MCI (P) 047/06/2017 PPS 1812/01/2013 (025534) ISSN 0219-6166 www.onscreenasia.com Vol. 26 | Issue 04 | august-september 2019 Asia In Focus editor’snote PUBLISHING K.DASS EDITORIAL-IN-CHIEF/PUBLISHER Video Streaming War [email protected] (65) 6828 9333 Today, there are hundreds of video streaming providers with incredible content libraries, pushing EDITORIAL legitimate service to consumers across the region. YI AN ANG Amongst them, there are the elite providers armed EDITORIAL ASSISTANT with original content and deep pockets to compete in [email protected] the video streaming war. I was amazement to learn (65) 6828 9333 that Apple TV+ plans to undercut Netflix and Amazon in India recently. ANG LER SING It is described as the first all-original video EDITORIAL ASSISTANT subscription service; Apple TV+ will be priced at the [email protected] cut price rate of $4.99 per month and will have an (65) 6828 9333 initial launch in over 100 countries and regions. This pricing totally flies in the face of earlier predictions ALISON YEO K. Dass, Editor-In-Chief and is around half that expected, which would have EDITORIAL ASSISTANT put it in the ballpark of Netflix and Amazon Prime and [email protected] is even cheaper than the $6.99 Disney+ set for introduction on 12 November. (65) 6828 9333 Apple TV+ will offer original shows, films and documentaries, including The Morning Show, Dickinson, See, For All Mankind and The Elephant Queen. DESIGN/PRODUCTION Already gaining headlines, The Morning Show is a drama starring and executive SAMANTHA THAM produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, and starring the two GRAPHIC DESIGNER actors along with Steve Carell. It explores the world of morning news and the ego, ambition and the misguided search for power behind the people who help [email protected] America wake up in the morning. (65) 6828 9333 More Apple TV+ originals will be added to the Apple TV app each month, including M. Night Shyamalan psychological thriller Servant, crime series Truth Be Told, documentary Little America, and feature films The Banker and Hala. The service will be available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac and other platforms, including online at tv.apple.com. Effective immediately, and in a clear demonstration of the massive commercial leverage that Apple can deploy, anyone who purchases any iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch or Mac can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. Up to six family members can share one Apple TV+ subscription. “With Apple TV+, we are presenting all-original stories from the best, brightest and most creative minds, and we know viewers will find their new favourite show or movie on our service,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s Head of Worldwide Video. “Each Apple TV+ original offers its own unique story, fresh perspective and powerful message — all meant to entertain connect and inspire cultural conversations.” A free seven day trial is being offered as an added incentive for Indian online viewers. Apple TV+ is offering to renew the subscription automatically at INR 99 per month after one year. This compares to the $4.99 price tag for the service in the US and GPB4.99 in the UK. At around half the cost of Netflix’ new low cost mobile-only service in the country, AppleTV+ is the latest US player keen to get a slice of India’s thriving over-the-top (OTT) sector. By 2023, India will be the world’s second largest streaming market after China, with Indians already spending an average of 70 minutes a day on online video Pte Ltd platforms, according to a recent study by KPMG and OTT platform Eros Now. TVAplus 120 Lower Delta Road #09-07, Cendex Center, Singapore 169208 Tel: +65 6828 9333 Printed in Singapore Television Asia Plus is published seven times a year. All rights reserved. Pease addess all subscription mail to Television Asia Plus at the above address or phone number. For annual air-speeded scriptions for non-qualified subscribers. please contact Editorial department at [email protected]. Television Asia Plus Volume ( august-september2019 television asia plus | 1 contents 3 Review 4 10 People ATF Chinese pitch 6 12 Feature begins search for VIDCON CONTINUES 17 Feature - Social Media fresh content for GLOBAL EXPANSION 20 Cover Story: Asia in Focus Chinese-speaking WITH FIRST EVER 24 Siteline markets globally VIDCON ASIA SUMMIT 27 Focus 28 Production IN SINGAPORE THIS 29 Technology DECEMBER 8 30 Review 12 Passion Distribution lands sales for new 14 Cox expands TVB channels documentary TV5MONDE USA available Produced by Pioneer Productions, One Hour That Changed The World: The distribution to Singtel Moon Landing was commissioned and TV5MONDE USA and Cox Communications customers for funded by Passion Distribution. have expanded their distribution deal, so customers in more than 20 markets across first time 14 states will be able to receive the 24/7 French language entertainment channel. 