iWorld
Hooq appoints OTT veteran for Singapore business
MUMBAI: Soon after its successful launch in Singapore on 24 November with a catalogue of 20,000 shows and movies, video on demand streaming service Hooq is completely focused on strengthening its footprints. It has appointed a country manager for Singapore, OTT industry veteran Michael D’Oliveiro.
D’Oliveiro will be responsible for managing the market and will focus on expansion through customer acquisition, retention, and key partnerships.
Hooq CEO Peter Bithos is delighted about the new appointment and strongly believes that D’Oliveiro, with over 18 years of diverse experience in the broadcast and telecommunications industry, will uncover new business opportunities in Singapore.
Singapore-born D’Oliveiro developed, launched and managed Telstra’s first business-to-business portfolio of online video products for use outside of Australia. He held global profit-and-loss responsibilities working with customers from the UK to Australia and Singapore.
D’Oliveiro was also a part of the core consumer product management team at Malaysian pay-TV company Astro, where he helped develop and manage its early OTT products.
iWorld
JioHotstar brings HBO Max to India in exclusive Warner Bros. tie-up
Hit shows and global franchises arrive as platform sharpens streaming edge
MUMBAI: JioHotstar has expanded its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to bring HBO Max to India, making it the exclusive home for the global streaming platform in the country.
The HBO Max hub, now live on JioHotstar, offers a wide catalogue spanning HBO, Max Originals, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, creating a unified destination for premium international content.
The launch gives Indian audiences access to some of the most anticipated titles of 2026, including new seasons of Euphoria and House of the Dragon, alongside an upcoming Harry Potter series. Popular titles already available include The Last of Us, Succession, Game of Thrones and The White Lotus.
In a first for the platform, subscribers can also stream iconic series such as Friends and The Big Bang Theory, along with other fan favourites like The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and The Flash.
Commenting on the launch, JioHotstar CEO entertainment Kevin Vaz said, “This marks a defining moment in how premium global content is accessed and experienced in India.” He added that the integration brings together scale, curation and accessibility to deliver a more immersive viewing experience.
Echoing the sentiment, Warner Bros. Discovery president Apac James Gibbons said, “India is one of the most vibrant streaming markets globally, and in JioHotstar, we have a partner with unmatched scale and a deep understanding of local audiences.” He noted that the move strengthens the reach of the company’s global franchises in the country.
The HBO Max hub will sit alongside JioHotstar’s existing content library, with subscription add-on plans starting at Rs 49 per month, offering viewers broader access to international programming.
With streaming competition heating up, this tie-up signals a clear push by JioHotstar to double down on premium global content and cement its position as a one-stop destination for entertainment in India.
