Recently, OTT services have become extremely popular with many viewers.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, staying at home has increased, boosting the need for OTT services.
OTT platforms offer multiple contents via the internet.
Netflix, Watcha, and TVING are well-known examples.
Different from cable TV, OTT lets users watch what they want, when they want.
Multiple reasons explain the rapid growth of OTT services.
First, users can access many genres in one place, giving them more options.
Films, series, and variety programs can be selected by preference.
In addition, OTT is cheaper than conventional subscription TV.
Being able to stream anywhere using mobile devices is also attractive.
Recently, increasing subscription prices have caused 부담 for many users.
Because of this, OTT services interest in free streaming services is growing.
Advertising-based services provide content at no charge.
This is especially attractive to users who care about budget.
FAST platforms are emerging as a new type of free streaming model.
An example is KT’s “Gi Live,” which attracted many users.
FAST is expected to become a new revenue model while the paid TV market stagnates.
The main benefit of free platforms is zero subscription fees.
It also offers various content, expanding user choice.
The disadvantage is that ads are unavoidable.
Some free services may offer lower-quality content.
In the future, both OTT and free streaming services will continue to evolve.
Advertising-supported services will likely attract more viewers.
Enjoying content without financial pressure is a strong advantage.
I believe harmony between paid and free services is essential.
If both advantages are used properly, users can gain better experiences.
Upcoming changes in OTT and free streaming are highly anticipated.