Viu (streaming media)
# Viu (streaming media)

Viu (pronounced as view) is a Hong Kong-based over-the-top (OTT) video streaming provider from PCCW Media Group's Viu International Ltd. Operated in a dual-revenue model comprising subscriptions and advertising, Viu delivers content in different genres from Asia's top content providers with local language subtitles, as well as original production series under the Viu Original initiative (similar to original programming from other services like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix).

Viu is now available in 16 markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar and South Africa. As of December 2022 annual results, Viu had an estimated 66.5 million monthly active users.

## History

Viu International Ltd launched the Viu OTT video service in Hong Kong on 26 October 2015.

In January 2016, Viu announced its official launch in Singapore.

In March 2016, Viu announced its official launch in India and Malaysia.

In May 2016, Viu launches in Indonesia.

In November 2016, Viu announced its official launch in the Philippines and has achieved four million users and over 218 million video views.

In February 2017, Viu was available in major Middle East countries including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In May 2017, Viu announced its official launch in Thailand and has expanded to 15 markets across Asia and the Middle East countries.

In September 2018, Viu announced its official launch in Myanmar.

In March 2019, Viu announced its official launch in South Africa.

In December 2019, Viu announced its suspension of operations in India without providing a date. On 5 November 2021, Viu stopped its services in India.

In June 2023, PCCW and the Canal+ Group announced a strategic partnership between the two companies, under which Canal+ will invest $300 million, including an initial investment of $200 million, in Viu and gain a 26.1% minority stake in the streaming service, with the option to invest further and gain a 51% controlling stake. The partnership serves as a catalyst for international expansions for both PCCW and Canal+ as well as collaborations between Viu and Canal+ on original productions.

## Content

Viu offers a wide-range catalogue of movies and TV shows from across Asia, including popular and new titles. First-run TV episodes are available on the platform with advertisements in between, at least 72 hours after broadcast; Paid users can access episodes without advertisements, at least eight hours after broadcast. Several titles are also available separately in localized language audio dub.

Movie titles available on the platform, mostly from its sister network (now Baogu Movies) or partnered (tvN Movies), require active Premium subscription.

### Original programming

Viu has begun producing their original titles, in which most of their originals was based in Southeast Asia that has already received multiple award recognitions such as Asian Academy Creative Awards and Asian Television Awards. They also produce originals for the Middle East and Africa as well, as well as previously produced their originals for the Indian markets.

**Drama**

| Title | Genre | Premiere | Seasons | Runtime | Language | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| The Publicist | Workplace romantic drama | 22 November 2017 | 13 episodes | 27–47 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Sunshine | Coming-of-age romantic drama | 31 May 2018 | 13 episodes | 40–44 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Jibril | Suspense legal drama | 22 October 2018 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 44–58 min. | Malay | Ended |
| Knock Out Girl | Romantic sports drama | 12 December 2018 | 13 episodes | 42–48 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Devoted | Neo-noir romantic thriller | 28 March 2019 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 46–53 min. | Malay | Ended |
| Rewrite | Romantic fantasy drama | 15 May 2019 | 13 episodes | 48–51 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Black | Fantasy crime thriller | 17 December 2019 | 2 seasons, 18 episodes | 42–57 min. | Malay | Pending |
| Pretty Little Liars | Cozy mystery teen drama | 22 April 2020 | 2 seasons, 22 episodes | 41–57 min. | IndonesianEnglish | Pending |
| Ganjil (Wonderers) | Romantic fantasy drama | 25 September 2021 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 46–59 min. | Malay | Pending |
| Still | Musical ensemble drama | 26 November 2021 | 1 season, 8 episodes | 41–54 min. | Tagalog | Pending |
| Remember 15 | Teen mystery horror thriller | 22 February 2022 | 12 episodes | 47–57 min. | Thai | Miniseries |
| Wannabe | Coming-of-age hip-hop musical drama | 10 May 2022 | 16 episodes | 49–54 min. | Thai | Miniseries |
| Finding the Rainbow | Romantic melodrama | 9 November 2022 | 14 episodes | 47–78 min. | Thai | Miniseries |
| Hilang (Buried Sins) | Supernatural crime thriller | 17 November 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 51–58 min. | Malay | Pending |
| Nenek Bongkok Tiga (The House on Autumn Hill) | Supernatural mystery thriller | 9 February 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 39–60 min. | Malay | Pending |

