APOS Spotlight: HBO Asia

BALI: HBO Asia has achieved many new milestones recently, including launching the online streaming service HBO GO in the Philippines in March, making it the second Asian territory the service is available in, after Hong Kong.

Also in March, Cinemax HD was made available in Singapore. Additionally, the company recently expanded its footprint to include Myanmar, with the flagship HBO channel now distributed in 23 territories throughout the Asia Pacific.

HBO Asia also recently started engaging in co-productions, including on the prime-time series Serangoon Road, a detective drama set in the 1960s. “Serangoon Road was so successful that we are working on another HBO Asia original production that will premiere on our channel in Asia later this year,” says Magdalene Ew, the company’s head of marketing, creative and content. HBO Asia is headed into production on Grace, a four-part horror miniseries in Mandarin and English.

Ew adds, “We continue to provide customized services for Asia through localizing our programming, not only by providing local subtitles, but also offering dual-language audio options. A recent example is where local celebrities in Malaysia and Indonesia lent their voices to Madagascar: Europe’s Most Wanted.” Ew also mentions how HBO originals are now premiering one week after the U.S. on the Asian linear channels, while subscribers of HBO GO can watch the latest episodes 12 hours after their U.S. broadcast.