#bl streaming

[absolutebl]

BL Streaming - Which Service is Worth Your Money?

I’m bored and I have a little extra time this morning so it’s time for ABL to play with the spreadsheet of doom. 

Occasionally I get the question: 

If I were to subscribe to only one platform for BL which should I pick? 

This post is dated May 2023. 

First things first. I am going to be (somewhat) objective about this and not judge on quality of content. Because if KinnPorsche is all you love in life, obvs you need iQIYI, but if you are a HIStory franchise stan, than it’s all about Viki. Those are your life choices, I’m just here to play numbers games, okay? 

Secondly, some shows air on multiple platforms, particularly Viki & Gaga, but sometimes it’s Gaga & YouTube, occasionally it’s even iQIYI + others. This has only started happening in the last few years. Bed Friend was on 3 different platforms (GaGa, iQIYI, YT) - even though it was originally announced for Viki! I honestly don’t know how to track this, so I tend to log the spreadsheet with my preferred watching platform for that language, this will throw the numbers off for those platforms. 

Since I join everything my platform preference choice is based on:  

the quality of the subs/captions   

the quality of the user experience  

My subs experience tends to be: 

YT = best for Thai

Viki = best for Korean and sometimes Japanese, okay for Thai

Gaga = best for Chinese and sometimes Japanese but very weak Thai subs

My user interface preference is: 

YT, Viki, Gaga in that order then everyone else with iQIYI at the bottom. This is because I watch on mobile devices. 

ASplay, WeTV, former Line, Amarin TV, Netflix and the other smaller suppliers (and apps) will all be grouped together for this assessment. Since they have so few offerings, by default I would not recommend subbing those platforms unless you are a hard stan of all BL with disposable income. 

Super bad BLs that I watched back in the day on grey sites or YT (pre 2020 crack down) because there were no other options and I am a completest are still listed as grey. I would never suggest anyone watch these shows anyway, so I don’t care if they have now shown up on legitimate sites. If they are somewhere, it’s likely Gaga. Which means Gaga’s percentage of the market share is probably UNDER reported by my numbers. 

Movies and cinema-only releases that never got international distribution fall into the “grey” category. If I got it off an indie subber, since that too is technically illegal, it falls into the grey category as well. 

Final note: This is from a USA based IP, I don’t use a VPN, so platforms assessments are from that perspective. 

Spring 2023, current state of the spreadsheet. AKA 

Our BL Data Set 

Total # of BLs = 564

# of BLs ongoing (so finished runtime is best guess) = 18 

Just Answer the Damn Question 

Round Number of Actual BLs - % of market share

YouTube = 218 - 38.6%

Gaga = 148 - 26.2% 

Viki = 77 - 13.7% 

Grey = 53 - 9.4% 

BLs I’ve never been able to find on any platform (including grey): 36 - 6.4% 

iQIYI = 14 - 2.5% 

Other platforms = 12 - 2.2% 

Margin of error: +- 1% (look I’m just not driven to be that accurate here)

Subscription Platforms Breakdown  - % of market share

Eliminating YouTube, Grey, and missing BLs. Viki is included because I do not know which of theirs are behind the paywall and which are not. 

Total subscribe-only BLs: 257 

Gaga = 59%

Viki = 30%

iQIYI = 6%

Sml sites/apps = 5%

(rounded) 

Okay but how about actual runtime? 

Gaga = 360 hrs - 44% 

Viki = 311 hrs - 38% 

iQIYI = 98 hrs - 12% 

Sml sites = 50 hrs - 6%

Anyway you cut it... on pure BL standards...

GAGAOOLALA WINS 

Other consideration? In most places Gaga is ALSO the cheapest per month option. 

Final Thoughts

YouTube (America’s Alphabet) 

YT has the most pieces of content and longest overall runtime because of all the Thai stuff. ALSO bootlegs show up there, especially the early Chinese and Japanese stuff. They will often get taken down and you have to hunt for it again. YT takedowns come in waves, every 6 months or so.

However, GMMTV, some Star Hunter, some Studio Wabi Sabi, all the Vietnamese & Pinoy stuff (until now), and a few choice bits of Strongberry are YT content.

YT’s app is the best UX of a poor set (for me), but the web based YT at Premium level doesn’t work with Firefox. I use YT for work A LOT, so the fee for Premium ($13.99) and lack of ads + downloads (travel) is worth it for me, but I think it probubly isn’t if you’re on a budget. 

GaGaOOLaLa (Taiwan’s Portico Media) 

Of the pay to play platforms, GaGa dominates with the most BLs by all metrics. If you’re intersted in darker BL, GL and other queer content, very high heat, the history of the genre, or Japanese stuff - most of that is on GaGa. Also all of Strongberry and some of the newer queerer series (like My Ride).  

