In this biweekly Asia video spotlight feature, S&P Global 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
* Malaysia's iflix Sdn. Bhd. is launching iflix 3.0, upgrading its offering with a free tier, live linear channels and advertising opportunities. Iflix 3.0 will introduce iflix FREE, a free tier which allows users to preview, discover and explore new content, including movie of the day, premium short form content, regional and international TV series, as well as promotional episodes and pilots. The upcoming version also includes a live hub that features local linear free-to-air and pay-TV channels. Additionally, iflix 3.0 will give advertisers the opportunity to engage users of the platform through brand and product integration within original local and regional content.
* GO-JEK, an Indonesian ride-hailing service, is entering the content business and will soon launch its own subscription-based video streaming platform, the Nikkei Asian Review reports. Called Go-Play, the service will feature original content including documentaries, feature films and short films crafted by the company's new production house Go-Studios.
Content and carriage deals
* Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. is working with Japanese movie studio Shochiku Co. Ltd. to launch a new type of Kabuki which incorporates 3D video.
* Iflix and Vodafone Egypt signed a partnership to offer subscribers of the Vodafone Group PLC unit unlimited access to iflix content.
* NTT Plala Inc. said it will cooperate with Tokyo-based animation developer IG Port Inc. on content co-production for smartphones.
* Singtel, together with Philippines' Globe Telecom and Indonesia's Telkomsel, signed a memorandum of understanding to bring ONE Championship martial arts content to customers across Asia. Singtel and ONE Championship will also consider jointly producing original content.
* LG Uplus Corp. entered into a tie-up with Netflix Inc., pursuant to which the South Korean carrier will offer a three-month Netflix subscription to customers who will subscribe to the telco's new data plans, Maeil Business reports.
* iQIYI Inc. struck an exclusive partnership with JD.com Inc. wherein users who purchase a one-year membership for either iQIYI or JD to access the services and benefits of both platforms.
* Singtel Optus Pty. Ltd is holding on to its exclusive broadcast rights in Australia for the Premier League for another three years. The extension includes live coverage on Optus Sport for every Premier League match, and full on-demand, replay and short-form rights for all 380 matches from 2019 to 2022.
* Hooq Digital Pte. Ltd.'s India unit struck a content deal with BBC Studios that will allow subscribers to access nearly 200 hours of BBC drama.
* Singtel, StarHub Ltd. and MediaCorp Pte. Ltd. are teaming up to broadcast the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup on TV and mobile devices in Singapore.
* Tata Sky Ltd. entered into a partnership with Netflix to give Indian subscribers of both services access to the entire Netflix catalog through future Tata Sky platforms.
* Tribe, a video streaming service offered by Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd., is expanding its reach in Indonesia through a partnership with Telkomsel. The partnership enables subscribers of Telkomsel VideoMax to stream Tribe's original content for free.
Service launches
* Star Media Group Bhd.'s subscription video-on-demand platform dimsum is launching a 'skinny' version in Singapore via StarHub Go, Rapid TV News reports.
* Xiaomi Inc. debuted its Mi Video online streaming service in India, GSM Arena reports.
* Discovery Inc. plans to launch Discovery Kids, a digital subscription service designed for children, in the Philippines in the coming months. Discovery Kids will launch as a mobile, tablet and TV app to other markets in Asia and beyond.
Other news
* Vodafone NZ upgraded its Ultimate Home Fibre and FibreX broadband offerings to include Vodafone TV Intro, a platform with access to 18 channels of free-to-air content and streaming apps Netflix, TVNZ On Demand, ThreeNow and WatchMe.
* Chinese video sharing platform Douyin pulled videos containing the popular cartoon "Peppa Pig," amid an ongoing online content clampdown in China, Global Times reported. The ban is reportedly caused by the show becoming an "unexpected cultural icon" of a Chinese slacker subculture known as "shehuiren."
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