Page 60 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Viu is the Number 1 Premium Video on Demand Service in Greater Southeast
Asia with the Highest Monthly Active Users in 2021 According to MPA’s

AMPD Report

content that has an international appeal and yet is rooted in what
is familiar culturally in Asia, Viu Original productions paved the
way for newer monetization avenues in non-Viu territories like the
Americas and Europe, stretching over 20 platforms worldwide.
In addition, within Viu markets, these productions also provide a
great opportunity for working with brands on product placements
and sponsorships. Positive reception for local original content in
markets such as the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia will see
production increase dramatically, with 30 titles slated for release
across six languages. Titles that will be released in April and May
Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, as part of this plan include the second season of titles Pretty Little
announced today that the platform was the number 1 premium Liars and Assalamualaikum Calon Imam, whose respective first
video on demand platform in terms of the number of Monthly seasons were well received not only in Indonesia and Malaysia
Average Users (MAUs) in Greater Southeast Asia*, following but also around the region as well. Thailand will have two highly
the latest Media Partners Asia (MPA) AMPD Research report for anticipated titles released in the coming months, including rap
Q4 2021*, released on March 28. The report revealed that Viu’s musical Wannabe featuring Thailand National Film Association
MAUs is once again ahead of other major streaming platforms Award winner “Nonkul” Chanon Santinatornkul and veteran
in Greater Southeast Asia and continued to be the highest for all Thai Hip Hop artist “Tan” Jawpraya Tanyuk. Close Friend was
quarters of 2021. The platform also ranked second in both paid extremely well received in Thailand too during its first season and
subscribers and premium video streaming minutes amongst returns for a second season at a time where online buzz for the
major video streaming platforms in Greater Southeast Asia in title and the genre is at an all-time high in the country. Following
Q4 2021. Ms. Helen Sou, Chief Business Officer, Asia, Viu, said, the success of the Korean Viu Original titles in 2021 such as Now
“Viu’s consistent performance in a very competitive region, We Are Breaking Up, two Korean Viu Originals are set for release
coupled with our significant growth in monetization in 2021, in the upcoming months. Based on a web novel of the same
firmly entrenched Viu as a leading player in this part of the world. title, Again My Life will premiere in April starring multiple award-
Our content has clearly resonated with our Asian audience, winning actor Lee Joon Gi. Also slated for release in the same
and our freemium business model has consistently proven month is the romantic comedy From Now On, Showtime! casting
popular with both consumers and ecosystem partners. As the award winner Park Hae Jin and is directed by the man behind one
destination of premium Asian content, we will continue to invest of the classic fantasy romantic comedies, Strong Woman Do Bong
in stories that are relevant, from both our expanding content Soon. Viu continues to invest in working with top creative talents
partnerships as well as with Viu Original productions.” In 2021, in the industry to produce original titles that continue to appeal
the Viu Original production strategy proved to be successful in across the region, cementing its reputation as the hub of the best
providing differentiation in the markets. Compared to 2020, the Korean and Asian content. iu-ers can catch these new titles and
top 10 Viu Original titles showed stellar growth of over 94% in Viu’s extensive library of fan favorites, First-on- Viu and exclusive
video views and an exponential increase of over 200% in video titles on the Viu app, which can be downloaded for free on App
minutes. This helped drive subscriptions by 58% from 5.3 million Store, Google Play, and selected smart TVs, as well as on the web
in 2020, to 8.4 million in 2021. With the focus on delivering at www.viu.com.

solutions by stc Launches New Digital Channel
Quick Pay for B2B Customers

solutions by stc, the specialized business customers. The launch of the new payment will allow B2B customers to settle all their
arm of Kuwait Telecommunications channel falls in line with the Company’s bills in one location and with a click of a
Company – stc, announced the launch strategy to enable digital transformation button. The new service aims to simplify
of its new digital channel ‘Quick Pay’ , and elevate the quality of services available the bill settlement process through a
a seamless payment channel designed to the B2B segment. In a statement, convenient and reliable payment channel
specifically for the Company’s B2B solutions by stc revealed that Quick Pay covering the full breadth of solutions by

60 MARCH-APRIL 2022