million), compared with RMB6,855.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a special cash dividend distribution of US$300 million and a US$20 million allocated to the share repurchase program.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call on March 14, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time (or 7:00 p.m. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

The replay will be accessible through March 21, 2025, by dialing the following numbers:

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.douyu.com.

About DouYu International Holdings Limited

Headquartered in Wuhan, China, DouYu International Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: DOYU) is a leading game-centric live streaming platform in China and a pioneer in the eSports value chain. DouYu operates its platform on both PC and mobile apps to bring users access to immersive and interactive games and entertainment livestreaming, a wide array of video and graphic contents, as well as opportunities to participate in community events and discussions. By nurturing a sustainable technology-based talent development system and relentlessly producing high-quality content, DouYu consistently delivers premium content through the integration of livestreaming, video, graphics, and virtual communities with a primary focus on games, especially on eSports. This enables DouYu to continuously enhance its user experience and pursue long-term healthy development. For more information, please see http://ir.douyu.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted loss from operations is calculated as net income (loss) adjusted for Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets. Adjusted net income (loss) is calculated as net income (loss) adjusted for share of loss (income) in equity method investments, gain on disposal of investment, impairment losses and fair value adjustments on investments, and impairment loss of goodwill and intangible assets. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to DouYu is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to DouYu adjusted for share of loss (income) in equity method investments, gain on disposal of investment, impairment losses and fair value adjustments on investments, and impairment loss of goodwill and intangible assets. Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ordinary share is non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ordinary share. The Company adjusted the impact of (i) share of loss (income) in equity method investments, (ii) gain on disposal of investment, (iii) impairment losses and fair value adjustments on investments, and (iv) impairment of goodwill and intangible assets to understand and evaluate the Company's core operating performance. The non-GAAP financial measures are presented to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's financial performance and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. As non-GAAP financial measures have material limitations as analytical metrics and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider non-GAAP financial measures as a substitute for, or superior to, such metrics in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Results" near the end of this release.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.2993 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2024, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized, or settled in U.S. dollars, at that rate on December 31, 2024, or at any other rate.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's results of operations and financial condition; the Company's business strategies and plans; general market conditions, in particular, the game live streaming market; the ability of the Company to retain and grow active and paying users; changes in general economic and business conditions in China; the impact of the COVID-19 to the Company's business operations and the economy in China and globally; any adverse changes in laws, regulations, rules, policies or guidelines applicable to the Company; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. The announced results of the fourth quarter and full year 2024 are preliminary and unaudited. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

In China:

In the United States:

Media Relations Contact

In China:

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SOURCE DouYu International Holdings Limited