Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros have teamed up to established HOOQ, a joint venture start-up, to offer a multiscreen regional over-the-top (OTT) video service in Asia. HOOQ will deliver both Hollywood blockbusters and television series, as well as popular local movies and programs to customers anytime, anywhere by enabling them to stream and download their favorite shows on their device or platform of choice. Peter G. Bithos who was previously the Chief Operating Advisor of Globe Telecom in the Philippines has been named as the CEO of HOOQ responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the standalone operation based in Singapore, and expanding the operation.
According to Singtel, HOOQ which will be leveraging Singtel Group’s billing capabilities will be rolled out progressively in the Singtel Group’s Asian footprint, including Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Thailand, from the first quarter of 2015. At launch, HOOQ will have a catalogue of over 10,000 movies and TV series including titles from partners Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
The service will offer customers a wide variety of programmes ranging from blockbusters such as Spider-Man and Harry Potter to TV favourites such as Friends and Gossip Girl. Singtel said that customers can also look forward to an extensive selection of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean and Japanese movies and TV series.
Peter G. Bithos
We are starting this venture to change the way people across Asia view entertainment. Today, across developing markets, there is limited access to quality entertainment, streamed directly to the screen of one's choice. It's either illegal, high cost or difficult to get. We aim to fix that. HOOQ will deliver a new form of entertainment that combines the best of Hollywood with the depth and richness of local Asian video content, across all devices at an affordable price.
Jonathan Auerbach, CEO, Singtel Group Digital L!fe
HOOQ is an important part of Singtel’s digital strategy. We have unique assets that give us a right to play in this space, and with our partnership with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment, we will achieve our vision to be the largest OTT video service in the region. Demand for OTT video has been growing and is poised for higher growth in these markets fuelled by better data networks and the growing supply of affordable devices. This is a more than S$1 billion opportunity in our markets. Video transmission requires significant internet bandwidth, which greatly affects customer experience. With HOOQ, we are bringing together key elements of technology, service and content to deliver the full internet experience to customers.
