[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] As the pay-TV market enters a phase of slowing growth due to the proliferation of online video services (OTT), the three IPTV providers—KTCorporation, SK Broadband, and LG Uplus—are expanding their offerings of diverse cultural content, such as independent films, special sections dedicated to film festivals, and classical music performances, in an effort to enhance users’ content choices and strengthen the public nature of media.

KTCorporation(030200)launched the “Independent Film Showcase,” a dedicated category for independent films on its IPTV platform, on the 5th.

This initiative allows users to conveniently watch independent films—which were previously difficult to access due to a distribution structure centered on major commercial films—via IPTV video-on-demand (VOD). KTCorporation plans to gradually add films submitted to independent film festivals, short films, and short-form content in the future.

SK Broadband has been supporting independent and art films since 2015 by sponsoring events such as the Mise-en-Scène Short Film Festival, the Seoul International Women’s Film Festival, and the Save the Children Children’s Rights Film Festival, as well as by operating special IPTV sections.

In particular, it has sponsored the Seoul International Environmental Film Festival for six consecutive years; this year, from June 6 to 30, it offered 71 domestic and international feature and short films for free. Last May, it also operated a special section featuring award-winning films from the “11th Save the Children Children’s Rights Film Festival” free of charge.

LG Uplus(032640)Through “U+ Stage,” it provides a variety of cultural and artistic content—including classical concerts, operas, ballets, and art exhibitions—free of charge.

It is expanding its content offerings to allow viewers to enjoy a wide range of performing arts from home—beyond just dramas and movies—including performances by the Berlin Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as recordings from the Jarasum Jazz Festival.

The three IPTV providers plan to continue offering users content across various genres while also providing new distribution channels for independent filmmakers and the performing arts community, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the domestic content ecosystem.

An industry official stated, “Although the pay-TV market is facing a period of stagnation, an important role of IPTV is to broaden users’ content choices and provide access to content that is otherwise difficult to access due to its low commercial viability,” adding, “We plan to continue expanding services that strengthen content diversity and public value.”