Seoul, South Korea – Online video streaming platforms (OTTs) are increasingly collaborating to offer more comprehensive content libraries and enhance user experiences. These partnerships are spanning various industries, from telecommunications to e-commerce.

LG U+ and Bilibili

LG U+ announced on November 26th that its IPTV service, U+tv, will be the first in Korea to exclusively offer popular content from the Chinese OTT platform Bilibili. Often referred to as "China's YouTube," Bilibili boasts over 300 million monthly active users, with 80% of its user base aged between 18 and 35. Starting November 27th, U+tv subscribers will have access to over 300 titles featuring popular IPs.

LG U+ has previously introduced content from various global platforms such as Paramount, Amazon Prime, WOWOW in Japan, and Viaplay in Sweden, demonstrating its commitment to diversifying its content offerings.

Apple TV+ and Tving

Tving, a major South Korean OTT platform, announced on November 25th that it will be partnering with Apple TV+ to launch an "Apple TV+ Brand Zone" within its platform starting from December 10th. This collaboration will allow Tving subscribers to access popular Apple TV+ original series, such as "Pachinko." Tving emphasized that this partnership aims to strengthen its platform's competitiveness.

Netflix and Naver Membership Plus

Starting November 26th, Naver Plus members can now enjoy Netflix's ad-supported standard plan at no additional cost. This marks a significant move by Naver, South Korea's largest IT platform, as it enters into a partnership with a global streaming giant. The move is seen as an attempt by Naver to gain a competitive edge over rivals like Coupang in the domestic online shopping market.

Netflix stated that this collaboration aims to enhance user convenience and benefits, while also increasing the value of Naver Plus memberships.

Overall

These collaborations highlight the growing trend of OTT platforms partnering to expand their content libraries and attract a wider audience. By offering a more diverse range of content, these platforms aim to increase user satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, these partnerships can help smaller platforms gain access to a larger audience and compete more effectively with global giants like Netflix.