In this feature, S&PGlobal Market Intelligence provides a roundup of news related to over-the-top,video-on-demand and other online video initiatives in different Asian markets.
TOP NEWS
*HBO Asia has with state-owned ChinaMovie Channel to develop and co-produce martial arts films for TV. TheChinese-language productions will feature Chinese talent professionally trainedin mixed martial arts, with Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen serving asexecutive producer for the first two films, according to a July 11 statementfrom the companies. The films are currently in production in China. They arescheduled to premiere at the end of 2016 on CMC's channels, as well as on HBOand Red by HBO across 23 Asian territories. HBO Asia is a unit of 's
Content and carriage deals
*Eros International Plc'sfilm production unit Trinity Pictures inkeda deal with two Chinese film companies to co-produce cross-cultural movies, Variety reported July 15. TrinityPictures will partner with Peacock Mountain Culture & Media and state-ownedHuaxia Film Distribution in China to produce travel drama "The Zookeeper"and romantic comedy "Love in Beijing." The films will be shot inIndia and China, and will be made in dual-language versions for release in 2018.
*Viacom International MediaNetworks' Asian unit expandedits partnership with Vietnam's International Media Corp. to bring Nickelodeonprogramming to IMC's free-to-air channel YouTV, World Screen reported July 18.The daily four-and-a-half-hour block of shows will include animated titles andlive-action series. The programs will be available to Vietnamese viewers by theend of September. Viacom International Media Networks is a unit of
*Singapore-based Bomanbridge Media strucka volume agreement with Vietnam Television for factual shows on nature andscience, Television Post reported July 14. The multi-program deal with Vietnam'snational broadcaster includes titles from producers such as 's Sky Vision, Secuoya, EarthTouch and Peacepoint.
*South Asia-focused over-the-top content provider with Indian digital mediabrand Arré to offer the latter's content on its platform, The Economic Times (India) reported July 4. Under the deal, Arré'scatalog of web series, social experiments, reality shows, documentaries andnon-fiction products will be made available on YuppTV Bazaar, an onlinemarketplace for video content.
*Globe Telecom saidJuly 7 that it sealeda partnership with Netflix Inc.,allowing the Philippine operator to offer Netflix on its mobile and broadbandplatforms. Globe users with a Netflix account will be able to charge themonthly subscription to their mobile or broadband accounts. The telco'scustomized broadband plans will also allow customers to mix and match a choseninternet speed with access to content from the streaming giant, depending onthe number and type of entertainment devices.
Service launches
*Indian sports-focused OTT service VEQTA rolled out a new mobile app that offersa variety of sports content, BusinessStandard (India) reportedJuly 13. Users with phones running on GoogleInc.'s Android and AppleInc.'s iOS will be able to download the app from the companies'respective app stores. AlphabetInc. owns Google.
*PCCW Ltd.'s OTTservice Viu partnered with Singtelto launch a premiumsubscription video service in Singapore, Advanced Television reported July 8.The service offers unlimited downloads and features South Korean dramas,variety shows from Korean broadcasters and Japanese dramas. Viu's freemiumusers will retain their free access to Viu's catalog of Asian content.
*Singtel said July 7 that it launchedCast, an OTT video portal app offering access to Asian and child-friendly HDcontent from providers such as PCCW's Viu and Viacom's Nickelodeon. Cast offersfour content packs: Viu Premium, Kids, Asian Hits and Hallyu. Singtel customerswill be able to subscribe to Cast via the My Singtel app.
*Facebook Inc. startedtesting a videodownload option for offline viewing in India to address issues of limitedmobile data and connectivity, TechCrunch reported July 6, citing an email fromFacebook. The feature enables users to sync the videos to their gadgets forlater viewing, while connected to WiFi. A security lock feature will preventpeople from illegally distributing the videos, with users unable to locate thecontent on their device's local memory.
More news
*Eros International Media Ltd. will claima stake of up to 15% in OTT platform Eros Now, Television Post reported July12. The move, which comes amid the development of new commercial terms withparent company Eros International, will allow EIML to play a role in the valuecreation of Eros Now. The OTT platform will either dilute its stake or preparefor a future IPO. EIML will also transfer overseas rights to Eros Internationalor its subsidiaries.
*China Film Group Corp.unit China Film Co. obtainedregulatory approval for an initial public offering on the Shanghai StockExchange, The Hollywood Reporterreported July 11, citing the China Securities Regulatory Commission'sannouncement on social media platform Weibo. The film company is planning tolist 467 million shares and raise about 4.6 billion Chinese yuan. About 27% ofthe capital raised would be allocated for film and TV production, while another26% would be invested in expanding the number of digital cinemas. The offering'sdate has yet to be set.