BTS comeback concert on Netflix attracts 18.4m global viewers

A comeback concert by the renowned K-pop group BTS, streamed live, captivated 18.4 million viewers worldwide on Netflix, as reported by the platform.

Saturday's hour-long show was the first occasion where all seven members - Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook - reunited on stage together since October 2022, when they paused their careers for compulsory military service.

This complimentary concert, held at the significant Gwanghwamun Square, attracted approximately 104,000 attendees, as noted by the entertainment company Hybe, which was fewer than the 260,000 forecasted by officials.

Hybe's stock increased in the months leading up to the comeback tour and the new album Arirang's release, but it declined by 15.5% on Monday.

The event marked the launch of the group's fully booked, 82-date global tour and was streamed live on Netflix in over 190 nations, including South Korea.

Only about 22,000 individuals who obtained free tickets were permitted entry into the main venue, while other fans viewed the concert on several large screens set up in the surrounding streets.

The concert led to the implementation of stringent crowd management measures by the government, deploying nearly 7,000 police officers, including SWAT teams equipped with anti-drone technology.

The broadcast ranked number one on Netflix in 24 countries, according to the company.

The show is among Netflix's most recent ventures into live event streaming. In 2024, the platform's streaming of the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul attracted more than 108 million global viewers.

The live streaming of an ascent by American climber Alex Honnold on a skyscraper in Taiwan earlier this year also drew around 6.2 million viewers on Netflix.

Moreover, BTS, along with their music label BigHit and Hybe, is anticipated to earn over $1 billion (£740 million) from their return, fueled by concerts, merchandise, licensing, album sales, and streaming, as projected by Billboard.