Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Soop (service)

Soop is a South video live-streaming platform operated by Soop Co., Ltd., specializing in interactive broadcasts with an emphasis on , , and global content accessibility. The service, which rebranded from AfreecaTV's legacy operations in , provides features such as real-time multi-language translation in English, Thai, and to attract viewers, alongside support for VTubing, original , and partnerships with high-profile streamers including Faker and teams like DRX. Its global beta launched on June 5, , via web and mobile apps, positioning it as a competitor to platforms like amid regional shifts such as 's withdrawal from . The platform's origins trace to with the beta launch of a personal service called , which evolved into AfreecaTV in before the full corporate to Soop Co., Ltd., and the domestic service's adoption of the Soop name in October . Soop has secured exclusive rights to events like Challengers in and integrates tools for streamer support, though it faced minor naming disputes with an unrelated entertainment agency sharing the "SOOP" moniker.

Origins and Development

Founding as AfreecaTV

The company operating AfreecaTV, originally established as Wins Technology in April 1996 and later restructured under Nowcom, initiated its live streaming ventures in the mid-2000s to capitalize on emerging broadband infrastructure in South Korea. A closed beta service named W Player launched on May 11, 2005, focusing on webcam-based personal broadcasting that allowed users to stream live content directly from their devices, marking one of the earliest implementations of interactive video streaming in the region. This pilot emphasized real-time viewer interaction through chat features, distinguishing it from contemporaneous platforms like YouTube, which primarily hosted on-demand videos without synchronous engagement. AfreecaTV officially rolled out on March 9, 2006, from the W Player and expanding to support personal broadcasts accessible via and early devices. Central to its was the introduction of "star balloons," a system where viewers purchased digital balloons (each valued at approximately 100 ) to donate to broadcasters during streams, enabling immediate and fostering a direct economic incentive for . This mechanism, integrated from launch, prioritized viewer-driven support over ad-based revenue, aligning with first-principles of supply-demand dynamics in by rewarding popular streamers proportionally to audience participation. Early adoption surged amid South Korea's high internet penetration, with AfreecaTV quickly establishing dominance in casual and gaming streams by the late 2000s, as evidenced by its role in popularizing personal broadcasting among young users seeking alternatives to . The platform's growth was propelled by low entry barriers for broadcasters—requiring only a and stable connection—and its appeal to niche communities, though specific concurrent viewer peaks from the pre-2010 era remain sparsely documented in , reflecting the nascent state of streaming at the time. By leveraging these interactive and remunerative elements, AfreecaTV pioneered a model that sustained rapid user expansion within the domestic market, setting precedents for global economics.

Expansion in the Korean Market

AfreecaTV enhanced its platform in 2013 by launching dedicated mobile applications and upgrading bandwidth support, capitalizing on South Korea's smartphone penetration rate exceeding 70% that year and the esports surge driven by titles like StarCraft. This timing facilitated broader accessibility, as mobile streaming hours grew amid the influx of former professional gamers transitioning to the platform, prompting the creation of specialized content sections for esports broadcasts. By integrating real-time interactive features, AfreecaTV solidified its domestic user base, which expanded alongside the national esports viewership boom, where platforms like it captured over 50% of StarCraft-related streaming hours by the mid-2010s. The company listed on the exchange under ticker 067160 in July 2016, raising capital for infrastructure scaling and achieving annual revenues surpassing 300 billion KRW by the late 2010s through diversified streams including , broadcaster subscriptions, and virtual item sales like "star balloons" that viewers purchased to donate during live sessions. These mechanisms generated over 60% of income from user interactions, fostering a with thousands of active broadcasters. Market dominance peaked in the early 2020s, with AfreecaTV commanding approximately 45% of South Korea's share by late 2023, bolstered by its entrenched position before competitors like ceased operations in the country in February 2024 due to prohibitive network costs. AfreecaTV navigated South Korea's regulatory landscape by enforcing mandatory age verification for restricted content, complying with Korea Communications Standards Commission guidelines on minors' access, while upholding a less stringent approach than Western peers, permitting formats like interactive eating broadcasts () that drove sustained engagement. This policy adaptation supported growth to 2.15 million average monthly by 2023, as domestic viewers favored localized, over global alternatives. Competitive pressures from emerging platforms nonetheless compelled ongoing investments in and measures to retain market leadership amid rising demands.

Rebranding and Platform Evolution

Transition to Soop in 2024

In March 2024, AfreecaTV Co., Ltd. underwent a corporate to Soop Co., Ltd., formalized through a general shareholders' meeting on March 29, aimed at unifying the brand identity and facilitating expansion beyond the Korean market. This sought to distance the company from prior associations with domestic operations and reposition it for international appeal, retaining foundational elements like the star balloon system—a virtual donation currency introduced in AfreecaTV's —while overhauling the platform's interface for improved usability. The global version of SOOP launched on June 5, (June 4 for North American users), as a dedicated splitting services into Korea-specific and variants to address barriers in legacy systems and attract non-Korean streamers and viewers. Initial rollout included testing phases with and support in English, Thai, and , emphasizing a refreshed to mitigate stagnation in user growth tied to AfreecaTV's established but regionally constrained image. Company statements highlighted the intent to create an open "freespace" for global content creators, building on AfreecaTV's technical infrastructure without fully discarding proven monetization tools. The transition faced immediate hurdles, including a trademark dispute initiated on June 19, 2024, when —an agency representing actors like Suzy and —filed a provisional against the rebranded entity in Central District Court, alleging infringement on their established "Soop" name and potential confusion in the sector. This legal action complicated user migration from AfreecaTV accounts, prompting temporary adjustments in rollout and continuity for overlapping elements, though core operations persisted amid the contention.

Technical Upgrades and Global Launch

Following the , SOOP implemented updates to its and experience (UI/UX), including a complete visual identity overhaul to enhance and for users. These changes supported the platform's shift toward a global focus, with the global beta version launching on June 5, 2024, initially available in English, Thai, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). Technical specifications for streaming were standardized at a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 () and bitrate of 8000 Kbps, applicable across the platform to ensure compatibility while prioritizing stable delivery. The platform also incorporated video-on-demand (VOD) features, allowing users to access live replays and clips post-broadcast. This infrastructure facilitated multi-language streams and real-time interaction, with mobile apps released for and to broaden device support. The full global launch occurred on November 22, 2024, emphasizing overseas through optimized content delivery for non-Korean audiences. Early post-beta metrics indicated engagement in broadcasts, such as events, drawing several thousand concurrent global viewers. These upgrades aimed to handle increased international traffic, though specific overseas server partnerships were not publicly detailed at launch.

