AfreecaTV
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Type of site
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Video hosting service, Video streaming service |
|---|---|
| Available in | Korean |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
| Parent |
AfreecaTV Co., Ltd. (2011-) Nowcom (2005-2011) |
| Website | http://www.afreeca.com |
| Alexa rank |
 3,090 (April 2014[update]) |
| Registration | Available |
| Launched | 2005-05-11 |
| Current status | Active |
AfreecaTV (Korean: 아프리카TV, short for "Any FREE broadCasting") (KRX: ) is a P2P technology-based video streaming service. It is now owned and operated by AfreecaTV Co., Ltd. in South Korea after Nowcom's AfreecaTV Co.,Ltd and ZettaMedia split in 2011.
AfreecaTV initially started as a W beta service on May 11, 2005 and was officially named "AFREECA” on March 9, 2006. The site mainly re-transmits TV channels, but also allows users to upload their own videos and shows. Functions such as broadcasting, viewing, channel listing, live chatting, and discussion boards are provided. Users are required to install 'Afreeca Player' for grid delivery. Independent broadcasters called Broadcasting Jockeys (BJs) deliver live broadcasts to viewers, who can add them to their list of favorite channels using an Afreeca Player tool. Some channels have tens of thousands of viewers at any given time. Paid services such as quick views or channel relays allow BJs additional sources of revenue.
The platform itself ranges anywhere from TV broadcasts, live video game broadcasts, taxi driver monitoring, artist performances, and personal daily-life video blogs and shows for actresses and professional broadcasters.
The head of Afreeca's parent company Nowcom, Mun Yong-sik, was arrested in 2008 for illegally distributing copyrighted films. Some alleged the arrest was politically motivated due to Afreeca being used by protesters to coordinate.
On September 27, 2012, afreecaTV English was released on the Google Play store.
One example of expansion of Afreeca's role is the hosting of a live talk session with Mayor Park of Seoul, broadcast live online and via mobile on Afreeca TV. He used the platform as a way to conduct a community scanning forum to collect public opinions and allow bloggers with various areas of expertise to participate in the dialogue. The bloggers were able to address the problems facing Seoul and propose solutions in their areas of expertise, while also exchanging ideas with Mayor Park in an in-depth discussion on the administration of the Seoul municipal government. Depending on rising of power of Afreeca TV, many Idol Groups participate in Afreeca TV for their fans, for example, Nine Muses.
There have been many social problems with Afreeca TV such as offers for sexual favors and abasement of disabled individuals. Many broadcasters were involved in these incidents, and they were punished by managers of Afreeca TV by suspension of their own IDs. Due to such problems, mass media in South Korea have shown concern about the effects of personal broadcasting platforms.
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