HOOQ gets a ‘crown’

HOOQ, Asia’s first and largest video-on-demand service provider, adds a crown to its roster of celebrities after Xian Lim and Jessy Mendiola — Miss World 2013 Megan Young. Megan was recently introduced as a brand ambassador at the launch of HOOQ’s new app and campaign.

Megan admitted she’s one of those who love to binge-watch TV series especially after she got introduced to HOOQ. “I’m currently watching Scandal and Devious Maids. I love to watch shows that have strong female leads. I also like to watch old TV shows like the first Encantadia and StarStruck on HOOQ because I love Jennylyn Mercado. They say that actors are paid to wait.  So, I watch during my downtime (in shoots and tapings),” she said.

With over 35,000 hours of Hollywood, regional and local content boosted by HOOQ’s partnership with Sony Pictures Television, Warner Brothers and all the major production outfits in the Philippines, the video service provider offers endless hours of entertainment on the Internet device. It also has the most Filipino movie content spanning five decades in its library.

Its country manager Jane Cruz-Walker said, “Today, with the mobile lifestyle of Filipinos, when almost all would like to watch movies in their own time and on their smartphone — not only during rush hour traffic, but also when they are waiting in the salon, or for their doctor’s appointment, or even at the airport, they can make the wait more enjoyable with HOOQ.”

For a better glimpse of its vast library of TV series, the video-on-demand service provider introduces its ad-free “freemium” model, which is also another first in the thriving industry.

“With more than 250 TV shows — and more coming, we know that it can be quite difficult to choose a TV series — and a 30-day trial just wouldn’t be enough,” noted CEO Peter Bithos.

The company is letting its subscribers watch all pilot episodes of local and international TV series through the “freemium” service anytime, ad-free.

“If they like the pilot episode, they might be inclined to subscribe. We also realized that not everyone can shell out a monthly fee, so now we also offer a ‘sachet product’ where they have access to all our content for just P59, for seven days. We’re the first to offer this kind of service in Asia, and probably the world,” Bithos added. He also introduced the new interface of HOOQ’s already award-winning app.

HOOQ, a start-up venture among Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Brothers, is an award-winning service provider that empowers customers with unlimited online streaming access and an offline viewing option to top Hollywood and Filipino movies and television content, on any device including computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TV sets via Google Chromecast, Android set-top-boxes and now, also on Airplay.

(For more information about the seven-day trial, visit www.HOOQ.tv.)

For your digital passion

A multi-awarded Dubai-based digital lifestyle accessory brand called Promate Technologies brings re-envisioned lifestyle technology products to the Philippines.

Promate Philippines country manager Dimple Condes said, “We are re-imagining lifestyle technology to break down the barrier between the impact of the high-tech world and the routine of everyday life. Our job at Promate Technologies is to know what our clients want before they even know it. We find a niche in the market, identify what the end user needs and fill that gap.”

Promate Technologies has opened shops and is hooking up with the leading tech retailers in the country to share its diverse line-up of products that adapt to the needs of the avid digital adapter this side of the world. 

Promate Technologies has a line-up of lifestyle technology accessories from projectors, sound solutions, power solutions, digital fashion accessories, wearable tech, photography peripherals, car hi-tech accessories, to products that clean and protect devices.

To celebrate its entry in the Philippine market, Promate has a bundle promo of its link Mate-MUL (2-in-1 iOS and Android cable) + Nano-OTG for a certain price. These two products, when used together, allow the transfer of photos and battery energy from one phone to the other. This promo runs until Oct. 31 at Silicon Valley stores.

(Available at Promate concept shops in SM North EDSA Annex, SM Clark and Ayala Cebu as well as at Lazada, Silicon Valley and Tomiko stores nationwide. For other promos, visit www.lazada.com.ph/promate-store/.) (Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)