**Comedy**

| Title | Genre | Premiere | Seasons | Runtime | Language | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Switch | Romantic fantasy comedy drama | 14 August 2017 | 13 episodes | 20–30 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Halustik | Coming-of-age romantic comedy | 12 September 2018 | 13 episodes | 45–54 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Salon | Dark comedy thriller | 17 September 2018 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 41–46 min. | Malay | Ended |
| KZL | Docu-comedy drama | 7 November 2018 | 15 episodes | 19–23 min. | Indonesian | Miniseries |
| Assalamualaikum, My Future Husband | Romantic comedy drama | 6 November 2019 | 2 season, 23 episodes | 47–50 min. | Indonesian | Pending |
| Keluarga Baha Don | Crime comedy | 11 July 2019 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes | 21–35 min. | Malay | Pending |
| Kopitiam: Double Shot | Sitcom | 28 November 2019 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 28–34 min. | EnglishMalay | Pending |
| Star Stealer | Coming-of-age romantic comedy | 30 September 2020 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 28–36 min. | Indonesian | Pending |
| Write Me a Love Song | Romantic musical comedy drama | 25 November 2021 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 45–63 min. | Indonesian | Pending |
| My Coach | Romantic sports comedy drama | 7 June 2022 | 16 episodes | 44–63 min. | Thai | Miniseries |
| She Was Pretty | Romantic workplace comedy drama | 23 June 2022 | 16 episodes | 48–59 min. | Malay | Miniseries |
| AI.5YA | Science fiction sitcom | 18 August 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 24–28 min. | Malay | Pending |
| #lovesignal | Romantic comedy short drama | 7 October 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 10–14 min. | Cantonese | Pending |
| Ijab Kabut (I Have A Plan) | Romantic comedy drama | 10 October 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 26–29 min. | Malay | Pending |
| Real Fake | Romantic action comedy | 10 October 2022 | 12 episodes | 30–39 min. | Thai | Miniseries |
| Bad Boys vs Crazy Girls | Teen romantic comedy | 14 October 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 45–50 min. | Indonesian | Pending |
| K-Love | Romantic comedy drama | 14 October 2022 | 1 season, 18 episodes | 23–33 min. | Tagalog | Pending |
| Mantan tapi Menikah (Married Ex-Boyfriend) | Romantic comedy drama | 31 January 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 44–66 min. | Indonesian | Pending |
| Return Man | Romantic action comedy | 8 February 2023 | 12 episodes | 42–49 min. | Thai | Miniseries |

**Co-production**

| Title | Genre | Partner/Country | Premiere | Seasons | Runtime | Exclusive region(s) | Language | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| The Bridge | Crime drama | HBO Asia | 26 November 2018 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes | 42–58 min. | All markets | EnglishMalayIndonesian (season 2) | Pending |
| 4Freaks 4Fam | Comedy drama | Workpoint TV/Thailand | 12 February 2019 | 1 season, 15 episodes | ~47 min. | All markets | Thai | Pending |
| My Bubble Tea | Romantic fantasy comedy drama | AIS Play & One 31/Thailand | 22 May 2020 | 13 episodes | 44–57 min. | All markets | Thai | Miniseries |
| Isteri Misteri | Mystery comedy | TV3/Malaysia | 25 November 2020 | 1 season, 10 episodes | 38–43 min. | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Malay | Pending |
| Voice in the Rain | Romantic drama | AIS Play & Workpoint TV/Thailand | 19 December 2020 | 16 episodes | 45–47 min. | All markets | Thai | Miniseries |
| Flower of Evil | Romantic crime thriller | ABS-CBN/Philippines | 23 June 2022 | 32 episodes | 39–49 min. | All markets | Tagalog | Miniseries |