At $6.99 a month it’s ALSO one of the cheapest options. 

Gaga is based out of Taiwan, the only Asian country with marriage equality (as of 2022) AND it specializes in exclusively queer content so they need our support. If you can afford them, you should support them. GaGa is the only platform that will always have more BL, guaranteed (so long as Taiwan is autonomous). Ironically, you can follow their YT channel for previews and teasers to their latest series, short content, and acquisitions. 

Their app isn’t great, but their web-based interface is fine. That said: there’s no categories (way to organize), and the way they roll out new episodes is unintuitive. Their mobile app ALWAYS pauses not mater what you actually want it to do and the lack of the quick skip ahead is frustrating. 

Viki (Japan’s Rakutan)

Viki specializes in longer series, mostly Thai, Taiwanese, and a few of the Chinese bromances. It also now has a lot of KBLs. But in general only more recent stuff (2018 is as far back as they go).

At $4.99-$11.99 depending, it’s low to average cost. I’m not sure which one (if any) you actually need for BL. Most of my favorite new shows tend to air on Viki, and I like Rakutan as a parent company, so I don’t mind supporting them. 

They happen to have 5 of my top ten BLs, which is A LOT (since I hand out 10/10 so rarely). So for me they host the objective best BL content. 

They have the second best app (after YT, it’s kinda a combo of YT + Netflix) but the lack of a speed-up option is frustrating for many. Also the desktop version is super buggy. But they DO have categories you can name and control, which I love.

Other Platforms 

iQIYI - is Mainland China based (hello Baidu, you ugly fucker), so the platform getting/pimping BL for an international audience only is… how do I put this?… oh yeah: shitty. I will often rename it Icky, for this reason. It clearly wants to break the market, but… do we want it in the market at all? How long will they host BLs? When will they be shut down and censored? I would say it’s only worth it if you really also like Chinese dramas. And even so, Viki also has A LOT of those. Unfortunately for us, Wabi Sabi seems to have cut a distribution deal with Icky. And, of course, there is the KinnPorsche situation (so ironic that Icky hosts the highest heat). The interface is a nightmare. They have the WORST app, even when you pay, it serves ads, some of which alpha crash the platform. 

Netflix - here in the states it almost never has new BL content. Sometimes some old stuff. They tested the waters with SOTUS and Love Sick. I have a feeling they aren’t particularly intersted in this market. So if BL is what you watch, don’t bother. At last check they still had Gameboys and Your Name Engraved Herein and Wish You. 

WeTV - acts like LineTV used to, has Manner of Death and We Best Love and a few of the more obscure Thai pulps. But probably not worth it for anyone but a completest. 

Grey - Unknown or No Distributor 

Indie subbers: there’s some BLs that you can watch by supporting indie subbers who supply private links to their personal versions. This is not legal, but it is a slightly nicer way to get stuff you can’t find anywhere else. I’ve done this for some Thai and Japanese stuff.

I find the leads for these sources here on Tumblr. If someone is giffing and talking about a show and I don’t know how they are getting hold of it, I simply ask.

DramaCool (USA) & Dailymotion (France) & Bilibili (China) and others - AKA the grey space. You SHOULD feel guilty using these sites, you’re stealing, but it’s where many of us go for BL we can’t find anywhere else (in defiance of what few morals we have left). These are BLs that originally sold to very odd platforms or never got international distribution. Unfortunately, some of my favorites are in this category like Great Men Academy or Seven Days. It’s a nightmare. The ads are terrible and the virus/bug risk is high. They get taken down all the time. Or the leads are faked. I use an old computer to access and suggest you take all necessary precautions yourself.

P’ABL SOAP BOX TIME

Look I work tangential to the entertainment industry, so if you thought I wasn’t going to learn you a little on this subject, you got another think coming. 

HERE’S THE THING: 

You watch a show on one of the grey platforms, ESPECIALLY if it actually has distribution on Gaga or Viki - you better review that shit. You spread the word and advocate for that content here, on MDL, on social media, with fan art, I don’t care. You steal it, you find a way to pay back in your time and/or creativity. 

I get it if you’re poor, but don’t be a goddamn scab. Find a way to reward content creators with non-monetary support. If you had the time to watch the thing you stole, you have time to pay it forward in some substantial way. Do this even if you didn’t steal it but got it for free. Do this if you read fanfic. Do this with articles, blogs, books. Do this with podcasts. 

