KOCOWA
KOCOWA+ is a Korean entertainment streaming platform operated by wavve Americas, a JV of KBS, MBC, SBS, and SK Square Americas, delivering Korean dramas, K-pop, variety shows, and films to international viewers across 74 countries via direct subscription and B2B distribution through Prime Video, Roku, Comcast, and others.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What KOCOWA does
KOCOWA+ is a subscription video streaming platform operated by wavve Americas, Inc., a joint venture between Korea's three largest terrestrial broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS), SK Square Americas (the investment arm of SK Telecom), and Content Wavve. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Los Angeles with a Seoul satellite office, the platform distributes more than 40,000 hours of Korean dramas, K-pop programming, variety shows, reality content, and (since a 2023 rebrand and content expansion) feature films to viewers in 74 countries across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. The product combines same-day-to-8-hour subtitle localization in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Vietnamese, a 50+ provider content pipeline with exclusive deals for HYBE and SM Entertainment artist catalogs, and AI-driven natural language content discovery via a partnership with KeyTalk AI.
The company operates a hybrid revenue model: direct-to-consumer subscription tiers at $6.99/month (basic) and $7.99/month (premium with up to four simultaneous logins), an advertising-supported viewing option, and B2B distribution/licensing via Prime Video Channels, Comcast Xfinity, The Roku Channel, Google TV, Rakuten Viki, Verizon +Play, and OnDemand Korea. Distribution spans native apps across web, iOS, Android, Samsung/LG smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, and Chromecast, alongside channel-partner listings. Go-to-market emphasizes content excellence, K-pop fandom engagement (BTS-themed watch parties, Kococraves, real-time fan chat), event marketing at KCON and fan conventions, and sports marketing partnerships including an Official Korean Streaming Platform Partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (extended for 2025/26).
Customer base is overwhelmingly international, with over 90% of viewers identified as non-Korean and skewed toward female viewers under 44. The company reports profitable operations, average monthly subscriber growth of 20% in Europe and Oceania since the April 2024 regional launch, and year-over-year growth of 40% since 2017. Leadership transitioned in late 2024/2025 from CEO/CPO KunHee Park to CEO/COO Seungmin Kang.
KOCOWA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KOCOWA
- Legal name
- wavve Americas, Inc.
- Website
- https://corp.kocowa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- KOCOWA+ is a Korean entertainment streaming platform operated by wavve Americas, a JV of KBS, MBC, SBS, and SK Square Americas, delivering Korean dramas, K-pop, variety shows, and films to international viewers across 74 countries via direct subscription and B2B distribution through Prime Video, Roku, Comcast, and others.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KOCOWA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Korean Entertainment OTT Streaming
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Multilingual Streaming Channels (MPABAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals) (MPABAMAD), Live Streaming & Webcasting Platforms (BPAMAJAB)
Keywords
Where KOCOWA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
KOCOWA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Video Streaming (SVOD): KOCOWA+ offers subscription-based access to its content library with both ad-free subscription and advertising-based viewing options. Premium plans offer up to four simultaneous logins. Revenue generated through monthly recurring subscriptions from viewers across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
- B2B Platform Licensing: Revenue from bundling KOCOWA+ subscription products with partner platforms like Comcast, Amazon Prime Video Channels, The Roku Channel, Google Entertainment Space, and OnDemand Korea. Partners sell KOCOWA+ as standalone or bundled subscription products.
- Content Distribution Fees: Revenue from distributing KOCOWA content through various partner platforms and marketplaces. The platform provides content to multiple platforms in exchange for distribution fees and revenue sharing arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic plan at €6.99/$6.99 per month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium plan at €7.99/$7.99 per month |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Advertising-based viewing option |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
KOCOWA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KOCOWA+ is a subscription video-on-demand streaming platform that distributes Korean dramas, variety shows, K-Pop content, films, reality programming, and exclusive webcomics from Korea's major broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) and partners such as HYBE and SM Entertainment to international audiences. Content is localized with multilingual subtitles (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese) within 6-8 hours of Korean broadcast and is offered both directly to consumers and through B2B channel partnerships with Prime Video, Comcast, Roku, and other platforms.
