Kiswe Powers BTS’ Innovative Virtual Concert “MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E,” Reaching Nearly One Million Fans Around the Globe

NEW JERSEY – October 14, 2020 – Earlier this week, Kiswe, a global tech company powering the next generation of fan experiences, provided the technology that brought the latest BTS virtual concert “MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E,” to 993,000 viewers from 191 countries. 

The two-day show was broadcast from Seoul using Kiswe’s "multi-view" live streaming technology. The number of viewers surpassed BTS’ previous online concert - which earned the Guinness World Book of Records for most paying viewers for an online concert. 

While the offline rendition of the concert had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, Kiswe brought a new level of innovation and technology such as AR and XR to amplify the visual experience and create a more intimate live interaction between the pop act and spectators. “MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E” also marks the world’s first streaming concert to apply both multi-view and 4K/HD. Kiswe’s state of the art technology enabled fans to choose their favorite screen out of six multi view displays in either 4K or HD to watch the performances taking place on four massive stages. 

“MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E” provided various features to ensure that everyone could enjoy the concert, including “Delayed Single-view streaming” which gave access to the replay of the livestream, and live viewing event at theaters in Japan. 

BTS kick-started the concert with their lead single “ON” from MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 along with a marching band. The gates from the intro, the giant version of RM from “Intro : Persona,” the planets that glowed onstage for “Moon” and the cubic reflections of fans in “We are Bulletproof : the Eternal” were all realized with the help of AR technology. The vast galaxy in “DNA,” the elevator from “DOPE” and the bullets from “No More Dream” were all enacted through XR.

The show drew BTS and fans even closer together - fans were displayed on LED screens and their fervent cheers could be heard in the venue, in real-time. The result was a truly interactive experience. BTS expressed their enthusiasm by saying “we are happy to see you, even if it’s through a screen.”

Kiswe CEO Mike Schabel said, “We are so thrilled and honored to be a part of this groundbreaking event. It was truly exciting to see the way BTS leveraged our multi-view technology to tell six different simultaneous stories - each with their own narrative about the experience. I always come away deeply humbled and impressed by how this team is so fan-focused. They know that they exist because of their incredible fans, and it shows in everything they do or say. We are very lucky to work with such great people.”

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About BTS

BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” is a South Korean boyband that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as global superstars breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, BTS has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), topped prominent music charts, performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world and has been named as one of TIME 100: The Most Influential People of 2019. The band has also been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. 

About Kiswe

Kiswe is a cloud-based video company that creates real-time live streams to engage digital audiences and unique communities around the world. By partnering with sports rights holders, Kiswe Studio enables remote commentators to transform live games into multiple viewing experiences via personalized content and local languages. Kiswe's technology also unlocks ways for people to stay connected over live events through a content creation and mobile platform that bridges media companies with consumers. Kiswe is headquartered in New Jersey, USA and has offices in New York, Seoul, London, Hasselt and Singapore. Learn more at www.kiswe.com.