HOOQ seeks to entice subscribers to change their viewing habits

In tandem with Warner Bros. Entertainment and Sony Pictures, Asia’s leading communications group, Singtel, is introducing another way to feed one’s daily viewing habit through a new video on demand service called HOOQ.

Thanks to content provided by its parent companies, HOOQ boasts of a large collection of both local and international movies and television shows in its library.

Unlike other video on demand services, HOOQ offers more hours of content that is not just focused on latest shows. It also offers both local and international TV shows and movies.

“We have 30,000 hours of movies and TV shows. We’re also the only one with all the top studios in the Philippines,” says HOOQ country manager Jane Cruz-Walker in an interview with the Inquirer.

Filipino titles include classics to shows bannered by currently popular tandem “JaDine”—the team up between celebrities James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

“We are offering the option for Filipinos to choose which movie or TV show they want to watch, when they will watch it and where,” she says.

A HOOQ subscriber can access his account simultaneously through five devices, allowing friends and family to enjoy their favorite shows as well.

The company also created an app, which gives subscribers the option to download their shows.

“What really sets us apart is what we call the offline mode for downloading,” she says.

This allows the user to download his material for later viewing.

Pronounced as “hook,” HOOQ has already lured thousands of subscribers since it began operations in the country in March 2015. Since its launch in the Philippines, the video-on-demand service later expanded to Thailand and India.

“The Philippines was the launch market for HOOQ because the love for entertainment, social media and online video is very strong among Pinoys,” says Cruz-Walker. “The dynamic local entertainment industry was also a key factor because we could offer Pinoys a chance to see their favorite local movies and TV shows alongside Hollywood and Asian content all in one app.”

HOOQ said what it is offering is the “legal” way to watch movies.

Cruz-Walker says this means “we are supporting the actors and filmmakers who have created all these great contents.”

The company announced in an event in Taguig back in October the newest addition to its growing library, Warner Bros’ “Gotham.” The series is about the rise of a rookie cop in the pre-Batman days of Gotham City.

HOOQ also introduced during the event its brand ambassadors, celebrities Xian Lim and Jessy Mendiola.

HOOQ offers its services for P149 a month. It is also available to all Globe subscribers.