■ Now even more users can be reached through this expansion
■ Video ads now supported
■ LINE Manga has been downloaded over 17 million times
TOKYO – October 27, 2017 – The LINE Ads Platform, the performance-based ad platform operated by LINE Corporation for its services, is now delivering ads to LINE Manga.
The LINE Ads Platform went into full-scale operation in June 2016 when it started distributing ads to LINE Timeline and LINE NEWS. Since its launch, it has been used by approximately 3,000 businesses and brands (as of the end of September 2017).
LINE Ads Platform started delivering ads to LINE Manga*1 in order to enhance the marketing activities of businesses advertising their brands.
Ads now delivered to LINE Manga – downloaded over 17 million times
LINE Manga is a digital comic service that eliminates the need for a dedicated e-book reader, allowing users an easy and convenient way to read manga and novels on their smartphones. Since its launch in April 2013, LINE Manga has been praised for its lineup of works, including its library of over 200,000 titles from more than 250 publishers and labels, as well as its Free Manga platform, updated with around 200 titles spanning many publishers. The app has been downloaded over 17 million times, making it the most-downloaded app in the smartphone manga app category in Japan.*2 The app is also ranked No. 1 in terms of weekly active users (WAU),*3 No. 1 in top-grossing apps (annually; excluding games) on iOS and Google Play in Japan, as well as in iOS's Book category and Google Play's Comic category,*4 making it one of the biggest services in Japan in these categories.
LINE Manga is No. 1 for time spent in app,*5 averaging 3 hours and 17 minutes per month, per user. According to a user survey conducted by LINE,*6 49% of users responded that they use the app "nearly every day" and 87% responded "at least once a week." It's clear from these figures that the Free Manga platform, a feature unique to LINE Manga, is popular among users.
As for user demographics,*7 the male-to-female ratio is 4:6, and 15- to 19-year-olds make up 27% of the total. However, LINE Manga is popular among many age brackets, with 60% of users being between 20 and 39 years old (20s: 35%; 30s: 25%). Thanks to LINE Manga being used by a diverse user base, running ads on the service will enable advertisers to reach an even larger target. Even more appealing ads are also possible through a variety of designs, thanks to the ability to also use video ads.
LINE is devoted to developing new and innovative methods to provide additional value for both users and businesses alike, as well as facilitate new ways for the two groups to communicate with each other more effectively.
*1: Ads will be delivered only to the LINE Manga app at the start of this service; specifications are as of the time of release and subject to change. (iOS only; Android support coming soon).
*2: Total of iOS and Android from July 2010 to June 2017 (source: App Annie)
*3: Total average of iOS and Android for June 2017 (source: App Annie)
*4: App Annie 2016 Retrospective (source: App Annie)
*5: As of February 2017 (source: Nielsen Mobile NetView)
*6: LINE survey, outsourced to Macromill; respondents: 1,229 (male and female, between the ages of 15 and 49); survey period: February 14 to 20, 2017; survey method: internet survey
*7: LINE survey, outsourced to Macromill; respondents: 1,229 (male and female, between the ages of 15 and 49); survey period: February 14 to 20, 2017; survey method: internet survey
For more information on the LINE Ads Platform, please contact: lap_req@linecorp.com