Internet Streaming Media Netflix Is Set To Launch In South Korea In January 2016
After launching in Japan last week as its first Asian market, Netflix is reportedly launching in South Korea in January 2016. The Korea Times reported on Sunday that the internet streaming media giant is planning to collaborate with mobile carriers in South Korea in order to strategically map out its activities based on their markets.
"Netflix will make its debut in Korea in January 2016. The official announcement will be made sometime next week," says an unauthorized source who opted not to be identified. "Korean carriers and broadcasters are underway to discuss licensing their content to Netflix in Korea. For Netflix, the main issue is how to cut costs in content delivery and lower its spending for network usage."
In an article published on Monday, Slash Gear notes that Netflix's expansion will heighten the already existing competition with Amazon in terms of online streaming services. In fact, one week before Netflix's launch in Japan, Amazon has announced launching Prime Video service to the country by the end of September.
South Korea reportedly has the best network infrastructure in the world, which in turn will greatly benefit Netflix in their launch in the country. And with the media giant's partnership with South Korean mobile carriers, users may be looking at content delivery in an easier and cheaper manner, says another source.
"When you see more data traffic, then Netflix will pay more for the delivery of content," the source adds. "However, charges of its main services were low, and that's why Netflix needs substantial help from Korean carriers which operate networks. Netflix is on track to narrow differences over content licensing."
Apart from Japan and South Korea, Venture Beat noted on Sunday that Netflix also aims to reach Iceland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Italy and Spain and to become accessible to more than 200 countries by the end of 2016.