It isn’t hard to be a decent human and support creators. Don’t you dare just TAKE. If you’re that kind of person stop reading this blog immediately. I don’t want anything to do with you and you don’t deserve my words or my spreadsheet of Doom. 

/rant 

MORE ON THIS TOPIC WITH FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS

Original post on this subject that I adapted for this post. 

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[absolutebl]

Hi,...

This time I'll keep it short and simple, unlike the usual lengthy explanation that I give every time prior to asking questions to you.

***

With respect to BL Drama Series,...official YouTube Channels of the production companies are the official streaming platform through which international fans can easily access the content,...unless one lives in North Korea. [Like for example: GMMTV, Studio Wabi-Sabi, Mandee (Former Domundi), Wayu Film Productions, AIS Play etc,..etc,...]

Then,...when it comes to paid OTT Platforms for BL Dramas,...we have Viki, GagaOOLala, iQIYI, and NETFLIX.

AIS Play App is not accessible to international audience, so I've ruled that out, because only Thai fans can access it...and I'm not sure if there are any other Apps in particular which broadcasts BL dramas from only certain specific countries like,...Apps catering to only South Korea BLs, or Taiwanese BLs.

***

So,...my question to you are as follows:

Apart from the ones mentioned above, which are the other OTT Platforms, in which BL Drama Series are aired officially?

Does each country prefer a certain OTT platform that they're comfortable with? Like for e.g: South Korean BLs are easily available on Viki, Filipino & Japanese BLs are exclusively only available on GagaOOLala, Thai BLs are available on iQIYI?

Which OTT platform according to you is the best and worth subscribing to for a longer time period? (I know this is a very specific question with a subjective answer,...but still your opinion will add value to what the larger BL audience prefer.)

Some OTT Platforms like GagaOOLala offers subscription on a comparatively cheaper rate if one subscribes for an entire year via their credit card. What is your opinion on this, and do you think it's worth it given that GagaOOLala only offers BL and LGBTQ content unlike other OTT Platforms?

Is their any BL Drama Series available on "MUBI",...which is a streaming platform with quite a good LGBTQ content?

Where are most of the LINE TV content available right now? Which means,...where can one watch "TharnType" Season-1 & 2, "Why R U!?" The Series, since LINE TV is shut down?

The BL audience would be extremely grateful to you,...if you can share a chart as to where can one watch all the BL Drama Series that are aired so far? (For e.g: "Don't Say No" on GagaOOLala, "KinnPorsche" on iQIYI, "Triage" on AIS Play, "Your Name Engraved Herein" on NETFLIX...etc,...etc,...)

I've some more technical questions with respect to the OTT platforms that I'd like to ask,...but I'll keep that for another post.

Thanks!

xoxo

Arjuna

This isn't my precise field. I've only ever worked with one side or the other of this equation (studio or distributor), not with how the two negotiate with each other or construct contracts or anything. But I'll answer what I can.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, which are the other OTT Platforms, in which BL Drama Series are aired officially?

I think you pretty much named them all.

OTT Platforms for BL Dramas:

Viki (Japanese parent corp Rakutan)

GagaOOLala (Taiwanese corp)

iQIYI (Chinese parent corp Baidu)

NETFLIX (American corp) - technically the biggest in the world (by global eyeballs, not revenue) if you don’t count... 

YouTube (American parent corp Alphabet) as an OTT (I do) 

Hullu (American) seems to be getting into the game, but slowly. 

Other OTTs with large market share and profitability but little to no BL: Disney+ (AKA Hotstar), Jio TV, and Amazon Prime. (These were actually at the very top in 2020, and are some of the biggest revenue generators). (Here’s a decent analysis and trend report.) 

Okay, here we go. Put aside the BL aspect for a moment? 

I’d like you to look at the list above and notice that the country with the fastest growing market share in the entertainment industry as a creator/producer right now (in drama series) isn’t listed as holding a market share in OTT. 

What’s that country?

South Korea 

Oh and they know it. Many of us have been waiting for them to make serious inroads in this arena. I mean why create all the content and then farm all the eyeballs out to other countries’ corps? I, for one, am outright SHOCKED Kakao doesn’t have a global OTT. SHOCKED. 

Oh and they noticed, big time. CHINA has 21% of the Kdrama market share. China! South Korea is not gonna be entirely happy about that (shall we say?). 

So in 2021 this happened: 

Leading South Korean OTT Platform Content Wavve CEO Talks $900M International Roll-Out (April 2021)

Kakao joins OTT race with INISOFT acquisition (May 2021) 

Korean OTT platform TVing to go abroad with Naver's LINE (Oct 2021) 

Kakao is the big guns and, I think, the one to watch. But it’s a race now. 

