As we all know, the highly-popular video on-demand (VOD) service Netflix is only available in selected countries, particularly in North America and Europe, but Asia may finally fill that void.
Last Thursday, a brand new video on-demand service called HOOQ (pronounced as “hook”), which is a joint venture with Singapore Telecoms (Singtel), Warner Bros. Entertainment and Sony Pictures, was launched to the media and online bloggers.
The Philippines will be the first country that is set to enjoy the new service, and partners with telecommunications giant Globe Telecom.
The upcoming service is said to offer over 10,000 titles, with foreign content provided by Warner Bros. Entertainment and Sony Pictures, which includes movie titles like Men In Black and Harry Potter, as well as TV series like The Big Bang Theory and Gotham.
Local content will also be provided by major television stations ABS-CBN and GMA Network, as well as production houses like Viva Entertainment and Regal Entertainment.
It is also set to include different programming from Indian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese TV shows & movies from various content providers.
The service will also be available on multiple platforms, which includes personal computers and mobile devices on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating system.
Anime Pilipinas has also learned that the pan-regional anime channel ANIPLUS HD will be one of the content providers of the upcoming VOD service.
ANIPLUS HD is a Singapore-based anime channel that was launched in November 2013, and is currently available in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. The channel’s programming is also available in multiple platforms, like television, on-demand, online, and soon through a mobile app.
ANIPLUS HD has aired highly-popular titles like Attack on Titan, Knights of Sidonia, Terror in Resonance, and is currently airing Kantai Collection, How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, and The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls on a simulcast basis.
Peter G. Bithos, HOOQ’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Across the emerging economies, people have amazing stories and love stories. However, a few billion people have no quality way of seeing the best stories from Hollywood or their local market. HOOQ will change that. HOOQ will change the way people in emerging markets consume and enjoy entertainment.”
He also adds that the Philippines is the “perfect place” to start the upcoming VOD service, because of the country’s love for both local and foreign content, together with the people’s “digital savviness”.
Bithos was previously the Chief Operation Advisor for Globe Telecom, which is a joint venture of Singtel and Ayala Corporation
It was also announced during the press launch that HOOQ’s planned pricing is at PHP199 (USD4.50) for Globe Subscribers, and will also be offered as part of the GoSurf and Tattoo Broadband packages, which is similar to their Spotify and NBA League Pass partnership.
HOOQ’s website also indicated that Non-Globe subscribers can also use their services, but for a separate fee, which will be announced on a separate date.
The VOD service also plans to launch in different countries across Asia, like Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, in the latter part of 2015.
For more details on HOOQ and its services, you may visit their website at hooq.tv. You may also follow them on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
SOURCE: HOOQ.tv via Azrael’s Merryland, Yugatech, Sun Star Cebu
