Viu’s focus on top Asian content and Viu Original titles continue to prove a hit with viewers and partners in Asia
PCCW (SEHK:0008) – HONG KONG / SINGAPORE, March 30, 2022 –Viu, PCCW’s
leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, announced today that the platform
was the number 1 premium video on demand platform in terms of the number of
Monthly Average Users (MAUs) in Greater Southeast Asia, following the latest Media Partners Asia (MPA) AMPD Research report for Q4 2021, released on March 28. The
report revealed that Viu’s MAUs is once again ahead of other major streaming platforms
in Greater Southeast Asia and continued to be the highest for all quarters of 2021. The
platform also ranked second in both paid subscribers and premium video streaming
minutes amongst major video streaming platforms in Greater Southeast Asia in Q4
2021*.
Ms. Helen Sou, Chief Business Officer, Asia, Viu, said, “Viu’s consistent performance in
a very competitive region, coupled with our significant growth in monetization in 2021,
firmly entrenched Viu as a leading player in this part of the world. Our content has
clearly resonated with our Asian audience, and our freemium business model has
consistently proven popular with both consumers and ecosystem partners. As the
destination of premium Asian content, we will continue to invest in stories that are
relevant, from both our expanding content partnerships as well as with Viu Original
productions.”
Expanding the focus on original content
In 2021, the Viu Original production strategy proved to be successful in providing
differentiation in the markets. Compared to 2020, the top 10 Viu Original titles showed
stellar growth of over 94% in video views and an exponential increase of over 200% in
video minutes. This helped drive subscriptions by 58% from 5.3 million in 2020, to 8.4
million in 2021.
With the focus on delivering 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 as part of this plan
include the second season of titles Pretty Little Liars and Assalamualaikum Calon
Imam, whose respective first seasons were well received not only in Indonesia and
Malaysia but also around the region as well.
Thailand will have two highly anticipated titles released in the coming months, including
rap musical Wannabe featuring Thailand National Film Association Award winner
“Nonkul” Chanon Santinatornkul and veteran Thai Hip Hop artist “Tan” Jawpraya
Tanyuk. Close Friend was extremely well received in Thailand too during its first season
and returns for a second season at a time where online buzz for the title and the genre
is at an all-time high in the country.
Following the success of the Korean Viu Original titles in 2021 such as Now We Are
Breaking Up, two Korean Viu Originals are set for release in the upcoming months.
Based on a web novel of the same title, Again My Life will premiere in April starring
multiple award-winning actor Lee Joon Gi. Also slated for release in the same month is
the romantic comedy From Now On, Showtime! casting award winner Park Hae Jin and
is directed by the man behind one of the classic fantasy romantic comedies, Strong
Woman Do Bong Soon.
Viu-ers can catch these new titles and Viu’s extensive library of fan favourites,
First-on-Viu and exclusive titles on the Viu app, which can be downloaded for free on
App Store, Google Play, and selected smart TVs, as well as on the web at
www.viu.com.
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