Experience HOOQ like never before with “A SEA of Stories”

HOOQ, Southeast Asia’s leading video-on-demand service, embraces regional diversity by kicking off new commercial partnerships and ground-breaking diversification of content and pricing models in a mega event in Jakarta, Indonesia.

HOOQ explores content geared towards the evolving taste of Filipino audiences, with stories of love and romance, victories, and other untold authentic stories of Asia – created by Asians for Asians. 

Jennifer Batty, HOOQ chief content officer, said, “We are very excited to bring new content to our viewers. HOOQ will offer never-before-seen stories of what makes Asia tick and will give a glimpse of the pulse of the people who live here. These are very exciting times for our viewers."

Nadine Lustre

A SUPPORTER OF FILIPINO CREATIVITY

In the last six months, HOOQ Philippines has embarked on adventurous co-productions with indie and big production outfits to bring some of the most provocative and timely stories ever told in Philippine entertainment. HOOQ launched four HOOQ Originals in a row, starting with the smash-hit movie ULAN, a co-production with Viva Entertainment.

HOOQ PH Country Manager Sheila Paul with Nadine Lustre and Donnalyn Bartolome

Another HOOQ Original co-produced with Ninja Dog, Sex Talks with Dr. Holmes Season 1, launched on the platform in July. Sex Talks is a 10-episode series which dramatizes the ‘taboo’ subject of sex in a provocatively engaging and light-hearted way. In as short as one month, Sex Talks with Dr. Holmes has shot to HOOQ’s top 5 most watched list and reinforced Dr. Margie Holmes’ reputation as the country’s foremost expert on sex.

In its pursuit of creativity and the celebration of Filipino film artisans, HOOQ braved the highly challenging world of independent filmmaking. HOOQ proudly launched two original movies that won critics over at the Cinemalaya 2019 Festival.  The first offering is ISKA, a co-production with Firestarters Productions under the direction of Theodore Borobol, and HOOQ’s official competition piece. Touted a masterpiece by film critics, Iska bagged awards in Best Sound Design, Best Screenplay and Best Actress for veteran Ruby Ruiz.  Next is the highly-acclaimed finale feature film – MINA ANUD – co- produced with Regal Entertainment and Epic Media, and helmed by Kerwin Go in his directorial debut.  Mina Anud is a true-to-life story about drugs and how it ravages lives and corrupts the human spirit.  It stars some of today’s hottest talents like Dennis Trillo, Jerald Napoles and Mateo Gudicelli and veteran Lou Veloso in their most offbeat roles to date.  Both Iska and Mina Anud are slated to join international competitions this year before they land on the HOOQ platform.

ONLINE IS THE NEW TV

HOOQ Philippines has some of the best TV shows for Filipinos to binge on, from Hollywood’s The Flash, Supergirl,The Arrow and Desperate Housewives to classic Tagalog shows like OTWOL, Pangako Sa ‘Yo and Sino Ang May Sala.  With wall-to-wall sports and variety shows on broadcast TV, Filipinos fancy a break by following these shows on HOOQ whether on throw-back or catch-up mode. 

HOOQ has added to this roster new shows that are racking up the TV viewership ratings, such as The Good Doctor Seasons 1 & 2 and Emmy-winning Killing Eve Seasons 1 & 2. Killing Eve Season 1 can be streamed on HOOQ FREE without the need to sign up.  And finally this month, HOOQ launched the much-awaited GMA 7 drama series THE GIFT which features Kapuso prime star Alden Richards.  The Gift is HOOQ’s latest catch-up show which viewers can watch within 24 hours from its live TV broadcast.

ALL KINDS OF ENTERTAINMENT IN THE HOUSE OF HOOQ

HOOQ’s mission is to serve all types of audiences by bringing all forms of video entertainment – from movies to TV shows to online celebrity vlogs – in one place.  This month, HOOQ is all set to launch celebrity Youtube channels on a wide range of subjects. From Nadia Montenegro and Pokwang Lee vlogs about home-style cooking ideas, or Joyce Pring and Jing Monis’ beauty, lifestyle and fashion inspirations to Mikhael Daez’s road trips for the adventurous at heart. 

