CASBAA Spotlight: HBO Asia

MACAU: In addition to having deals with a number of Hollywood and independent studios, HBO Asia offers original programming produced exclusively for HBO viewers.

Halfworlds, for example, marks HBO Asia’s first returning original series, with a second season coming at the end of this year. HBO Asia also recently unveiled its first-ever original drama out of Taiwan, The Psychic, debuting in early 2017. There are also brand-new HBO originals, including Westworld, inspired by the motion picture of the same name, and the Sarah Jessica Parker-led Divorce.

Magdalene Ew, the head of marketing, creative and content at HBO Asia, says that to expand the reach of its originals and target new viewers, the channel offers sampling and free-viewing opportunities across digital, social and affiliate platforms. “We selectively adopt a ‘social-first’ approach, meaning exclusive content is first released on our social-media platforms,” Ew adds.