Tag Archives: Streaming

3 Shows You Should Be Watching This September

August has come and gone… and with the strikes happening in the U.S., it can seem like there’s not many things that you can add to your watchlist – whether it’s offline or on one of the growing number of streaming platforms. But, don’t be down in the dumps, we’ve got a rundown of a few shows that should be on your watchlist, if they aren’t already.

3 Shows Sept

1. Wheel Of Time (Amazon Prime Video)

If you missed the first season, what have you doing with yourself!? This is arguably one of the best epic high fantasy series on streaming right now. The series is based on a series of 15 books called “The Wheel of Time” and follows a group of young people, an Aes Sedai and her warder as they try to stave off the Dark One.

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Source: Amazon Prime Video

Season 2 picks off where Season 1 left off with our main characters scattered to the winds as the end of the world quickly approaches. After the events that happened in Fal Dara, we see Nynaeve and Egwene learning the ways of the Aes Sedai while maneuvering the politics that have seeped into the White Tower. Meanwhile, Moirraine and Lan are in a remote hillside as she learns to navigate the realities of being sealed off from the Source. Her inner turmoil straining the bond between her and Lan. Perrin continues the search for Padan Fain as he seeks revenge for the death Fain has wrought.

While all of this is happening, we are left with the threads from season 1’s finale as new, unknown forces have begun to invade from the ocean. Don’t forget, the Dark One is still out there.

The Wheel of Time Season 2 - Official Trailer | Prime Video

Season 2 kicks off on September 1, 2023 with 3 episodes being released simultaneously on Amazon Prime Video. The season will consist of 8 episodes in total. The series stars Josha Stradowski, Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoë Robins, Madeleine Madden, Marcus Rutherford, Dónal Finn as Mat Cauthon, and Ceara Coveney.

2. One Piece Live Action (Netflix)

Based on the popular manga and anime series, One Piece brings the adventures of Luffy and band of misfit pirates into live action. The series follows Monkey D Luffy as he quests to find the “One Piece” to become king of the pirates. Luffy’s journey begins in the East Blue Sea, driven by a quest to uncover the legendary “One Piece,” the ultimate treasure left behind by the late King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger. His ambition is to claim the title of Pirate King for himself. To achieve this, Luffy seeks to build his own crew, known as the Straw Hat Pirates. Along the way, they are joined by a diverse group of individuals, each with their own unique talents and quirks.

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(Source: Netflix) One Piece. (L to R) Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp, Mackenyu Arata as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Taz Skylar as Sanji in episode 108 of One Piece. Cr. Casey Crafford/Netflix © 2023

Their journey is anything but ordinary as they cross paths with fellow pirates, bounty hunters, criminal organizations, and revolutionaries. They also face off against enigmatic scientists, soldiers of the morally ambiguous World Government, and a host of both allies and adversaries. As they navigate the vast seas, they inch closer to realizing their dreams and ambitions.

ONE PIECE | Final Trailer | Netflix

“One Piece” is a tale of adventure, friendship, and the pursuit of one’s destiny, offering a rich and immersive world that continues to captivate audiences around the globe. But then again… you already knew this… right

The series stars Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero and Taz Skylar.

3. Ahsoka (Disney+ Hotstar)

Star Wars fans will undoubtedly already be devouring this series. The new series in the Star Wars franchise follows one of the most popular characters to come from its animated Clone Wars series – Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan.

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Source: Disney+ Hotstar

Having forsaken the Jedi order after the events of the Clone Wars and slowly become a figurehead in Rebel movement, Ahsoka finds herself looking into an emerging threat after the fall of the Empire.

Ahsoka | Official Trailer | Disney+

The series premiered back in August and stars Rosario Dawson as the titular character.

Astro Expands OTT Content Selection with Qalbox Partnership

Astro – Malaysia’s largest satellite TV provider – has been diversifying its offerings with partnerships with OTT providers like Netflix and Disney+. These partnerships have seen an increasingly diverse pool of content offered to subscribers via its Ultra Box and Ulti Box. The latest to join that pool is Qalbox.

Photo 1 From left to right Co CEOs of Bitsmedia Nik Emir Din and Fara Abdullah together with Astro Director of Content Agnes Rozario and Group Chief Financial Officer Shafiq Abdul Jabbar
(Source: Astro/Muslim Pro) From left to right Co CEOs of Bitsmedia Nik Emir Din and Fara Abdullah together with Astro Director of Content Agnes Rozario and Group Chief Financial Officer Shafiq Abdul Jabbar

Qalbox is a streaming service by Muslim Pro. The app offers diverse, global content catered to Muslims of all ages. The app will provide an even more diverse, global view for Muslims in our increasingly globalised world that will complement existing channels like Al-Jazeera, Al-Hijrah, Naura and Astro Oasis.

