Interest in the Gwanghwamun performance staged by the group BTS was proven by concrete numbers.
According to Netflix on the 25th, the live-streamed "BTS comeback live: Arirang" on the 21st was watched by 18.4 million people worldwide.
BTS's comeback live ranked in the weekly top 10 in 80 countries and reached No. 1 in the weekly rankings in 24 countries, receiving global attention.
Netflix said it used optimized technology for this live broadcast, including leveraging its own content delivery network, and deployed a total of 23 cameras and 124 relay monitors. Approximately 9.5 km of power cables were installed at the concert site to supply power of 9,660 kVA, and the production focused on large-scale live production and transmission capabilities, such as processing 40 terabytes of server capacity and 108 terabytes of filmed data.
Netflix used technologies optimized for live environments, including its own content delivery network "Open Connect," as well as load balancing, automatic switching of multiple encoders, and a live-dedicated encoding pipeline, to ensure global viewers could enjoy BTS's comeback performance in the best possible conditions. Through this, the performance could be delivered to viewers' homes worldwide in optimal condition, and it set the astounding record of 18.4 million viewers.
The 18.4 million viewers recorded by "BTS comeback live: Arirang" mean that this live broadcast was more than a one-off event and had significance in reshaping the global distribution structure of K-pop. International interest was high enough to draw crowds of 100,000 people, and with 18.4 million gathered online, the synergy when global OTTs and K-pop meet was proven.
Netflix moved from K-drama to K-pop based on the trust it built with K-dramas, and because BTS successfully led that start, other K-pop artists can now take the baton. With doors of opportunity opening for all K-pop artists including BTS, attention is already focused on who will be the next to follow BTS. Also, with this performance set against the backdrop of Gwanghwamun, it is expected to greatly help the tourism industry as it once again imprinted Korea's beauty on the world.
Netflix judged the results of this live broadcast highly. Netflix said, "This performance is an example of widening our steps into K-pop together with BTS, and we will continue our efforts to promote various formats and genres of Korean content to the world."
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