Viki

What Viki does

Viki, Inc., doing business as Rakuten Viki, operates a global direct-to-consumer streaming platform specializing in licensed premium Asian entertainment — primarily Korean dramas, Japanese dramas, Chinese dramas, and variety shows — distributed to viewers across 195+ countries. The company was founded in 2010 and has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc. since its 2013 acquisition. Its core differentiator is a community-powered subtitling system in which a global volunteer fan base has translated more than 1.7 billion words into 200+ languages, creating a localization layer that larger competitors do not match at the same scale. The platform is accessible via web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast, with offices in San Mateo (HQ), Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo.

The business operates a product-led, freemium model with three revenue streams: (1) Viki Pass subscriptions in tiered monthly and annual plans with trial periods, processed via Stripe; (2) advertising on the free tier, with targeting driven by viewing preferences; and (3) Transactional VOD for one-time purchases in North America. Content recommendations are personalized based on viewing history. Distribution partnerships allow content owners to reach Viki's global audience, while Viki's content acquisition and licensing activity is supported by integration within the broader Rakuten ecosystem (Rakuten ID sign-in, Rakuten Viber, Rakuten Kobo, Rakuten Travel). Recent strategic activity includes the 2026 KOCCA 'Global OTT Platform Linked Production Support' partnership (6.8 billion won in co-investment with joint IP ownership) and a January 2025 strategic partnership with Netflix. KOCOWA's distribution partnership ended on December 3, 2025, removing over 40,000 hours of Korean content and shifting that library to direct subscription via KOCOWA+.

Name

Viki

Legal name

Viki, Inc.

Website

https://viki.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Rakuten Viki is a global direct-to-consumer streaming platform serving viewers of Asian entertainment in 195+ countries, offering licensed Korean, Japanese, and Chinese dramas differentiated by a community of fan translators who have subtitled over 1.7 billion words into 200+ languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Streaming / OTT Entertainment

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

SVOD Streaming Channels (Subscription OTT) (MPABAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Niche/Genre Streaming Channels (e.g., Horror, Anime, Faith, Kids) (MPABAHAH)

Keywords

• Asian content streaming
• K-drama video platform
• OTT entertainment service
• Fan-subtitle streaming
• Global drama streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

San Mateo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Viki Pass Subscription: Subscription-based revenue model with Viki Pass plans offering different tiers with recurring billing (monthly and annual options), including trial periods
2. Transactional VOD: Transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) function available in North America for one-time purchases of content
3. Advertising: Platform uses advertising tracking technology and serves personalized advertisements to users, monetizing free tier viewers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rakuten Viki is a global over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform that licenses and distributes Asian entertainment content—including Korean dramas, Japanese dramas, Chinese dramas, movies, and variety shows—to viewers in 195+ countries. The platform is differentiated by a fan-driven community subtitle system that translates content into 200+ languages, and it monetizes through subscription tiers (Viki Pass), advertising, and transactional video-on-demand rentals.

