One-Year-Old Iflix To Go Live In Indonesia Next Month

By Nurul Hanis Izmir KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- iflix, the Southeast Asia's Internet television service, which will turn one on Thursday, is set to go live in Indonesia next month. iflix Group Chief Operating Officer Azran Osman-Rani said the group sealed a partnership agreement recently with the country's largest telecommunication company (telco), Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom). "It is part of the group's effort to increase its subscriber base, from more than one million currently, with many of them being smartphone users," he told Bernama Thursday. Azran, who is also iflix Malaysia Chief Executive Officer, said moving forward, the group aimed to have a subscriber base of more than 25 million across the region. From a humble beginning of 25 employees, when it first started out last year, iflix, the Internet TV service provider for the Southeast Asia region, now has a staff strength of more than 100 employees and has expanded into Thailand and the Philippines. It was reported that the group was exploring opportunities in the Middle East and Africa. Bernama recently reported that iflix planned to deepen its roots by establishing partnerships with telcos, banks and device manufacturers. Currently, iflix is in partnership with five leading telcos in Malaysia namely Telekom Malaysia, Digi Telecommunications, Celcom Axiata Bhd, Maxis Bhd and U Mobile Sdn Bhd, as well as, PLDT in the Philippines and TrueMove H in Thailand. Azran said the group's revenue was mostly contributed by subscription fees derived from telcos. iflix was founded by Malaysian-based Catcha Group in partnership with Evolution Media Capital, the investment arm of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency. Prior to its launch on May 26, 2015, iflix attracted US$15 million (US$1=RM4.10) in investments from PLDT Inc which now owns a 7.5 per cent stake in the company. In March, European-based media company, Sky Plc, injected US$45 million in iflix, which marked the European pay-TV provider’s first investment in Southeast Asia. -- BERNAMA