The app, like other apps offered on Astro’s Ultra and Ulti Boxes, will be available on the home screen of the updated interface for the Ultra and Ulti Boxes. Astro subscribers with the Ultra and Ulti box will enjoy a complimentary 2-month subscription to Qalbox starting from July 27, 2023, until September 26, 2023. After this period, it will cost MYR12.90 a month to subscribe.


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Source: Astro

“We are excited to announce Muslim Pro’s Qalbox on our platform, further enriching our suite of the best global streaming apps. Our Muslim viewers can enjoy Muslim-centric content with the addition of over 1,000 hours of Qalbox’s SVOD content available for streaming on our Ultra and Ulti Boxes. We now have compelling content from 12 streaming apps, including our own Astro GO app, which is complimentary to all customers…”

Shafiq Abdul Jabbar, Group Chief Financial Officer, Astro


The announcement comes on the heels of Astro’s big content showcase where the company showcased their upcoming content and new collaborations in a two-hour spectacular show that was live-streamed on YouTube and on Astro’s Gempak channel. The showcase was directed by renowned Malaysian thespian, Puan Sri Tiara Jaquelina.

Of Heartbreaks And Reunions – This New iQIYI Drama Has It All

Fireworks Of My Heart

If you enjoy Chinese dramas centred around the theme of a ‘young couple separated when they were younger and falling in love again a decade later,’ then you are in for a treat!

iQIYI’s latest and hottest Chinese drama, Fireworks of My Heart (我的人间烟火), features popular star Yang Yang (杨洋) playing the role of a firefighter, Song Yan, along with Wang Churan (王楚然) as a doctor in the emergency department, Xu Qin.

In the drama, Yang Yang’s character Song Yan is a tough, passionate firefighter that offers disaster relief to people in need. On the other hand, Wang Churan plays the role of emergency doctor Xu Qin, who is burdened by the weight of familial expectations.

Forced apart by opposition from their families, the star-crossed lovers are reunited through their work 10 years later. Song Yan and Xu Qin work together to save the lives of others. It’s during this time they gradually clear the years of misunderstandings between them reigniting what was once lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5FP8JJycg

The drama also features other famous stars like Ian Wang (王彦霖), Wei Daxun (魏大勋), and Yang Chaoyue (杨超越).

You can watch Fireworks of My Heart on iQIYI now for free. A Premium VIP plan for iQIYI gets you ad-free streaming, early access to episodes and more for as low as MYR6.90 with an enticing 40% off the original MYR16.90 price. You can get even more discounts when you pay using Touch N’ Go EWallet.

In addition to Fireworks of My Heart, you’ll also be able to watch iQIYI’s growing library of local, Malaysian content which includes shows like “Sorry Naik Lorry”, “Rampas Cintaku” and its first brand-integrated show with GrabFood – “5-Star Hunter Bersama GrabFood”.

iQIYI & GrabFood Malaysia Launch First-ever Variety “Advertainment” Show

iQIYI continues to push its new approach to entertainment – “advertainment” – with new shows. The latest show comes in partnership with GrabFood Malaysia and covers one of Malaysia’s most passionate subjects – food. “5-Star Hunter Bersama GrabFood” is the first branded reality show that debuted on iQIYI on 2 June 2023.

iQIYI partners GrabFood Malaysia to launch first ever branded variety show 5 Star Hunter Bersama GrabFood

The new reality show follows Malaysian celebrity Chef Fikree and several local food bloggers as they search for Malaysia’s most authentic cuisine with one catch – the food must come from one of GrabFood Malaysia’s 5-star Restaurants. The show brings the popular format of sharing the story and inspiration behind the food and marries it with a unique approach of highlighting the services and impact of GrabFood on these humble establishments. However, Chef Fikri turns the tables on his celebrity guests as they are challenged to recreate the dish they just tasted. These recreations are then tasted by random guests at the eatery. So, will Chef Fikri come out on top? You’ll just have to tune in to find out.

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The variety show is one of a growing number of “advertainment” shows that iQIYI first introduced with its show “Sorry Naik Lorry” not too long ago. The new format integrates advertising and brand awareness seamlessly into shows allowing brands to bring more awareness to services and goods offered. It also allows brands to sidestep the usual ad break and seamlessly integrate themselves front and centre in the show.


