Introducing Dramafever
by javabeans
There’s a new kid on the kdrama-streaming block, and its name is Dramafever.com. It’s free, it’s high-quality, and it’s just about to launch to the public.
I’m posting about them because I think this is something fans would love and find tremendous use in, and because the site, which is in beta, has offered to open up invitations to Dramabeans.com readers. Woo! (I’m sorry to say that this is only available to U.S.-based users, which I’ll explain below.)
The Short Explanation
Dramafever.com is a streaming site for Korean dramas. It’s free, subtitled in English, has high-quality video, and a sleek and easy-to-use interface. Best of all, IT’S COMPLETELY LEGAL.
The Longer Explanation
Yes, we have youtube and mysoju and crunchyroll, and they all have their upsides. However, they also have plenty of downsides, which you have probably experienced for yourselves at some point:
- Episodes tend to be broken up in multiple clips, upwards of 7 parts per episodes, and sometimes it’s difficult finding a link that’s not broken,
- Subtitles are hit or miss,
- and when the subtitles ARE available, often they’re stolen from fansubbing groups and stripped of credit, and
- the biggest detractor of all, the illegality of streaming licensed content. Reported links are constantly being taken down by Youtube and user accounts deleted. Threatening letters have been sent to uploaders and fansubbers for spreading content that is legally the property of broadcasting companies like MBC, KBS, and SBS.
LEGAL LICENSING
Dramafever.com, however, is completely legal. The founders of the site have done what no other streaming site has — which is to license the dramas directly from the Korean broadcasting companies.
That means there’s no risk of Korean broadcast stations threatening legal action and forcing sites to pull down episodes, because the licensing has been acquired.
SUBTITLES
Also, dramas are all subtitled in English. The subtitles for many series have been provided by the companies themselves, but there’s a chance Dramafever will collaborate with With S2 fansubbers to provide subtitles to other dramas in the future.
HIGH QUALITY VIDEO
The videos are unbroken into multiple parts (meaning one episode can be viewed in one single clip, rather than six or seven), and high-quality. The Dramafever team has spent a lot of time doing their own encoding to assure high quality picture with a larger viewing screen than Youtube, for example.
AVAILABLE DRAMAS
Currenty, Dramafever has licensed some of the most popular recent kdramas from MBC, including Coffee Prince, White Tower, My Name Is Kim Samsoon, New Heart, Goong, Jumong, Thank You, La Dolce Vita. Coming soon are titles like Que Sera Sera, H.I.T., Yi San, Really Really Like You.
They are in talks with KBS and SBS as well, so hopefully a slew of those dramas will be available soon.
They also are looking to acquire sitcoms and variety shows, as well as clips of behind-the-scenes action and actor interviews.
ONE KEY CAVEAT
For now, Dramafever is available only to users in the U.S. I know that’s really unfortunate for viewers outside of the States, but this because all the content has been legally licensed from companies like MBC, and the license restricts use to the U.S. If the site ever gets to a point where it can stream internationally, they hope to do so; for now, they are launching within the States.
DRAMABEANS INVITES
Dramafever.com is currently in beta, and plans to open up invitations for users in the coming weeks. Dramabeans readers will get first priority when that happens. All you do is register (free) at Dramafever.com and use the invite code coolbeans.
I recently had the chance to meet up with the guys behind this venture, and let me say that I think it’s a really exciting way to open up the world of Korean dramas to an eager audience. I hope you will give Dramafever your support, because I think it’s a fantastic idea, and I can’t wait to see it succeed.
SUGGESTIONS FOR MORE DRAMAS?
Leave a comment below! I know these guys really take user input seriously, so if there’s something you’re dying to watch, speak up!
Thanks for reading this super-long post. Now go register!
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1 little_meow
December 25, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Brilliant BUT i lived in UK. Damn.....
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2 fizzle
December 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Wow. That's pretty amazing. I've just registered with the priority code...now patiently waiting for the next step.
There are two dramas I'm dying to watch and can't find anywhere:
Ruler of Your Own World and Dr. Gang
I hope this site is as awesome as it looks ^^
Thank you dramabeans and dramafever!
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3 x
December 25, 2008 at 2:31 PM
thanks for the heads up, most definitely gonna check this out.
