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Hello readers,
Disney+ launched in Singapore a few weeks ago, but I’ve yet to jump on that bandwagon. I’m already paying for a whole bunch of other streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, and I’m not quite ready to add something new to the list (and to my monthly credit card bill).
Still, Disney+ is doing very well in Southeast Asia – especially in Indonesia, where it’s got the largest number of paying subscribers among all the video-on-demand (VOD) services in the country. But local players like GoPlay and Vidio aren’t just twiddling their thumbs.
(P.S: We’re commemorating International Women’s Day all week long on Tech in Asia. Yesterday was just the beginning – so be sure to keep an eye out for all the great content we have coming your way.)
Today we look at,
- How local VOD players in Indonesia are differentiating themselves from the rest of the pack
- What fresh funding will do for this hybrid edtech startup
- Other newsy highlights such as Ryde’s plans for a local listing and JD Technology’s possible IPO pullout
PREMIUM SUMMARY
Standing up to the big boys in Indonesia’s VOD scene
The total viewing time spent by VOD service subscribers in Indonesia has reached 3 billion hours per month, and the number of users – both paying and non-paying – is estimated at 66 million people. International players like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime have launched in the country, but local platforms like Vidio and GoPlay aren’t sitting still.
- It’s in the numbers: Both Vidio and GoPlay have expanded their customer base in 2020. Vidio scored an average of 60 million monthly active users, up 150% from a year ago. While GoPlay declined to share details about the number of its customers, the total streaming time on its service increased 10x compared to 2019.
- Different strokes: The two platforms have different drivers – Vidio focuses on local dramas, sport events, and Korean dramas, and has plans to produce its own original series to increase user stickiness, whereas GoPlay’s approach focuses on live events. These include virtual music concerts, movie discussions, game shows, comedy acts, and workshops.
- Slicing up the pie: Disney+ entered Indonesia’s VOD market relatively late in September 2020, but it has the most number of paying subscribers at 2.5 million. But given that the penetration of VOD paid subscribers in Indonesia has only reached 3% of the total population, there’s lots of room for the different players to grow.
Read more: How Disney+’s Indonesian rivals plan to fight back
STARTUP SPOTLIGHT
When edtech goes hybrid
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