MORE WAYS TO ENJOY HOOQ

This month marks the launch of Google Play and GCash as  new payment avenues for subscribers who are unbanked and prefer the flexibility of paying in cash. This gives HOOQ access to over 30 million Android users and 20 million GCash users. Also, to be announced later this year are exciting HOOQ offers for Globe At Home Prepaid Wifi subscribers.

With a region-wide partnership with Grab, HOOQ Philippines will eventually tap into the super app’s growing subscriber base. According to Sheila Paul. HOOQ Philippines Country Manager, "This will allow HOOQ subscribers and Grab users to enjoy fully integrated and connected experiences within Grab's platform. The ambition is to let Grab users enjoy and pay for their HOOQ content from within the app. We see this lighting up early next year.”  

To further expand its footprint in the Philippines and accessibility to the budget-conscious “tingi” market, HOOQ Philippines has partnered with market leader 7-Eleven Philippines, Gate Distribution  Enterprise, Inc., Shop4Fun and Load Central, to bring HOOQ VIPiso Deals to physical trade level, allowing Filipinos to purchase their HOOQ subscriptions in the same places where buy personal products, pay for their utilities and buy pre-paid load - the malls, payment centers, internet cafes, and neighborhood convenience stores. Under the HOOQ VIPiso Deals are affordable plans that start at daily, weekly, all the way to annual subscriptions.  HOOQ VIPiso Deals are now available in over 30,000 Load Central outlets across the country.  

On October 23, 2019, 7-day, 30-day, 3-month and 12-month VIPiso Deals will be launched in nearly 2,800 7-Eleven stores nationwide.  Exclusive to 7-Eleven is the annual subscription plan worth only P500 which gives 7-Eleven buyers a whopping 70% discount.

Stream movies and shows with no sign up required only by HOOQ

 You can now watch your favorite tagalog movies or stream it for free by downloading HOOQ app on your mobile. There are many blockbuster tagalog movie titles that are now available. Here is your chance to catch up on "Ulan" stars by Nadine Lustre and Die Beautiful. 

HOOQ recently launches HOOQ FREE and HOOQ FREEPLAY Festival last June 20 at Ayala Circuit, Makati.  The event was graced by Ms.Nadine Lustre, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager Sheila Paul, Christian Bables, Margie Holmes, Chief Content Officer, HOOQ, Jennifer Batty.  

At the launch of the HOOQ FREEPLAY Festival, new originals like the recent smash-hit ULAN,co-produced with Viva Films, starring Nadine Lustre and Carlo Aquino, will be introduced onto HOOQ FREE. 

HOOQ, Southeast Asia’s leading video-on-demand service, today announced that it is expanding its freemium offering with the launch of HOOQ FREE, enabling direct access to high-quality content without having the need to register. As well as continuing to deliver the best in regional and Hollywood content, HOOQ is committed to bringing the very best in local content, via HOOQ FREE, celebrating the essence of Pinoy pride during the month of Independence and accepting local diversities.

As part of the launch, HOOQ is also introducing the HOOQ FREEPLAY Festival, an innovative streaming festival that will bring a variety of local content from HOOQ’s vast library onto the freemium layer every quarter. 

Sheila Paul, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager, said, “HOOQ is attuned to the evolving needs of the social, convenience-driven and digital-savvy Filipino. We understand local nuances and most importantly, we get our audience – so we’re introducing HOOQ FREE and the HOOQ FREEPLAY Festival in response to their wants and needs as VOD consumers.”

