Japanese messaging company Line has launched a YouTube-like video service in Thailand, TechCrunch reported.
Available via Android and iOS apps and online, “Line TV” features a range of TV shows, dramas and music videos from Thailand, Japan and Korea.
According to TechCrunch, Line TV is integrated with Line's messaging app, letting users share content with friends and view information about actors. Line is considering plans to introduce similar services in other markets.
Currently, the company is paying a handful of content providers, including GMM Grammy, to license shows exclusively. It is also acquiring older content based on a revenue-sharing model, and producing original content based on characters in its sticker sets.
Line claims 33 million registered users in Thailand, more than Facebook’s 28 million users in the country.
Thailand is fast becoming a test-bed for Line to pilot new services. Earlier this month, it started testing a grocery delivery service in Thailand, with a long-term goal of building a digital food marketplace across Southeast Asia.