Nowadays, OTT platforms are gaining huge popularity among people.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, staying at home has increased, boosting the need for OTT services.
OTT refers to services that deliver various types of content through the internet.
Netflix, Watcha, and TVING are well-known examples.
Unlike traditional cable TV, users can choose what they want to watch at any time.
Multiple reasons explain the rapid Subscription cost growth of OTT services.
First, users can access many genres in one place, giving them more options.
Movies, dramas, and entertainment shows are easy to choose based on personal taste.
Also, compared to traditional paid broadcasting, OTT is relatively affordable.
The convenience of watching anytime and anywhere on smartphones or tablets is another advantage.
However, as subscription fees keep rising, more people feel financial pressure.
As a result, attention toward free services is increasing.
Free platforms supported by ads let people watch without cost.
This is especially attractive to users who care about budget.
FAST platforms are emerging as a new type of free streaming model.
KT recently introduced “Gi Live,” a FAST service that gained attention.
FAST is expected to become a new revenue model while the paid TV market stagnates.
The biggest advantage of free streaming is that there is no cost burden.
Another plus is the wide range of available programs.
The disadvantage is that ads are unavoidable.
In addition, the quality can be inferior to premium platforms.
OTT and free platforms are expected to grow further.
Ad-based free models may become even more popular among users.
Enjoying content without financial pressure is a strong advantage.
Finally, balancing high-quality OTT content with free service accessibility is important.
If both advantages are used properly, users can gain better experiences.
I look forward to seeing how the streaming industry develops in the future.