HOOQ readying to take on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar
NEW DELHI: Premium video-on-demand service HOOQ is readying to take on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar directly as it changes its strategy that has seen it primarily as a B2B player to one that also targets consumers directly.
Salil Kapoor, managing director at HOOQ, told ET that having crossed a million subscribers through its approach of partnerships with telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs), the company is now moving towards becoming a standalone OTT (over-the-top) player, or app, targeting subscribers directly.
Kapoor said India’s OTT space is set to take off in a big way, driven by rapid smartphone uptake and falling data prices. "The online consumption of video is increasing rapidly. A lot of subscribers will be willing to pay for content, which will be good for the OTT business," he said, but cautioned that the country is still a largely free services market, and there could be challenges when it comes to charging for content.
HOOQ is a startup joint venture established in January 2015 by Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Besides India, it operates in the Philippines and Thailand. According to a Media Partner Asia (MPA) report, India’s active OTT video subscribers are expected to grow to 105 million by 2020. A separate report said the global OTT video market is expected to reach $64.78 billion by 2021.
Salil Kapoor, managing director at HOOQ, told ET that having crossed a million subscribers through its approach of partnerships with telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs), the company is now moving towards becoming a standalone OTT (over-the-top) player, or app, targeting subscribers directly.
Kapoor said India’s OTT space is set to take off in a big way, driven by rapid smartphone uptake and falling data prices. "The online consumption of video is increasing rapidly. A lot of subscribers will be willing to pay for content, which will be good for the OTT business," he said, but cautioned that the country is still a largely free services market, and there could be challenges when it comes to charging for content.
HOOQ is a startup joint venture established in January 2015 by Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Besides India, it operates in the Philippines and Thailand. According to a Media Partner Asia (MPA) report, India’s active OTT video subscribers are expected to grow to 105 million by 2020. A separate report said the global OTT video market is expected to reach $64.78 billion by 2021.
