V Live (website)

V Live (stylized as VLIVE), sometimes referred to as V App, is a South Korean live video streaming service that allows celebrities based in the country to broadcast live videos such as live chat sessions with fans, performances, reality shows and award shows on the internet. The service is available for streaming via web browsers on Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as apps on iOS and Android devices. The company was launched by Naver Corporation in late August 2015, and transferred to Weverse Company on March 2, 2022. It is expected to end on December 31, 2022.

History

In 2007, Naver Corporation launched its video platform channel, but availability was highly restricted and unavailable in many countries.

In early August 2015, Naver Corporation released the live streaming app, V Live. The application was originally available only on the Google Play Store for Android, but later launched on App Store for iOS. The app was aimed at reaching international fan bases, particularly those in Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Therefore, there were no region restrictions and the website had a variety of language options, such as English, Chinese and Japanese.

V Live provided beta service on August 1, 2015, and the official service started on September 1, 2015.

V Live released the full Android version on September 2, 2015, and the full iOS version was released in mid-September 2015.

According to Sensor Tower, the application had 200,000 downloads and earned $600,000 in Aug 2017; by May 2018, the V Live app had over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store and iTunes.

On January 27, 2021, it was announced that Naver Corporation, will transfer their V Live service to Hybe Corporation's technology subsidiary, Weverse Company Inc. (formerly known as beNX Inc.). The transfer are scheduled to start on March 2, 2022, onwards starting with transfer of users information and change of management company prior to the gradual phase out of the service in favor of a consolidated yet to be named service.

Services and features

V Live has over 1,450 channels associated with different K-pop stars, including BTS, Big Bang, Blackpink, Winner, iKon, Exo, Red Velvet, Got7, Gfriend, TXT, Ateez, Treasure, Monsta X, BtoB, Astro, Apink, T-ara, NCT, Twice, Stray Kids, Itzy, Iz*One, Infinite, Mamamoo, Rocket Punch, Golden Child, Enhypen, Oneus, Victon and Seventeen as well as several actors, such as Lee Jong-suk, Lee Dong-wook, and Park Bo-young. V Live may broadcast programs that range from live chat sessions with fans, performances, reality shows, and award shows.

V Live makes it easy for fans to interact with the website. Users are alerted when a channel they follow begins a live stream or uploads new content. Users can also comment or send hearts on videos, which the idol or idols can also see in real time. Special effects will occur on the screen when the hearts add up to a certain amount. (e.g., congratulations for reaching 100 million) Every interaction contributes to the user's "chemi-beat". The chemi-beat tracks the users chemistry with a celebrity. Users can increase their chemi-beat by regularly engaging with a channel, turning on push notifications and sharing videos. Having a high chemi-beat increases the user's chances of winning an event hosted by an idol.

V Live+ (Plus)

V Live+ refers to paid content types that offer unreleased, downloadable and fan catered content. V Live+ content can be purchased with V coins, which roughly amount to 50 for US$1, or redeemed using a code presented with an external purchase, such as an album.

CH+ (Channel+)

Some idols also offer CH+, a premium channel that can only be accessed with a subscription. CH+ channels can be purchased with V coins on a 30-day, 3 month, 6 month or yearly basis. CH+ channels differ from regular channels in that they provide hidden broadcasts, videos and posts.

Reality shows that have aired exclusively on V Live CH+ include ''Real GOT7'' and ''BTS: Bon Voyage''.

Behind the scenes of VLive-only dramas can also be seen in the CH+ channel. For example: ''Welcome to Heal Inn'' and ''We See Winter'', both series with Fromis 9.

V COIN

'V COIN' refers to the electronic currency within 'service' to purchase 'paid product'. 'Paid product' means various products (viewing rights to certain 'content', and/or download rights, specific features within 'service', etc.) that the 'member' can purchase within the 'service'. 'V COIN' can be purchased/recharged through and by app market purchase, credit card, cell phone, bank transfer, and other payment methods set by the company within the service platform. However, if 'member' selects the payment method with an independent operator, the 'member' must follow the payment procedures set by the relevant operator to continue with purchase (iOS only).

Stickers

Stickers are image items that can be used in V Live chat. Some sticker packs are restricted to particular channels and can only be used in these channel's chats. Stickers could be purchased in the STORE using V coins. Most sticker packs are either free or 100 coins (US$1.99).

The stickers ceased sales on December 1, 2021.

V Lightstick

V Lightstick (stylized in all caps) is a digital item that acts as a special "heart" icon. The V Lightstick provides the user with double the "hearts" when tapped, a special on-screen effect when heart milestones are hit and a 3 dimensional interactive object representing the lightstick. 1-day and 30-day passes were available for purchase in the STORE for 50 coins and 150 coins respectively. V Lightstick was only been able to be used on the mobile app.

V Lightstick was introduced on December 7, 2018, and was originally only available for BTS, GOT7, Red Velvet, Monsta X, NU'EST W, and Twice. On December 27, 2018, V Live announced the expansion of V Lightstick to include Blackpink, iKon, Seventeen, Winner and Cosmic Girls.

The V Lightstick ceased sales on December 1, 2021.

V Fansubs

V Fansubs refers to the subtitling service that allows users to submit their own foreign-language subtitle translations for V Live videos. These subtitles are reviewed by a team from V Fansubs before they are uploaded onto V Live. This subtitling feature has been a significant aspect of V Live's growth, attracting a large international fanbase outside of South Korea.

Chemi-beat

Chemi-beat refers to the level of "chemistry and beat" a user has with a certain channel. This corresponds to the amounts of interaction a user has with a certain channel. There are seven levels of Chemi-beat which a user can obtain. In additional, all users of each channel are ranked based on their Chemi-beat. These ranks are updated daily and the TOP 100 users are displayed on each channel's home page.

While there are currently no additional benefits based on Chemi-beat, V Live has stated they have plans to provide additional benefits in the future.

Beyond LIVE

By April 2020, it was announced South Korean largest entertainment company SM Entertainment and Naver had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the purpose to expand the reach of concerts to global audience. The joint efforts lead to the creation of " Beyond LIVE", a series of online live concerts which - according to SM representative - combine "SM's content development capabilities with Naver's platform technology". The concerts are hosted on Vlive app.

Awards

The platform holds yearly awards, colloquially called the V Live Awards, to honor the most popular people and content on the website. The primary awards, the Global Top 10 and Rookie Top 5, are awarded to the top ten most popular V Live channels, the latter specifically for new artists. Additional popularity awards are selected via online voting. Initially, the fifteen channels held an individual broadcast where they received the award, however, starting in 2019, V Live began presenting the awards at a ceremony entitled V Heartbeat.

Influence on Hallyu

V Live is a medium in which Korean celebrities can reach a global audience and has allowed non-Korean speaking fans worldwide to intimately interact with their favorite Hallyu idols. There is an online community on V Live for fan translators who create foreign subtitles so that more people can enjoy the content worldwide. Translators are ranked by the number of lines that they have translated. The subtitling process is made user-friendly so that fans do not need any specific technical skills. Contests and events are held to encourage fan-subbing. For example, fan translators in the past have won V coins and video calls with their favorite idols. Because of fan translators, some videos have as many as 17 subtitle options.

V Live has collaborated with RBW Entertainment Vietnam (a subsidiary of the Korean entertainment company) to produce a lot of Vietnamese-based shows. Moreover, V Live launched special mini-concerts called "V Heartbeat" to connect K-pop and V-pop stars. For their opening show they invited Winner to perform in Vietnam.

References

Notelist

{{Internet streaming services

Naver Corporation
Live streaming services
Multilingual websites
South Korean entertainment websites