Singtel, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros form joint venture HOOQ to offer OTT video service in Asia

Media Brief

Singapore, January 30, 2015

Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros Entertainment have established HOOQ, a joint venture start-up, to offer a regional over-the-top (OTT) video service in Asia.

HOOQ will deliver both Hollywood blockbusters and television series, as well as popular local movies and programmes to customers anytime, anywhere by enabling them to stream and download their favourite shows on their device or platform of choice, according to a statement.

HOOQ will be rolled out progressively in the Singtel Group’s Asian footprint, including Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Thailand, from the first quarter of 2015, the statement said.

Jonathan Auerbach, CEO, Singtel Group Digital L!fe, said: “Demand for OTT video has been growing and is poised for higher growth in these markets fuelled by better data networks and the growing supply of affordable devices. This is a more than S$1 billion opportunity in our markets.”

Under the deal, the studios -- Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros Entertainment – will provide access to their premium content and know-how, while the Singtel Group will provide market access with its customer base of over half a billion mobile customers.

HOOQ will also use the Singtel Group’s billing capabilities, a crucial enabler in developing markets where credit card ownership is limited.

“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,” added Auerbach.

Thomas Gewecke, chief digital officer and executive vice president, strategy and business development, Warner Bros Entertainment, said: “The combination of Singtel’s expertise and our world-class content is a winning combination for entertainment fans in the region.”

“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, executive vice president, networks, Asia-Pacific, Sony Pictures Television. “Through this partnership, we hope to create a service to meet that demand as it grows in Asia.”

At launch, HOOQ will have a catalogue of over 10,000 movies and TV series including titles from partners Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros Entertainment.

Peter G Bithos has been named CEO of HOOQ responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the standalone operation based in Singapore, and expanding the operation. Bithos was previously chief operating advisor of Globe Telecom in the Philippines.

Bithos said: “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.”