Viu, a leading pan-regional OTT video service from PCCW Media Group, unveiled major Korean content agreements that reinforce its content proposition with a continual lead on volume deals with five Korean broadcasters. Viu also highlights the popularity of recent Viu Originals, including Pretty Little Liars, My Bubble Tea, and Black.

As per the latest MPA AMPD report for Q2, while streaming minutes in the region grew by 19 percent in Q2 2020, consumption on Viu has grown by 42 percent (more than doubling the industry average growth). Viu is ranked second amongst all global and local OTT platforms in SEA* excluding YouTube in total video minutes streamed in the quarter. A selection of relevant charts can be found here.

Extended strategic content partnerships

Viu has extended its content partnerships with SBS and KBS through Wavve, as well as CJ ENM and JTBC with many programs having the exclusive premiere head start on Viu. These new agreements are in addition to Viu’s existing deal with MBC, making Viu the one-stop service for viewers to access the largest volume and widest selection of Korean content titles across the territories in which Viu operates.

Featuring star-studded talent, Viu offers a range of Korean programs including miniseries, variety shows, and long-running dramas. Upcoming titles span across romance, crime, fantasy, and sci-fi which include To All The Guys Who Loved Me (KBS), The Good Detective (JTBC) and Flower of Evil (CJ ENM) in July, while other highly anticipated titles in the coming months are Alice (SBS), When I was the Most Beautiful (MBC) and Tale of the Nine Tailed (CJ ENM).

In addition to access to content from major Korean broadcasters, Viu has also extended its partnership via Wavve by acquiring upcoming drama series such as Lies Of Lies and Channel O Hara Revenge in which Wavve has invested.

Mr. Kim Hong Ki, Business Planning Group Manager of Wavve, said, “We are pleased to be a strategic partner with Viu as they continue to be the strongest and most popular OTT video streaming service in Southeast Asian OTT markets. With Viu’s highly engaged digital base, and persistent commitment to deliver premium quality content, we are confident that this partnership supports us to further grow the popularity of Korean content in pan-regional markets.”

Mr. Seo Jang Ho, SVP, Content Business Division of CJ ENM, said, “We are very happy to continue our collaboration with Viu. They are the first OTT to bring the Korean wave across Asia a few years ago and they really understand the type of storytelling that engages Asian viewers. It is our pleasure to grow together with Viu.”

Ms. Janice Lee, Managing Director of PCCW Media Group and Chief Executive Officer of Viu, said, “Our core focus remains in delivering the best and most relevant content to our viewers. Viu continues to expand and evolve our content proposition to meet the needs of today’s audience through our offering of leading popular pan-regional content including Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese content, as well as through the creation of Viu Originals. We are thankful to our partners in Korea – Wavve, SBS, KBS, MBC, CJ ENM, and JTBC – for their vote of confidence in expanding our partnerships over the years. We would like to thank our fans for their support and for delivering the high viewership and performance of our Viu Original such as Pretty Little Liars and My Bubble Tea.”

Viu Originals continue to achieve top performance

In addition to the outstanding track record of Korean content, Viu Originals continue to engage Viu’ers and top the ranking charts, demonstrating that Viu’s original content performs as well as that of licensed pan-regional hits.

Pretty Little Liars, the compelling Asian adaptation of the iconic Warner Bros. series, was released in April and has proven to be Viu’s most popular Original yet. It is ranked the second most-watched show in Indonesia on Viu amongst all titles and the third in Malaysia for May. Also notable is that due to the popularity of season one, Viu’s adaptation of Endemol Shine Group’s The Bridge is back with season two which began airing last month.

Black, an adaptation of the renowned CJ ENM Korean TV series of the same name, ranks in the top 10 in Malaysia amongst all content on the platform. Also performing well is My Bubble Tea, a romantic comedy based on a popular online fiction, which tells the story of a woman who falls for her handsome boss and concocts a supernatural bubble tea brew to win his love. It ranks in the top three in Thailand and in the top 10 in Malaysia within a month of launch.

To hear about Viu’s Future in The Greater Southeast Asia Premium OTT Video Ecosystem, please tune into APOS 2020 this week on Thursday, July 23, 1:55-2:20 Singapore time to hear Ms. Janice Lee speak on the topic.

Viu is available for free on App Store and Google Play and selected smart TVs, as well as on the web.