The competition among the various free messaging apps like Viber, Hangouts, WeChat, etc, is surely heating up, as more and more features are added for every update. Line is not far behind as they’ve officially launched Line TV, a video service that is available within the messaging app itself. Featuring various music videos, dramas and TV shows, it functions more like YouTube’s video channels, rather than a video streaming service that will challenge the likes of Netflix, Huli, Amazon and the likes.
For its initial offering, Line TV has made available various video offerings from Thailand, Japan, and Korea, including the critically-acclaimed Thai teen drama Hormones, and videos from K-pop sensation Super Junior. They are not saying how extensive their video library will be, but they say that there will be three kinds of sourced content for future additions to the channel. They will be paying selected content providers that will be giving them exclusive license to their shows. They will also be featuring older content that will be then revenue-shared with their providers. Finally and eventually, Line will be creating their own content, which will most likely feature their sticker characters that already have their own ads and cartoon series in their kids video service that has been available in Japan.
For now, Line TV is free, but they are still evaluating on how their business model will eventually evolve. There are no banner ads for now, but there are pre-roll advertisements. Since Line has an in-app payment service, chances are they will eventually be using this to monetize the service for premium content later on.
Line TV is available both in-app and through the web as well with tv.line.me. With its growing userbase in Asia, the messaging app has also made its foray into other media like music, creating a venture to make music streaming services available in Japan, and later on, worldwide after it has recently acquired MixRadio from Microsoft.
VIA: TechCrunch
