Naver's streaming platform Chzzk and SOOP are continuing their intense competition in the second quarter of this year, as both platforms battle to attract viewers.
According to SoftCon Viewership data released on May 12, SOOP recorded a peak concurrent audience of 545,813 viewers and an average viewership of 148,148. In comparison, Chzzk reached a higher peak of 673,411 viewers, while posting an average audience of 121,628.
The data shows a continuing split trend: Chzzk leads in peak concurrent viewers, while SOOP maintains an advantage in average viewership.
The two platforms are expected to continue competing for viewership in the second quarter through overlapping broadcasts of major events such as the League of Legends Champions Korea and the Esports World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
In particular, the LCK, which kicked off its regular season on the first day of last month, is considered a key benchmark for evaluating the performance of both streaming services. Until last year, matches were also broadcast on YouTube alongside Chzzk and SOOP, but starting this year, they are exclusively available on Chzzk and SOOP.
One month into the regular season, Chzzk appears to have gained an edge over SOOP. According to Naver, since the start of the LCK season, the platform has recorded a cumulative 50.48 million views, 26.55 million total viewers, and a peak concurrent audience of 338,000. With the season running through September, even early matches have already generated strong engagement.
External metrics also suggest Chzzk is ahead based on official channel performance. According to SoftCon Viewership data as of May 12, the official LCK channel on Chzzk recorded a peak concurrent audience of 187,495 and an average of 47,248 viewers this month. In comparison, SOOP's official LCK channel recorded a peak of 49,631 and an average of 14,887 viewers.
While SOOP benefits from a broader ecosystem of streamer-led co-streams and watch-along channels outside its official broadcasts, its performance on official LCK streams is still seen as lagging behind.
Beyond esports, both companies are pursuing different strategies to grow their streaming platforms.
SOOP aims to boost its gift-based monetization model centered on interactive broadcasting, while expanding participatory content such as its flagship “Melting Battle” tournaments, where streamers compete directly. The format encourages high engagement from both creators and users, helping drive platform activity.
A SOOP representative said the platform needs “collaborative content among multiple streamers to generate momentum and boost overall engagement.”
Meanwhile, Chzzk is leveraging partnerships with broadcasters such as JTBC to stream major sporting events. The platform also plans to carry large-scale sports broadcasts, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers scheduled for June and July.
A Naver representative said, “We are preparing various content and events to enhance the immersive experience of the World Cup.”
