Fastest growing basic entertainment channel in Asia expands OTT reach
Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, 21 February 2017
HITS, the basic entertainment channel that is in more than eight million homes across Asia, expands its reach arriving on Malaysia’s homegrown streaming service, tonton. This carriage deal sees HITS bringing its curation of the best Hollywood TV shows to tonton’s growing subscriber base.
tonton is Media Prima Television Networks-owned OTT platform’s offering of linear channels plus over 23,000 hours of catch-up and premium video content, which includes drama, talk shows, docudramas and movies. Reaching more than 6.6 million users, and uniquely positioned such that 80% of its offerings are local content, tonton continues to add over 18,000 new members weekly.
Starting 24 February, HITS will be the newest English-language, Bahasa Malay and Chinese-subtitled linear channel added to tonton’s VIP service.
Airin Zainul, Director of tonton & Intellectual Property, Licensing and Merchandising said, “we welcome the addition of HITS to our ever growing content offerings for tonton’s premium VIP membership which starts from just RM 3 (~USD 0.70). This is in line with our strategy in providing the best of local content and having the best shows from Hollywood for all Malaysians to enjoy.”
Owned and operated by multimedia branded entertainment company Rewind Networks, HITS’ multi-award winning series bring the greatest stories and famous characters back to those who recognise them and introduces a new generation of TV viewers to these iconic shows. Ratings successes in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines and other markets have proven that HITS’ curation of awesome shows such as That ‘70s Show, The Nanny, Golden Girls, Cheers, MacGyver, Diff’rent Strokes, AirWolf, The A-Team, The X-Files and Grey’s Anatomy, resonates with viewers in the region.
Avi Himatsingani, CEO of Rewind Networks, said, “We are happy that tonton’s VIP subscribers will now have 24×7 access to our hugely successful curated service that has viewers across the region loving us and wanting more.”
Currently, HITS’ other OTT offerings include its catch up on-demand service, HITS Replay, as well as streaming on the HITS app accessible via iOS and Android to authenticated pay-TV subscribers.
tonton is offering a free two-week preview of HITS from the time of launch.
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About tonton
tonton is Malaysia’s 1st and largest home grown video streaming service with over 6.6 million registered users and is experiencing a growth of over 18,000 registrants on a weekly basis.
Bringing things up a notch in April 2016, tonton was transformed into a hybrid video service alongside it’s brand new apps offering both FREE membership and the newly introduced premium service – coined tonton VIP.
Starting from just 3 ringgit, FREE members who upgrade to tonton VIP will unleash the true power of tonton – giving VIP members unrestricted access to a library full of over 23,000 hours of local and syndicated content, exclusive LIVE events in HD, video ad-free experience, download and watch later functionality, enjoy VIP perks at events and much more. Viewers who upgrade to the tonton VIP membership will also get to binge watch all exclusive content, dramas and more months before it premieres on TV.
In addition, tonton offers advertising opportunities to advertisers with unlimited possibilities for their brands to reach both FREE and tonton VIP users.
With the brand new service, our vision is to be the country’s #1 localised video service, a must have for every Malaysian and Malaysian home.
Download the tonton app from the App Store & Google Play today or visit www.tonton.com.my
About Rewind Networks
Rewind Networks Pte. Ltd., Incorporated and Headquartered in Singapore, is a Multimedia Branded Entertainment Company dedicated to providing the Best in Class content to audiences across the Asia Pacific region.
HITS is Rewind Networks’ maiden venture launched as a linear 24×7 pan-regional Pay-TV channel service that debuted in Singapore on StarHub at the end of 2013. In the following year, HITS launched in the Philippines (SKYcable), Indonesia (Indovision) and Malaysia (Astro) followed by further expansions in 2015 including Singtel in Singapore, nowTV and LeEco in Hong Kong, CTH in Thailand, CNS and dmg in Taiwan. In 2016 the channel launched on KRISTAL Astro in Brunei and expanded its footprint in the Philippines with the launch on Cignal. HITS distribution is now over 8 million homes and will continue to have progressive roll-outs in other South East Asia markets as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan. HITS’ award-winning line-up of shows is the result of exclusive multi-year licensing deals with some of the leading studios including Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, Disney Media Distribution, CBS Studios International, NBC Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television, 20th Century Fox Television Distribution Fremantle Media and Carsey-Werner. HITS Replay and the HITS app are the ancillary catch up on demand services for authenticated subscribers. The HITS app is available for iOS and Android devices.
HITS is broadcast as a single regional feed from Encompass Digital Asia facilities in Singapore and is available as an encrypted service on Intelsat 19. To get HITS contact your local pay tv operator. To know more log on to www.hitstv.com
To know more log on to www.hitstv.com
For media-related enquiries, please contact:
Nawar Deress
Manager, tonton
e: nawar@tonton.com.my
t: +60 3 7726 6333
Yvonne Phoo
Manager, Marketing & Digital Media
Rewind Networks
t: +65 6635 3988