Page 35 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Viu Strengthens Its Position as One Of the Top

OTT Streaming Platforms in Greater Southeast
Asia After a Strong Performance

Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT increase of 58% from a year ago when paid demand (AVOD) model, allowing us to tap
video streaming service, announced subscribers stood at 5.3 million. Large into the rapid growth in both sectors. We
that the platform saw significant growth markets such as Thailand and Indonesia identified a content strategy and consumer
in monetization in 2021, adding strong saw strong growth, with the Philippines proposition that is appealing to a wide
financial performance to its position as and South Africa having high growth. Ms. and growing audience of pan-regional
one of the top OTT streaming platforms Janice Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Viu & Asian entertainment which includes
in Greater Southeast Asia (GSEA), the Managing Director, PCCW Media Group, Korean, Japanese and Chinese content to
Middle East and South Africa. According to said, “The strong performance in 2021 is a complement an increased investment into
parent company PCCW’s annual financial validation of Viu’s freemium model, despite Viu Original productions. 2022 will see over
results announcement, Viu was reported an increasingly competitive landscape. 30 titles produced in Thailand, Indonesia,
to have an overall increase in revenue of We continue to pave the way in marrying Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Middle
37% year-on-year (yoy) in 2021 and have the subscription video on demand (SVOD) East, with pan-regional distribution in all
consistently delivered high growth revenue model with the advertising video on our markets.”
at 36% CAGR since 2018. GSEA as a region
has been consistently outpacing the
overall GSEA OTT market growth rate for
the past two years, at 43% yoy growth in
revenue* against industry market growth
of 35%** for 2021. With a strong content
lineup and strengthened commercial
partnerships including distribution, Viu
saw a growth of approximately 30% in
Monthly Active Users (MAU) as compared
to 2020, reaching 58.6 million. Viu
also enjoyed a total of 8.4 million paid
subscribers as at the end of 2021, an

Now TV Extends Exclusive Premier League Broadcast Rights to 2024/25
Seasons

Now TV, the media entertainment arm of subscribers will be able to catch Premier Champions League and UEFA Europa
HKT, has secured the exclusive broadcast League matches live and on demand for the League, Now TV offers the strongest
rights for Premier League on pay TV for next three seasons. Now TV understands sports content lineup for Hong Kong. Mr.
the seasons 2022/23 to 2024/25 in Hong that customers prefer a variety of sports Derek Choi, Head of Pay TV, HKT, said, “We
Kong, making it the city’s Premier League action. Starting from March 1, Now TV are excited to extend our long-standing
broadcaster for 12 consecutive years. Now customers can also watch MotoGP World partnership with Premier League for the
TV will continue to deliver live coverage Championship, Wimbledon and The US coming three seasons exclusively in Hong
of all 380 matches for every season, Open Tennis Championships, The Open Kong. Being Hong Kong’s Home of Sports,
with selected matches in 4K quality to Championships, BWF World Tour, World the continued broadcast of the Premier
bring viewers exciting live action and the Table Tennis, Korean Baseball League, PSA League and the addition of SPOTV reaffirm
best viewing experience. The recently Squash, etc. via the newly launched SPOTV our commitment to bring the best global
introduced new features such as Premier channels (Ch.670 & Ch.671). SPOTV is sports content to the city.” Mr. Choi added,
League Multi-Angle* and Watch Party are a leading international sports pay TV “Now TV is Hong Kong’s first broadcaster
set to further enhance viewers’ enjoyment. network in Asia featuring premium live to offer Premier League matches in 4K.
Now TV customers can also enjoy sports action. Together with the recently Add to that our comprehensive coverage
matches on the go via the Now Player app secured sports content such as Formula and innovative features, we are confident
or relive their favorite matches using Now One , Ultimate Fighting Championship, that we can provide the best-ever Premier
TV’s Video-on-Demand service. Now E Australian Open and Roland-Garros, UEFA League experience to Hong Kong viewers.”

35 FEBRUARY 2022