### Exclusive international distribution

In addition to producing and distributing local titles, several Viu shows have been acquired and co-produced, partly or wholly, by Viu for exclusive first-run release or distribution (under the Viu Original label) in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South Africa in deals with partners in other regions such as Rakuten Viki, Far EasTone Friday Video, KC Global Media (ONE), among others.

Unlike major streaming platforms, which prevent third-party linear channels from securing broadcast rights of most co-produced shows, most Viu Original-labled titles may be screened by local television channels in their respective countries, provided that the networks' local rights for such titles are for linear television broadcast only in their respective country jurisdiction.

| Title | Genre | Original network | Premiere | Seasons | Runtime | Exclusive region(s) | Language | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| River Where the Moon Rises | Period drama | KBS2 | 15 February 2021 | 20 episodes | ~60 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |
| Doom at Your Service | Romantic fantasy drama | tvN | 10 May 2021 | 16 episodes | 59–72 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| Lovers of the Red Sky | Romantic fantasy period drama | SBS | 30 August 2021 | 16 episodes | 59–70 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |
| Now, We Are Breaking Up | Slice of life romantic drama | SBS | 12 November 2021 | 16 episodes | 60–68 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| Again My Life | Fantasy action drama | SBS | 8 April 2022 | 16 episodes | 60–75 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| From Now On, Showtime! | Romantic fantasy comedy drama | MBC | 23 April 2022 | 16 episodes | 66–78 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| Woori the Virgin | Romantic comedy | SBSLifetime Korea | 9 May 2022 | 14 episodes | 59–63 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| Why Her | Romantic mystery drama | SBS | 3 June 2022 | 16 episodes | 59–75 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |
| Today's Webtoon | Workplace comedy drama | SBS | 29 July 2022 | 16 episodes | 62–76 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |
| If You Wish Upon Me | Slice of life light drama | KBS2Lifetime Korea | 10 August 2022 | 16 episodes | 60–64 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| The Law Cafe | Romantic legal comedy drama | KBS2 | 5 September 2022 | 16 episodes + 1 specials | 60–67 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |
| The Empire | Family legal drama | JTBC | 24 September 2022 | 16 episodes | 57–72 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| Reborn Rich | Fantasy suspense drama | JTBC | 18 November 2022 | 16 episodes | 61–88 min | All markets | Korean | Miniseries |
| Taxi Driver (season 2) | Action drama | SBS | 17 February 2023 | 1 season, 16 episodes + 2 specials | 63–127 min | All markets | Korean | Renewed |
| Delivery Man | Romantic mystery comedy drama | ENA (Genie TV) | 1 March 2023 | 1 season, 12 episodes | 59–61 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Pending |
| The Secret Romantic Guesthouse | Romantic period drama | SBS | 20 March 2023 | 18 episodes | 60–65 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |
| My Perfect Stranger | Romantic fantasy drama | KBS2 | 1 May 2023 | 16 episodes | 60–67 min | Southeast Asia, Hong Kong | Korean | Miniseries |

## Availability

Viu OTT video service can be accessed anytime and anywhere via Viu app at App Store for iOS devices, Google Play Store for Android devices across the region, on the Huawei App Store or visit www.viu.com to watch on the web, it also can be accessed through Apple TV devices. Registered Viu free or premium subscriber can download videos and watch offline on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as save viewing progress, bookmark programmes and receive notifications on new episodes.

Viu's service is run in premium subscription and ad-supported freemium model. Viu premium subscribers are able to enjoy full 1080p HD quality videos, unlimited download without any ads interruption. Meanwhile, Viu freemium users will continue to have access to platform's huge catalogue of content for free.

