HOOQ is a start-up joint venture between Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment which was launched last week.
Under the partnership, Globe subscribers can avail of unlimited online streaming access and an offline viewing option to more than 10,000 movies and TV shows.
Customers can watch Hollywood films from partners Sony and Warner Bros., such as Harry Potter, Spider-Man and Inception and TV series such as Gossip Girl, Friends and Smallville.
Filipino film and TV shows will be available through partnerships with
ABS-CBN, Viva Communications and Regal Entertainment.
"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 Peter G. Bithos, who was previously Globe's chief operating advisor.
"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.
HOOQ's first partnership is with Globe Telecom.
"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," Bithos said.
A Nielsen report in 2014 showed more Filipinos were viewing online video content, with 85% watching at least weekly, the second highest in the region.
"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," Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe Telecom, said.
Globe Telecom will provide its customers with the ability to download HOOQ, which will soon be available to customers on a plan-based service for P199 per month. It will also be offered as a bundled service with the telco’s GoSURF and Tattoo broadband services.
After the Philippine launch, HOOQ will be rolled out across Asia soon.
The service will also be accessible to all customers in the Philippines through its website – http://HOOQ.tv. Through HOOQ.tv, customers can watch videos of their choice and pay for the subscription by credit card.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
