Showroom (stylized in

all caps In typography, text or font in all caps (short for "all capitals") contains capital letters without any lowercase letters. For example: All-caps text can be seen in legal documents, advertisements, newspaper headlines, and the titles on book co ...

) is a Japanese

live streaming Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming media, streaming of video or Digital audio, audio in real-time communication, real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature ...

service used primarily for

Japanese idol An is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese popular culture, Japanese pop culture. Idols are primarily singers with training in other performance skills such as acting, dancing, and modeling. Idol ...

s and

voice actors Voice acting is the art of Acting, performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work include animation, animated, ...

. A development of

DeNA is a Japanese provider of mobile portal and e-commerce websites headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. It owns the Mobage cell phone platform and also operates other services, including the e-commerce website DeNA Shopping (formerly: Bidders). H ...

, it has been integrated into the audition process for idol groups such as 22/7,

Nogizaka46 is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, created as the "official rival" of the group AKB48. They are the first group from the Sakamichi Series, which also includes sister groups Sakurazaka46 (formerly Keyakizaka46), Yoshim ...

, and Keyakizaka46. 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.

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, and production companies may offer licensing deals or other music offers. Initially, it only allowed streaming by the

headquarters studio and by officially-recognized entertainers. After September 13, 2014, any registered member could live-stream. English language support was also added.

History

* November 25, 2013 – Browser-based service initiated by

Corporation * December 20, 2013 – Android app launched * January 14, 2014 –

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

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, English support added. * 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 The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Their home field is Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The team has been known by several names since becoming a professional team in 1950. It adopted its current n ...

game live-stream, etc.) * August 3, 2015 – DeNA Corporation spins off Showroom Co., Ltd. to operate the service. * October 22, 2020 – Launched Smash, a video streaming app.

References

External links

* {{Internet streaming services Android (operating system) software Japanese entertainment websites Internet properties established in 2013 IOS software Multilingual websites DeNA Live streaming services 2013 establishments in Japan Internet technology companies of Japan