알파경제 - Starting from the 1st, ‘Tving’ will provide live broadcasts of domestic Korean Baseball League only to paid members.

(Photo= Yonhap news)

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Minyoung] Online video service (OTT) "TVing" will provide live broadcasts of domestic Korean Baseball League games only to paid members from the 1st. Until now, TVing has allowed users to watch live Korean Baseball League broadcasts as long as they are registered as members, but from this day on, at least 5,500 won per month (advertisements.) Domestic Korean Baseball League live broadcasting service is available only when gold standard is paid. Highlight video contents, not live broadcasts, are available as before.

Earlier in March this year, CJ ENM, the largest shareholder of TVing, has secured online broadcasting rights for a total of 135 billion won over three years with the KBO (Korea Baseball Organization). Compared to the previous contract (KRW 110 billion over the past five years) signed by the telecommunications and portal consortium (Naver, Kakao, KT, LG Uplus, and SK Broadband), which had broadcasting rights for the past five years, it pays more than twice the annual average amount.

Unlike online broadcasts, TV broadcasts through terrestrial and sports channels can continue to be watched free of charge as before.

알파경제 Kim Minyoung (kimmy@alphabiz.co.kr)