MAM
HOOQ announces new partnerships at Asia TV Forum 2019
MUMBAI: HOOQ, Southeast Asia’s leading on-demand service announced a series of partnerships at Asia TV Forum 2019 held in Singapore last week, further cementing its position as the entertainment platform built in Asia, for Asia.
HOOQ is partnering with Outdoor Channel, Mediacorp, TechStorm and ONE Championship across all four markets – Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Additionally, HOOQ is also partnering with JKN Dhamx, M Channel, New18, Channel 3 Catch-up and Thairath TV in Thailand to bring even more content and HOOQ Originals to viewers across Asia.
HOOQ CEO Peter Bithos says, “HOOQ is an entertainment platform made in Asia, for Asia. We remain focused on creating a truly Asian experience for our more than 80 million subscribers. Our partners allow us to deliver relevant and unique stories to more people than ever before across Asia. We couldn’t be happier to have such amazing partners who want to push the boundaries with us.”
Partnerships are core to HOOQ’s hyper-local focus as a voice for authentic, inspiring and thought provoking local stories. These investments and partnerships come together affirming HOOQ’s commitment to growing the region. HOOQ is currently partnered with more than 20 leading companies bringing HOOQ to millions of Asians. These companies include IMDA and all3media international, AIS, Globe Telecom, Grab, Singtel, Telkom and Telkomsel and payment services OVO, Line Pay.
Across four markets – Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, HOOQ announces four new partnerships with Outdoor Channel which will bring 150 hours of free to air Catch up, One Championship will bring highlights and complete videos of upcoming fights and matches in 2020, Stormbytes will add short form content from TechStorm and Mediacorp will see the addition of Chinese content for AVOD.
In addition to the collaborations across the four markets, HOOQ has announced new or renewed HOOQ Originals in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.
As part of HOOQ’s long-time collaboration with Starvision, Season 2 of popular sitcom Cek Toko Sebelah releases this month. HOOQ is also launching a weekly talk show IMHO (“In My Humble Opinion”) in co-production with Vice Media. With cheeky humor, IMHO tackles the biggest stories, conversations, and topics trending in Indonesia.
Mina Anud, a HOOQ Original in partnership with Regal Entertainment and Epic Media, is a movie about a small seaside community disrupted when three tons of cocaine land on its shores.
The popular Sex Talks with Dr. Holmes is a non-fiction sex comedy series that answers questions we are too shy to ask, but are too curious to pass up. It will be back for a second season with 16 episodes. As the premier sex expert in the Philippines, Dr. Margie Holmes is one of the most popular columnists in the country. Dr. Holmes gives no-holds-barred professional advice about everyday issues, deepening ongoing conversations about love, life and lust.
In Thailand, HOOQ adds JKN Dhamx, an Indian series with Thai dubbing to its available content. M Channel will bring even more Thai-dubbed movies while Channel 3 Catch-up will bring Thai drama series. HOOQ Thailand is also adding news channels New18 as well as including catch-up content to Thairath TV.
More HOOQ Originals combined with the best partnerships in the region broaden HOOQ’s footprint and offering of relevant, high-quality content. This paves the way for viewers across Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to have access to truly innovative and unique Asian stories like no other service has delivered.
HOOQ’s Originals slate is now at 63 original productions across the region, complementing the more than 35,000 hours of movies, television shows, sports and currently on HOOQ, available anytime, anywhere.
MAM
Worldwide Travel Insurance for Indian Travellers: How to Find a Plan Without Geographic Gaps in Your Protection
Travelling to more than one country can make insurance selection more complex, because a policy that looks broad at first may still leave certain destinations, transit points, or regions outside its scope. For Indian travellers, this can lead to gaps in cover during a medical emergency or travel disruption abroad.
Here’s a guide to understanding how worldwide coverage works, which plan types to review, and how to check for geographic exclusions before choosing a policy.
Why Geographic Coverage Matters in Travel Insurance
When travellers look for the best travel insurance, medical cover and premium often get early attention, but geographic scope matters just as much. A policy may appear broad while still limiting cover in certain countries, regions, or travel routes.
This can affect hospital access, emergency support, evacuation terms, and non-medical benefits. For Indian travellers visiting more than one destination, checking where the policy applies is an important way to avoid gaps in protection.
Types of Worldwide Travel Insurance Plans Available to Indians
Worldwide travel insurance may be available in different formats, and each one should be reviewed based on the route, trip pattern, and list of destinations.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
This type of policy is generally chosen for one overseas journey with fixed departure and return dates. It may suit travellers visiting one country or more than one destination during the same trip. The policy still needs to be checked carefully to confirm whether every destination on the itinerary is covered during the full travel period.
Multi-Trip Annual Insurance
This type of plan may be suitable for travellers who visit different countries several times a year. It can be useful only when the policy’s covered regions match the countries included across those trips. Before choosing it, travellers should check trip duration limits, region-wise exclusions, and whether all intended destinations are covered under the annual plan.
Region-Specific Plans
Some policies are built for selected regions rather than for the whole world. These plans may be arranged by destination groups such as Asia, Europe, or broader international zones. They may be suitable in some cases, but they should be reviewed carefully if the journey includes stopovers, connecting countries, or travel beyond the listed region.
Comprehensive Worldwide Plans
These plans are usually reviewed by travellers who want broader international cover across multiple destinations. However, a plan described as worldwide may still have country-wise limits, separate terms for certain regions, or limits on healthcare access and emergency services. The wording should therefore be checked in detail before relying on the description alone.
Key Coverage Areas That Ensure Global Protection
A worldwide policy should be reviewed for the coverage points that matter when travel includes more than one country or a wider international route. These areas help show whether the plan is suitable for broader overseas travel and not limited to only a few listed destinations.
● Cover that applies to all countries listed in the itinerary, not only the main destination.
● Cover for transit stops and connecting countries that are part of the planned journey.
● Clear mention of excluded countries, restricted regions, or destinations not covered under the policy.
● Emergency medical and assistance support that remains available while travelling across different countries.
● Evacuation and repatriation terms that continue to apply during multi-country travel.
How to Check for Geographic Exclusions Before Buying
Geographic exclusions are often found in the detailed wording rather than in the headline promise of the plan. A careful review before purchase can help travellers understand whether the policy matches their travel route.
● Check the destination list in the policy schedule.
● Read whether excluded countries, sanctioned regions, or restricted zones are mentioned in the wording.
● Review whether transit stops and connecting destinations are mentioned as covered travel locations.
● Check if medical network access differs across countries even when the policy appears globally valid.
● Read whether adventure activities, cruises, or remote locations have separate geographic conditions.
● Review assistance and claim support terms to see if they apply equally across all covered destinations.
Conclusion
A travel insurance plan cannot be judged only by premium, destination label, or the word worldwide term alone. For Indian travellers, geographic scope needs close attention because exclusions and regional limits may affect how the policy works during the journey. A careful review of plan type, covered locations, medical support, and destination-specific terms may help reduce avoidable gaps.