Core Features and Operations

Streaming and Interactive Tools

Soop's live-streaming engine enables broadcasters to deliver content across diverse categories, including , , , and casual "just chatting" sessions, with support for screen capture and sharing through integrations with external software like for or desktop feeds. chat functionality allows viewers to interact directly during streams, incorporating automatic translation to facilitate global participation without language barriers. The platform's design emphasizes low-latency broadcasting, accommodating high-concurrency events, with a recorded all-time peak of 45,946 concurrent viewers achieved on December 12, 2024. Interactive tools include customizable widgets for overlaying live chat, gift notifications, and progress updates for viewer challenges or missions, which broadcasters can embed via dashboard settings to sustain engagement. These elements promote direct streamer-viewer collaboration, such as through multi-channel management under a single account, enabling up to three simultaneous streams for varied content delivery or co-hosting scenarios. Unlike platforms with stringent automated filters, Soop prioritizes unmoderated exchanges, relying on community reporting for oversight, which supports organic interaction in categories like IRL outdoor streams. Accessibility is enhanced by mobile broadcasting options via and apps, including third-party tools like YYCam Pro for RTMP connections, allowing on-the-go streams with features like beauty filters and live title additions. Archived video-on-demand (VOD) replays of past streams are available, extending content lifespan beyond live sessions, though specific average stream durations remain undocumented in public metrics; platform-wide concurrent viewer averages have shown year-over-year growth of 11% as of mid-2024.

Monetization Mechanisms

Soop's primary monetization mechanism relies on a virtual gifting system using star balloons, a purchased by viewers and sent to streamers during broadcasts. Each star balloon costs 110 (approximately 0.08 USD as of 2024 exchange rates), functioning as a direct donation that streamers can redeem for cash, with the platform deducting a commission based on the streamer's tier: 40% for general streamers, 30% for "best" streamers, and 20% for partner streamers, allowing top creators to retain up to 80% of the value. This tiered structure incentivizes consistent high engagement, as higher status unlocks better redemption rates (e.g., 80 won per balloon for partners), while the platform's cut supports operational costs and scalability in a gift-driven economy that prioritizes viewer-streamer interactions over ad dependency. Subscriptions provide a recurring revenue stream, enabling viewers to pay approximately 4,000 (about 3 USD) monthly for benefits like ad-free viewing, exclusive emoticons, and priority access to streamer content. Streamers in affiliate tiers receive 70% of subscription fees, rising to 80% for partners, after processing, fostering loyalty among dedicated audiences and offering streamers predictable income tied to size. This model, often branded under features like channel-specific sponsorships, complements gifting by encouraging sustained support, though it remains secondary to balloon donations in overall contribution. Advertising integrations include display ads shown to non-subscribers and emerging revenue-sharing for streamers, though these are less emphasized than direct fan contributions. For event-based earnings, particularly relays, the platform facilitates broadcasts of tournaments and leagues, where streamers earn through enhanced gifting during high-viewership events and partnerships that distribute incentives, such as exclusive deals yielding additional balloon volume without fixed platform fees beyond standard cuts. This approach yields higher effective creator shares (up to 80%) compared to competitors like Twitch's 50% standard, but sustains viability by permitting flexible that correlates with elevated donation rates from interactive, viewer-responsive streams.

Content Ecosystem

Primary Content Categories

Gaming constitutes the dominant content category on SOOP, accounting for the majority of viewership hours through streams of titles such as (195 million hours watched in 2024), (139 million hours), and StarCraft (125 million hours). Popular subgenres include competitive play in games like StarCraft and tactical shooters such as , reflecting the platform's strong ties to Korea's culture. Non-gaming categories trail significantly but contribute to the platform's diverse ecosystem, with in-real-life (IRL) streams like travel vlogs (27 million hours watched) and eating shows (15 million hours) attracting dedicated audiences. Personal vlogs and social chatting, akin to "Just Chatting" formats, emphasize streamer-viewer interaction through casual discussions and daily life content. Music performances feature live covers, sessions, and artist showcases, while streams cover professional leagues including baseball's KBO. Niche categories include branded "숲토어" (forest tour) streams, which offer themed live explorations and tied to SOOP's motif (숲 meaning "forest" in ), alongside emerging AI-generated video experiments. The platform permits adult-oriented or provocative streams, such as talent displays with suggestive elements, subject to age restrictions and community guidelines prohibiting excessive sexual material, thereby enhancing content diversity while inviting external scrutiny over boundaries.

User Engagement and Community Dynamics

User engagement on Soop centers on interactive mechanisms like real-time chat and virtual gifting via star balloons, which viewers purchase for approximately 110 (about 0.08 USD) each to support broadcasters and elicit responses, thereby cultivating parasocial relationships that enhance viewer loyalty and repeated participation. on AfreecaTV demonstrates that such engagement directly predicts gift-giving frequency, as viewers donate to signal affinity and receive personalized acknowledgments from broadcasters, sustaining session lengths and fostering emotional bonds akin to one-sided friendships. These dynamics contribute to high retention, with AfreecaTV (pre-rebranding) reporting 2.48 million monthly active users in as of 2024, where donation-based interactions form the core of viewer-broadcaster reciprocity. Community features such as customizable favorites lists, recent watch histories, and algorithmic streamer rankings enable users to curate personalized feeds and track rising talents, promoting habitual use and niche group formation around shared interests like or casual broadcasts. While the user base remains predominantly , with daily active users exceeding 3.7 million, the platform's 2024 global launch introduced multilingual and streamer , driving a measurable uptick in non- viewership through features like cross-regional live interactions. This evolution correlates with expanded hours watched, as global users leverage rankings to discover content, though demographics still account for the majority of sustained engagement metrics. The BJ (broadcast jockey) culture underpins community dynamics, where top earners—often exceeding 500 million won (about 375,000 USD) in monthly revenue from donations—influence platform trends by pioneering interactive formats that rivals emulate, creating hierarchical fan ecosystems and competitive sub-communities. Annual incomes for elite BJs reach 10 to 30 billion won (7.5 to 22.5 million USD), incentivizing high-output streaming schedules that draw dedicated followings and amplify trends within the ecosystem, as evidenced by platform on follower tied to top-ranked performers. Soop's structure, averaging 20-30% on gifts, aligns broadcaster incentives with retention, yielding causal where popular BJs' success loops back to heightened overall participation through aspirational and communal hype.

