Over One Million Korean Internet TV subscribers in Nine Months
In Korea after a mere nine months, Internet protocol television services (IPTV) has attracted an amazing 1 million subscribers according to the Korea Digital Media Industry Association.
The number of Korean subscribers to real time Internet protocol television (IPTV) reached the impressive milestone aided by the expansion of infrastructure and improved service quality, a trade association said Friday, Yonhap News reported.
According to the Korea Digital Media Industry Association, the country’s three IPTV service providers, KT Corp, SK Broadband Co. and LG Dacom Corp achieved the landmark on Tuesday, just nine months after the commercial service of IPTV had begun.
The IPTV service sends television and movie content in real time through broadband Internet networks instead of using radio frequency thro ariels or satellite signals as traditional TV does, and also offers video on demand (VOD) services. Including VOD subscribers, the number of IPTV viewers totaled 2.01 million as of Tuesday, the association said. VOD service took off before the start of real time IPTV service in January, when the assembly passed the law to ease laws on providing real-time broadcasting through Internet connections.
So what made IPTV so popular in such a short time? The KDMIA credits improved service quality and expanded infrastructure.
“A television was perceived nothing but as an ‘idiot box’ in the past,” Kim said. “But now it isn’t, at least not after it has been digitalized with IPTV service. A television could even be a ‘smart box’ if utilizing all the developed services offered.”
Strangely enough, cable television in Korea took over four years to reach the million mark. Showing that tv delivery tastes differ around the world.
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