iWorld
Viu’s unique Asian content attracts six million active users, claims 50% growth in four months
MUMBAI: Viu, a leading pan-regional OTT video service by PCCW Media, hit six million monthly active users (MAU) across its markets in March this year, representing a 50% growth from four million as of November 2016.
Since launch in October 2015, Viu has been made available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt and Bahrain.
PCCW Media MD Janice Lee said, “It is indeed very encouraging to see the high engagement with our users who spend almost 100 minutes a day viewing their favourite content on Viu. This stickiness helps propel the business of our telco partners, benefits content providers, drives subscriptions and boosts the consumption of online advertisements for advertisers who leverage Viu’s regional platform to reach the Millennials who are more receptive to digital advertisements.”
Viu operates on a dual model of an ad-supported tier and a premium subscription tier of service. Renowned industry research company, Statista, recently published a study on revenue estimates of video subscription and online video advertising which showed strong CAGR of subscription and online video advertising revenue, reaffirming the merits of Viu’s two pronged monetisation strategy.
Lee added, “Benefiting from the overall market growth of online video consumption and based on a strong product and content proposition, Viu’s subscription and advertising revenue growth has exceeded the industry’s estimate of market growth.”
Viu Originals’ exclusive content
As part of its ongoing quest to be the preferred OTT video entertainment platform in Asia, Viu is introducing Viu Originals as a creative initiative to further enhance user engagement, adding value for both telcos and advertisers.
Riding on PCCW Media’s extensive production expertise and experience, Viu offers viewers high quality Asian content with Viu Originals comprising Korean, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian productions.
In addition to compelling Korean programs which are popular with Asian audience, Viu Originals will feature vibrant, exclusive content including among others, Chinese drama and variety shows from ViuTV, Indian content, with recent releases of thrillers, dramas and comedies produced in collaboration with renowned Indian directors and premium Southeast Asian content for markets such as Indonesia.
“This collection of exciting original content will widen Viu’s appeal to users, enhancing the loyalty of viewers to subscriptions and engaging consumers for advertisers,” Ms Lee said.
Viu has entered into an agreement with SYS Productions in relation to the parties’ collaboration in producing a program under the Viu Originals initiative entitled “Song Ji Hyo’s Beauty Views”, which is to be hosted by a celebrity from a popular Korea variety show, Running Man. The program is set to attract millions of viewers who are already big fans of Korean shows.
This show marks a rare occasion that a famous Korean celebrity with mass appeal across Asia works with a regional OTT video platform in a production to share the latest fashion and lifestyle tips in Korea. With “Hallyu” Korean wave sweeping over Asia, this Viu Originals production is primed to be a runaway success.
Song Ji Hyo’s Beauty Views will provide a refreshing approach, offering viewers an immersive experience and insights into Korean beauty and lifestyle trends. The show is expected to be popular with viewers and may feature episodes in which Song will travel overseas with Viu, interact with fans and share her experience of the products along with insightful advice on the latest fashion and style trends in Korea.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
