À̹ÌÁö È®´ë [Photo provided by LG U+]
LG U+, a Korean telecom carrier, said on Thursday it has entered into a partnership with Netflix, allowing the world¡¯s leading internet entertainment service into the living rooms of Korea via its IPTV set-top box.
Starting November 16, U+tv subscribers will be able to access the service with a push of the Netflix button on their LG U+ remote control or U+tv¡¯s home menu. The partnership will likely intensify the IPTV competition among wireless players.
The U.S. TV content giant, which entered Korea in 2016, had provided online streaming services available only on its website or a mobile app. It later partnered with local cable TV operator D¡¯Live, but a separate set-top box had to be installed to watch Netflix titles.
But with the latest partnership with LG U+, the current users of U+tv set-top box will have their set-top box automatically upgraded to enjoy Netflix. LG U+ will also ship a new remote control with the Netflix button to applicants.
About 1.7 million LG U+ IPTV subscribers can access Netflix now. And consumers can pay Netflix subscriptions through their LG U+ bill. Netflix subscription costs 10,000 won ($8.83).
Netflix has attracted 500,000 subscribers in Korea since 2016 and expects to increase its footprint with service availability on IPTV.
By Lee Sun-hee and Minu Kim
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]