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| LG Uplus said Sunday it had signed an exclusive partnership with Disney to serve as the network operator for its over-the-top (OTT) media service set to launch Nov. 12. Courtesy of LG Uplus |
By Kim Bo-eun
LG Uplus signed an exclusive partnership with Disney to serve as the network operator for the U.S. entertainment conglomerate's over-the-top (OTT) media service in Korea set to launch Nov. 12, the LG affiliate said Sunday. The tie-up will strengthen LG Uplus' lineup of paid content offered via TV and mobile phones.
All eyes have been on which network operator Disney would partner with, given both LG and KT had stated they were in talks with the U.S. entertainment giant over the launch of Disney Plus here.
Disney Plus content will be available via LG Uplus' internet protocol TV (IPTV) and mobile services, as well as LG Hello Vision's cable TV service. LG Uplus said it plans to launch a mobile phone plan which will cover subscriptions for Disney Plus content.
The LG affiliate is seeking to increase its share of the market for paid content through the latest partnership. LG Uplus will be able to diversify its paid content, since Disney provides online streaming of contents of its affiliates including Pixar, National Geographic and Marvel Entertainment. Disney Plus will also feature original content, including programs produced in Korea. The U.S. company set up a partnership with local content producer Studio & New in April over the supply of content for the next five years.
The launch of Disney's service here is set to shake up the local OTT market, currently dominated by Netflix with a 40 percent share. Netflix had over 9 million monthly active users as of July, almost triple the size of No. 2 player Wavve's 3.2 million.
The global OTT service is set to become Netflix's strongest rival, given the extensive scale of intellectual property it holds. Disney Plus is set to provide more than 7,500 TV series and over 500 films, as well as newer content.
Disney Plus has seen rapid growth globally, with the number of its paid subscribers surpassing 60.5 million since its launch in November 2019.
"We expect LG Uplus' capabilities in the media service business and Disney's content to create synergy," Chung Sue-hyun, head of the consumer division at LG Uplus was quoted as saying in a press release.
Disney Plus will be available for 9,900 won a month, or 99,000 won for an annual subscription.
LG's telecom affiliate was also the first to join hands with Netflix in November 2018. Since striking the partnership with Netflix, LG Uplus moved to second place in the IPTV market from third.
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