Trio of Korean Broadcasters Launch U.S. Streaming Service

The Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS have launched the video streaming platform Kocowa for U.S. audiences.

KCP Global—a joint venture between KBS, MBC and SBS—is behind the service, which is targeted to fans of Korean dramas and K-pop in the U.S. A mix of series, variety shows and music videos are being made available to U.S. audiences with high-quality translations in up to six hours after being broadcast in Korea.

Kocowa is available on a number of platforms, including PC, mobile and tablet. Later this year, the video service will also be available to stream on smart TVs. The daily plan, priced at $0.99 per day, offers fans full access to all content for one day, without any ads. The monthly subscription plan, priced at $6.99 per month, also enables unlimited access to all content after programming upload. The annual membership is priced at $69.99 and includes a discount for two months and surprise gifts.

“We are thrilled to bring the best of Korean TV to U.S. audiences with Kocowa,” said Junsik Kim, CEO of KCP. “Korean pop stars, such as PSY and BTS, have captured global audiences, forging interest in discovering more Korean stars and TV programs. Kocowa offers a single destination to discover the best of all types of Korean TV programs, from drama to variety. We not only offer the best of Korean TV, we also offer it very fast, with very high-quality translations. The programs become available in the U.S. within hours after airing in Korea.”