afreecaTV

AfreecaTV
Type of site
 Video hosting service, Video streaming service
Available in Korean
Headquarters South Korea
Parent AfreecaTV Co., Ltd. (2011-)
Nowcom (2005-2011)
Website http://www.afreeca.com
Alexa rank Negative increase 3,090 (April 2014)[1]
Registration Available
Launched 2005-05-11
Current status Active

AfreecaTV (Korean: 아프리카TV, short for 'Any FREE broadCasting')(KRX: 067160) is a P2P technology-based video streaming service. It is now owned and operated by AfreecaTV Co., Ltd. in South Korea after Nowcom's AfreecaTV Co.,Ltd and ZettaMedia split in 2011.[2]

Overview

AfreecaTV initially started as a W beta service on May 11, 2005 and was officially named "AFREECA” on March 9, 2006. The site mainly re-transmits TV channels, but also allows users to upload their own videos and shows. Functions such as broadcasting, viewing, channel listing, live chatting, and discussion boards are provided. Users are required to install 'Afreeca Player' for grid delivery. Independent broadcasters called Broadcasting Jockeys (BJs) deliver live broadcasts to viewers, who can add them to their list of favorite channels using an Afreeca Player tool. Some channels have tens of thousands of viewers at any given time. Paid services such as quick views or channel relays allow BJs additional sources of revenue.

The platform itself ranges anywhere from TV broadcasts, live video game broadcasts, taxi driver monitoring, artist performances,[3] and personal daily-life video blogs and shows for actresses and professional broadcasters.

The head of Afreeca's parent company Nowcom, Mun Yong-sik, was arrested in 2008 for illegally distributing copyrighted films. Some alleged the arrest was politically motivated due to Afreeca being used by protesters to coordinate.[4]

On September 27, 2012, afreecaTV English was released on the Google Play store.

Social impact

One example of expansion of Afreeca's role is the hosting of a live talk session with Mayor Park of Seoul, broadcast live online and via mobile on Afreeca TV.[5] He used the platform as a way to conduct a community scanning forum to collect public opinions and allow bloggers with various areas of expertise to participate in the dialogue. The bloggers were able to address the problems facing Seoul and propose solutions in their areas of expertise, while also exchanging ideas with Mayor Park in an in-depth discussion on the administration of the Seoul municipal government. Depending on rising of power of Afreeca TV, many Idol Groups participate in Afreeca TV for their fans, for example, Nine Muses.[6]

Controversy

There have been many social problems with Afreeca TV such as offers for sexual favors[7] and abasement of disabled individuals.[8] Many BJs were involved in these incidents, and they were punished by managers of Afreeca TV by suspension of their own IDs. Due to such problems, mass media in South Korea have shown concern about the effects of personal broadcasting platforms.[9]

eSports

Afreeca picked up the SBENU StarCraft II team on January 23, 2016 and is expected to participate in Proleague.[10] Previously, they also sponsored a League of Legends proteam.

Afreeca also announced on January 23, 2016 that they would be sponsoring two seasons of Brood War tournaments.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Afreeca.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. ↑ "Nowcom Will Create "ZettaMedia" for Web Storage Business". Digital Daily. 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
  3. ↑ "Sung Yuri Appears on Afreeca TV". CJ E&M enewsWorld. 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  4. ↑ Jung Hyo-sik, Lee Min-a (18 June 2008). "Afreeca head accused of pirating". Joongang Daily. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Seoul City meetings open to public". koreaherald.com. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  6. ↑ 수정, 박 (2015-12-04). "나인뮤지스, 아프리카TV에서 14일간 특별한 데이트..털털 매력 생중계".
  7. ↑ choi, young kyung. "자친구 성상납 논란에 휩싸인 아프리카TV 인기BJ". Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  8. ↑ lee, seul ki. "다시 고개든 '장애인 비하' 1인 미디어". Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  9. ↑ "방심위, 아프리카티비 음란방송 BJ 퇴출…심의 대상 BJ "거의 선비방송" 못마땅". 2015-08-27. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  10. ↑ "[취재] 이선종 감독 "아프리카 프릭스로 새출발 하게 되어 정말 기쁘다"". 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  11. ↑ "Afreeca to sponsor 2 BW Tournaments in 2016". 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2016-01-26.

External links

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