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
* Chinese live-streaming platform Inke Ltd. has set the terms for its Hong Kong IPO. The Beijing-headquartered company will offer 302.3 million shares at HK$3.85 to HK$5 apiece. Shares will start trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange July 12. Inke expects net proceeds of approximately HK$1.22 billion and intends to use it for business and content expansion, research and development, acquisition opportunities and working capital.
* Several video-on-demand service providers in Southeast Asia voluntarily adopted a code ensuring their content offering is authentic, free from hate crimes, pornography and other inappropriate content. The self-regulatory code was adopted by Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd., Star Media Group Bhd.'s dimsum, Hooq Digital Pte. Ltd., iflix Sdn. Bhd., 21st Century Fox Inc.'s Fox+, Netflix Inc., Media Prima Bhd.'s tonton, Television Broadcasts Ltd. and the Southeast Asian unit of Walt Disney Co., Digital News Asia reports.
Content and carriage deals
* Viacom Inc.'s subsidiary Viacom International Media Networks signed a channel distribution deal with Amazon.com Inc. to make Nickelodeon Japan and MTV MIX available on Amazon Prime Video Channels.
* Chinese streaming platforms 6.cn Inc. and Huajiao Information Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. are merging, according to 6.cn's parent company Songcheng Performance Development Co. Ltd.
* Weibo Corp.'s video platform Yunjian is partnering with V Fine Music to build a copyright ecosystem for original background music for short videos, Sina reports.
* Nine Entertainment Co. secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the Australian Open from 2019 to 2024. The company acquired all audiovisual rights for broadcast, streaming, mobile, digital and social platforms.
Service launches
* Freeview Australia Pty Ltd.'s New Zealand unit has begun rolling out its upgraded on-demand TV platform. The new Freeview On Demand offers shows across all participating broadcasters — TVNZ, MediaWorks, Maori Television and RNZ — into a single content library.
* FOXTEL aims to launch its direct-to-consumer sports streaming offering in November, sources told The Australian Financial Review.
* D'Live upgraded its over-the-top service with the launch of D'Live Plus UHD. The revamped platform offers Google Inc.'s YouTube LLC, Alphabet Inc.'s Google Assistant and supports Google Android TV 8.0 and Netflix 5.0.
* Lotte Group's Lotte Cultureworks will release its SEECHU over-the-top service July 10, Yonhap News Agency reports.
* Eros International PLC launched over-the-top streaming platform Eros Now in Sri Lanka on Dialog Axiata's Dialog ViU app.
* Sesame Workshop launched its first branded "Sesame Street" section on iQIYI Inc., allowing audiences in China to watch programs including "The Furchester Hotel" and "Smart Cookies" in English and Mandarin.
* Bangladeshi mobile operator Robi launched Splash, an audio and video integrated digital music streaming app.
Other news
* Indonesian authorities banned Chinese music video platform and social media app Tik Tok for inappropriate content, Reuters reports.
* Times Internet Ltd. completed the acquisition of an undisclosed majority stake in South Korea's MX Player. According to Television Post, the company will launch the MX Player video-streaming service with more than 20 original shows and more than 50,000 hours of premium content in its first year.
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