13 Tackling the rising cost of password sharing Asia in Focus 20 15 There is intense Asian content development from global investors and players. Netflix 16 announced its investment in more than National Geographic 10 new South Korean originals, covering celebrates the 50th Ten to bring back a range of themes from romance to science fiction, Anniversary with The Amazing to showcase the country’s Apollo: Missions To Race Australia storytelling prowess. The Moon 37 34 29 Dan Trachtenberg Two HBO Original Sub-second directs new Warframe Series Folklore latency is the new Film and Food Lore to standard for live Premier in Japan video streaming on Star Channel 2 | television asia plus august-september2019 review Fortumo, while taking advantage of features including dynamic pricing and iflix rolls out sachet automated refunds. Meanwhile, Fortumo manages the consumer checkout experience and localization of the payment solution, making rolling out carrier pricing with Fortumo billing scalable across a number of telcos and countries. Fortumo’s Direct Carrier Billing expected to Fortumo’s platform is used by Google, Amazon, Spotify, Electronic Arts, improved performance more than ten-folds Schibsted, OLX, EasyPark and thousands of other merchants. Integration with the platform enables merchants to collect payments from subscribers of more than 350 mobile operators. TVAplus Amazon & Tata Sky launch bundling in India with Fortumo Telco expands offering one-of-a-kind partnership The mobile technology company Fortumo has launched a unique bundling solution for Tata Sky Binge & Amazon. Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform launched a pioneering service for its subscribers - Tata Sky Binge a platform that brings digital content from multiple apps on to your TV. Southeast Asia’s leading entertainment service, iflix, and the mobile technology company Fortumo today announced the launch of Fortumo’s Tata Sky Binge is accessible through the Amazon FireTV Stick – Tata Sky Hosted DCB to enable all iflix customers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Edition, an exclusive & unique offering that will allow subscribers to stream Myanmar, Thailand and Pakistan to pay for iflixVIP through their mobile digital content from across a diverse mix of apps through a single platform operator. and single subscription fee. Prime is the premier shopping and entertainment experience from Amazon. In addition to the existing monthly and annual subscriptions to iflixVIP, customers can now also purchase “sachet” packages with smaller one-time or Subscribers to Tata Sky Binge will get 3 months of Amazon Prime access recurring payments to gain access to the premium iflix service for lengths as courtesy of Tata Sky, which includes unlimited free & fast shipping, unlimited short as a single day, offering customers greater flexibility and convenience. access to movies and TV shows with Prime Video at no additional cost. It also The wide availability of carrier billing (any prepaid or postpaid mobile customer includes unlimited access to millions of songs ad-free with Prime Music, books can make payments) combined with new sachet pricing will help iflix reach a with Prime Reading, exciting product launches and early access to lightning wider consumer audience. deals and more. Post the first 3 months access the subscribers can continue Kjetil Rohde Jakobsen, iflix Global Director of Expansion, said: “In many of our with Amazon Prime at ₹129/month on their Tata Sky bill. markets, direct carrier billing is often the only payment instrument available to our users to pay for online content. With a vast majority of telco customers in “Enabling access to unique digital content gives telcos the opportunity to these markets being prepaid customers with low average balance, it is crucial for iflix to be able to offer price points low enough to ensure people can pay.” differentiate from their competitors, increase customer loyalty and lifetime value. Customers in turn get to benefit from high quality digital content “Launching Fortumo HDCB was a no-brainer for us. Fortumo were already live such as Amazon Prime Video and the best e-commerce experience with with the capabilities we were looking for with a large number of operators Amazon Prime. Fortumo’s solution makes it quick and simple to launch across all our core markets. This meant we could effectively deliver the such partnerships and we are excited to be helping Tata Sky in introducing capabilities we intended more than 10 times faster than if we had to do the Amazon Prime to a new audience, “said Andrea Boetti, VP of Global Business integration directly with the operators,” he added. Development at Fortumo. “Emerging markets are today seeing the biggest growth in new digital The bundling solution was delivered to Tata Sky by Fortumo using its consumers, which creates an exciting opportunity for merchants to grow Trident Bundling Platform.