Ecommerce firm launches video streaming service

Seoul: Coupang Corp, South Korea's leading e-commerce operator, said it has launched a subscription-based video streaming service, heating up competition in the country's growing over-the-top (OTT) media market.

The e-commerce giant said its new service, Coupang Play, is currently available on Android smartphones and it will expand support for Apple's iOS devices, PCs and smart TVs, reports Yonhap news agency.

Members of delivery service on the e-commerce platform will have access to Coupang Play, taking a cue from Amazon, which offers similar services.

Coupang's membership comes at a monthly fee of 2,900 won ($2.60), undercutting rivals in the local market. In comparison, Netflix Inc's cheapest monthly plan costs 9,500 won.

Coupang still faces major competition in South Korea's video streaming market, such as Netflix and homegrown players Wavve and Watcha. Walt Disney Co. has also said it would launch its flagship video streaming service Disney+ in the market next year.

Netflix has especially enjoyed success in South Korea on the back of its original series content. The US steaming giant set up a separate production company to finance Korean-language content in September.

Coupang's move comes after it reportedly purchased assets of Hooq, a Singapore-based video streaming service, in July.

It has been aggressively expanding to new sectors in recent years, launching a food delivery service last year.