Telcos Compete over Partnership with Disney+

The Disney+ mobile app is currently unavailable in Korean app stores. (image: Disney Plus)

SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — With Walt Disney Co.’s flagship streaming service Disney+ soon to hit the South Korean market, telecom operators are speeding up to compete over partnership.

The country’s three major mobile carriers — SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. — have all been reported to be engaged in negotiations with Disney and Disney+.

Disney+ has already attracted more than 85 million subscribers in 30 countries just one year after its launch.

Convinced by its competitiveness, mobile carriers are making early gestures to join hands with the streaming service.

Previously, LG Uplus teamed up with Netflix to successfully attract more internet protocol television (IPTV) customers.

KT also partnered with Netflix last year to see traffic increase for Olleh TV.

It remains to be seen how Disney will provide its services in South Korea.

Experts argue that Disney, similarly to Netflix, may join hands with one or two mobile carriers for an IPTV business, while also launching a standalone Disney+ platform.

As negotiations are taking place between Disney and mobile carriers, it is also likely that Disney+ will be released first as a standalone platform, and then in tandem with mobile carriers for IPTV service.

Disney made an official announcement via its Twitter account last month that Disney+ will be launched in Eastern Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong, and others in 2021.

H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)