On June 16, 2015, KakaoTV was officially released. Initially, it was a website similar to Naver TV in the way that it offered the streaming broadcasts from affiliated or contracted broadcasters.[2]
On November 6, 2015, Kakao launched the "KakaoTV Live Open Chat" function which links KakaoTV's live broadcasts and Kakao Talk's open chat, allowing viewers to chat while streaming a program.[3]
On February 18, 2017, Daum tvPot was integrated with KakaoTV.[4] In 2017, KakaoTV attracted only 1.8% of streaming video viewers according to a survey of 7,426 online video streaming users.[5]
On September 1, 2020, Kakao M (now Kakao Entertainment M Company) expanded the service area of KakaoTV to OTT as it needed a platform to distribute its own dramas, entertainment programs and films.[6][7] It accumulated 13 million views one week after its launch,[8] 58 million views after a month[9] and 106 million views after three months.[10] Most content is in average 20-minutes long and some are created in vertical form for mobile users.[11][12]
^Min, Kyung-won; Kim, Yeon-ah (September 29, 2020). "Kakao TV launches this month, takes on Netflix". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Jeon, Sang-hyung (June 16, 2015). ""카톡 채팅방에서 친구와 동영상 같이 본다" 다음카카오, '카카오TV' 선봬". New Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Kim, Hyo-jung (October 27, 2015). "카카오TV 라이브 오픈채팅 출시". Digital Today (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Yoon, Sung-won (February 19, 2017). "Kakao TV to take on foreign video services". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Baek, Byung-yeul (August 3, 2018). "Naver, Kakao overrun by YouTube in video streaming". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Kim, Hyun-bin (August 24, 2020). "Kakao, Naver strengthens OTT platform". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Choi, Ji-won (September 1, 2020). "Kakao M to launch 25 original contents this year". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Kim, Jae-huen (October 2, 2020). "Kakao TV to differentiate itself from YouTube". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Lim, Jang-won (October 13, 2020). "Celebrities head to Kakao TV for entertainment show opportunities". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Kim, Yeon-ah (December 1, 2020). "Kakao TV accumulates 106 million views in three months after launch". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Lee, Jae-lim (August 26, 2020). "Seven new shows to be streamed on Kakao TV from Sept". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^Chea, Sarah (September 1, 2020). "Kakao M releases short shows to take on the big players". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
