Showroom (streaming service)

Showroom

Type of site	Live streaming
Owner	Showroom Co., Ltd. [1]
Created by	Yuji Maeda  [ ja ] [2]
Parent	DeNA [1] Sony Music Entertainment Japan
URL	www.showroom-live.com
Commercial	Yes
Registration	Optional
Launched	November 25, 2013;11 years ago (2013-11-25)
Current status	Online

Showroom (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese live streaming service used primarily for Japanese idols and voice actors. A development of DeNA, it has been integrated into the audition process for idol groups such as 22/7, ^[3] Nogizaka46, ^[4] and Keyakizaka46. ^[5]

App analytics company App Annie announced on September 13, 2017, that for the first half of 2017, in terms of revenue, Showroom is Japan's top-ranked video distribution application. ^[6]

Events

The service is used for daily live-streams, which may be viewed for free. As of March 2018, there are no paid or subscription-based memberships. Revenue is generated from paid virtual gift items given to the performer by registered members during live-streams. Earnings are shared with the performers based upon the number of points they accumulate based on audience size, the number of comments, and other factors, ^[7] and production companies may offer licensing deals or other music offers. ^{[8] [9]}

Initially, it only allowed streaming by the DeNA headquarters studio and by officially-recognized entertainers. After September 13, 2014, any registered member could live-stream. ^[10] English language support was also added. ^[7]

History

• November 25, 2013 – Browser-based service initiated by DeNA Corporation
• December 20, 2013 – Android app launched
• January 14, 2014 – iOS app launched
• June 10, 2014 – Added the free gift system given as a bonus for watching streams
• September 13, 2014 – All registered members are allowed to live-stream, ^[10] English support added. ^[7]
• October 1, 2014 – 10-minute additional usage limit for amateur dedicated gift items and paid gifts raised to 10,000 gold
• January 9, 2015 – Free release of official dedicated streaming software "Showroom Producer"
• February 9, 2015 – Added a 25-character maximum chyron function displayed at the top of the video
• April 1, 2015 – Released the iOS version of "Showroom Producer"
• May 18, 2015 – Limit raised for maximum amount of free gift items
• May 2015 – Viewing fees charged for some official content (Yokohama DeNA BayStars game live-stream, etc.)
• August 3, 2015 – DeNA Corporation spins off Showroom Co., Ltd. to operate the service. ^[1]
• October 22, 2020 – Launched Smash, a video streaming app. ^[11]

References

1. "Establishment of SHOWROOM Co., Ltd. through Spinoff" (Press release) (in Japanese). DeNA. 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
2. "SHOWROOMって何？前田裕二社長に聞いた。アイドルの"やる気"にファンが"投げ銭"". HuffPost Japan (in Japanese). 2017-07-13. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
3. 秋元康総合プロデュース・デジタルアイドル 合格者は12人. oricon.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-04-15.
4. 乃木坂46第3期オーディション、候補生がSHOWROOMでアピール (in Japanese). natalie. 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
5. けやき坂46(ひらがなけやき)、SHOWROOMで新メンバーオーディションを配信. realsound.jp (in Japanese). 22 April 2016. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
6. 上半期動画配信アプリランキング 収益１位はＤｅＮＡ系「ショールーム」. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
7. "Geeks' favorite DeNA interactive streaming platform looks beyond Japan". PC World. 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
8. "スターが生まれる場所を作りたい - DeNAが仕掛けるパフォーマーの仮想ライブ空間配信サービス「Showroom」". THE BRIDGE. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
9. "オーディション情報一覧 | Deview-デビュー". Deview (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-23.
10. 仮想ライブ空間「SHOWROOM」が全面リニューアル～提供コンテンツを大幅拡充・一般ユーザによる配信が可能に～. DeNA Press Release (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-04-15.
11. "smash.オリジナルアニメシリーズ『暗黒家族 ワラビさん』4/1(金)、ついに公式YouTubeで第1話〜第13話を一挙公開！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-29.

External links

• Official website