Tokyo Olympic Live Streaming OTT, 3 Companies 3 Colors Strategy to Attract Viewers

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Portal platforms and online video service (OTT) providers that secured the broadcasting rights for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have launched viewer-attracting strategies by leveraging the unique features and content of each platform with differentiated approaches.

According to the industry on the 19th, Naver Sports, which entered 'Olympic Special Mode' with the opening of a special page on the 15th, will provide live broadcasts of matches and major match VOD content from the opening. On the special pages for mobile and PC (home, news, schedule, medal sections), they plan to operate major match news with 33 issue cards by sport and special templates.

In particular, Naver utilizes the strength of being the largest domestic portal company by actively using its search service for cheering on athletes. They prepared video content introducing all 232 national team members, creating a space where users can cheer for each athlete. The cheering service uses voice search technology developed with new technology. It supports a live talk function for each match, allowing real-time cheering while watching live broadcasts, and also provides match record data (schedule, results, medals, rankings).

A Naver official said, "We have planned various services to encourage active user participation, such as awarding stamps and Olympic points according to cheering, and providing Naver Pay upon mission success."

Wave, as an OTT alliance platform of the three terrestrial broadcasters, features 'authentic broadcasting.' It provides live broadcasts of matches on four channels including KBS 1·2TV, MBC, and SBS, as well as replays of major matches and highlight videos.

The special page includes a corner where users can watch Olympic-related video content along with sports variety shows, dramas, and movies owned by Wave.

Entertainment, documentary, and interview programs featuring Olympic athletes are also gathered in one place. Wave stated, "We are preparing differentiated services by utilizing the abundant sports-related content that Wave possesses."

AfricanTV, which secured the Olympic broadcasting rights for the third consecutive time, fully utilizes the strengths of a one-person media platform. BJs' 'biased broadcasting' is a representative content of AfricanTV. Unique broadcasts by sports experts and current commentators such as soccer commentator Park Moon-sung (BJ Dalsune Live), BJ Gamst, soccer commentator Lee Joo-heon (Eastar Lee Joo-heon), and BJ Caster An are anticipated.

Events for viewers are also prepared. They plan to present various events such as official Olympic broadcast viewing certification events on AfricanTV, predicting the final ranking of the South Korean national team at the Olympics, guessing the final number of gold medals won, and predicting outcomes of ball games (soccer, baseball, volleyball, handball).

An AfricanTV official said, "Based on the know-how and experience of a one-person media platform, we plan to create a space for communication and empathy where viewers and BJs can cheer and enjoy together."