Video on demand services to surge dramatically

MANILA, Philippines – Subscription video on demand (SVOD), services such as Netflix, that lets users stream content to their TVs and mobile devices is expected to surge dramatically in the next few years.

According to a recent report on the Global OTT TV & Video Forecasts from Digital TV Research, a UK-based media research firm, the number of homes globally with SVOD subscriptions will rise by 485% from 20 million in 2010 to about 120 million by end-2015. 

By 2020, the total number is expected to reach 250 million, up over 1000% from 2010.

This trend is starting to take root in the country as well with a report released late last year by global information firm Nielsen showing that about 7 in 10 digital consumers in the Philippines report watching TV content and movies via online sources such as video-on-demand.

This represents the second highest penetration of Internet TV in the region after Thailand.

Hoping to capitalize on this trend, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) with its mobile subsidiary Smart Communications, recently launched a partnership with iflix, Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service provider, on June 24.

PLDT-iflix tie-up

“Consumer viewing habits are going through a major shift towards online video, including video on demand. Our partnership with iflix places us in an excellent position to meet that demand through a very affordable, high quality video on demand subscription service,” said PLDT and Smart President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.

Through the service, Subscribers to PLDT and its subsidiaries can access more than 11,000 hours of TV and movie entertainment from content providers around the world with rates starting at P99 ($2.1) a month.

“The Philippines is moving in line with global trends. With iflix, PLDT and Smart can offer the widest library of video content to more Filipino homes when and where they want it,” said PLDT Group Head of Consumer Business Ariel P. Fermin

The video can also be accessed through desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, he added.

“With over 75 million Filipinos communicating and being entertained using the PLDT Group services, PLDT is the perfect partner for iflix in the Philippines,” said Patrick Grove, chairman of iflix. 

PLDT’s $15 million (P 675.4 million) investment in iflix adds to the pool of funds that is enabling iflix to acquire rights to new content, produce original programming, and offer them to customers in Southeast Asia.

The Internet TV service provider has already formed deals with Hollywood’s top studios, including The Walt Disney Company, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution (Fox) and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, among others.

As a result the firm has hits such as “Sherlock,” “Doctor Who,” “Homeland,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Star Trek,” “Batman Begins,” and “Green Lantern,” under license and available to consumers.

The service will be offered exclusively to PLDT HOME and Smart subscribers nationwide, Fermin said.

To use iflix, users need to register an account though iflix’s website to receive a 14-day trial of the service. Once the trial expires, PLDT HOME and Smart users will be able to subscribe iflix for the P99 per month fee.

The service will also be available Android and iOS devices through the iflix app available on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. – Rappler.com

 $1 = P 45.03

Streaming Media image via ShutterStock