Esports and Broadcasting Role

Partnerships with Esports Leagues

In January 2025, Soop secured exclusive rights to broadcast the Champions Series (OWCS) in for the 2025 season, providing enhanced viewing experiences through dedicated production and immersion-focused commentary for audiences. This deal builds on Soop's organization of the Soop Cup 2025 Season 1, a B-Tier offline tournament held from April 5 to 13, 2025, in collaboration with WDG, which featured competitive teams and contributed to regional talent development. Soop's partnership with enables exclusive streaming of (VCT) Pacific, Challengers Thailand, and the Thai league, positioning the platform as a central hub for Asia-Pacific content since its June 2024 global launch. Additionally, Soop rebranded and continues the AfreecaTV League as the SOOP League (SVL) 2024, hosting events from December 10 to 15, 2024, with international teams including Sentinels, NRG, and DRX, fostering cross-regional competition and production investments that supported eight-team formats. Leveraging its AfreecaTV heritage, Soop maintains sponsorship of the (GSL), producing Korean-language content and global relays that have sustained viewership in StarCraft esports. These collaborations include revenue-sharing models with leagues and teams, such as endorsements from DRX and T1's Faker, which have driven production enhancements and expanded Soop's role in esports economies through co-streaming agreements like the League of Legends Champions Korea () for international audiences starting May 2025. Such partnerships have evidenced growth in tournament visibility, with Soop emerging as a production powerhouse for regional leagues by mid-2025.

Broadcast Infrastructure and Relay Services

Soop employs relay services to distribute broadcasts across multiple platforms, enabling simultaneous delivery of high-bitrate streams for events such as StarCraft: Brood War tournaments including the Afreeca Starleague (ASL) and SOOP Duel Series. These relays support resolutions up to , accommodating the demands of competitive play where visual clarity and frame rates are essential for viewer engagement. International access is facilitated through relays to secondary platforms like , where Korean streams are mirrored on channels such as SOOP esports EN to provide English commentary and broader reach without compromising core transmission quality. This multi-platform approach builds on AfreecaTV's legacy infrastructure, ensuring stable data transmission during peak viewership for legacy esports titles. Post-2024 rebrand, Soop integrated a Low Latency Mode into its relay framework, reducing delay to near real-time levels for interactive delivery and minimizing buffering in high-concurrency scenarios. The service also permits linked-account simultaneous streaming between its Korean and global variants, optimizing relay efficiency for cross-regional events while maintaining . This infrastructure underscores Soop's continuity from AfreecaTV's role in sustaining Korean esports prominence, particularly in Brood War circuits, by prioritizing robust, low-overhead relay mechanisms over fragmented delivery.

Business Performance and Competition

Market Position in South Korea

Following Twitch's shutdown of operations in South Korea on February 27, 2024, SOOP (formerly AfreecaTV until its rebranding in April 2024) initially captured a significant portion of the vacated market share, rising from approximately 45% of the domestic streaming landscape to become the leading platform by viewership hours. In 2024, SOOP accounted for 30.4% of total Korean live-streaming viewership hours, totaling around 1.2 billion hours watched globally but predominantly driven by its domestic audience, outpacing competitors in aggregate streaming time. This positioned SOOP as the top platform in South Korea for much of the year, particularly in esports and gaming content, where it retained a loyal user base amid the shift from Twitch. However, by late 2024, SOOP's dominance faced erosion in active user metrics, with Naver's Chzzk surpassing it in . Early in 2024, SOOP maintained over 2 million , exceeding Chzzk's figures, but Chzzk reached 2.42 million in December 2024 compared to SOOP's 2.4 million, marking the first time the challenger overtook the incumbent. This shift highlights a narrowing lead for SOOP, despite its edge in total hours watched (Chzzk at 15.1% of viewership share), as Chzzk's rapid growth—fueled by aggressive and with Naver's —drew users seeking fresher interfaces and broader non- appeal. SOOP's retention of core and viewers persisted, supported by established partnerships and content libraries, but broader audience expansion stalled amid perceptions of dated branding and challenges. Financially, SOOP Co., Ltd. (KRX: 067160) demonstrated revenue stability from domestic advertising, virtual goods sales, and events, reporting last twelve-month revenue of approximately 441.9 billion KRW as of late 2024, with quarterly sales of 13.4% in recent filings. Gross profit margins remained robust at over 99% due to low marginal costs in streaming operations, yet overall decelerated compared to prior years, averaging 300.4 billion KRW annually from 2020–2024, reflecting saturation in the core and limited diversification beyond niches. This stability underscores SOOP's entrenched position in broadcasting but signals vulnerability to rivals eroding its user engagement in non-specialized categories.

Challenges from Rivals like Chzzk

Naver's Chzzk platform experienced significant growth following Twitch's shutdown in in February , capitalizing on the influx of displaced users and its integration with Naver's ecosystem, including search and features that facilitated easier discovery and monetization for streamers. By late , Chzzk achieved two consecutive months of higher viewership than Soop, with monthly active users (MAU) reaching 2.42 million in , surpassing Soop's figures amid ongoing competition. Chzzk's appeal stemmed partly from stricter content moderation policies, which cultivated a cleaner public image attractive to mainstream and family-oriented viewers, contrasting with Soop's historical tolerance for provocative material that retained niche, high-engagement creators but alienated broader audiences. Industry analyses indicate this moderation edge contributed to user migration, as evidenced by Soop's declining share of total viewership hours—from an initial post-Twitch surge to being overtaken by Chzzk's rapid ascent in metrics like average viewers and watch time by Q4 2024. In response, Soop pursued efforts from its AfreecaTV origins in mid-2024 to modernize its platform and attract global users, alongside exclusive partnerships like OWCS broadcasts in 2025 to bolster retention. However, these initiatives have not stemmed persistent migration, with Chzzk maintaining momentum into 2025 through enhanced creator support, including KRW 120 million in incentives and ties, further eroding Soop's domestic lead in user engagement.

