Disney+ Strikes Back Amid Netflix's Dominance... February Korean OTT Market Shaken by Variety Content

In the domestic online video service (OTT) market, Netflix continues to maintain its dominant position, while Disney+ is showing a remarkable upward trend with its groundbreaking new variety shows.

◆ [Survey Results] Netflix's 14.9 Million 'Uncontested No. 1'... Coupang Play's Solid No. 2

According to a survey conducted by Wise App, Retail, and Goods on Korean smartphone users on the 5th (Korean time), the most selected OTT app in February was Netflix, which recorded a monthly active user count (MAU) of 14.9 million. Following closely was Coupang Play with 8.79 million, and Tving secured the third spot with 5.52 million. Netflix has proven its market dominance with an unprecedented record, while Coupang Play has solidified its strong second place based on exclusive sports broadcasts and robust Wow membership benefits.

◆ The Impact of 'War of Destiny 49'... Disney+ Leads in New Installations and User Growth Rate

The most notable aspect of this survey is Disney+'s rebound. Disney+'s MAU in February was 2.95 million, showing an explosive growth rate of about 20% compared to January (2.45 million) before the release of the survival variety show 〈War of Destiny 49〉. In particular, in the new installations category, it recorded 660,000, surpassing Coupang Play (530,000) and Netflix (510,000) to proudly take the top spot. This is seen as a reaffirmation that strong original content is the key driver of new user influx.

◆ Wavve, Raftel, Watcha... Intensifying Competition in the Mid-Tier

The rankings of other services showed Wavve (2.12 million), the animation-specialized platform Raftel (1.08 million), U+ Mobile TV (790,000), and Watcha (350,000). In the new installations category, Raftel recorded 150,000, surpassing Wavve (120,000), highlighting the rise of specialized platforms. An industry insider analyzed, "While the gap at the top remains significant, it has been confirmed that a single killer content piece, like Disney+'s case, can change the market dynamics in an instant."

◆ Future Outlook... A Battle of Content Competitiveness and Membership Benefits

The competition in the OTT market is expected to intensify further after March. The release of Netflix's blockbuster, the opening of Coupang Play's sports season, and Tving's utilization of baseball broadcasting rights are all set to trigger a 'war of money' for user acquisition. In particular, whether Disney+ can maintain the box office heat of 〈War of Destiny 49〉 in the long term will likely be the biggest point of interest in the first half of the OTT market.