[GLOBAL ECONOMIC TIMES]  LG U+ announced on the 30th that it has launched ‘1ROW’, a content review platform where you can check information on domestic and foreign movies and dramas and record and share reviews.

One Row is a platform that gathers content information such as actor and director information, trailers, advance reviews, and commentary related to movies and dramas. After watching a movie or drama, users can record their own reviews and communicate by leaving comments on other users' reviews. LG U+ explained that although customers' use of online video services (OTT) has recently increased, the time spent watching content has also increased significantly, but it decided to launch the service because it judged that there was not enough concern about how to enjoy the content.

Onerow can be used for free by not only LG U+ customers but also customers of other companies. Users can receive recommended content of the day or content that suits their tastes on the first screen of the application (app). When you select content, you can see cast and director information and related reviews.

LG U+ also joined hands with ‘Cine21’, a media outlet specializing in movies, so that users can refer to expert opinions. In order to provide a variety of content information, we have also secured a content database (DB) of approximately 1.2 million items, the largest in Korea.

LG U+ plans to collaborate with U+Mobiletv, a mobile IPTV service, to enhance its service so that users can watch self-produced content directly, and to improve convenience by utilizing the self-developed AI ‘ixi’.

However, it is expected that some will point out that this service is similar to Watcha's service, which is embroiled in conflict over suspicions of technology theft. In 2018, LG U+ signed a contract with Watcha to supply data from the content recommendation and evaluation service ‘Watcha Pedia’, but there has been conflict since LG U+’s acquisition of Watcha fell through.

Watcha's side is raising the issue that LG U+ is strengthening its own OTT service based on Watcha's technology and service operation know-how under the pretense of investment. Related issues were also discussed in the recent National Assembly inspection.

LG U+ counters by saying that the functions provided by Watcha are universal functions that are normally shared and provided in the media industry. An LG U+ official explained, “We previously received legal advice on the matter and it was determined that there were no similarities.”