TVing is about to pay for broadcasting… Naver membership customers are also upset

‘Tving’, a domestic online video service (OTT), will end its free service for live broadcasting of the Korea Professional Baseball (KBO) league. Users who have been receiving TV tickets through Naver Plus membership will also be able to watch the broadcast starting next month only if they upgrade their membership plan. As a result, there is an outcry among customers.

According to the industry on the 24th, TVING will hold an event to provide free KBO League live broadcast only until the end of this month. In addition, Naver announced in a Naver Plus membership notice the previous day, “On the 30th, free viewing of KBO League live broadcasts through unlimited TV broadcasting passes will end.”

As a result, users who have been using TVing’s broadcasting service through Naver Plus membership must upgrade their subscription to view the live broadcast. Currently, Naver Plus membership provides ‘unlimited broadcasting’ access to TVING, but in the future, you will have to subscribe to ▲Basic ▲Standard ▲Premium access passes.

The existing Naver Plus membership monthly fee was 4,900 won, but in order to watch Tving’s live baseball broadcast, you have to pay an additional 4,600 won per month (basic pass). Tving customers who are not Naver Plus membership users were able to watch the broadcast just by logging in to Tving, but after the free event ended, they had to subscribe to a plan.

However, TVing’s paid broadcast of KBO games was a planned process. A TVING official said, “The free KBO League live broadcast is part of a limited-time promotion commemorating the launch for all users of TVING,” and added, “We plan to provide videos such as KBO League highlights, major clips, as well as replays (VOD) for free in the future.” . Regarding this notice, a Naver official also explained, “It follows TVING’s decision.”

The provision of TVING services to Naver Plus membership was achieved through the first collaboration in January 2021 after the share exchange between Naver and CJ Group in 2020. At the time of the discussion, Naver discussed with CJ a plan to include TV viewing rights as part of the membership system’s Naver Plus service, and the benefits were finally added from March 2021.

However, complaints regarding rate plan upgrades are pouring in among users. Looking at one community, ▲”If you don’t upgrade from May 1st, you won’t be able to see it. It’s shameful.” ▲”(Naver Plus membership) is cheaper than Tving’s 5,500 won (advertising plan) plan, so it seems to have been blocked due to internal policy.” ▲”Just don’t upgrade. There were a series of opinions such as “Should I watch it on TV?” In addition, he said, ▲ “It’s the only way to watch (baseball broadcast)” and ▲ “It’s actually an impression that you have to pay 9,500 won to watch baseball.”

Confusion among users is also increasing due to the complex ticket structure. In the case of the unlimited TV broadcasting pass provided with Naver Plus membership, there are restrictions on viewing TVING original content and Paramount+, and it was confirmed that many customers were not aware of this.

An industry official said, “There are complexities due to the diverse OTT usage rights structure and rate plan. In addition, (TVing) received strong criticism from users after discovering deficiencies in the early stages of broadcasting, and if it becomes a paid service, it will be even more hostile (to users).” “I think I will buy it,” he said.

Previously, TVing CEO Joo-hee Choi responded to user complaints at a press conference commemorating the broadcast of the KBO League held last month, saying, “We painfully accept the criticism that it is less than free,” and added, “With a greater sense of responsibility, we will definitely develop into a proper service this season.” It has been emphasized.