PCCW Media, a key global player in the entertainment industry in Asia, announced the launch of its video Over-the-top (OTT) service Viu in the Philippines, offering viewers in Philippines free, convenient and the fastest access to the latest authorized premium Korean content as fast as eight hours after telecast in Korea. With the top four Korean broadcasters, SBS, KBS, MBC and CJ E&M, as content partners and strongly localized content and functions, Viu is widely regarded as the preferred video platform, offering the latest popular Korean dramas, variety shows and other Asian premium content with exclusive content windowing across Asia. The Hallyu or Korean ‘wave’ has long since swept the Philippines and Viu aims to be the go service to satisfy Korean drama fans with the largest authorized Korean content library in Philippines.
Viu is the FIRST service in the Philippines market, which facilitates downloading of authorized content to smartphones and tablets for Free. Viewers can access the content on web, download shows directly to their mobile devices via Viu and viewing offline anywhere, or stream via wi-fi as well as mobile network while on-the-move.
Viu’s multi-screen synchronization feature, which automatically bookmarks the progress of your viewing on different device offers viewers a seamless viewing experience as viewers move from school to screen.
Premium content with English subtitles and exclusive curated content with local flavor.
An impressive catalogue of around 10,000 content hours with 4,000 hours of the newest simulcast Korean dramas and variety shows with English subtitling in Viu, such as the drama series Hwarang: the Poet Warrior Youth (coming soon), Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, Sweet Stranger and Me, Dr. Romantic, The K2, Love In the Moonlight, W – The Two Worlds, Doctors, Descendants of The Sun; renowned variety shows Running Man and Return of Superman; popular Kpop music programs Music Bank and Inkigayo – The Music Trend, etc; and also selected Japanese dramas.
Moreover, K1 Headline, which brings the latest Korean entertainment authorized exclusively by Dispatch – the most influential entertainment news hub in Korea and curated by Viu editor, as well as Fanbites which presents interesting facts and anecdotes on Korean culture to deepen the Filipino viewers’ understanding of the programs, enhances the overall enjoyment of the content and relevance to locals.
Viu sets to satisfy viewers with the burgeoning trend and popularity of K drama in Philippines
Janice Lee, managing director of PCCW Media Group, said, “We are very excited with our launch in the Philippines. Recent research we conducted on online viewing of drama across multiple Asian markets has shown 77 percent of viewers surveyed in Philippines watch Korean dramas on a regular basis. With growing affluence, increasing broadband adoption and online increasing penetration of smart phones, we see a great potential in this market where online video consumption is fast becoming a part of the daily habits for over 55 million internet users in Philippines.”
The Nielsen Global Video-On-Demand Survey shows that 45 percent of online consumers in watch VOD once a day and 82 percent of online consumers said they like to catch up on multiple episodes at one time in Philippines.
“Viu’s download features will fulfill their need. We are confident that our Philippines’ launch will replicate the rapid growth we have experienced in the region,” added Lee.
Viu’s “freemium” model – an attractive pool of engaged and captive consumers for advertisers
The Viu app can be downloaded for free at Apple Store and Google Play or viewers can visit www.viu.com to view the content online.