Viu has announced that it is the leading premium video on demand (VOD) platform in Greater Southeast Asia (SEA) in terms of Monthly Active Users (MAU), according to the latest Media Partners Asia (MPA) AMPD Research report for Q4 2021, which was released on March 28, 2022.
According to the report, Viu's MAUs have surpassed all other major streaming platforms in Greater Southeast Asia and have remained the highest for all four quarters of 2021. Additionally, the platform ranked second in terms of paid subscribers and premium video streaming minutes in Greater Southeast Asia in Q4 2021.
Viu's chief business officer in Asia, Ms. Helen Sou, shared that the company's consistent performance in a highly competitive region, combined with significant revenue growth in 2021, cemented Viu's position as a market leader in this region.
Sou cited Viu's freemium business model has proven popular with consumers and ecosystem partners alike.
Viu Original productions
In 2021, the Viu Original production strategy demonstrated its ability to differentiate products in the market. In comparison to 2020, the top ten Viu Original titles grew by over 94 percent in terms of video views and by over 200 percent in terms of video minutes. This contributed to a 58 percent increase in subscriptions from 5.3 million in 2020 to 8.4 million in 2021.
Viu Original productions set the stage for newer monetization avenues in non-Viu territories such as the Americas and Europe, spanning over 20 platforms worldwide. Moreover, these productions provide an excellent opportunity to collaborate with brands on product placements and sponsorships within Viu markets.
Positive response to locally produced content in markets such as the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia will result in a significant increase in production, with 30 titles scheduled for release in six languages. As part of this plan, titles such as Pretty Little Liars and Assalamualaikum Calon Imam will be released in April and May. Their respective first seasons were well received not only in Indonesia and Malaysia but also throughout the region.
Thailand will see the release of two highly anticipated films in the coming months, including the rap musical Wannabe, which stars Thailand National Film Association Award winner Chanon "Nonkul" Santinatornkul and veteran Thai Hip Hop artist Jawpraya "Tan" Tanyuk. Close Friend was also a huge hit in Thailand during its first season and is returning for a second season.
Hot on the heels of the Korean Viu Original titles released in 2021, such as Now We Are Breaking Up, two more Korean Viu Original titles are scheduled to be released in the coming months. Again My Life, based on a web novel of the same name, will premiere in April and will star multiple award-winning actor Lee Joon Gi. Additionally, the romantic comedy From Now On, Showtime! will be released in the same month, directed by the man behind one of the classic fantasy rom-com series, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.
Viu continues to invest in collaborating with the industry's top creative talent to create original titles that resonate across the region, solidifying its reputation as the home of the best Korean and Asian content.
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You can access these new titles, as well as Viu's extensive library of fan favorites, First-on-Viu, and exclusive titles, via the Viu app, which is available for free download on the App Store, Google Play, and select smart TVs, as well as online at www.viu.com.
