AfreecaTV
AfreecaTV is a South Korean live streaming platform serving gamers and content creators, generating revenue from digital gifting, advertising, and its Shoprica media commerce platform. The company operates internationally under the SOOPLIVE brand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What AfreecaTV does
AfreecaTV is a South Korea-based live streaming and game streaming platform founded in 2014, headquartered in Seoul and operating internationally under the SOOPLIVE brand. The platform enables gamers and content creators to broadcast live streams while allowing viewers to interact through digital gifting, advanced creator monetization tools, and an integrated media commerce layer called Shoprica. Its core products are the SoopLive streaming platform and Shoprica, supported by the in-house digital marketing, UX/UI, and e-commerce capabilities added through the July 2023 acquisition of CTTD.
The company's business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) transaction fees from digital gifting, where viewers purchase virtual items to send to streamers and the platform takes a share; (2) advertising, with capabilities enhanced by the CTTD acquisition; and (3) marketplace commissions from Shoprica's media commerce platform. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on streamer content, audience engagement, and a culturally embedded gifting mechanic to drive platform growth. Primary customer segments are gamers and game-stream viewers (long-tail consumers) and content creators/streamers (persona-based), addressed through a horizontal segmentation approach with no disclosed enterprise anchor accounts or formal pricing tiers.
AfreecaTV is a privately held corporation domiciled in South Korea, operating globally via web and mobile with a self-serve distribution model. The platform has been cited as a major regional streaming player alongside Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, and CHZZK, with notable audience growth observed in Q2 2024. Notable operational metrics include a 21% increase in digital gifting participation attributed to advanced creator monetization tools. Ownership structure, venture funding, and detailed headcount remain undisclosed in available sources.
AfreecaTV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AfreecaTV
- Website
- https://afreecatv.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AfreecaTV is a South Korean live streaming platform serving gamers and content creators, generating revenue from digital gifting, advertising, and its Shoprica media commerce platform. The company operates internationally under the SOOPLIVE brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AfreecaTV industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Streaming Platform
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Video Streaming Platforms (SVOD/AVOD/TVOD) (BPAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Offerwalls, Rewards & Performance Monetization (UA-linked payouts) (MPAFAJAI), Enterprise/Creator Video Hosting & OTT SaaS Platforms (MPACAAAL)
Keywords
Where AfreecaTV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
AfreecaTV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Advertising: AfreecaTV generates revenue through advertising, with capabilities enhanced by the acquisition of CTTD digital marketing agency.
- Digital Gifting: Viewers purchase and send digital gifts to streamers, with the platform taking a share of the transaction value.
- Media Commerce Platform (Shoprica): E-commerce integration through Shoprica platform, combining media content with commerce capabilities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
AfreecaTV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AfreecaTV operates a live streaming platform (branded internationally as SoopLive) focused on game streaming and interactive entertainment, enabling viewers and streamers to broadcast, watch, and engage via digital gifting. The platform monetizes through viewer-to-streamer digital gifts, advertising, and a media commerce platform called Shoprica that integrates e-commerce with streaming content. The company also acquired digital marketing agency CTTD in July 2023 to strengthen advertising and e-commerce capabilities.
Product overview
AfreecaTV operates as a game streaming platform with a portfolio consisting of its core SoopLive streaming platform and the Shoprica media commerce platform. The company acquired CTTD (a digital marketing agency) to enhance advertising capabilities and strengthen Shoprica's e-commerce and digital marketing features. Creator monetization is facilitated through digital gifting tools that allow streamers to earn revenue from viewers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shoprica: Media commerce platform operated by AfreecaTV for e-commerce integration within the streaming ecosystem.
Products and services
- SoopLive AfreecaTV's primary live streaming platform enabling game streaming, content creation, and viewer engagement through interactive features including digital gifting. Targeted at individual viewers and content creators/streamers.
- Shoprica A media commerce platform developed by AfreecaTV to enable shopping and commerce features within the streaming ecosystem, combining media content with commerce capabilities and supporting advertising and user engagement strategies.