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WITH HOOQ FREE

HOOQ FREE is a major enhancement to the user-experience from HOOQ, providing Filipinos access to a wide array of popular on-demand local films, programs, live channels and short-form content – without the need to register. The revamped platform, which can be accessed via the web, mobile app, and on select TV models and set-top boxes, has been designed to give viewers immediate access to some of the nation’s most popular films and series, so they can browse and access authentic, unique and locally relevant stories that they want to watch.

Aside from bringing exciting local stories at the forefront, HOOQ FREE also bolsters the HOOQ live TV experience, adding two new channels; CNN Philippines and PTV. With the addition of these new channels, HOOQ increases the total number of live and feature TV channels to 20. 

Jennifer Batty, Chief Content Officer, HOOQsaid, “We are giving Filipinos the freedom to view over 1,000 titles for free! There will be no sign-ups, no registration for a trial or paid subscription needed. Based on our data and insights, and our deep connection to the local audience, we know that video entertainment delight is all about instant enjoyment, consumption that's mobile, and the power of bite-size and binge-worthy content with local relevance.”

CELEBRATING EVERYTHING PINOY WITH HOOQ FREEPLAY FESTIVAL

June is a busy month in the Pinoy calendar with Independence Day and LGBT Pride Month. In celebration of all these things that are important to Filipinos everywhere, HOOQ is also introducing the HOOQ FREEPLAY Festival, a new and innovative quarterly streaming event. For the first ever festival, HOOQ will shift over 1,000 local titles from HOOQ VIP, HOOQ’s SVOD (subscription video-on-demand) layer onto HOOQ FREE for the duration of one-month, from June 21 to July 20, 2019. 

There will also be an all-new HOOQ Original titled, Sex Talks with Dr. Holmes. The 10-episode series is a helpline for those who have questions and concerns about sex and how it figures in their daily lives. There will be a dramatization of the letter senders’ situations but the approach is light with a bit of humor. 

For those who want complete access HOOQ’s vast catalogue of the hottest Hollywood and regional series and movies including Krypton, John Wick, La La Landand Marvel’s The Avengers, as well as the latest HOOQ Originals, plus Korean dramas like Jewel in the Palaceand Winter Sonata, can sign-up to a HOOQ VIP plan on www.hooq.tv. 

HOOQ VIP Plans are available for as low as P59/week with multiple payment options via credit card, debit card, and telco partners such as Globe, Smart, and Sun.

HOOQ can now be enjoyed on more devices like Google Chromecast, Samsung Smart TVs, Android TV, Apple TV, Globe Streamwatch powered by Roku, and the new Globe Streamwatch Xtreme Prepaid. 

HOOQ partners with Viva for "Ulan" block screening

I became a fan of Nadine Lustre when I got to watch  "Never Not Love You"  with real life partner James Reid last year. It was my first time to a  #Jadine movie. Judging from that alone, Nadine Lustre, has the making of a good actress. She can act, no doubt. That's why, when I learned that she leads the cast of "Ulan", I got excited at the thought of seeing her again in the big screen this time with the other leading man Carlo Aquino.

HOOQ recently had a block screening of Ulan in partnership with Viva Films last March 13 at The Podium Mall. The event was attended by HOOQ executives and leading star Ms. Nadine Lustre. The movie is still showing at your favorite theatre.

The launch of Ulan marks HOOQ’s fourth anniversary in the Philippines with a major collaboration with Viva Films


HOOQ, the largest Video-on-Demand service in Southeast Asia, has announced its first foray into Filipino originals with Ulan, a romantic drama starring this generation’s biggest and brightest stars in Filipino cinema – Nadine Lustre and Carlo Aquino.

Ulan is HOOQ’s first Original Movie from the Philippines, in partnership with one of the country’s most renowned and respected production companies, Viva Films.

Ulan will be playing in all major cinemas nationwide from March 13.



