Lots of college students who are preparing for the next semester are looking back on their vacation. Some students may have studied things they had no time for during the past semester, others may have traveled domestically or abroad, and others may have spent their time watching Netflix and enjoying the air-conditioning in bed to escape the scorching hot summer. In this article, CBT will cover Over the Top (OTT), which refers to online services where people can pick from a variety of interesting TV programs to watch. Why has it become so popular? Which OTT programs suits which people? Let’s find out. -Ed


  OTT is a new way for consumers to access movies and dramas. The word ‘Top’ in the full name ‘Over the Top’ refers to a traditional media market as well as a cable TV box. The OTT market has grown enough to threaten the traditional media markets, and big global enterprises are jumping into this new business. OTT is currently the hottest trend in the media industry.

  The previous OTT services were limited to just providing premium contents such as movies and TV programs made by movie companies or broadcasting stations in VOD format, but with the integration of the fourth industrial revolution technology, not only can anyone easily create content and broadcast it live, but OTT is also developing into a new business that creates revenue by making movies, dramas, performances, and even music programs. OTT, which offers a variety of contents as well as easy access, is now a worldwide craze.

  Why did OTT become a trend? Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) said, “Because the existing broadcasting companies provide particular programs at a fixed time, it has the flaw that audiences are tied to air times. However, OTT can be viewed after searching contents that the user is interested in. In the mobile era, people can now watch contents whenever they want. In the future, OTT will be even more popular with 5G.”

  Watchaplay and Netflix are familiar brands of OTT, and global enterprises such as Disney and Apple will also introduce new OTT services. HBO, a cable channel in the U.S., will release an OTT service named HBO MAX in 2020. Media companies and IT companies are rushing to enter the OTT market. As the OTT market grows, many services are being created and consumers are agonizing over which options to choose. The most important things to remember are the benefits of each service and choosing   services that are suitable to the user’s needs.

  The leader of OTT is Netflix. Netflix started its online video streaming service in 2007 after starting up a DVD rental business in the U.S. in 1987, and it is currently operating all around the world. Netflix is a drama-focused OTT service and allows up to four devices per account to connect at the same time. Netflix is working hard to produce new content as well. Netflix’s self-produced original contents can be found under the logo ‘N’. Among the original Netflix shows for Korean users, there is Okja and Persona, and there are overseas dramas like Stranger Things. Netflix, a foreign company, provides local contents targeting customers in the respective countries it serves. In the case of the recently ended local dramas Asadal Chronicles, Abyss and Aide, episodes had been uploaded once a week during the airing period. Netflix’s pricing system depends on the video quality and the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected. The basic rate, which costs 9,500 won a month, has 480p resolution and only one person can connect. Standard rate, which costs 12,500 won, has HD resolution and can have up to two simultaneous connections, while premium rate can have up to four simultaneous connections and costs 14,500 won. Although Netflix has a higher price range than other OTT services, it has a higher preference because it allows simultaneous connections.

  In Korea, there is Watchaplay. Watchaplay is a Korean venture company which invented a recommendation program called Watcha. The program recommends movies by analyzing the reviews of users. This analyzing is also utilized for Watchaplay. It contains categories such as Life, Calm, Fierce, Pitiful, and Muk-bang, which are broadcasts in which a host eats large amounts of foods. However, Watchaplay doesn’t have original content, so it only provides content and doesn’t produce it. It has various programs that are only available on Watchaplay among OTT services in Korea. For example, there is the British drama The Little Drummer Girl directed by Park Chan-wook. WatchaPlay can be enjoyed at 7,900 won, which is cheaper than Netflix. However, there is a weakness that Watchaplay only offers 720p resolution.

  Oksusu is also a domestic OTT. This is a service operated by SKT, a telecommunications company in Korea. While WatchaPlay and Netflix focus on films and dramas, Oksusu focuses on providing internal broadcasting content. Also, it offers VOD or clips categorized by character or theme so that users can replay and preview various programs. Oksusu also offers Oksusu Original, which is just content Oksusu created. It costs 3,000 won a month for basic and is available at 12,900 won for premium. Also, SKT users can get a discount.

  Tving is a service that CJ E&M is currently operating as an OTT. Like Oksusu, it offers terrestrial broadcasting and comprehensive cable broadcasting. It also offers a 4k UHD service for applicable TVs. Since both Tving and tvN are subsidiaries of CJ E&M, popular series such as Spain Boarding House, Yoon’s Kitchen, and Encyclopedia of Useless Facts are only available on the platforms of Tving or OTT cooperating with Tving. Also, there is the ‘Watch the whole series’ option where users can watch the popular drama or the entertainment programs of tvN or Tving.

  A few years ago, people used the phrase, ‘Don’t miss it.’ They went home to watch the program at a specific time even if it meant shirking a duty. However, the phrase ‘Watch the whole series’ has become the top trend instead of ‘Don’t miss it’ because of the appearance of OTT. People can enjoy a show without interruption after work because it is possible to watch the same contents through an OTT service. ‘Cord-cutting’ has become common because people don’t need mediums like TVs, which need a lot of space. Cord-cutting means getting rid of cables and it refers to people who don’t use cable TV any longer. OTT’s popularity is likely to continue with more users joining every day. In the ocean of OTT services, the consumers have the luxury of choosing among many services. CBT hopes that this article relieves your worries and broadens your cultural life.

By Lee Dong-ah | da39@cbnu.ac.kr
By Jung Jin-ju | asd030@cbnu.ac.kr
By Yoo Jin-kyu | jk37@cbnu.ac.kr