Quantifiable outcome
- 21% increase in digital gifting participation through advanced creator monetization tools
Companies that use AfreecaTV
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AfreecaTV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
AfreecaTV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CTTD (Digital Marketing Agency)coreAfreecaTV acquired CTTD to enhance its advertising capabilities and support its media commerce platform 'Shoprica'. The acquisition leverages CTTD's expertise in digital marketing, UX/UI, and e-commerce platform development. Expected to foster synergy and expand advertising and user engagement.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
AfreecaTV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bigo LIVE: JOYY-owned live streaming platform with strong presence in Asia and a digital-gifting monetization model. Comparable to AfreecaTV on live streaming + gifting economics, with broader non-gaming IRL content mix.
- Twitch: Amazon-owned live game streaming platform and the global category leader. Directly comparable to AfreecaTV on live game streaming, creator monetization (subs/bits), and viewer engagement, with substantially larger international reach.
- Trovo: Tencent-backed live streaming platform operating in the same live game/video streaming category. Directly comparable on creator monetization and audience metrics, though AfreecaTV outpaced Trovo in Q2 2024 audience growth.
- Kick: Independent live streaming platform aggressively competing in the gaming category with a creator-friendly revenue split. Shares the live game streaming + tipping/subs model with AfreecaTV.
- CHZZK: Naver-owned Korean live game streaming platform that has emerged as the most direct domestic challenger to AfreecaTV. Identical target audience (Korean gaming streamers/viewers), identical business model (digital gifting + ads), and explicit competition for the same creator roster.
Regional players
- DouYu: Tencent-affiliated Chinese live game streaming platform. Strongly comparable on game-stream-first positioning and digital-gifting-driven revenue, but primarily serves mainland China rather than Korea.
- Huya: NYSE-listed Chinese live game streaming platform (merged with DouYu under Tencent). Comparable business model (live game streaming + virtual gifting) but geographically concentrated in China.
- Pandora TV: One of the earliest Korean live streaming platforms (CJ E&M-backed). Shares Korean-market heritage and live video creator dynamics with AfreecaTV, though it has lost scale to AfreecaTV and now CHZZK.
Broad incumbents
- YouTube Gaming: Google's live streaming vertical inside YouTube. Overlaps AfreecaTV on game streaming, creator Super Chat monetization, and live audience scale, but as a sub-vertical inside a broader video and creator-economy platform.
- TikTok LIVE: ByteDance's live streaming feature inside the TikTok social platform. Overlaps AfreecaTV on live audience monetization (gifts/diamonds) and creator economy dynamics, but at much broader scope.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AfreecaTV social profiles
Digital presenceAfreecaTV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AfreecaTV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AfreecaTV subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
AfreecaTV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AfreecaTV M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AfreecaTV
What does AfreecaTV do?
AfreecaTV operates a live streaming platform (branded internationally as SoopLive) focused on game streaming and interactive entertainment, enabling viewers and streamers to broadcast, watch, and engage via digital gifting. The platform monetizes through viewer-to-streamer digital gifts, advertising, and a media commerce platform called Shoprica that integrates e-commerce with streaming content. The company also acquired digital marketing agency CTTD in July 2023 to strengthen advertising and e-commerce capabilities.
Is AfreecaTV a public or private company?
AfreecaTV is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AfreecaTV founded?
AfreecaTV was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AfreecaTV based?
AfreecaTV is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does AfreecaTV make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are digital Gifting and media Commerce Platform (Shoprica).
Who are AfreecaTV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bigo LIVE, Twitch, Trovo, Kick and CHZZK. Regional players are DouYu, Huya and Pandora TV. Broad incumbents are YouTube Gaming and TikTok LIVE.
Does AfreecaTV have an API?
No public API is recorded for AfreecaTV.
What industry is AfreecaTV in?
AfreecaTV's product category is Live Streaming Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAA, Video Streaming Platforms (SVOD/AVOD/TVOD), with a secondary code of MPAFAJAI, Offerwalls, Rewards & Performance Monetization (UA-linked payouts). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7829.