iWorld
Revenues up 11 per cent in 1H 2024 for Southeast Asia’s premium VOD sector
Mumbai: The premium video-on-demand (VOD) landscape in Southeast Asia continues to grow revenues at a double-digit pace with viewership relatively robust, as revealed by the latest analysis conducted by ampd, the digital measurement platform owned and operated by Media Partners Asia (MPA).
Southeast Asia’s premium VOD category generated more than 230 billion minutes in viewership over 1H 2024, up four per cent Y/Y, driven by growth in the Philippines and Indonesia. Category revenues, including subscription fees and advertising sales, grew 11 per cent Y/Y to US$895 million with gains across the region’s five main markets, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. Indonesia continues to retain the first position in terms of revenues. The region added one million net new SVOD subscriptions over 1H 2024 to reach 48.8 million, representing Y/Y growth of 5 per cent. Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia led customer growth.
MPA executive director Vivek Couto said: “While price increases have moderated customer growth, growing penetration beyond the major urban centers in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand remains a major opportunity as premium sports, local, Asian and US content moves online. Korean, US, Chinese & Japanese content captured 80 per cent of premium VOD viewership in Southeast Asia in 1H 2024. While Korean content remains the major driver, Chinese dramas are increasing freemium viewership. US content remains the leading acquisition funnel across global services. Local content maintains strong reach, with acquisition impact.”
Netflix and Viu both grew revenues at a significant double-digit pace in 1H 2024. Netflix’s share of category viewership reached 50 per cent in 1H 2024 overall, dominating viewership in Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore but facing strong local competition and more complex category dynamics in Indonesia and Thailand. Netflix’s category revenue share, including ads, reached 40 per cent in 1H 2024. Viu had 10 per cent viewership and category revenue share in 1H 2024. In spite of shedding subs, Disney+ revenues continue to grow as the service focuses on a higher ARPU customer funnel. WeTV retained a robust category engagement share in SEA at eight per cent in 1H 2024. Amongst local players, Vidio leads in Indonesia with 20 per cent category revenue share in 1H 2024 and 17 per cent viewership share, driven by heartland local dramas and sports. Thailand’s True ID led Thailand with 27 per cent premium VOD category viewership share though it remains second to Netflix in revenue share.
Premium VOD viewership in Southeast Asia (1H 2024)
Source: ampd
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
