Netflix Takes Lead in Taiwan SVOD Market

Fueled by local dramas and Korean series, Netflix took a 21 percent share of Taiwan’s SVOD market in Q4 2021, according to data from Media Partners Asia.

By the end of 2021, there were 4.1 million paying SVOD customers in Taiwan. Netflix was out front with 850,000 subs. Disney+ grew to 300,000 subs, a 7 percent share of the market, just behind China’s iQIYI with a 9 percent share. Other key players include FriDay (FET), MyVideo (Taiwan Mobile) and KKTV.

Per MPA’s quarterly Taiwan Online Video Consumer Insights & Analytics report, premium video streaming in Taiwan reached 15 billion minutes during Q4, accounting for 33 percent of online video usage.

South Korean content accounted for 25 percent of SVOD video consumption, with American fare at 23 percent, local Taiwanese shows at 19 percent, China at 13 percent and Japan at 12 percent.

“A strong growth quarter from Netflix, Disney’s launch momentum and local content efforts from Netflix and iQIYI defined Taiwan’s Q4 in streaming,” said Vivek Couto, executive director of MPA. “Among the largest SVOD-based premium platforms, we’ve seen local content efforts pay off with Netflix’s Light the Night and iQIYI’s Danger Zone and Rainless Love in a Godless Land driving strong subscriber demand. As a result of original hits and popular acquired dramas, local content’s share of paid SVOD consumption has grown from under 8 percent in Q3 to 19 percent in Q4. Overall, Asian content categories, led by Korean and Taiwanese dominate demand, capturing 72 percent of premium video consumption. The larger Taiwanese premium video segment remains highly fragmented with over a dozen platforms competing for wallet, engagement and subscriber share.”