KT Unveils AI Solution 'Magic Platform' for Media Business: "Competing on Quality" (Comprehensive)

Kim Hun-bae Executive Director "No Boundaries Between OTT and Other Areas"
AI Technology Across Media Business... Also Features Selective Viewing
ENA Focuses on Entertainment, Studio Genie on Drama

KT has introduced the industry's first business-to-business (B2B) solution that analyzes videos and generates content using artificial intelligence (AI) in the internet broadcasting (IPTV) sector. KT expressed its ambition to break down barriers with online video services (OTT) alongside its IPTV business differentiation strategy of 'competing with quality.'

On the morning of the 29th, Kim Hoon-bae, Executive Vice President and Head of KT Media Platform Business Division, is announcing KT Group's new media and content business strategy.
Photo by Hwang Seo-yul chestnut@

On the 29th, KT held a press conference at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun with Skylife TV and KT Studio Genie to introduce the KT Group's new media and content business strategy. In particular, the plan is to integrate AI technology across the media business to provide customized services to customers. Kim Hun-bae, Executive Vice President and Head of KT Media Platform Business Division, stated, "Due to the nature of IPTV, AI will improve image quality, provide real-time translation, and offer summarization functions at moments unknown to customers, preparing differentiated features to compete with quality."

He added, "Currently, IPTV is in the wired domain, but a situation will come where it can be freely used on mobile and tablets. Although regulations prevent overcoming barriers with OTT, once resolved, I believe the distinction between IPTV and OTT domains will disappear." KT has not pursued OTT business since selling its OTT service 'Season' and is strengthening mobile IPTV strategies by offering SNS functions using mobile on Genie TV.

Only Watching 'I am Solo' Ok-soon... Media Business AX

The 'Magic Platform' introduced that day is an AI content solution providing customer-tailored functions. In the second half of this year, it plans to launch an ‘AI Selective Viewing’ feature that allows users to select and watch only specific people, songs, or dance scenes using AI.

For example, when watching the VOD of 'I am Solo' on channels ENA and SBS Plus, if you select 'only Ok-soon' on the screen, thumbnails of scenes featuring only Ok-soon from that episode will appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to choose and watch those scenes.

KT plans to make it easy for operators without AI infrastructure to use by creating it in a website format and providing certain functions as API solutions to support customized services.

An 'On-device' AI set-top box is also scheduled to be unveiled in the second half of this year. Previously, service updates such as subtitle translation had to be done on the server side, but now the set-top box will autonomously update the necessary service content.

KT Group plans to undertake AI transformation (AX) across the entire media business. KT is currently developing a model to predict drama hits using AI for content production investment and is applying AI capabilities to upscaling (image enhancement), movie poster design tailored to TV screen sizes, marketing phrase creation through generative AI, and broadcast transmission quality monitoring.

One of the Magic Platform features is the 'AI Object Book,' which reads 'Millie's Library' e-books using AI technology. AI Object Book synthesizes dubbing voices at KT AI Voice Studio from Millie's Library e-books and completes videos by adding visuals matching key extracted keywords and background music created by Genie Music's generative AI. This feature will be available not only on Millie's Library but also on Genie TV starting next month.

Synergy Effect of 12 Group Companies... Strengthening Content with a 'Dual-Wing Strategy'

KT Group's media affiliates consist of 12 companies, including ▲original IP (StoryWiz, Millie's Library) ▲content planning and production (KT Studio Genie) ▲content planning and channel operation (skyTV) ▲content platforms (Genie TV, KT Skylife, HCN, RT Media) ▲OTT (Genie Music) ▲content distribution and advertising (KT Alpha, Nasmedia, PlayD, KTis).

KT Group's media subscribers number 13 million households, and as of last year, the group's pure content sales totaled 640 billion KRW, a 26% increase from the previous year.

KT plans to maximize production capabilities and achieve results through a three-year K-content 'dual-wing strategy,' with skyTV handling variety shows and KT Studio Genie managing dramas. This year, skyTV will air 12 variety programs, including 'Baek Jong-won's Les Mis?rables.' To mark skyTV's 20th anniversary, the new slogan for the ENA channel, 'Everyday New ENA,' was introduced. The slogan was produced using the first voice of 'Ena,' an AI voice developed based on KT's AI Voice Studio service.

KT Studio Genie announced the Genie's Next strategy to enter overseas markets based on original intellectual property (IP). They have signed agreements with overseas production companies for localization of IPs such as 'Good Job' and 'Day of Abduction,' and are discussing remake productions of 'The Villain's Diary' in Mongolia and other countries. The grand prize-winning work of KT Studio Genie's first series contest, 'Parole Officer Lee Han-shin' (aired on tvN), and other self-planned original IPs will also be fully dramatized.

The lineup of 14 original dramas, including 'Crash' starring Lee Min-ki, Kwak Sun-young, and Heo Sung-tae, premiering on the 13th of next month, and 'Your Honor' starring Son Hyun-joo and Kim Myung-min, was also unveiled. Kim Cheol-yeon, CEO of KT Studio Genie, said, "We will pursue an One Source Multi Use (OSMU) strategy and plan to launch a commerce business based on IP next year."

Head Kim Hun-bae said, "The media business, along with telecommunications and AI, is one of KT's three core businesses and a pivotal business that will lead the future of KT Group. KT will continue to lead the market by adding unparalleled ‘AI technology’ on top of the media value chain based on group synergy." He emphasized, "As an AI innovation partner, we will join hands with various partners who want to collaborate and take the lead in advancing Korea's media content industry and providing customers with a better media life."