Product overview
KOCOWA+ is a subscription video streaming platform serving as the ultimate destination for Korean entertainment, operated by wavve Americas. The platform offers direct-to-consumer streaming (KOCOWA+ D2C) via web, mobile apps, and smart TV devices, alongside B2B platform distribution through partner channels like Prime Video, Roku, and Comcast. The portfolio includes core streaming with 40,000+ hours of K-dramas, K-pop, variety shows, and films (added in 2023 rebrand), supplemented by exclusive webcomics based on popular dramas, interactive watch party features, and AI-powered natural language search for content discovery. Content is localized with subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Vietnamese within hours of Korean broadcast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KOCOWA+ Streaming Service Subscription video-on-demand streaming platform offering Korean dramas, variety shows, K-Pop content, reality programming, and films licensed from KBS, MBC, SBS, HYBE, SM Entertainment, and 50+ additional providers, with multilingual subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Vietnamese delivered within 6-8 hours of Korean broadcast. Available via web, iOS, Android, Samsung/LG smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Chromecast, and partner platforms including Prime Video Channels, Comcast Xfinity, The Roku Channel, and Google Entertainment Space.
- KOCOWA+ Webcomics Exclusive webcomic adaptations of popular KOCOWA+ K-dramas, released weekly as additional on-platform content for K-drama fans.
- B2B Content Distribution (Channel Partnerships) B2B distribution service enabling partner platforms (Prime Video Channels, Comcast Xfinity, The Roku Channel, Google Entertainment Space, OnDemand Korea, Verizon +Play, Rakuten Viki, Cox Communications) to offer KOCOWA+ as a standalone or bundled subscription add-on to their existing subscriber base, with revenue shared via licensing and distribution fees.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% average monthly subscriber growth in Europe and Oceania since April 2024 launch
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KOCOWA
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KOCOWA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration16 records
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
KOCOWA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (Wolves)flagshipKOCOWA+ became the Official Korean Streaming Platform Partner of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. in September 2024. Partnership includes in-stadium LED advertising at Molineux, digital content collaborations, and fan engagement campaigns. The partnership was extended for the 2025/26 season, with Wolves' Korean fanbase growing 95% and generating over 60 million impressions across club social channels during the 23/24 season.
- HYBE CorporationflagshipKOCOWA partnered with HYBE Corporation to bring BTS and SEVENTEEN content to its platform. The partnership includes 18 shows featuring HYBE artists, including travel shows like 'Nana Tour with Seventeen,' stage performances like 'Seventeen Ode To You in Seoul,' reality shows like 'In the Soop Seventeen,' and concert content. Additional 12 shows featuring BTS and other HYBE acts were added later.
- Google TVminorKOCOWA available through Google Entertainment Space, enabling discovery and access through Google TV interface and Google platform distribution.
- SM Entertainment / SM C&CcoreKOCOWA secured exclusive content deal with SM Entertainment/SM C&C for the Americas, including the global premiere of 'Welcome to NCT Universe' reality show featuring SM Rookies. The partnership includes over 8 additional shows from SM C&C's library featuring NCT, including 'NCT Life in Gapyeong' and 'WayVision 2.'
- Comcast XfinitycoreKOCOWA offered through Comcast Xfinity X1 and Flex platforms, making it accessible to Xfinity cable subscribers as a bundled or standalone subscription product.
- Amazon Prime Video ChannelsflagshipKOCOWA became available via Prime Video Channels in the US in June 2022, and expanded to Prime Video UK in September 2025. Prime Video subscribers can add KOCOWA+ as an add-on subscription service, providing seamless access to Korean content through Amazon's platform.
- The Roku ChannelcoreKOCOWA debuted on The Roku Channel in October 2020, making Korean content available to Roku's extensive user base in North America.
- Cox CommunicationsminorKOCOWA distribution expanded to Cox Communications cable platform, providing access to Korean content for Cox subscribers.
- KBS (Korean Broadcasting System)coreKOCOWA is a joint venture between KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), MBC, and SBS - Korea's top three broadcasters - plus SK Square Americas and Content Wavve. KBS provides primary content including dramas, variety shows, and music programs.
- MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation)coreMBC is a founding joint venture partner in KOCOWA alongside KBS, SBS, SK Square Americas, and Content Wavve. MBC provides Korean drama and entertainment content to the platform.
- SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System)coreSBS is a founding joint venture partner in KOCOWA alongside KBS, MBC, SK Square Americas, and Content Wavve. SBS provides Korean content including dramas and entertainment programming.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KOCOWA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Disney+: Disney+ is a global streaming incumbent offering a broad content portfolio across multiple geographies, including limited K-content distribution. While not directly focused on K-content, it competes for the same subscription streaming wallet share and is exploring premium Asian content.
- Netflix: Netflix is the dominant global streaming incumbent and is the largest competitive threat to KOCOWA, having invested aggressively in Korean original content (Squid Game, etc.). While Netflix is a general-purpose streamer, its growing Korean content library directly competes with KOCOWA's core proposition in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
- iQIYI: iQIYI is one of China's largest streaming platforms with international ambitions, offering a broad library of Asian drama and variety content. Like KOCOWA, iQIYI pursues multilingual localization and international expansion; its broad premium subscription model and content scope make it a broad-incumbent comparable for Asian-content streaming.
Direct peers
- Rakuten Viki: Rakuten Viki is the most direct comparable—community-driven streaming for Asian dramas and K-content with multilingual subtitles and same-day-as-Korea availability. Overlaps almost entirely with KOCOWA on content category (K-drama, K-pop, variety), target audience (non-Korean fans worldwide), and core value proposition (rapid multilingual localization).
- Viu: Viu is PCCW's Asian content streaming platform operating across Asia, Middle East, and Africa with both SVOD and AVOD tiers. Like KOCOWA, Viu focuses on localized Asian/Korean content with same-day subtitling, ad-supported and subscription revenue, and aggressive geographic expansion—making it one of KOCOWA's closest direct competitors in the niche OTT Asian content space.
- OnDemand Korea: OnDemand Korea is a North America-focused free/ad-supported Korean content streaming service, listed as an existing KOCOWA distribution integration partner. It targets the same Korean-entertainment-loving audience in the Americas and competes for viewer attention, particularly among ad-supported viewers.
- Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is the leading specialty streaming service for Asian content (anime-led, but expanding into broader Asian entertainment). Same structural model as KOCOWA: niche category (anime vs. K-content), multilingual localization, fan community, profitable multi-territory D2C plus B2B distribution via Samsung, Sony, etc.
Emerging players
- WeTV: WeTV is Tencent's international streaming platform focused on Asian drama and Korean content distribution outside China. Still in earlier international growth phase than Viu or KOCOWA, WeTV is pursuing the same multilingual Asian-content streaming niche with similar B2B and D2C strategies.
Others
- Wavve: Wavve is the Korean domestic streaming joint venture from the same Korean broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) and SK Telecom that control KOCOWA. It is the parent JV partner supplying content to KOCOWA's library and represents both the source of KOCOWA's content moat and a sibling platform competing for Korean entertainment budget domestically.
Regional players
- TVING: TVING is CJ ENM's Korean domestic OTT platform, exclusive home to many premium Korean originals. While not directly competing in international markets, TVING controls content rights (including many K-drama franchises) that affect KOCOWA's library composition and competitive positioning globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KOCOWA social profiles
Digital presenceKOCOWA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KOCOWA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
KOCOWA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KOCOWA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KOCOWA
What does KOCOWA do?
KOCOWA+ is a subscription video-on-demand streaming platform that distributes Korean dramas, variety shows, K-Pop content, films, reality programming, and exclusive webcomics from Korea's major broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) and partners such as HYBE and SM Entertainment to international audiences. Content is localized with multilingual subtitles (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese) within 6-8 hours of Korean broadcast and is offered both directly to consumers and through B2B channel partnerships with Prime Video, Comcast, Roku, and other platforms.
Is KOCOWA a public or private company?
KOCOWA is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was KOCOWA founded?
KOCOWA was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is KOCOWA based?
KOCOWA is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does KOCOWA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Video Streaming (SVOD) is the primary driver. The others are B2B Platform Licensing and content Distribution Fees.
Who are KOCOWA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Disney+, Netflix and iQIYI. Direct peers are Rakuten Viki, Viu, OnDemand Korea and Crunchyroll. WeTV is listed as an emerging player. Wavve is listed as an others. TVING is listed as a regional player.
Does KOCOWA have an API?
No public API is recorded for KOCOWA.
What industry is KOCOWA in?
KOCOWA's product category is Korean Entertainment OTT Streaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAHAI, International/Multilingual Streaming Channels, with a secondary code of MPABAMAD, International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7822.