Speaking about the upcoming HOOQ Original Movie, Jennifer Batty, Chief Content Officer of HOOQ, said, “This is a significant milestone for HOOQ and HOOQ Originals. We are continiuing with our promise to bring the very best content from the most promising and talented actors, scriptwriters and directors in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. Ulan is already one of the most highly anticipated titles of the year, and the first of many more HOOQ Original Movies to come.  To partner with Viva on our 1st HOOQ OriginaI film is super exciting.  Viva is a power house here and we look forward to doing more with them in the future. ”

Nadine Lustre, one of the country’s most promising actors, takes on a more challenging role as she embarks on a unique and mysterious tale of love. She plays Maya, a woman fascinated with rain and has the ability to see and interact with mythical (half-horse, half-human-like) creatures called “tikbalang”.

The part of Maya in Ulan marks a breakout for Lustre as she pairs with Carlo Aquino—showcasing her depth and versatility as a leading lady. Aquino, on the other hand, plays Peter, a volunteer for a non-government organization and Maya’s love interest, wants to unearth the mysteries behind Maya’s fascination with rain- alongside co-stars Marco Gumabao and AJ Muhlach.

Sheila Paul, Country Manager of HOOQ Philippines, said, “The Philippines has an abundance of talented filmmakers that are really pushing the boundaries of the medium – in terms of storytelling, format and style. We see great promise in the market, and will continue to invest in original content in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. Not only do we want to support local content creators, we want to encourage them to challenge conventions and develop engaging, high-quality Filipino content that we can all be proud of.”

Ulan is the fourth feature film from highly regarded Filipino Director, Irene Villamor, who continues to make waves in the local film industry with her unique style. Irene’s vision of an unconventional love story with a supernatural twist has all the makings of a future classic. She also directed Sid & Aya, Camp Sawi, and Meet Me in St. Gallen.

HOOQ’s extensive library of Filipino movies and shows include Irene’s complete catalogue of films as well as Nadine Lustre’s hits; Never Not Love You, This Time, Diary Ng Panget, On The Wings of Love, Sisterakas and Beauty and the Bestie.

HOW TO GET HOOQ
It’s easy to get HOOQ’d. Customers can simply download the HOOQ app from Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in, to access HOOQ’s extensive library of Hollywood and Asian hits. Smart users can enjoy a 30-day free trial. Globe mobile users can enjoy a 45-day free trial; and Globe broadband users can enjoy six months free trial. Find out more and sign up today for a complimentary trial at www.hooq.tv.

HOOQ Filmmakers Guild premieres 5 original selected screenplays from all over South East Asia

HOOQ – the largest Video on Demand service in South-East Asia – premieres 5 original selected screenplays as pilot episodes to on the platform today. This is part of the inaugural HOOQ Filmmakers Guild wherein the best of these 5 pilots will be commissioned into a full series on the platform.

The 5 pilots are: Bhak (India),Haunt Me (Singapore), How To Be A Good Girl (Singapore), Aliansi (Indonesia) and Heaven and Hell (Indonesia).  The 5 were selected from over 500 submissions received by HOOQ, over a 2-month period, from all over South East Asia.They comprise a mix of genres, from sci-fi comedy to action-thriller and even supernatural-horror.

Peter Bithos, CEO of HOOQ, said, “We at HOOQ are so proud of the pilots, which the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild has produced. These pilots are proof of the quality of filmmakers and unique stories across Southeast Asia.It will be a very difficult decision to commission just one series!  The success of the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild is just the beginning of many great things for the Guild’s filmmakers. HOOQ is committed to support the talented filmmakers across Asia in 2018 and beyond as we continue to push boundaries to develop unique stories from an Asian perspective to keep our subscribers HOOQ’d month after month!”

Launched in June 2017, the HOOQ Filmmakers Guild is an annual initiative designed to seek out film talents in Asia that have great ideas but lack the opportunity to bring them to life on screen.Each of the above 6 screenplays received USD 30,000 to produce the pilot episode.

