Gojek, an Indonesian ride-hailing and payments firm, has launched a video streaming service called GoPlay featuring original movies and TV shows. Subscriptions for GoPlay will start at IDR 89,000 a month, equivalent to USD 6.
Gojek has secured streaming rights to hundreds of recent Indonesian films and shows. In addition, the company also launched its own in-house studio in 2018, co-financing at least nine different original Indonesian movies and series. The company has worked with a wide range of production houses for its programming, which will be recalibrated according to viewers’ responses. It has inked some tie-ups with foreign production companies, such as South Korean entertainment powerhouses CJ E&M and SM Entertainment for partial access to their libraries.
This move marks the firm’s big push into online content in South East Asia’s largest economy. Gojek’s move is also viewed as taking on U.S streaming giant Netflix, Malaysian upstart, Iflix and Singaporean firm, HOOQ in the region’s fast growing over-the-top (OTT) video streaming market.
The expansion into video streaming comes on the heels of Gojek launching in September a gaming platform in Indonesia, GoGames, in collaboration with strategic investors Google and Chinese internet giant Tencent, offers gaming credit top-ups and e-sports tips. As it strengthens its expansion into online content, Gojek has also invested in a digital media start-up last year.
(Source: Reuters)