iWorld
Hooq partners Disney to bring Marvel series to South-East Asia
MUMBAI: Hooq – a Video on Demand service in South-East Asia, has now got exclusive SVOD rights to bring three of Marvel’s latest series – Marvel’s Inhumans, Marvel’s Runaways and Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger – on the same day as the US telecast on their platform for the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, via a newly inked deal with The Walt Disney Company South-East Asia.
While the first chapter of Marvel’s Inhumans has been released last week worldwide in IMAX theatres, the following episodes will then be available on Hooq from the end of September with additional exclusive content, not seen in IMAX theatres. Next up will be Marvel’s Runaways which debuts on digital on November 21st, 2017. Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger will be released later on in 2018. All these will have all episodes screened same day as the US telecast.
These 3 new series will join the collection of Marvel movies and series already on the Hooq platform – the recent Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Agent Carter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Captain America – The First Avenger.
This exclusive deal comes shortly after Hooq announced their collaboration with Disney, earlier this year to bring their latest movies onto the platform via Transactional VOD (TVOD).
“Hooq is always looking for new ways and partnerships to bring exciting and quality content to our viewers. This tie-up with Disney, which now allows our viewers to catch their favourite series Inhumans, Runaways and Cloak and Dagger on the same day as the US telecast is something we are very proud of and brings the world of Marvel’s superheroes closer to Asia. Marvel’s series’ now available on Hooq is the first of many things to come with this tie-up and we will continue to push boundaries, to evolve and stay committed to delivering unique, compelling and edgy stories to millions of our customers in the region,” said Hooq CEO Peter Bithos.
“We are excited to extend our collaboration with HOOQ in bringing these iconic Marvel shows day and date with the US telecast to digital audiences across Southeast Asia. We are pleased to offer our Marvel fans yet another platform to enjoy their favourite TV shows” said The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia VP and GM of media networks Amit Malhotra.
Marvel’s Inhumans is the latest series from Marvel Studios and its first chapter is shot completely in IMAX® cameras. After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.
Marvel’s Runaways will be the first TV adaptation of the Marvel comic of the same name, where a group of teenagers find out not only do they have superpowers, but that their parents are supervillains. Torn between filial piety and being heroes, they will face adversaries like never before.
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, also follows the characters of the Marvel comic of the same name. Heroes Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen share a symbiotic relationship as a crime fighting duo since they are Light and Darkness incarnate. These series are all set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
