SK Broadband, Netflix settle dispute, forge partnership for new service

Netflix and SK Broadband will each drop the lawsuit over the payment of network usage fees on Monday after more than three years of dispute that sparked when the streaming giant filed the lawsuit in April 2020.

The dispute gained worldwide attention as it is a battle between an internet provider and a global streaming service on who is responsible for maintaining network quality amid the increased traffic load from Netflix.

All quarrels aside, Netflix, SK Telecom and SK Broadband forged a partnership to supply users of the mobile carrier and the IPTV provider with Netflix membership.

The three companies plan to launch a new subscription service in which SK Telecom and SK Broadband users can also watch Netflix. New subscription packages akin to Netflix's ad-supported membership will also be launched.

Related services will be rolled out in the first half of 2024.

"The partnership with SK Telecom, a leader in Korea's telecommunication and innovative technology industries, holds special significance as it enables Netflix to enhance entertainment experiences for a broader Korean audience," Tony Zameczkowski, Netflix's vice president of Asia-Pacific partnerships, said in a statement.

"Netflix is committed to creating and delivering the best stories to members in Korea and audiences worldwide, and we have high expectations for the journey ahead as partners serving our customers with SK Telecom and SK Broadband."

SK Telecom's Choi Hwan-seok, head of strategic management, said the partnership "is the result of the companies' management philosophy to provide a better media service environment" for their customers.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]