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4 yayyyyy!
December 25, 2008 at 2:37 PM
omg this is exciting!!!
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5 popcorn
December 25, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Besides always reading awesome reviews and news on your site, now there is another good news and given priority to boot!
hooo!
Thanks for the news!
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6
December 25, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Fugde, why do I have to live in Europe ; ; ..
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7 majata
December 25, 2008 at 2:44 PM
I really hope that this site would be available internationally soon. Please pity us poor souls who don't live in America and can't understand a word of Korean but love Korean dramas to the point of obsession.
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8 Angela
December 25, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Sweet! I can't wait to see what it's like. Thanks! ^_^
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9 Liz
December 25, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Thank you for the information and the update! I never comment, but I wanted to thank everyone involved for trying to get this out to the kdrama fans.
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10 Minny
December 25, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Awesome! I am going to register right now.
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11 elmo
December 25, 2008 at 2:52 PM
ah canada..we're very close to the US..haha
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12 Dele
December 25, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Awesome, I tried to sign up...so hopefully it will work....this is a really cool idea.
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13 vis
December 25, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Sounds awesome! Too bad that it's restricted to those living in USA though since I live in Europe. Hopefully they'll manage to go international soon :) Will keep an eye out. In the meantime I'm going to get my kdrama fix the usual way via clubbox, bittorrent and direct download links! ^^
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14 cosmopolite
December 25, 2008 at 3:13 PM
WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO THE (US) KDRAMA COMMUNITY!
This is incredible news and something I never thought would happen so soon. Big props to the Dramafever team for pioneering this endeavor. I'm ecstatic to see what's in store! Good luck and thank you!
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15 the sp
December 25, 2008 at 3:14 PM
ya!! when i read this i was OMFG i freaked out n went n registered alreadly ^_^ ya i live in da US sorry 2 dda people who dont i feel sad 4 u guys really it must really suck >__<
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16 Mechant
December 25, 2008 at 3:15 PM
...I signed up...I'm really looking forward to watching White Tower. ^_^
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17 ktbrods
December 25, 2008 at 3:17 PM
This is such great news! I also hope (for those unfortunate non-USAers) that this site will quickly become internationally available.
Thanks so much for the heads up!
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18 le
December 25, 2008 at 3:21 PM
thanks. this is a great idea/site. i hope they are able to put dramas that might not have been so popular when they aired on tv, like Me Ri Dae Gu's Attack & Defense Battle, i love Ji Hyun Woo & Lee Ha Na, they've gotten more attention from their recent KBS dramas. I also hope they have variety shows like We Got Married & Family outing, & sitcoms like Franceska, i want to see season 3.
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19 simi
December 25, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Thanks Dramabeans!! This is the best Christmas gift EVER!!!
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20 alodia
December 25, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Wow! This is great news... too bad i'm not in the US... and i think it will take time before they can acquire licenses for the show for international streaming... but at least there's a possibility...
although i won't be able to watch yet.. hope they will put "Mom Has Grown Horns" because no one has subbed it.
Glad to know 2 of my favorite dramas are there already: My Lovely Samsoon and H.I.T.
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21 Lena S.
December 25, 2008 at 3:25 PM
this is a great news for kdramas lovers!!!
i'm not from the US but i hope that someday they'll open their registration to non US users.
here's a few dramas that would be awesome to watch on Dramafever in the future:
"I'm sorry i love you"
"What happened in bali"
"Alone in love"
if Dramafever licensed those dramas above i would move to the US righ now! ^__^
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22 One-x
December 25, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Need to ask I live in Puerto Rico the probobility of me being able to watch is very good right. Since we are a commonwealth of the US.
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23 minime
December 25, 2008 at 3:36 PM
would it be possible to get:
Wish Upon a Star
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24
December 25, 2008 at 3:38 PM
"I love you, don't cry."
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25 gallivanter
December 25, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Awesome! This site looks great!
I'd love to be able to watch some of the old OLD trendy dramas. Jealousy especially, but I'd take any^^
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26 yMa
December 25, 2008 at 3:46 PM
wow thats awesome. i just registered.
