CJ ENM's Mnet Plus is set to strengthen its original content and streaming competitiveness in 2026 based on its performance throughout 2025.
Mnet Plus, a global K-POP content platform, plans to make 2026 a turning point for expanding the K-POP content universe by actively increasing content volume and category diversity through original IP and K-culture–based format expansion. As a start, the travel variety show "On the Map (ON THE MAP)," which premiered on the 20th, ranked first in same-day unique viewers (UV) on the platform immediately after its release and recorded an explosive global spread, with actual viewing regions increasing by more than 35% within a week of launch. It also rose to the top ranks of real-time trends on X (formerly Twitter) and received continuing praise, quickly becoming must-watch content among global fandoms.
Along with this, as an Mnet Plus original, the spin-off of "M Countdown," "Introducing a friend in the waiting room (Daechinso)," offers live broadcasts every Thursday at 3:33 a.m./p.m.* where viewers can peek at the chemistry of friends who surprise-visit the waiting room with the MCs, and it will deepen platform stay experience for global fandoms by providing day-of-week tailored content such as "Wide K-Pop News (WIDE K-POP NEWS)," which swiftly delivers K-POP news. In addition, "Sumbakkokjil (SUMBAKKOKJIL)," which has been proven successful globally, has confirmed production of an expanded-scale season 2, and "Wanna One reality (working title)," which generated major buzz earlier this year, is also being prepared for release in the first half of the year.
Platform usability and viewing environment enhancements will continue. Representative programs from Mnet and M2, such as "M Countdown," "Show Me the Money 12," "Reply: High School," and "Wooju Record," can now be enjoyed live anywhere in the world via Mnet Plus's PC web and app. Also, "Produce 101 Japan Shinsegye," produced in Japan and well loved there, will be distributed globally through Mnet Plus. Detailed news about content released as Mnet Plus originals can also be found on the newly established official social media account (Mnet Plus Original).
Meanwhile, Mnet Plus is a global K-POP content platform that provides a variety of K-POP content, including originals, via live streaming and VOD in more than 250 countries and regions worldwide. Through the "Fan-teractive" experience, which combines voting and participation, it has expanded global fans' viewing into a more immersive K-POP experience. On this basis, monthly active users (MAU) at the end of 2025 increased by about 470% compared with the beginning of 2025, and daily active users (DAU) also grew about threefold year over year.
Behind this growth is Mnet Plus's fan-teractive strategy, in which fan participation beyond simple viewing translates into content value. During the "Boys 2 Planet" final live broadcast, the service demonstrated its competitiveness by stably handling a peak global traffic of 70,000 votes per second. The survival show "Planet C: Home Race," first introduced as an Mnet Plus original, also encouraged active participation from Planet Makers, strengthening user lock-in through the fan-teractive structure.
Original content competitiveness also drove platform growth. The first original entertainment program of 2025, "Sumbakkokjil (SUMBAKKOKJIL)," led core traffic by surpassing 14 million cumulative views and 1 million unique users for a single IP, and "The City of Spy: NCT 127" and "ALPHA DRIVE ONE Let's Go" also expanded global fan inflows, further proving the power of original IP.
A Mnet Plus official said, "2026 will be the year we evolve into a hub where the K-POP experience of global fandoms is concentrated through unmatched original content competitiveness," adding, "We will spare no effort in advancing technology and investing in IP so that the most vivid and immersive K-POP culture can be enjoyed within Mnet Plus."
[Photo] OSEN DB, Mnet Plus
[OSEN]