Okay back to your questions:

Does each country prefer a certain OTT platform that they're comfortable with? Like for e.g: South Korean BLs are easily available on Viki, Filipino & Japanese BLs are exclusively only available on GagaOOLala, Thai BLs are available on iQIYI?

Yes. And I think it probubly has a LOT to do with existing studio contracts for distribution, as well as politics, and international relations. Let’s take KBL as an example. In very broad brush strokes, and despite history, Korea’s external market targets are going to be Japan, the US, and China. They might not like it, but there it is. However they have solid social (e.g. tourist) and business partnerships with places like Taiwan and Thailand. Just like they do politically, South Korea has a really narrow tightrope to walk entertainment industry-wise. Until recently they’ve been focused mainly on content creation, expansion, and growth specifically into the international market with Kpop, secondarily Kdramas. Now I think we will see Hallyu start to focus more on how that content is distributed with a nationalistic refocus on revenue. Which is another way of saying Korea has changed global taste and trends to their specifications, they now needs to reclaim ownership in terms of distributor revenue. It’s going to be interesting to watch them try. 

Thailand is entirely different, they simply do not have the infrastructure for any kind of tech expansion (right now), all their SMS and other communication systems are non-native (Kakao, Line, etc...). It’s pretty evident from just their ET industry that they don’t have the trained talent or personnel in country. (I would suspect that, outside of the medical industry, Thailand has a human capital flight issue (AKA brain drain) especially around tech-heads, but this is not an area of research I study.) Still, it’s evident that, basically Thailand ET exists principally as creative entities without the capacity for distribution. AKA Thai BL studios must contract with other countries’s platforms to go wide, or go direct to YouTube. 

But there’s ALSO status and prejudice strife between the East Asian countries and the rest of Asia to the north that ALSO impacts who they work/contract with. 

Finally, Taiwan (socially liberal with marriage equality) and Japan (just hella kinky) are going to feel safest hosting and distributing higher heat and blatantly queer content, which is why GaGa and Viki lead for that content. 

Which OTT platform according to you is the best and worth subscribing to for a longer time period? (I know this is a very specific question with a subjective answer,…but still your opinion will add value to what the larger BL audience prefer.)

I did a stats analysis for this one relatively recently. Which OTT platform are worth subscribing to for BL? 

But a cost benefit analysis depends on your taste and how much the subscription costs in your country. 

YT with the most content (and longest shows) at 42% of BL is free, but i hate ads and like to download for travel, so it’s worth it for me to pay for YT premium of $11.99. 

Gaga actually has about 28% of market (in number of shows), and for me the cheapest price point, $6.99, but their stuff is mostly shorter, darker, and higher heat. And they don’t host a ton of new content. 

Viki has about 13% but their quality is highest, IMHO, most of my favorite shows are there, and usually the best new stuff. Their sub is also $11.99, but since i watch a ton of other Kdramas and I like their interface, I consider them a necessity in my life. Also I like Rakutan’s corporate culture and attitude, if been to some of their conferences. 

I’ve considered subbing WeTV just long enough to gank WBL season 2, but I don’t see myself sticking with them, so far they’ve never had anything else I couldn’t get elsewhere. 

Some OTT Platforms like GagaOOLala offers subscription on a comparatively cheaper rate if one subscribes for an entire year via their credit card. What is your opinion on this, and do you think it's worth it given that GagaOOLala only offers BL and LGBTQ content unlike other OTT Platforms?

Yes. But I love GaGa and I want to support Taiwanese companies in general, so I’m in favor from an ethical standpoint. Also I am not as price sensitive as most. 

Is their any BL Drama Series available on "MUBI",…which is a streaming platform with quite a good LGBTQ content?

I don’t know. 

Where are most of the LINE TV content available right now? Which means,…where can one watch "TharnType" Season-1 & 2, "Why R U!?" The Series, since LINE TV is shut down?

Mostly Viki. 

For these 5:

Brothers

Loveless Society

Love With Benefits

My Mate Match

The Yearbook

I don’t know. But why would you want to watch them? 

The BL audience would be extremely grateful to you,…if you can share a chart as to where can one watch all the BL Drama Series that are aired so far? 

I have 405 BLs in my spreadsheet. That’s a steep ask. Better to go by percentages:

YouTube 42%

Gaga 28%

Viki 13%

Grey/Nowhere legal 6%

Unknown 5%

Known Other (iqiyi, WeTV etc...) 2%

If you’re looking for a specific show, you can send me an ask or leave a comment anytime and I can usually tell you where I last found it. 

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