An LG Uplus employee is introducing the content review platform ‘1ROW’. LG Uplus announced on the 30th that it has launched a content review platform called ‘1ROW,’ where users can access information on domestic and international movies and dramas, and record and share their reviews.
1ROW is a platform that brings together information on movies and dramas, including details about actors and directors, trailers, pre-reviews, and analyses. Users can record their own reviews after watching a movie or drama and engage with other users by commenting on their reviews. LG Uplus explained that while the use of online video services (OTT) and content viewing time has increased significantly, there has been a lack of consideration regarding how to enjoy content, which led to the launch of this service.
1ROW is available for free to everyone, not just LG Uplus customers. On the app’s home screen, users can receive recommendations for the day’s top picks or content suited to their preferences. Once a user selects content, they can view information about the cast, director, and related reviews.
LG Uplus has partnered with ‘Cine21’, a movie specialist media company, to allow users to refer to expert opinions. To provide a wide range of content information, they have secured a database of approximately 1.2 million content items, the largest in the country.
LG Uplus plans to enhance the service so that users can directly watch its self-produced content by collaborating with its mobile IPTV service, U+Mobile TV, and improving convenience by utilizing its self-developed AI, ‘ixi’.
However, there are concerns that this service may be similar to the service of Watcha, a company LG Uplus has had conflicts with over technology misappropriation allegations. In 2018, LG Uplus signed a contract with Watcha to receive data from their content recommendation and evaluation service, “WatchaPedia,” but they have had disputes after the acquisition of Watcha by LG Uplus fell through.
Watcha claims that LG Uplus has been strengthening its own OTT service using Watcha’s technology and service operation know-how under the guise of investment. The issue was also addressed in a recent national audit.
LG Uplus argues that the functions provided by Watcha are common and industry-standard in the media industry. An LG Uplus representative stated, “We previously obtained legal consultation on the matter and were advised that there is no similarity.”