Let's discuss it after March 15th; our private domain channel falls into a gray area.

In late January 2026, a private domain marketing industry internal exchange conference was held in a certain city in Central China, with over a hundred related companies participating. Through an industry insider’s introduction, a reporter smoothly gained entry to the venue. During the event, many company representatives took the stage to speak and seek partners.

At the scene, the reporter learned that the so-called “online video production companies” who spoke on stage are a key part of the private domain marketing industry. These “online video producers” select products from pharmaceutical or health supplement companies, then produce a series of health lectures and videos based on these products—ranging from four or five episodes to hundreds. After production, the “video production companies” bundle the products and videos and sell them to private domain marketing firms, which then use various methods to attract customers, guiding consumers to social platform private scenes where courses are played for product marketing.

The medicines and health supplements chosen by these video production companies are purchased at very low costs but sold externally at very high prices.

Participant Mr. Jin: This bottle costs less than 20 yuan, but I set the price directly to 1,198 yuan. After posting the link, someone immediately bought it.

Over the past year, the State Administration for Market Regulation has taken serious action against scams targeting the elderly in the private domain sector. To understand the latest developments in private domain marketing, the reporter contacted a company called “DaHong International,” which is currently promoting a video titled “The Code of Life.” In marketing materials sent by Manager Liu from DaHong International, the reporter saw clearly that the first 20 episodes of this product video series have been completed, and the series has now updated to episode 15 of the second round. The main product promoted is an OTC medicine called “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Polysaccharide Peptide Oral Solution,” priced at 298 yuan per box, with a 90ml specification.

The materials describe “The Code of Life” as a course based on the “21st-century first therapy—cell regeneration therapy.” It claims that by taking “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Polysaccharide Peptide Oral Solution,” patients with various stubborn diseases can recover.

Cataracts, hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke… These difficult medical conditions that modern medicine still struggles to solve are claimed in the “The Code of Life” videos to be easily cured by taking “Huoyuan Tai.” Is this medicine really so miraculous? A search on the internet revealed shocking information about the indications of “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Polysaccharide Peptide Oral Solution.”

Indications: Used as an adjunct treatment for immune deficiency, recurrent respiratory infections, leukopenia, aplastic anemia, and tumors. It alleviates adverse reactions of hematopoietic system and gastrointestinal reactions caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The indications listed for “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Polysaccharide Peptide Oral Solution” are severely inconsistent with the exaggerated claims in the “The Code of Life” videos. How much is this product really worth? Further searches found no market price for the 90ml specification of “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Polysaccharide Peptide Oral Solution,” but another product, “Ganlu Polysaccharide Peptide Oral Solution (An Jia An),” with the same manufacturer, approval number, and drug code in a 100ml size, is priced at only 68 yuan.

A common auxiliary treatment drug is being falsely promoted with exaggerated or altered effects and sold at nearly five times the market price. To uncover the truth behind this, the reporter visited DaHong International’s office, where Manager Liu received him. At the start of the conversation, Liu unexpectedly mentioned the “3.15 Gala.”

DaHong International, the producer of “The Code of Life” videos, Manager Liu: If you’re planning to do anything, wait until after the “3.15 Gala.” We don’t know what will happen during this year’s event. The “3.15 Gala” is a barometer, and our private channel industry is in a gray area.

Liu emphasized that, as a business producing false courses and high-priced medicines to scam the elderly, they need to stay low-profile during this period to avoid attracting the attention of the “3.15 Gala.”

DaHong International, Manager Liu: Everyone is worried that the “3.15” evening show will expose our private groups. Actually, our industry can’t withstand scrutiny.

Facing the upcoming “3.15 Gala,” Liu explained her business strategy, advising against launching videos online now. Besides the “3.15 Gala,” the Spring Festival period is also unsuitable for private domain marketing.

DaHong International, Manager Liu: Wait until after the “3.15 Gala” to act, because we need to wait for the right timing. During the Spring Festival, children are at home, and they wouldn’t allow their elders to spend so much money on these products.

In the office, shelves display various health supplements and medicines. Liu explained that these are products previously promoted in their videos. To sell these ordinary products as “miracle drugs,” they put in a lot of effort.

Liu said that behind every scam targeting elderly consumers in online videos, there is a professional planning company helping the video producers craft “scam scripts.” To fully expose the entire private domain marketing scam, the reporter was introduced to Shengwei Cultural Media Co., Ltd., located in a northeastern city. Company leader Mr. Zhang explained the “standard process” of planning a private domain video online.

Mr. Zhong from Shengwei told the reporter that the key factor determining whether a video can sell products online is the “medical experts” featured in the video.

Mr. Zhong: Establish the authority of the teacher (expert), and once the public trusts them, whatever the teacher promotes, people will buy.

Since experts are so crucial, what kind of people can become the main speakers in these videos?

Mr. Zhong: In our view, the most important two words are “actor.” We write the script, and the teacher just acts it out. The professionalism is given by the script; the teacher just needs to speak convincingly. They don’t need to be real medical professionals—just good at acting.

Can identities be assigned at will? Not necessarily doctors—actors can do it? No medical knowledge, just reading scripts? Are all those experts with titles like “Disciples of Traditional Chinese Medicine” or “Master of Chinese Medicine” just actors?

Mr. Zhong: Not anymore. Now, the government regulates strictly, so we need the teachers to actually have medical licenses.

Mr. Zhong admitted that in the past, most of the “experts” in their videos were fake. Now, with tighter regulation of the private sector, they are starting to seek medical professionals with valid practicing licenses to record videos, but these titles still come from company-designed packaging.

He explained that titles like “Disciples of Traditional Chinese Medicine,” “President of the Society,” or “Expert Committee Member” are almost all bought with money. To verify this, the reporter visited several other video production and planning companies, receiving surprisingly consistent answers.

Aoying Culture Media, Mr. Liu: Customers want authoritative identities for teachers. Can real authoritative teachers do this? No, it’s all fake, all scams.

Given how brazen these video producers are in packaging fake “experts,” do the medical personnel featured in these videos know about the scams? The reporter wanted to see the recording process and meet the instructors, but they were told that due to the upcoming “3.15 Gala,” recording work would only resume after the event.

Shua Ba Culture Communication, Manager Qin: Especially now, big clients control the trend and understand everything. After the “3.15 Gala,” we will plan and shoot.

The reporter also contacted several so-called expert lecturers involved in recording videos, but they were highly cautious and refused recent meetings.

Despite all parties closely guarding against the “3.15” investigation, the reporter persisted and finally gained the trust of an “expert lecturer,” Ding Yuqiu, who agreed to meet.

Although in the videos, ophthalmologist Ding Yuqiu speaks convincingly, the reporter found that Ding holds a medical license for internal medicine, not ophthalmology. Why can an internist suddenly appear as an “eye expert” online?

Online video lecturer Ding Yuqiu: First, you need a medical license. Second, you need to speak well. Don’t worry about the “title”—that can be bought. Just pay the annual fee, join an association, and get a vice president position—that’s easy.

The reporter checked the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ “China Social Organization Government Service Platform” and found no registration record for the “Chinese Medical Doctor Association.” Consumers who don’t search online might never realize that the “Chinese Medical Doctor Association” Ding mentions is a non-existent organization.

Source | CCTV Finance

Review | Zhou Yang

Editor | Xu Xuan