Manila – Just one week after its establishment, HOOQ, Asia’s video-on-demand service, announced that it will kick off in the Philippines from late February in partnership with Globe Telecom. HOOQ, a start-up joint venture between Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment, will enable customers of Globe Telecom to enjoy unlimited online streaming access and an offline viewing option to Hollywood and Filipino movie and television content, via any device including computers, smartphones and tablets.

Extensive Hollywood and local content

Filipinos can look forward to more than 10,000 movies and television episodes and TV shows including titles from partners Sony and Warner Bros. Customers can watch Hollywood movies such as Harry Potter, Spider-Man and Inception, while enjoying popular TV series such as Gossip Girl, Friends and Smallville.

Local film and TV content will also be available through partnerships with the country’s studios, such as GMA, Viva Communications, Regal Entertainment, and ABS-CBN. Customers can watch local high-grossing films such as Metro Manila, A Secret Affair, Shake Rattle and Roll and Ang Tanging Ina, as well as classics including Dyesebel, Bagets and Bituing Walang Ningning. Highly-rated TV shows like My Husband’s Lover, Mulawin, Tayong Dalawa and Mara Clara will also be available anytime and anywhere.

“Across the emerging economies, people have amazing stories and love stories. However, a few billion people have no quality way of seeing the best stories from Hollywood or their local market. HOOQ will change that. HOOQ will change the way people in emerging markets consume and enjoy entertainment,” said HOOQ Chief Executive Officer, Peter G. Bithos. “The Philippines is a natural first market for us. Filipinos’ dual love of local and Hollywood content combined with their digital savviness makes the Philippines a perfect place for us to start,” he added.

The former Globe Telecom Chief Operating Advisor, Bithos also announced its first distribution partnership. “Our partnership with Globe Telecom, the leader in digital partnerships in the Philippines, helps us bring Philippine customers a premium video service and new form of entertainment that combines the best of Hollywood, Asian and Philippine video content across all devices,” Bithos said.

Globe Telecom’s customers first to get HOOQ at P199 per month

According to a Nielsen report in 2014, viewing online video content has become a pastime for digital consumers in the Philippines, with 85% watching at least weekly, the second highest in the region. The same report also revealed that 7 in 10 digital consumers in the country report watching TV content and movies via online sources such as video-on-demand, the second highest penetration of internet TV in the region at 71%.

“Now more than ever, Filipinos consider connectivity as an essential part of their daily lives. Our customers, whether prepaid, postpaid, or broadband, are increasingly embracing an always-on world where they expect a wonderful experience from innovative and engaging data and content offers. Right now, we are in the best position to offer this type of service as the leader in enabling the digital lifestyle of Filipinos and the number one network for smartphones. To meet their needs, we see the video-on-demand services offered by HOOQ as a critical offering representing the future of the industry. Now that consumers have access to a variety of international and local content, entertainment will now be more personal, and with Globe, this means experiencing it with the highest quality.” said Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe Telecom.

Recognising the value that video-on-demand services deliver to consumers, Globe Telecom will provide its customers with the ability to download HOOQ, which will soon be available to customers on a plan-based service for Philippine Peso 199 per month for access to thousands of movies, far more affordable than buying a ticket for just one movie. It will also be offered as a bundled service with the telco’s GoSURF and Tattoo broadband services. HOOQ enhances digital lifestyles.

“Following the launch in the Philippines, HOOQ will be rolled out across Asia soon. The rapid adoption of connected devices means more people in Asia are able to access the Internet anywhere and at any time, driving demand for compelling content that enhances their digital lives,” said Jonathan Auerbach, Singtel CEO Group Digital Life. “HOOQ is set to change the way people across the region consume and enjoy entertainment.”

George Chien, Executive Vice President, Networks at Sony Pictures Television, said, “We share the excitement of offering entertainment fans across Asia access to high quality video services directly to their mobile devices. HOOQ provides a unique combination of Hollywood and local favorites while providing a high-quality viewing experience they’ve come to expect in today’s digital world.”

Anuraj Goonetilleke, Vice President Corporate Business Development and Strategy at Warner Bros. Digital Distribution said, “We’re very excited about the launch of our joint video-on-demand business across Asia, starting with the Philippines. Providing world-class content to Asia’s entertainment fans will meet a voracious appetite for new and classic videos and TV episodes on-demand.”