afreecatv.com
Many young creators have found a following on the internet by streaming on streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. While many people who don't have any idea find it bizarre, it's perfectly understandable to spend hours watching someone play games, dance, sing, or talk about technology on these platforms.
The Afreeca TV network, which has gathered a lot of momentum in South Korea, is predominantly used by teens and young adults. It has become a phenomenon and day-to-day life in South Korea.
In shows such as "Meok Bang", a boy named Kim attracts a huge amount of audience. There are plenty of creators who do activities such as eating and singing while streaming live. There are more than 5000 live shows airing at any given time and among those streams, some creators are able to earn millions in a month.
What is Afreeca TV?
Afreeca TV is a streaming platform where users can broadcast themselves and interact with the audience on the app. Afreeca TV has risen to prominence in recent years, so much so that it was named as the 4th best company under Asia's 200 Best Under a Billion category by Forbes in 2019.
History
Afreeca TV, which was formerly known as W beta service, started broadcasting on May 11, 2005. It was renamed to Afreeca in 2006 and has since become a popular platform for users to upload their own videos and shows. Afreeca includes features such as viewing, broadcasting, live chatting, forums, and channel listing.
Afreeca TV, a streaming platform created by the company Afreeca in 2008, finally made its way to the Android Play Store in 2013. This allowed Independent broadcasters who use the services to expand their reach to a larger audience.
The Broadcasting Jockeys were live broadcasts and the platform allowed users to add their favorite creators on their personal playlist. Very few of the leading channels in the present period draw more than 10,000 viewers at a time. Paid services such as channel relays and quick views allow independent creators to generate revenue.
How does Afreeca TV work?
Afreeca TV is similar to independent broadcasting networks, except it is owned by a conglomerate. It is similar to the Like app which is popular in South East Asia. However, Afreeca TV, as opposed to the TV, has professional content as well. You can find diverse content on the network which follows a self-broadcasting model and is complemented with a chat window. As per research based on the growth of the network and shifting pattern of audience behavior on the broadcasting platform, we found six reasons which contribute to the successful functioning of this app.
The ability to directly interact with the broadcasters and fellow viewers during broadcasts is a great feature.
Afreeca TV has become a source of companionship where you'll find yourself becoming a part of a virtual community that pretty much becomes an active part of your life.
The platform's unique culture helps almost anybody achieve success, whether they have content that is loved by viewers or not.
We are excited to announce that we're introducing a new app feature that allows users to give virtual gifts called "Star balloons." These gifts are very similar to how gold works on Reddit, and they will help make the experience even better for our users.
The network provides a diverse form of content that satisfies the needs of each individual user. The quality of content along with the structure ensures that there is no redundancy on the network.
The live cast management system is amazing because it allows users to chat and interact with each other in real time.
Since we've seen the reasons why Afreeca TV is a successful app, let's understand what makes it so great.
Why should you stream on Afreeca TV?
If you're looking for a streaming platform that offers a variety of features, you'll love Twitch. It has a general Go Live, Watch Videos and Support streamer that offer a lot of value. Additionally, there are many specific features that make it great for gamers and content creators.
Player or Radio Mode
You can access Afreeca TV through the radio mode, which will provide you with a smooth streaming experience even when there is a lack of internet speed.
Quality Streaming
You can stream using any device and make great use of both your front and back cameras. This means that whether you're using iOS or Android, you always enjoy maximum clarity when streaming. There are diverse settings that allow you to jump right in via your mobile data network or Wi-Fi. In addition, there are various streaming quality options to choose from.
Convenient Chatting
I really enjoy chatting with other viewers on Afreeca TV. I love to send emoticons and creative stickers when chatting with fellow streamers. What I love the most is that the service keeps going even if there are connectivity issues, so you can continue where you left off when the network returns.
Great Interface
The website's interface is quite intuitive. At first glance, the website is quite minimal but effective. It doesn't have unnecessary elements that hinder your browsing experience. You'll become accustomed to the menus within minutes and you'll find thousands of content materials that can keep you busy throughout the day.
Well-organized Menus
I know you're thinking why I included this in the article. Trust me, there are many platforms out there that still feel like they're running prototypes. As for Afreeca TV, it looks like a finished product where you can conveniently search for events and preferred content. Not just that, you can even organize videos and live streams. Afreeca TV is similar to other social media networks has the power to make your dreams come true.
Design
As soon as you step on AFreeca TV, you will get a distinctive vibe. Against all the dark themed streaming services, Afreeca TV's website seems to have that Twitch flavor in it. The blue and white combination is consistent throughout the website and looks great. Apart from that, I find the placement of menus and categories quite unique.
Header
Afreeca TV's header section has a search bar right before Go live and VR Player option. If you Go Live, you can broadcast yourself, and with VR Player you can access videos with VR feature enabled by the uploader. Towards the right, you have Help Center along with Login and Sign up option for new users. As for the four blue boxes on the left, you have subcategories such as Videos, Radio, eSports, Games, Items, Star Balloons, Notice and Ask 1:1.
Horizontal Categories
There is a category on the left that has Live, VOD, Favorites, and Help Center options. Each of these categories has its own page along with certain subcategories. For example, if you click on VOD, as many as ten options- Popular, Favorite User Clip, Favorite VOD, Most Recent, Most Liked, Hot Issues, Special, New Streamer, Animations, and eSports come up.
Hero Section
There are as many as 15 streams on one page on the desktop. These streams are divided into headings such as Live Now, Social Hot Clips, StarCraft Hot Clips, Featured Streamers and Global Streamers.
Content
There's a lot of content on Afreeca TV. You can stream 5000+ videos at any given time from any device. You'll find television show clips, live videos, and VODs from independent creators.
Success Stories
From a 14-year-old sensation eater who has been using the platform for 3 years, to a model showing her seductive dance moves, Afreeca TV is filled with unique content. Recently, Kim (14), known as Patoo on the network, made two million through streaming his episodes on Afreeca TV. His success story indicates the stronghold Afreeca TV has in the South Korean market.
Crucial Numbers
There are around 8 million unique visitors to Afreeca TV every month. Most of the audience is teen or young adult age group. Forty percent of 12.5 million South Koreans between the age group 10 to 30 watch shows on Afreeca TV once a month. Many teenagers upon being surveyed pointed out that the chance to interact with broadcasters is what makes streaming on Afreeca TV unique.
Usability
The Afreeca TV app has a clean interface. It reminds me of Facebook with similar options on the top and at the bottom of your screen. It worked well on my iPhone X, as well as my Google Pixel 2. I watched a couple of live videos and VODs on it.
Suggestions I have for Afreeca TV
Afreeca TV seems to be a dominant South Korean app to me. Most of the streams on the network are from Korean creators, so as an outsider it's quite hard for you to relate unless you want to learn about the culture.
Conclusion
A free app with a vast and anonymous content creator audience, Afreeca TV is said to be what YouTube originally claimed to be. The app features amateur footage, making it an easy platform for anyone looking for a company and a chance to share their work.