[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] South Korean over-the-top (OTT) streaming service Tving is set to restrict account sharing, limiting access to family members only, similar to Netflix’s policy.
According to a recent notice sent to users, Tving announced that starting April 2, only the account owner will be allowed to watch content, with an exception for members of the same household. Currently, Tving does not restrict multiple users from accessing a single account across different locations or devices, but this new policy aims to enforce such limitations.
Under the new policy, Tving users will be required to register a primary device, such as a smart TV, as their "designated device." Only users streaming from this device will be considered part of the same household.
If an account is accessed from an internet connection with a different IP address, Tving will prompt the user to verify their identity. If verification fails, access will be restricted under the assumption that the account is being used by someone outside the household.
Industry experts suggest that Tving's decision to crack down on account sharing is an effort to improve profitability. While expanding its user base was crucial in the early stages of the service, the focus has now shifted to securing sustainable revenue as the OTT market stabilizes.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