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27 xiaosxin
December 25, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Thank you very much!!!! My Christmas is just getting better and better! Javabeans thank yu for sharing this wonderful news to us. I hope DRAMAFEVER would get its support from Kdrama fans all over her in the US so that soon it can be launched internationally!
Javabeans if I could request any drama for DRAMAFEVER to stream it would be:
Ruler of your own world
US users let us support the website and hope for its success!!!!
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28 x_neverhere
December 25, 2008 at 3:54 PM
^_^ What a wonderful Christmas gift. :]
Mr. Duke is a nice oldie. :]
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29 cherrie
December 25, 2008 at 3:57 PM
i hate how most stuff are so restricted to US only..
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30 anonymousssss
December 25, 2008 at 4:01 PM
aw maaaaan.....not everyone is american -_______-" sigh* hope they go international soon...
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31 Len
December 25, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Thank you for sharing this with us; this is a great Christmas gift!
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32 dramafreak19
December 25, 2008 at 4:02 PM
We ppl in Canada keep getting shafted. It hurts, man.
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33 Maddy
December 25, 2008 at 4:06 PM
I signed up!
I can't find Autumn Showers anywhere...I heard it not great but I'd still like to try watching it.
OMG I would love to be able to watch Me Ri Dae Gu’s Attack & Defense Battle.
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34 Bo Min
December 25, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Amazing!! Finally something that's legal! I would love to see them add Hong Gil Dong and Last Scandal! Love you Javabeans for finding this out! : )
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35 c_gunawan541
December 25, 2008 at 4:18 PM
i registered but i need to wait for them to email me back for the username.. T_T
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36 sunflower
December 25, 2008 at 4:21 PM
us kdrama lovers in canada need some love too :P
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37 cc
December 25, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Awww...only in USA... >_<
Hopefully it'll go international...
I want to watch White Tower :(
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38 Samantha
December 25, 2008 at 4:38 PM
wow this is super cool, i've definitely been waiting for something like this.
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39 rissa
December 25, 2008 at 4:40 PM
awesome! can't wait to try it out!
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40 merriwether
December 25, 2008 at 4:48 PM
This is a GREAT idea but unfortunately, I'm not located in the US.
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41 Nea
December 25, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Merry Christmas! Didn't think that I'd be getting so many gifts but it is the time for giving and thankfully, I am here to receive! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm very excited! I pray that this site is a huge hit and the founders are able to do all that they desire with the site. Hopefully soon they will be able to stream internationally! That would just round everything out. Again thank you and continue to have a wonderful day.
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42 GeeNie
December 25, 2008 at 4:53 PM
whoa...sounds cool
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43 p
December 25, 2008 at 5:02 PM
i wish i could give you more than just simple "thank yous" in return...but in the mean time THANK YOU
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44 Jean
December 25, 2008 at 5:13 PM
This is exciting! Thanks for sharing.
Hope other fans outside of US, like me, will be able to benefit from this as well soon!
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45 a
December 25, 2008 at 5:14 PM
wow, thanks for the info, I can't wait to use the site. It's a good thing I live in the States. There's this drama that I've been looking to find and haven't been able to find, it's a 1999 kdrama called Invitation. It'd be great if I could watch it again.
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46 Kim
December 25, 2008 at 5:17 PM
This is brilliant! XD
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47 T
December 25, 2008 at 5:19 PM
oh my goodness...this is the best Christmas present ever. thank you, Jesus!
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48 muigeital
December 25, 2008 at 5:25 PM
aww...i live in canada, so close yet i can't benefit! T-T
but i'm just wondering for my fellow americans...would it be possible to have variety shows as well :O
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49 etsy
December 25, 2008 at 5:28 PM
i am DYING to watch Merry Daegu's Attack and Defense Battle
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50 Melissa
December 25, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Yay! Another reason to be glad that I live in the U.S.A. Nice to see the major Korean broadcasters reaching out to the rest of the non-korean speakers in the world (trying to learn...). And decent shows too. I haven't had any money lately to buy any DVD's(import taxes!) and have been relying on mysoju for my drama fix. HD all the way!
Christmas came early! (wait... today's Christmas...)
SO...Happy Christmas, Hannakuh, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa... Some other holiday magic!
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