Controversies and Criticisms

Issues with Provocative and Violent Content

SOOP has encountered persistent challenges in moderating provocative and violent content, despite explicit platform guidelines prohibiting violent, cruel, or sexually explicit broadcasts. Enforcement inconsistencies have led to recurring permanent suspensions of streamers for violations, including streaming unrated designated for 19+ audiences or without proper restrictions. For instance, the platform's community standards mandate age gating for such content, yet lapses in compliance have prompted multiple high-profile bans, highlighting gaps in real-time oversight. Critics have faulted SOOP for tolerating a relatively high volume of "vulgar" or sexually suggestive personal broadcasts, which contravene guidelines against sexual activities and . This permissiveness has drawn backlash for fostering an environment where provocative content proliferates, potentially alienating family-oriented viewers and advertisers wary of association with edgy material. In contrast, some creators have advocated for looser rules, arguing that stringent curbs stifle authentic expression and viewer engagement central to live streaming's appeal. These policy tolerances correlate with SOOP's comparative stagnation in market expansion. As of December 2024, the platform faced reports of ceding ground to competitor Chzzk, which benefits from perceptions of firmer boundaries, amid ongoing concerns over SOOP's provocative streams hindering broader adoption. Data from late 2024 shows SOOP maintaining substantial hours watched—around 108 million monthly—but trailing in user retention gains relative to rivals enforcing stricter , underscoring how lax gates may cap viability in a competitive favoring advertiser-friendly ecosystems.

Regulatory Scrutiny and User Backlash

In February 2025, SOOP, operated by AfreecaTV Inc., came under audit by South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), focusing on its accounting practices amid rapid expansion in the sector. This scrutiny highlighted ongoing concerns over financial transparency in emerging platforms, though details of any violations remain undisclosed as of October 2025. While not directly tied to , the probe underscored broader regulatory pressures on Korean streaming services to align with national standards for . SOOP's content guidelines mandate age restrictions for streams involving , , or , classifying them as 19+ to comply with South Korean laws prohibiting underage access to such activities. Instances of inadequate enforcement have prompted internal measures, including streamer suspensions for non-compliance, as seen in related AfreecaTV cases where broadcasters faced penalties for failing to notify viewers of adult content. However, no public investigations specifically targeting SOOP's age verification systems or gambling-adjacent streams were reported by mid-2025, despite platform-wide calls for stricter verification akin to identity-based systems enforced domestically. User dissatisfaction peaked in December 2024, with complaints on forums like centering on deficient chat moderation during esports broadcasts, such as Valorant events, where toxic interactions went unchecked. Critics highlighted technical glitches, including site loading failures and prohibitions on co-streaming to other platforms, which fueled perceptions of exclusivity hindering accessibility. Streamers have defended lighter moderation as essential for authentic community interaction and innovation, contrasting with demands for Twitch-equivalent safeguards to curb and ensure user safety. These tensions reflect a divide between prioritizing creator freedom and viewer protections, though SOOP reported viewer hours growth to 345.8 million in Q2 2025, suggesting backlash has not yet translated to measurable engagement declines.

Impact and Future Outlook

Influence on Korean Streaming Landscape

Soop, through its predecessor AfreecaTV established in 2005, introduced the star balloon system in 2007 as the world's first donation-based monetization mechanism for live streamers, allowing viewers to purchase virtual gifts convertible to cash and generating up to 70% of the platform's revenue by enabling direct fan support independent of ad revenue. This model shifted industry norms toward interactive, viewer-funded economies, empowering independent broadcasters—known as BJs (Broadcast Jockeys)—to build careers on engagement rather than traditional sponsorships, which proliferated indie content and democratized access for non-celebrity creators in Korea's nascent streaming scene. Subsequent platforms, including Naver's Chzzk launched in 2023, adopted analogous gifting systems, standardizing mechanics across the landscape and intensifying competition for viewer loyalty through interactivity. The platform's emphasis on esports infrastructure further entrenched Korean streaming's focus on competitive gaming broadcasts, with Soop sustaining high viewership in titles like (195 million hours watched in 2024) and StarCraft (125 million hours), categories that outpaced general entertainment and reinforced 's global leadership in production and consumption. By providing reliable relay services and partnerships, Soop filled the void left by Twitch's 2024 Korea exit—where Twitch's hours dropped from ~100 million to 4 million—absorbing displaced viewers and stabilizing the market alongside Chzzk, which captured 100 million hours by late 2024 but trailed Soop's established base. This resilience preserved industry standards for high-quality, low-latency broadcasts essential to 's ecosystem, where domestic platforms now handle the majority of viewership previously split with international services. While the model boosted culture by incentivizing diverse, creator-driven content—evident in sustained streams drawing millions of hours— it also correlated with viewership shifts toward high-engagement, often provocative formats, as top earners like and streamers prioritized donor-attracting spectacle over polished production, influencing competitors to tolerate similar content thresholds for revenue parity. Soop's legacy thus lies in codifying a causal link between viewer incentives and content evolution, where donation-driven metrics elevated Korea's streaming maturity but embedded economic pressures favoring virality over restraint, shaping a landscape where platforms vie through tools rather than alone.

Global Expansion Efforts

SOOP initiated its global expansion with the beta launch of a dedicated international platform on June 5, , targeting non-Korean audiences through exclusive content and partnerships with prominent figures like player Faker and DRX's . The platform emphasized and APAC , including production of events like the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Finals in in August 2025, as part of efforts to leverage Korean streaming expertise amid domestic growth stagnation. By , SOOP officially rolled out the global service, incorporating English-language support and aiming to penetrate English-speaking markets alongside regional expansion. Despite these initiatives, SOOP encountered challenges from entrenched competitors like and , whose established ecosystems and creator incentives hindered significant user acquisition outside . Cultural mismatches in content—rooted in SOOP's Korean-centric origins, such as emphasis on "" (broadcast jockey) formats—limited appeal in markets, resulting in modest as of early 2025. from industry reports indicate no substantial breakout in monthly (MAUs) beyond APAC niches, with growth primarily confined to co-streaming partnerships rather than broad platform loyalty. In response, SOOP implemented pivots like overseas server enhancements to reduce for global viewers and integrated streaming with gift-based tailored for international creators, though these measures have yielded limited traction against rivals' scale. CEO Jung Chan-yong's pledge for aggressive 2024 internationalization has faced scrutiny, as evidenced by ongoing beta refinements and unclear paths to markets like , underscoring adaptation difficulties in a saturated .