Product overview

Rakuten Viki operates as a global streaming platform and subsidiary of Rakuten Group, specializing in licensed premium Asian entertainment content. The core offering consists of the Rakuten Viki Streaming Platform accessible via the Viki Pass subscription (with both ad-supported and premium tiers), supported by mobile apps (iOS/Android) and TV apps (Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Fire TV, Chromecast). The platform differentiates through its community-powered fan-generated subtitle translation feature (translating over 1.7 billion words into 200+ languages), content recommendations driven by viewing history, and a transactional VOD option in North America. Content distribution partnerships allow creators to reach Viki's audience of passionate fans across 195+ countries, while the Viki Advertising platform enables brands to target engaged viewers. The company maintains offices in San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Viki Streaming Service Global OTT streaming platform offering licensed Asian entertainment (K-dramas, J-dramas, C-dramas, movies, variety shows) to viewers in 195+ countries, with fan-subtitled content in 200+ languages.
• Viki Pass Subscription tier that provides consumers ad-free, HD streaming access to Viki's full library of Asian dramas, movies, and variety shows, available on a recurring monthly or annual basis.
• Viki Mobile Apps Native iOS and Android applications that allow consumers to stream Viki's Asian content library on smartphones and tablets, with personalized recommendations and account/subscription management.
• Viki TV Apps Smart TV and connected TV applications (e.g., Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung, LG) bringing Viki's subtitled Asian content catalog to the living-room screen.
• Viki Advertising Advertising-supported video product that monetizes Viki's free tier by serving video ads to its global audience of Asian-content viewers, sold to brand and agency clients.
• Transactional VOD (TVOD) Transactional video-on-demand option that lets consumers rent or purchase individual titles from Viki's Asian content catalog on a pay-per-title basis, separate from the Viki Pass subscription.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.7 billion+ words translated by community
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KOCCA (Korea Creative Content Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2026Partnership with Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) for the '2026 Global OTT Platform Linked Production Support' project, investing 6.8 billion won. Viki participates from project selection through co-investment, with joint IP ownership between production companies and global platforms. This addresses concerns that domestic Korean companies have become subcontracting bases losing intellectual property rights.
• DramaBoxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2026Partnership with DramaBox as part of KOCCA's '2026 Global OTT Platform Linked Production Support' project, providing production cost support ranging from 100 million won for short-form content to up to 2 billion won for long-form dramas.
• ViuminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2026Partnership with Viu as part of KOCCA's '2026 Global OTT Platform Linked Production Support' project alongside Viki and DramaBox.
• KOCOWAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 December 2025KOCOWA previously distributed Korean drama and variety content through Viki but ended the partnership on December 3, 2025, directing fans to subscribe directly to KOCOWA+. The platform offered over 40,000 hours of Korean entertainment with premium subtitles.
• Tencent VideominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Joint venture with Crunchyroll for international short-form drama content, referenced alongside Viki as a key player in the Paid Micro Drama Market valued at $1.3 billion in 2024.
• NetflixminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership referenced in market research report indicating Netflix's January 2025 partnership with Viki in the context of the Paid Micro Drama Market.
• Rakuten GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationViki is a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan. Part of a network of companies including Viber, eBates, Lyft and more, reaching a global audience of nearly 1 billion users. Leverages Rakuten's EU Binding Corporate Rules for international data transfers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Crunchyroll: Sony-owned anime and Asian content streaming service; directly comparable to Viki as a specialty SVOD targeting global fans of Asian (particularly Japanese) content, with similar freemium/subscription monetization and multilingual localization.
• KOCOWA: Korean entertainment streaming service that ended its distribution partnership with Viki in December 2025; now a direct competitor offering Korean drama and variety content with premium subtitles, overlapping with Viki's core Korean content offering.
• Viu: PCCW-owned pan-regional Asian content streaming platform (K-drama, J-drama, C-drama, anime) operating across Asia, Middle East, and Africa; also a KOCCA 2026 partner. Highly comparable as a subscription-based Asian content OTT with regional focus.
• iQIYI: Baidu-owned Chinese streaming platform with significant international expansion of Asian content (C-drama, anime, variety); comparable business model of subscription + advertising monetization and comparable content vertical focus.
• WeTV: Tencent Video's international streaming brand offering Asian dramas, anime, and variety shows globally; referenced in the same Paid Micro Drama Market report as Viki, with similar subscription and ad-supported models targeting global Asian content fans.

Emerging players

• DramaBox: Short-form Asian drama streaming app focused on mobile-first micro-dramas; partnered with Viki under KOCCA's 2026 Global OTT Platform Linked Production Support and competes in the same Asian content vertical with a different format (short-form).
• AsianCrush: Niche North American streaming service focused on Asian films and series; smaller-scale peer to Viki with a comparable specialization in Asian content for Western audiences, offering both SVOD and AVOD options.
• OnDemandKorea: Free ad-supported streaming service specializing in Korean dramas and K-pop content for North American audiences; comparable niche Asian-content focus with AVOD-led monetization as a smaller, regional alternative to Viki's global subscription offering.

Broad incumbents

• Netflix: Global SVOD incumbent with major investment in Korean and Japanese originals (Squid Game, etc.); competes with Viki for the same subscriber wallet in Asian content, and entered a January 2025 partnership with Viki reflecting dual coexistence and competitive overlap.
• Disney+ Hotstar: Disney's international streaming service (with Hotstar branding in Asia) offering K-drama and Asian content alongside global library; broad incumbent that competes for Asian content subscriber share in key markets like India and Southeast Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Viki
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VikiKdrama
• Facebookfacebook.com/viki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viki
• Instagraminstagram.com/viki
• TikToktiktok.com/@rakuten_viki

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors12 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Viki