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 is a service that provides diverse media through online networks.
Netflix, Watcha, and TVING are well-known Free streaming examples.
Different from cable TV, OTT lets users watch what they want, when they want.
Multiple reasons explain the rapid growth of OTT services.
It allows people to enjoy different genres from a single service.
Movies, dramas, and entertainment shows are easy to choose based on personal taste.
Also, compared to traditional paid broadcasting, OTT is relatively affordable.
Watching on phones or tablets anytime is a major benefit.
However, as subscription fees keep rising, more people feel financial pressure.
Therefore, many viewers are turning to free streaming platforms.
Free platforms supported by ads let people watch without cost.
It is appealing to people sensitive to expenses.
Recently, FAST services have gained attention as an example of ad-based streaming.
KT recently introduced “Gi Live,” a FAST service that gained attention.
As the traditional market slows, FAST is becoming a new profit model.
The main benefit of free platforms is zero subscription fees.
It allows access to many contents, increasing selection options.
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.
Being able to watch without cost is highly appealing.
I believe harmony between paid and free services is essential.
Blending both models offers better choices to viewers.
I look forward to seeing how the streaming industry develops in the future.