References

  1. [1]
    S.Korean livestreaming platform SOOP eyes global market
    Oct 15, 2024 · The company has ditched its former name AfreecaTV and launched its interactive livestreaming service under the SOOP brand. By Dong-jin Hwang.
  2. [2]
    SOOP: AfreecaTV's New Live-Streaming Platform Fully Explained
    May 30, 2024 · Discover SOOP: The new gaming and esports streaming platform backed by the team behind AfreecaTV and partnering with Faker, DRX, ...
  3. [3]
    SOOP Live Streaming Platform Launches - The Esports Advocate
    Jun 13, 2024 · SOOP (a property backed by the people behind South Korea-based live streaming company AfreecaTV) officially launched this week on web and mobile apps.
  4. [4]
    Live streaming platform SOOP offers streamer support & more
    Jun 12, 2024 · SOOP, the newest live streaming service to enter the scene, kicked off its global beta on June 5, 2024, offering both web and mobile experiences ...Missing: history | Show results with:history<|separator|>
  5. [5]
    Suzy's agency SOOP doesn't want AfreecaTV changing their name ...
    Aug 27, 2024 · On August 27, industry sources revealed that AfreecaTV will rebrand its domestic service starting next month from AfreecaTV to SOOP. This move ...
  6. [6]
    [PDF] AfreecaTV
    Nov 10, 2014 · Established in April 1996, AfreecaTV changed its name from Wins Technology to Wins Technet in 2000 and to Nowcom in 2008. By spinning off the ...
  7. [7]
    Afreeca Kills the Goose That Laid Golden Eggs - The KAIST Herald
    Nov 24, 2016 · AfreecaTV started in May 11, 2005 as a closed beta service. With the increasing popularity of live streaming shows in Korea, AfreecaTV also ...
  8. [8]
    [PDF] AfreecaTV
    Jan 28, 2014 · AfreecaTV started its live broadcast platform business in 2005. The company attributes the successful launch of the live broadcast business ...
  9. [9]
    Why are South Korean Twitch streamers flocking to AfreecaTV?
    Mar 5, 2024 · AfreecaTV, founded in 2006, has a substantial audience base thanks to its wide variety of content. The platform hosts streams on gaming ...<|separator|>
  10. [10]
    [Trending] Massive donation to female streamer stirs up internet in ...
    Jul 31, 2019 · The generous fan sent her several bundles of “star balloons,” the digital currency used on Afreeca TV that can be gifted to streamers. The ...
  11. [11]
  12. [12]
    Afreeca TV Presentation | PDF - Slideshare
    Notable History • Startedout as Nowcom, IT company in 1994 • First company to launch webcam service • Created lots of entertainment community websites ...
  13. [13]
    AfreecaTV | Company Overview & News - Forbes
    Founded in 1996, the company is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea. AfreecaTV Stats. As of August 2022. Industry: Entertainment.
  14. [14]
    SOOP/History - NamuWiki
    In the past, it was called Nowcom , and some middle-aged people who played Nownuri in the 1990s may remember this name. Nowcom started in the early 1990s ...
  15. [15]
    StarCraft on AfreecaTV: Korean Esports - Stream Hatchet
    Apr 22, 2024 · A Brief History of StarCraft and Esports in South Korea. StarCraft's success in South Korea stemmed from an unpredictable confluence of events.Missing: expansion mobile app 2013
  16. [16]
    SOOP - Public Comps and Valuation Multiples
    Yes, SOOP is a public company listed on KRX. What is the stock symbol of SOOP? SOOP trades under 067160 ticker. When did SOOP go public? SOOP went public in ...
  17. [17]
    SOOP (Seongnam) 2025 Company Profile - PitchBook
    Soop Co Ltd is engaged in offering Internet-based services around the social media platform AfreecaTV. It offers digital media storage, streaming, downloading, ...
  18. [18]
    Platforms fight to woo livestreamers as Twitch exits Korea
    Dec 18, 2023 · Twitch took up 52 percent of Korea's streaming market share in November, while AfreecaTV took 45 percent, according to market tracker Mobile ...
  19. [19]
    The State of Streaming Platforms in 2024 - Naavik
    Oct 30, 2024 · Twitch pulled out of Korea in February due to issues with network fees, paving the way for SOOP to cement its position as regional leader.
  20. [20]
    South Korea's Approach to Age Assurance | TechPolicy.Press
    Mar 19, 2025 · Korean Netflix users are prompted to verify their age annually for access to adult-rated content (19+) by entering their name, gender, date of ...Missing: AfreecaTV adaptation
  21. [21]
    Naver, AfreecaTV rivalry heats up as Twitch exodus begins
    Dec 26, 2023 · Its average monthly number of users was 2.15 million in the January-November period. AfreecaTV has allowed streamers and users to synchronize ...
  22. [22]
    AfreecaTV and CHZZK Viewership Dynamics in South Korea
    Feb 15, 2024 · Before the announcement, AfreecaTV consistently accumulated 2-3M Hours Watched per day, and this figure has increasingly approached the 3.5M HW ...<|separator|>
  23. [23]
    SOOP announced on the 23rd that it has completed the listing of the ...
    Apr 23, 2024 · SOOP held a general shareholders' meeting on March 29 and replaced its name with "SOOP Co., Ltd." to establish a new integrated brand to ...
  24. [24]
    About Soop Co Ltd (067160) - Investing.com Canada
    The company was formerly known as AfreecaTV Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Soop Co., Ltd. in March 2024. Soop Co., Ltd. was founded in 1994 and is ...
  25. [25]
    SOOP: AfreecaTV's transformation into the forest - Design Compass
    Oct 17, 2024 · AfreecaTV has rebranded to SOOP. SOOP announced the reorganization through its official website on the 15th, and has completely reorganized ...
  26. [26]
    star balloon - NamuWiki
    Sep 8, 2025 · Viewers can purchase it through various payment methods and give it to the Internet broadcaster as a gift.[2] It is a kind of viewing fee in ...
  27. [27]
    Brand new live streaming platform, SOOP, will launch globally on ...
    May 21, 2024 · SOOP will initially be available on June 5, 2024 (June 4, 2024, for North American users), in English, Thai, and Chinese for PC users via its ...
