[Infostock Daily= Reporter An Hoe Hyun] Yuanta Securities predicted on the 22nd that A Story is expected to grow into a global production company as a large drama project under preparation after the drama 'Kingdom'. The investment opinion and target stock price were not presented separately.
As for A Story, global OTT such as Disney Plus, HBO Max and Apple TV Plus are actively contacting Korean production companies. In September last year, A Story signed a contract to simultaneously air the blockbuster drama 'Mountain Jiri' worth 30 billion won with tvN and Chinese OTT iQIYI. This proved that global OTT other than Netflix can also become major customers of Korean dramas. With the 'Mountain Jiri' contract, the company's market capitalization has recently risen from the previous 80 billion won level to the 400 billion won range.
A Story is expected to produce at least four to five dramas this year. Among them, about three films, including 'Mountain Jiri', are expected to have record-high returns due to global OTT sales.
"It is preparing to produce a blockbuster drama by Park Jae-beom, the original author of the popular U.S. drama 'Good Doctor' whose fourth season is currently underway, with the aim of its release in 2022, on a production scale larger than 'Mountain Jiri'," the company explained, adding, "Although A Story's global seasonal projects have been at a standstill due to the spread of COVID-19, but global projects will also be able to resume in earnest from 2022 on the premise of the end of COVID-19."
Reporter An Hoe Hyun ahh@infostock.co.kr