PCCW Media’s OTT video service, Viu has expended its service to Philippines in response to great receptiveness to OTT video consumption to compete with the likes of Singtels' HOOQ, Netflix and iFlix. HOOQ has partnered with Globe Telecom, while iFlix has teamed up with PLDT.
With the latest launch, Viu is now present in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The video platform for Asian premium content claims that it has achieved four million unique users just one year after its launch.
Viu offers viewers in the Philippines free, fast and convenient access to the latest authorized Korean dramas and variety shows provided by the top four Korean broadcasters, SBS, KBS, MBC and CJ E&M, along with hugely popular Japanese content.
Viu said that it recorded over 218 million video views in the third quarter of 2016, doubling that of the preceding three months. Viu’s users have demonstrated high engagement by consuming on average 1.2 hours per day. On average, 12 videos are viewed by each user every week.
Besides Viu's extensive premium content lineup of Korean content as well as Japanese, the company also offers Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Hollywood and the recently-added Thai content+ to satisfy preferences of local viewers in different markets. Viu siad it has also brought new excitement to the market with its unrivalled quick delivery of local subtitling, especially for its Korean content,as fast as four hours after its telecast in Korea.
Apart from premium drama and entertainment shows, in order to satisfy fans, Viu also produces K1 Headlines, offering fans exciting Korean lifestyle, entertainment and celebrity bite-sized news exclusively provided by Dispatch, a top entertainment site in Korea.
The Nielsen Global Video-On-Demand Survey shows 45% of online consumers in the Philippines watch VOD at least once a day. Moreover, 82% of online consumers said they like to catch up on multiple episodes at one time so Viu’s download feature will fulfill this very need.
As a freemium video service, Viu said it is an effective channel for advertisers looking to reach out to consumers in the Philippines as they are the most receptive to online advertisements in Southeast Asia, said the company.
A recent research also revealed that 51% of respondents who watched VOD agreed that advertisements in VOD content give them good ideas for new products to try and 66% said they did not mind getting advertisements if they can watch free content++. Video advertising revenue in the Philippines is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32% from 2016 to 2021.
For video OTT service subscription, revenue from OTT in emerging markets, including Indonesia, the Philippines, etc, is expected to grow to US$19 billion by 2019.
Janice Lee, Managing Director, PCCW Media Group
As OTT takes root and continues to develop rapidly in Asia, Viu continues to stride forward with the launch of its service in the Philippines, a vibrant market with over 30 million viewers who regularly watch videos online.