  28. [28]
    SOOP Streaming Service Goes Live June 5 - The Esports Advocate
    May 22, 2024 · SOOP streaming service will be open for business on June 5, 2024. ... SOOP, a new live streaming platform aimed at international audiences, will ...
  29. [29]
    AfreecaTV Announces Launch of Global Live Streaming Platform ...
    AfreecaTV Announces Launch of Global Live Streaming Platform SOOP in First Half of 2024. - Introducing a freespace where anyone, anytime, anywhere can ...
  30. [30]
    Management Soop Takes Legal Action Against AfreecaTV Over ...
    Jun 17, 2024 · Entertainment agency Management Soop has initiated legal action against AfreecaTV over a trademark infringement issue.
  31. [31]
    Gong Yoo, Jeon Do-yeon, Suzy's Agency Takes Legal Action ...
    Gong Yoo, Jeon Do-yeon, Suzy's Agency Takes Legal Action Against AfreecaTV. Management Soop filed an injunction against AfreecaTV for trademark infringement.Missing: dispute | Show results with:dispute
  32. [32]
    Stream Setting Guide - SOOP Technical Support and Help Center
    Follow these guidelines: 1. Max Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p) Ensure your stream resolution does not exceed 1920 x 1080 pixels. 2. Max Bitrate: 8000 Kbps.Missing: latency Korea
  33. [33]
    Virtual Streaming - SOOP
    Watch Virtual Streaming live streaming content. Watch live replays and clips, and follow streamers.Missing: platform AI tools multi- June 2024
  34. [34]
    SOOP - Global Streaming – Apps on Google Play
    Rating 3.7 (1,028) · Free · AndroidDiscover a wealth of engaging content on SOOP, spanning your favorite games, music, and sports. Dive into live streams showcasing streamers' unique hobbies ...Missing: AI VOD
  35. [35]
    SOOP Targets Overseas Markets with Launch of Global Live ...
    Nov 22, 2024 · On Nov. 22, SOOP officially launched its global live-streaming platform, marking a significant step in its strategy to penetrate overseas markets.Missing: viewer | Show results with:viewer
  36. [36]
    SOOP statistics are now collected by Esports Charts
    Jun 20, 2024 · These VCT competitions on SOOP attract several thousand concurrent viewers, showcasing the platform's growing influence in the esports ...Missing: servers | Show results with:servers
  37. [37]
  38. [38]
    SOOP - Global Streaming - Apps on Google Play
    Rating 3.7 (1,028) · Free · AndroidDiscover a wealth of engaging content on SOOP, spanning your favorite games, music, and sports. Dive into live streams showcasing streamers' unique hobbies ...
  39. [39]
    SOOP Global Stats and Analytics: Growth Charts, Channels, Games ...
    This page provides insights into SOOP Global Overview`s performance as a platform, showcasing key metrics such as audience engagement, leading streamers, and ...
  40. [40]
    What are Streaming Widgets? — SOOP Help Center
    Widgets cover in-platform features like live chat, gift alerts, and challenge mission progress updates, helping everyone within the live stream stay engaged and ...Missing: tools | Show results with:tools
  41. [41]
    SOOP Launching
    Immerse yourself in the experience of live streaming, forging connections with streamers and gamers everywhere! Download now to start streaming!Missing: AI tools VOD
  42. [42]
    Live - SOOP
    Discover your favorite streamers and gamers on SOOP! Interact with them in real-time and Watch games, just chatting, outdoor stream, and so on.Halimi_하리미 · MeYou_muse · Ihate_eggplant · 죠물
  43. [43]
    How to Livestream on SOOP Global with YYCam Pro (iOS) - YouTube
    Oct 17, 2025 · How to download and set up YYCam Pro (0:30) ; Configuring beauty and filter settings (1:00) ; Connecting to SOOP Global via RTMP (1:30) ; Adding live ...Missing: engine categories screen
  44. [44]
    SOOP, which operates the real-time streaming platform "African TV ...
    Jul 31, 2024 · ... users," he said. "In addition, the average number of simultaneous viewers increased 11% year-on-year, and the average monthly user viewing time ...
  45. [45]
    Soop (service) - Wikipedia
    a video live-streaming service. It is owned and operated by Soop Co., Ltd. in South Korea, which was rebranded from Nowcom's AfreecaTV Co., Ltd.
  46. [46]
    SOOP - NamuWiki
    The service name until 2024 after its founding was 'African TV '. Originally, it was one of the various services operated by a company called Nowcom, but as the ...
  47. [47]
    What is Subscription? — SOOP Help Center
    Choose to gift a subscription directly to a specific user by entering their nickname, or let SOOP randomly select recipients from the channel's community.Missing: PICK | Show results with:PICK
  48. [48]
    SOOP Influencer Marketing Agency - HypeFactory
    SOOP (previously known as Afreeca TV) is the most popular livestream platform in South Korea, similar to Twitch. There are around 25M SOOP users in South ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
  49. [49]
    SOOP Livestreaming Platform Debuts with Esports, Original Content ...
    Jun 12, 2024 · The rebranding to SOOP marks a strategic shift to cater to a global audience, incorporating advanced streaming capabilities and more robust ...
  50. [50]
    The State of Korean Live Streaming
    ### Summary of Primary Content Categories on SOOP Korea (2024, Post-Twitch Shutdown)
  51. [51]
  52. [52]
    AfreecaTV's new live-streaming platform SOOP signs Faker and BuZz
    May 24, 2024 · A few days back, big news broke regarding SOOP, a new live-streaming platform whose global beta will launch on June 5, 2024.Missing: rebrand | Show results with:rebrand
  53. [53]
    숲토어
    숲토어 LIVE; 다시보는 LIVE. 숲토어 LIVE. 숲토어 공식 라이브 커머스 방송. 전체보기; 25 오늘; 26 일요일; 27 월요일; 28 화요일; 29 수요일; 30 목요일; 31 금요일.스트리머 굿즈 · 프로게이머 · 라이브커머스 · 베스트Missing: forest tours streams
  54. [54]
    Community Guidelines - SOOP Technical Support and Help Center
    Sensitive content, such as violent or sexual material, must be handled with care on our platform. We do not permit any content that contains excessive violence, ...
  55. [55]
