\n\tSINGAPORE: Singtel, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Warner Bros. Entertainment have established a joint-venture startup, HOOQ, to offer a regional OTT video service in Asia.<\/p>\n
\n\tHOOQ will feature Hollywood movies and TV series, along with a mix of local programs. Customers will be able to stream and download content on the device or platform of their choice. At launch, HOOQ will have a catalogue of more than 10,000 movies and TV series, including titles from partners Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment. The service will be rolled out in the Singtel Group's Asian footprint in the first quarter, including Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Thailand.<\/p>\n
\n\tJonathan Auerbach, the CEO of Singtel Group Digital L!fe, said: “HOOQ is an important part of Singtel’s digital strategy. We have unique assets that give us a right to play in this space, and with our partnership with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment, we will achieve our vision to be the largest OTT video service in the region.”<\/p>\n
\n\tAuerbach added: “Demand for OTT video has been growing and is poised for higher growth in these markets fueled by better data networks and the growing supply of affordable devices. This is a more than $1 billion opportunity in our markets. Video transmission requires significant Internet bandwidth, which greatly affects customer experience. With HOOQ, we are bringing together key elements of technology, service and content to deliver the full Internet experience to customers.” <\/p>\n
\n\tThomas Gewecke, the chief digital officer and executive VP of strategy and business development at Warner Bros. Entertainment, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Singtel and Sony Pictures Television to help grow the OTT video business across Asia. The combination of Singtel’s expertise and our world-class content is a winning combination for entertainment fans in the region.”<\/p>\n
\n\t“Consumers expect premium entertainment content to be available to them at their convenience and as a result, over-the-top delivery has become an important part of our business,” said George Chien, the executive VP for networks for the Asia Pacific at Sony Pictures Television. “Through this partnership, we hope to create a service to meet that demand as it grows in Asia.”<\/p>\n
\n\tPeter G. Bithos has been named the CEO of HOOQ, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the standalone unit based in Singapore and expanding the operation. Bithos was previously the chief operating advisor of Globe Telecom in the Philippines.<\/p>\n
\n\tBithos commented: “We are starting this venture to change the way people across Asia view entertainment. Today, across developing markets, there is limited access to quality entertainment, streamed directly to the screen of one's choice. It's either illegal, high cost or difficult to get. We aim to fix that.”<\/p>\n
\n\t“HOOQ will deliver a new form of entertainment that combines the best of Hollywood with the depth and richness of local Asian video content, across all devices at an affordable price,” he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SINGAPORE: Singtel, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Warner Bros. Entertainment have established a joint-venture startup, HOOQ, to offer a regional OTT video service in Asia. HOOQ will feature Hollywood movies and TV series, along with a mix of local programs. Customers will be able to stream and download content on the device or platform of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-top-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n