PCCW’s Netflix rival tops a million

Viu, the streaming service launched by Hong Kong-based telco PCCW, has registered 1.2 million downloads since rolling out last October.

The on-demand service differs from Netflix and other local SVOD offerings, with its freemium pricing model.

Its programming line-up also differs from that of Netflix, with content sourced from Korea, China, Japan and elsewhere in the region.

The Viu app has been the top ranked on the App Store and Google Play.

“Reaching 1.2 million downloads of Viu is indeed a milestone which is very encouraging to our team,” said Janice Lee, managing director, PCCW Media Group.

She added: “Searching and accessing entertainment online through mobile devices is a dominant trend today so I have every confidence that Viu’s success will be replicated in other markets.”

Late last year Lee told TBI that it has plans to launch Viu across Asia and has already started the wider roll out, with the service now available in India and Malaysia.

Netflix, meanwhile, launched in Hong Kong earlier this year as part of its 130-country global rollout.