    South Korea's live-streamers are making a fortune | The Straits Times
    Mar 26, 2021 · AfreecaTV, which now hosts about 17,000 live-streamers, sells "starballoons" to viewers for 110 won (S$0.13) each. The audience can donate them ...
  56. [56]
    Impact of viewer engagement on gift-giving in live video streaming
    This study examines gift-giving behaviors in live video streaming through the lens of viewer engagement in the Korean platform, AfreecaTV.Missing: per | Show results with:per
  57. [57]
    Parasocial Relationships With Live Streamers: Evidence From South ...
    Aug 31, 2024 · In South Korea, AfreecaTV has 2.48 million monthly users, and Chzzk has 2.27 million monthly users (Hwang, 2024). In 2023, 68% of South Koreans ...Missing: early growth
  58. [58]
    SOOP Korea (ex-AfreecaTV) Stats and Analytics - Streams Charts
    This page offers a comprehensive analysis of SOOP Korea as a streaming platform, including audience metrics, top-performing categories, and prominent creators.
  59. [59]
    Africa TV BJ (Internet personal broadcaster) made nearly 500 billion ...
    Jul 7, 2024 · Popular BJs' income from star balloons goes beyond imagination. Monthly income is reported to reach 500 million won to 700 million won. African ...
  60. [60]
    Dark side of AfreecaTV, livestreamers in Korea
    Aug 28, 2024 · According to PoongToday, the top-earning livestreamers on AfreecaTV make between 10 billion and 30 billion won annually. Yet despite their ...
  61. [61]
    Inside S. Korea's thriving yet dark world of female BJs
    Aug 19, 2024 · On AfreecaTV, Star Balloons—cash-based items—cost 110 won each. Depending on their popularity, BJs pay a commission of 20-30% to the platform ...
  62. [62]
    OWCS Korean-Language broadcasts will now be exclusive to SOOP ...
    Jan 15, 2025 · 2025 시즌부터 오버워치 챔피언스 시리즈(OWCS) 한국어 방송이 SOOP에서 단독으로 생중계됩니다. 한국 팬 여러분께 보다 몰입감 있고 향상된 시청 경험을 ...SOOP CUP 2025 Season 1 : r/Competitiveoverwatch - RedditAs a reminder OWCS Korea starts shortly and has no official English ...More results from www.reddit.com
  63. [63]
    Soop Overwatch Cup 2025 Season 1 - Korea - Liquipedia
    Soop Overwatch Cup 2025 Season 1 - Korea is an offline Korean OW2 tournament organized by WDG and SOOP. This B-Tier tournament took place from Apr 05 to 13 ...Missing: partnership | Show results with:partnership
  64. [64]
    "SOOP VALORANT League 2024 returns in December, featuring ...
    Dec 15, 2024 · ... SOOP VALORANT League (SVL) from December 10 to 15. Formerly named the AfreecaTV VALORANT League (AVL), the rebranded SVL will see eight ...
  65. [65]
    AfreecaTV "SOOP" rebrand, comments on global esports - TL.net
    Jan 4, 2024 · AfreecaTV will undergo a major rebrand in March of 2024, with the streaming platform changing its name to "SOOP" ("forest" in Korean).
  66. [66]
    New live-streaming platform SOOP partners with Faker and DRX
    May 21, 2024 · SOOP, a new live-streaming platform set to launch globally on June 5th, has partnered with League of Legends veteran Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok, esports ...
  67. [67]
    Soop expands global reach with LCK co-streaming
    May 16, 2025 · Previously known as AfreecaTV, Soop rebranded in June 2024, focusing on esports and gaming content. With its headquarters in South Korea, it ...
  68. [68]
    Soop emerges as powerhouse behind Asia-Pacific esports ...
    Jun 1, 2025 · Soop, a Korean streaming platform and production company, is emerging as a key player behind some of the most prominent esports leagues in the Asia-Pacific ...
  69. [69]
    SOOP esports EN - YouTube
    [ENG] ASL Season 19 ; [ENG] ASL Season19 Finals Best vs SoulKey (Tastosis) · 139K views. 4 months ago ; [ENG] ASL Season19 | RO.4 M2 SnOw vs SoulKey (Tastosis).
  70. [70]
    SOOP - Liquipedia StarCraft Brood War Wiki
    Feb 19, 2025 · Balloons can be exchanged to cash at a rate of about $0.07 per balloon, after deduction of SOOP fees. Balloons are commonly donated by to ...
  71. [71]
    [Notice] Announcement for the 'Low Latency Mode' Update - SOOP
    Now, you can experience near real-time communication with streamers! With the newly introduced Low Latency Mode, you can enjoy more immediate reactions and an ...
  72. [72]
    How can I simultaneously stream on Global SOOP?
    You can simultaneously stream by linking your SOOP KR and Global SOOP accounts. *However, simultaneous streaming may be restricted for certain.
  73. [73]
    SOOP Korea and Chzzk: One Year After Twitch's Shutdown
    Mar 6, 2025 · SOOP Korea (née AfreecaTV since April of 2024) is still performing as strong as ever, having attained higher monthly hours watched in 2024 ...
  74. [74]
    The Rise of Livestreaming in South Korea: Platforms & Trends 2024
    Mar 12, 2025 · Despite officially exiting Korea, Twitch's share of the Korean market remains at 2.9%: down from 26.6% the year before. Most of the remaining ...
  75. [75]
    Live Streaming Industry Shows 12% Growth In 2024, Nearing ...
    Feb 3, 2025 · Live streaming viewership reached 32.5 billion hours watched in 2024, approaching the industry's 2021 pandemic-era record of 34.6 billion hours.
  76. [76]
    Naver: CHZZK Increasing Market Share in the Korean Live Game ...
    Jan 30, 2025 · In early 2024, SOOP had more than 2 million MAU as compared to CHZZK. However, by December 2024, CHZZK's MAU surpassed that of SOOP. However, ...
  77. [77]
    Naver's streaming platform to debut TV app next year
    Dec 23, 2024 · According to Mobile Index, CHZZK recorded 2.42 million MAU last month, overtaking SOOP's 2.4 million for the first time.
  78. [78]
    SOOP loses lead in streaming war, struggles to shake its image - MSN
    SOOP, formerly AfreecaTV, once dominated South Korea's live-streaming scene but is now losing ground to Naver's CHZZK. Within a year of its launch in December ...
  79. [79]
    Revenue For Soop Co Ltd (A067160) - Finbox
    Soop's latest twelve months revenue is 441.9 billion; Soop's revenue for fiscal years ending December 2020 to 2024 averaged 300.4 billion.Missing: KRX | Show results with:KRX
