Naver’s investments in Europe have been foreshadowed by its founder and chairman Lee Haejin, who mentioned the United States and Europe as potential investment markets when Line was listed last August. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Naver affiliate Line is making a foray into the German market with a real-time video platform. As Naver is investing heavily in Europe, synergy effects created by both initiatives are expected.
According to Naver on September 8, Line recently launched the Line Live application, a real-time video platform, in German, marking the first time that Line Live has been offered outside Japan.
Line has entered into a partnership agreement with ProSiebenSat.1, one of the two major private broadcasters in Germany, to facilitate the supply of content.
“Line Live recently launched in Germany and is targeting teenagers as its main users. The same business success as in Japan will be sought after by connecting the world with the real-time broadcasting service in Germany,” said a Line official.
The Line Live service has been a big hit in Japan, where the number of monthly active users (MAU) has jumped to 24 million since its commercial launch in December 2015. (Image: Naver)
The Line Live service has been a big hit in Japan, where the number of monthly active users (MAU) has jumped to 24 million since its commercial launch in December 2015.
It is estimated that the success of Line Live in Germany will hinge on how much favor the Line messenger service, the company’s bread and butter, can gain in the market.
At the same time, Line’s parent company, Naver, is making aggressive moves in Europe by taking over XREC, the AI research facility of US Xerox in France, investing 100 million euros into Korelya Capital, which is run by former French government minister Fleur Pellerin, and signing a letter of intent with the French government to nurture venture entrepreneurs and digitalize French cultural heritages.
Naver’s investments in Europe have been foreshadowed by its founder and chairman Lee Haejin, who mentioned the United States and Europe as potential investment markets when Line was listed last August.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