The pilots will now undergo judging from 5 esteemed filmmakers from Asia, namely Indonesia’s Mouly Surya and Nicholas Saputra, Philippines’ Erik Matti, as well as Thailand’s Wasin Pokpong, and Puttipong Promasakha Na Sakolnakorn. In addition to professional judging, viewership numbers will also be taken into consideration and will also be factored in before the winner is selected.

Award-winning Filipino filmmaker and competition judge, Erik Matti, commented, “Coming in, I had high expectations for this initiative knowing that there is a vast landscape of untapped talent across Asia. True enough, my expectations were met by the sheer amount of fresh and unique talent that stepped up to the plate. And now, I can't wait for these chosen filmmakers to finally be able showcase their work. Regardless of who wins, I have no doubt that these pilots will not disappoint”.


HOOQ’s Chief Content Officer, Jennifer Batty, said, “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for since we embarked on this journey in 2017.  As a champion of Asian original content, we knew that there was a wealth of untapped potential in our Asian markets. We are incredibly proud of this talented batch of filmmakers who have worked tirelessly to bring their singular vision to life. May the best pilot win!”

HOW TO GET HOOQ
It’s easy to get HOOQ’d. Customers can simply download the HOOQ app from Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in, to access HOOQ’s extensive library of Hollywood and Asian hits.  Globe customers can get to try HOOQ for up to 60 days on selected mobile and broadband plans. Find out more and sign up today for a complimentary trial at www.hooq.tv.

ESCAPE WITH MARVEL’S RUNAWAYS ON THE SAME DAY AS US TELECAST WITH HOOQ

       

Marvel’s ragtag band of teenage superheroes battle angst, hormones, abuse and (quite literally) their parents, in HOOQ’s latest same day telecast offering

HOOQ – the largest Video on Demand service in South-East Asia – is proud to announce a new exclusive Marvel offering: the 1^st 3 episodes of Marvel’s Runaways will debut on Nov 21^st with brand new episodes coming every week to HOOQ, same day as the US telecast.

Chief Content Officer of HOOQ, Jennifer Batty said, “We’re very excited, Runaways ticks all the boxes that we are looking for in a comic book Entertainment series!  Everyone thinks their parents are evil when they are a teenager BUT what happens when you find out they really are evil!?! With showrunners like Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, producers of The O.C. and Gossip Girl, also available on HOOQ, we can expect the series to break away from some of the conventions and tropes that muddle teenage dramas.  The 1^st 3 episodes of Runaways drop on HOOQ within 12 hrs of the US on Nov 22^nd, and a brand-new episode will follow each week, same day as the U.S. and fully localized for our viewers.”

The series, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, follows the story of six teenagers who unite against a common enemy: their parents, who reveal themselves to be super-villains in a sinister group called the Church of Gibborim.  Running away from their respective homes, the teenagers decide to work together to right the wrongs of their parents, and set on a journey to discover the secret of their origins in a fun and original spin on the superhero narrative. Helping them in this struggle are larger-than-life characters such as Gert, a superheroine with a telepathic connection to a genetically engineered dinosaur known as Old Lace.

Runaways stars Rhenzy Feliz (Teen Wolf), Lyrica Okano (The Affair), Virginia Gardner (Project Almanac), Ariela Barer (Yo Gabba Gabba!), Gregg Sulkin (Sixty Six, Wizards of Waverly Place) and Allegra Acosta (100 Things To Do Before High School).

Runaways comes at the back of an exclusive landmark deal between HOOQ and The Walt Disney Company that gives HOOQ exclusive rights to three of Marvel’s series: Marvel’s Inhumans, Marvel’s Runaways and Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger.

HOW TO GET HOOQ

It’s easy to get HOOQ’d. Customers can simply download the HOOQ app from Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in, to access HOOQ’s extensive library of Hollywood and Asian hits. Find out more and sign up today for a complimentary trial at www.hooq.tv and pay for the subscription through credit card.