  80. [80]
    Soop Co., Ltd. Income Statement – KRX:067160 – TradingView
    Soop Co., Ltd. financial statements, including revenue, expenses, and profit. The total revenue of 067160 for the last quarter is 116.88 B KRW, and it's 8.58% ...
  81. [81]
    Soop Co., Ltd. (067160.KQ) Income Statement - Yahoo Finance
    Soop Co., Ltd. (067160.KQ) ; Total Revenue. 441,877,928.97. 413,178,446.96 ; Cost of Revenue. 1,339,950. 1,173,336 ; Gross Profit. 440,537,978.97. 412,005,110.96.Missing: KRX | Show results with:KRX
  82. [82]
    Q4 2024 Global Livestreaming Landscape - Streams Charts
    Feb 10, 2025 · While SOOP Korea currently ranks as the country's top platform, and the second-largest smaller platform globally, it seemed to have lost viewers ...
  83. [83]
    War Between Naver's CHZZK and SOOP Intensifies for Throne in ...
    Jan 7, 2025 · In a significant development in the South Korean streaming market, SOOP CEO Seo Soo-gil has returned to the helm after a three-year hiatus.<|control11|><|separator|>
  84. [84]
    Naver increases competitiveness with short contents
    Dec 26, 2024 · According to mobile analytics firm IGAWorks Mobile Index, CHZZK recorded 2.42 million monthly active users in November 2024, surpassing SOOP for ...
  85. [85]
    SOOP is losing ground to CHZZK, which surpassed its monthly ...
    Dec 17, 2024 · SOOP is losing ground to CHZZK, which surpassed its monthly active users, amid criticism of controversial content despite efforts to rebrand ...
  86. [86]
    NAVER's CHZZK Hits 2.5M Users, Plans KRW120M Creator Support
    Dec 16, 2024 · In 2025, NAVER plans to enhance streamer monetization by integrating CHZZK with its Smart Store e-commerce platform. This will allow content ...
  87. [87]
    SOOP Streaming Guidelines
    Content considered to violate the SOOP Community Guidelines includes the following: 1) Violent and cruel content. 2) Hate speech, discrimination, defamation ...
  88. [88]
  89. [89]
    SOOP loses ground to Chijijik amid concerns over provocative content
    Dec 18, 2024 · SOOP has faced criticism for condoning sexually provocative or violent personal broadcasts. Recently, it has continued to maintain controversial ...
  90. [90]
    Live Streaming Platforms: Overview, Comparison & Analytics
    Explore and compare top live streaming platforms: Twitch, YouTube, Kick, SOOP Korea (ex-AfreecaTV), CHZZK, Rumble & more! Get platform overviews ...
  91. [91]
    Live Streaming Platform SOOP Under Financial Watchdog's Audit ...
    Feb 12, 2025 · [Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Live streaming platform company SOOP is currently under an accounting audit by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) ...
  92. [92]
    AfreecaTV Community Guidelines for Adult(19+) Streams - SOOP
    We recommend our global streamers to place a 19+ age restriction(adult) when broadcasting activities such as gambling, smoking, and drinking alcohol.
  93. [93]
    Controversy over power abuse on Afreeca TV - NamuWiki
    Sep 8, 2025 · The incident arose when Internet broadcasting platform AfreecaTV suspended streamers Daedoseogwan and Yumdaeng for seven days for failing to notify Ai ...Missing: talent | Show results with:talent
  94. [94]
    SOOP/Problem - NamuWiki
    Sep 16, 2025 · Broadcasting that mocks sex offenders and socially weak, overseas shooting that ignores defense regulations, content that emphasizes ...
  95. [95]
    sooplive is awful. : r/ValorantCompetitive - Reddit
    Dec 10, 2024 · Their idea seems to be to try and promote more branded content on their service? ... A friendly reminder that SOOP is the same streaming service ...SOOP Live : r/SKTT1 - RedditOWCS Korean-Language broadcasts will now be exclusive to SOOP ...More results from www.reddit.com
  96. [96]
    Sooplive not loading : r/ValorantCompetitive - Reddit
    Dec 10, 2024 · Makes a valorant tournament only available on their website. Doesn't even allow costreams on other platforms. Site doesn't work.Missing: backlash | Show results with:backlash
  97. [97]
    Q2 2025 Global Livestreaming Landscape - Streams Charts
    Jul 10, 2025 · With Kick's growth, SOOP Korea has taken the lead among the smaller streaming platforms. In Q2 2025, the Korean platform generated 345.8 million ...
  98. [98]
    The Crazy World Of Live Streaming Broadcasts In Korea - Creatrip
    An income of a BJ varies greatly. For less popular BJs, they sometimes earn less than 50,000 won a month, but they can earn 100 million won (approx. 85k USD) ...Missing: earnings | Show results with:earnings
  99. [99]
    Case Study: AfreecaTV: The Godfather of Streaming (English version)
    Oct 23, 2020 · (AfreecaTV) was a pioneer in the business of live video streaming, as well as in using voluntary donations as a monetization strategy. In ...Missing: pioneered | Show results with:pioneered
  100. [100]
    Esports Charts to collect viewership data from SOOP
    Jun 21, 2024 · Esports viewership platform Esports Charts has added new live-streaming platform SOOP to its list of esports data sources.
  101. [101]
    Star Balloons and Digital Bondage | by Silent Observer (Nika)
    Oct 5, 2025 · It's a symptom of a system where donations long ago ceased to be support and became an instrument of power. This is not just a crime story ...
  102. [102]
    [PDF] Focusing on the case of Korean live-streaming industry - EconStor
    Jun 26, 2024 · In such circumstances, alternatives for streamers to transition include domestic live-streaming platforms like AfreecaTV (SOOP) which has been.<|separator|>
  103. [103]
    New streaming platform SOOP to launch globally, partners with ...
    May 22, 2024 · SOOP will be available starting June 5, 2024 (June 4, 2024, for North American users), in English, Thai, and Chinese on its web platform for ...
  104. [104]
    SOOP announced on the 22nd that it will officially launch a global ...
    Nov 22, 2024 · Through the officially launched global platform, SOOP plans to expand its market to all of Southeast Asia and the English-speaking world based ...