South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM Co. is linking up with major free streaming services in North America to expand accessibility for global fans of K-content to supply content to Tubi and the Roku Channel, ad-supported platforms.
Tubi, owned by Fox Corp., and the Roku Channel are free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services available in the US and Canada, different from subscription-based over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Netflix Inc.
“We have laid the foundation to provide various content to more viewers through the expansion of FAST services in North America,” said CJ ENM Director of Content Sales & Acquisitions Sebastian Kim. “We will diversify the structure for content supply through cooperation with partners in North America and other regions.”
CJ ENM, which has been providing K-dramas to Tubi, will launch with over 75 Korean films, drama and K-pop series, totaling 500 hours of content, and will be added as a branded curator to the FAST platform’s non-English content offerings. Beginning in December, viewers will be able to stream projects including drama series such as Reply 1994, movies including The Chronicles of Evil, and the world’s top K-pop chart show M Countdown.
The South Korean entertainment giant branded About K-Content by CJ ENM launched on the Roku Channel in November to provide the latest episodes of M Countdown and other content including dramas and films. It will add entertainment shows such as Youn’s Kitchen featuring Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung.
The global FAST industry is quickly growing due to the fact they are free with the US FAST ad market forecast to increase to $6 billion by 2025, according to independent data platform Statista.
CJ ENM is also expanding its content supply channels at subscription-based OTT platforms. Jung Eun-ji (from left), Lee Sun-bin and Han Sun-hwa, stars of Work Later, Drink Now (Courtesy of CJ ENM) Last month, it opened CJ ENM Selects on the Apple TV app in North America. K-content fans in the US and Canada can enjoy hit television series such as Crash Landing on You and Snowpiercer, as well as movies including Confidential Assignment 2 International.
Write to Sun A Lee at suna@hankyung.com Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.
