Iflix Set To Expand Beyond ASEAN

By Azizul Ahmad KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Bernama) -- Internet TV service, iflix, is set to expand to markets outside Southeast Asia or the ASEAN region in the second half of this year, in a bid to secure a billion subscribers by 2020. Group Chief Operating Officer Azran Osman-Rani said emerging markets are still iflix's target and the company has to date garnered more than a million paid subscribers across ASEAN. He said the announcement on strategic partnerships with telecom operators in three more ASEAN countries would be made next week, followed by one non-member country. "This is in addition to the penetration of a new continent over the next couple of months," he added. iflix now has four million subscribers in all its existing markets comprising Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and more recently, extended its footprint to the largest market in the region, Indonesia. "We are very happy with the recent launch in Indonesia, which in the first month alone, showed multiple subscriber growth, compared to Malaysia and Thailand," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the recent media screening of "Mr Robot" (season 2) here. New episodes of the US TV series join iflix's growing library of first run exclusives. Market talk has hinted at iflix soon launching its service in Sri Lanka and the Middle East and Africa. By bundling the on-demand video service with telco offerings, Azran said iflix had secured 1.5 million paid subscribers across the ASEAN countries it has entered. "We will only be happy when our subscriber base hits a billion customers. "By 2020, it is expected, there will be about three billion mobile phone users with data connection across emerging markets, not including India and China. "I think it is possible for iflix to get a third of that. Our game plan is over the long term. People want entertainment. In some places, they are even paying for pirated content. "Our subscription is about the same price of a pirated dvd," he added. Azran, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of iflix Malaysia, said the engagement or usage among Telekom Malaysia (TM) and Digi customers, is quite high despite the deals only having been entered into just six months ago. He said internet-based video-on-demand service like iflix is important for telcos, as they would want to sell more data packages. The Kuala Lumpur-based iflix offers a selection of classic and current titles comprising a wide array of comedy, drama, cartoons, Hollywood movies, and other programmes from the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia. The service is priced at US$1.98 (RM8) per month in Malaysia for unlimited access with no advertisments. As localisation is the key to iflix’s strategy, Azran shared that the digital streaming company had initiated efforts to establish regional production of original television series in the near future. This is besides continuing to have sub-titles for almost all content, to comply with regulatory and cultural standards and sensitivities, while advancing its video and android apps technology. -- BERNAMA