how's the director earn money by launching the movie at youtube ???
tiagong youtube 1million viewcount few thousand US dollars ?
anyway this is not the main revenue ...
youku / sohu /qq these internet platforms pay 10-20 million (sing dollars equivalent not renminbi) for license to blockbuster china costume drama
second layer are the satelite tv stations
they recover their money through commercials
the drama production/investors would get the money before episode 1 air .... provided enough media platforms sign on the license
next layer are overseas tv stations and dvd sales