If you’re a digital consumer, you can relate to the cravings when it comes to watching movies and TV shows anytime and anywhere, whether through your smartphone, laptop, tablet or your precious HDTV. It’s undeniable that we Filipinos, specifically, love to watch movies and TV shows. We easily can be attached to the characters which is why we tend to watch TV series over and over. It will not even end to that, our favorite part is to share the story after watching it, exchanging thoughts, opinions and our own life story related to it.
Just one week after its establishment, HOOQ, Asia’s Video-On-Demand service, announced that it will kick off in the Philippines from late February in partnership with Globe Telecom.
HOOQ chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter G. Bithos
“Across the emerging economies, people have amazing stories and love stories. However, a few billion people have no quality way of seeing the best stories from Hollywood or their local market. HOOQ will change that. HOOQ will change the way people in emerging markets consume and enjoy entertainment”, Said HOOQ chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter G. Bithos. “The Philippines is a natural first market for us. Filipinos dual love of local and Hollywood content combined with their digital ‘savviness” makes the Philippines a perfect place for us to start”, he added.
The former Globe Telecom Chief Operating Advisor, Mr. Bithos also announced its first distribution partnership. “Our partnership with Globe Telecom, the leader in digital partnerships in the Philippines, helps us bring Philippine customers a premium video service and new form of entertainment that combines the best of Hollywood, Asian and Philippine video content across all devices, Mr. Bithos said.
“Following the launch in the Philippines, HOOQ will be rolled out across Asia soon. The rapid adoption of connected devices means more people in Asia are able to access the Internet anywhere and at any time, driving demand for compelling content that enhances their digital lives”, said Mr. Jonathan Auerbach, Singtel CEO Group Digital Life. HOOQ is set to change the way people across the region consume and enjoy entertainment.
Mr. George Chien, Executive Vice President, Networks at Sony Pictures Television, said: “We share the excitement of offering entertainment fans across Asia access to high quality video services directly to their mobile devices. HOOQ provides a unique combination of Hollywood and local favorites while providing a high-quality viewing experience they’ve come to expect in today’s digital world.”
HOOQ, a start-up joint venture between Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment, will enable customers of Globe Telecom to enjoy unlimited online streaming access and an offline viewing option to top Hollywood and Filipino movie and television content, via any device including computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Filipinos can look forward to extensive Hollywood and local content which is more than 10,000 movies and television episodes and TV shows including titles from partners Sony and Warner Bros. Customers can watch Hollywood movies such as Harry Potter, Spider-man and Inception, while enjoying popular TV series such as Gossip Girl, Friends and Smallville.
Local film and TV content will also be available through partnerships with the country’s top studios such as GMA, Viva Communications, Regal Entertainment, and ABS_CBN. Customers can watch local high-grossing films such as Metro Manila, A Secret Affair, Shake Rattle and Roll and Ang Tanging INa, as well as classics including Dyesebel, Bagets and Bituing Walang Ningning. Highly rated TV shows like My Husband’s Lover, Mulawin, Tayong Dalawa and Mara Clara will also be available anytime and anywhere.
“Now, more than ever, Filipinos consider connectivity as an essential part of their daily lives. Our customers, whether prepaid, postpaid or broadband, are increasingly embracing an always-on world where they expect a wonderful experience from innovative and engaging data and content offers. Right now, we are in the best position to offer this type of service as the leader in enabling the digital lifestyle of Filipinos and the number one work in smartphones. To meet their needs, we see the video-on demand services offered by HOOQ as a critical offering representing the future of the industry. Now that consumers have access to a variety of international and local content, entertainment will now be more personal, and with Globe, this means experiencing it with the highest quality”, said Mr. Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe Telecom.
Recognizing the value that video-on-demand services deliver to consumers, Globe Telecom will provide its customers with the ability to download HOOQ, which will be soon available to customers on a plan-based service for Philippine Peso P199 per month for access to thousands of movies, far more affordable than buying a ticket for just one movie. It will also be offered as a bundled service with the Telco’s GOSURF and Tattoo broadband services.
The service will also be accessible to all customers in the Philippines through its website- http://HOOQ.tv. Through HOQ.tv, customers can watch videos of their choice and pay for the subscription by credit card.
Karina is not your ordinary supermom. She juggles her time bonding with her three amazing kids while being in the loop on the latest happenings in the tech and lifestyle scene. Follow me on Instagram (@digitalfilipina) regularly visit www.digitalfilipina.com for daily dose of updates not just for moms but for everyone!
