TVer and Japan's TV Networks Announce Big Changes to Streaming Service
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TVer, Japan's free streaming platform, has met with five commercial TV networks in Tokyo for the first time.
Together, they announced plans to move away from TVer's old role as just a catch-up service, where people watch shows they missed.
The group said TVer will become a bigger part of daily viewing, not only a place to find older episodes.
They plan to release major updates before the end of the year, though exact dates have not been given.
One new feature is a service that sends notifications through LINE, Japan's most popular messaging app.
This service will tell users when their favorite talent, meaning actors, singers, or presenters, appears on a show.
Fans will be able to follow specific stars and get alerts about new programs featuring them.
TVer also announced a complete redesign of its app across all devices, including phones, computers, and smart TVs.
The goal of the redesign is to make the service easier and more enjoyable to use.
This marks the first time TVer and the five broadcasters have appeared together to share plans in this way.
The announcement suggests broadcasters want TVer to compete more directly with other streaming platforms.
By expanding beyond catch-up viewing, TVer hopes to keep viewers coming back regularly, not only after missing a show.
Vocabulary10 words
- streaming platform
- a service that lets you watch videos online
- catch-up service
- a way to watch a show after it first aired
- LINE
- a very popular chat app in Japan
- talent
- famous performers, like actors or singers
- notifications
- short messages that alert you
- redesign
- a big change to how something looks
- devices
- phones, computers, or other machines
- broadcasters
- companies that make and show TV programs
- compete
- to try to do better than others
- feature
- a part of an app or product
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Plans to move beyond catch-up viewing with major updates 2. Notify users when their favorite talent appears on a show 3. All devices
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
TVer, Japan's free streaming platform, has met with five commercial TV networks in Tokyo for the first _____.
Together, they announced plans to move away from TVer's old role as just a catch-up _____.
The group said TVer will become a bigger part of daily _____.
They plan to release major _____ before the end of the year.
One new feature is a service that sends _____ through LINE.
This service will tell users when their favorite _____ appears on a show.
Fans will be able to follow specific stars and get _____ about new programs.
TVer also announced a complete _____ of its app across all devices.
The goal of the redesign is to make the service easier and more _____ to use.
The announcement suggests broadcasters want TVer to _____ more directly with other streaming platforms.
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