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Source: iQIYI

“We are thrilled to collaborate once again with GrabFood Malaysia as our esteemed partners for the production of our first-ever local branded variety show. In the realm of entertainment, over-the-top (OTT) platforms like iQIYI have emerged as pivotal catalysts propelling the growth of the local entertainment industry while offering brands a fresh avenue to establish a relatable connection with their audience. This innovative approach allows brands to transcend traditional advertising and instead present their offerings in a captivating and profoundly influential manner that resonates more effectively with the audience.”

Dinesh Ratnam, Country Manager of iQIYI Malaysia and Senior Director of the International Business Department


5-Star Hunter Bersama GrabFood” debuted on iQIYI on 2 June 2023 and will feature six fifteen-minute episodes. To celebrate the launch, iQIYI will be giving away GrabFood vouchers worth RM50 to all their viewers. All you have to do to get your share is follow iQIYI on their social media pages and keep an eye out for the giveaway posts and answer a few simple questions about the new show.

Netflix new titles for the month of love

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and Netflix has new releases from the 6th to 12th of February to get you in the mood.

Asian love stories from Indonesia and Korea

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Dear David. (L to R) Caitlin North Lewis as Dilla, Shenina Cinnamon as Laras, Emir Mahira as David in Dear David. Image source: Netflix

At the top of the list is the must watch, coming-of-age film Dear David which revolves around a high school girl’s worst nightmare. Depicted vividly in this teaser trailer, straight A student Lara’s risque blog about her crush gets released to everyone in school and she must face the consequences. Starring Indonesian talents Shenina Cinnamon, Emir Mahira and Caitlin North Lewis, Dear David releases on 9th February 2023. The movie is also the first of Indonesian movies and series to be released on Netflix, with upcoming ones listed here.

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Enemies to friends to lovers in Love to Hate You. Image source: Netflix

There is also a new K-drama series Love to Hate You. From the trailer, the series plays on the enemies-to-lovers trope that will appeal to the romantic comedy fans. For more previews of the series, check out these character trailers for Mi-ran and Kang-ho. Netflix is also promising 2023 to be the biggest ever line-up of K-content, with the full list here.

Great exclusive content to be enjoyed alone or with a special someone

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The doctor prescribes more laughs in his Ride With Caution stand-up special. Image source: Netflix

Netflix is also premiering a host of exclusive content to keep you entertained. For some guaranteed laughs, look no further than the latest stand-up special, Dr. Jason Leong: Ride With Caution. The trailer shows his hilarious insights on ageing, the absurdity of middle-aged cycling enthusiasts, and more, the doctor will see you starting 9th February. Also premiering on 9th February is You: Season 4 Part 1. Joe looks to start anew in London and bury his past, but the road ahead is rocky and a new obsession starts to take hold. Check out the trailer here. Netflix film Your Place or Mine puts a twist on the big question at the end of every date night. See what happens when best friends Debbie and Peter swap homes for a week and find a path to love.

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Pay tribute to Boston Celtic’s legend Bill Russell in Bill Russell: Legend. Image source: Netflix.

Bill Russell:Legend will give NBA fans a chance to relive his life and legacy prior to his passing in 2022. Pay tribute to the Boston Celtic’s legend starting 8th February and learn more about the documentary here. Fans of Love is Blind: After the Altar will be thrilled to see the social experiment series back for Season 3. Starting 10th February, catch up with the former couples in this teaser trailer, to see their lives one year after their big decisions to stay or walk away. If you are spending the day in with the children, don’t miss My Dad the Bounty Hunter. The trailer for the new kid-friendly show, follows two kids who accidentally hitch a ride with their dad, a space-travelling bounty hunter.

Get your hearts racing, with adrenaline that is!

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Catch Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk this February. Image source: Netflix

Netflix will also serve up shows to make our hearts race that does not involve romance. Action thriller Nobody follows a middle-aged everyman weighed down by life, until a lethal home invasion awakens his killer instincts. In the dark thriller M4M4, a distraught mother seeks revenge following the senseless death of her daughter at the hands of gang rapists. In the revenge thriller Promising Young Woman, a woman seeks revenge against a system that enables and protects its predators after her friend falls victim to a heinous act.

Check out the Netflix Media Center for more updates on your favourite titles. 

iQIYI’s New Malaysian Show “Sorry Naik Lori” Seamlessly Integrates Branding & Story Telling

As consumers, we’re being inundated with more content than ever in this day and age. We’ve also become even more discerning, particularly in advertising and branding. What’s more, with the rise of over-the-top (OTT) services like iQIYI, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar, we’ve become even more selective of where we place our time when it comes to consuming media. Realising these trends, iQIYI has partnered with food delivery provider and app, foodpanda, to marry entertainment and branding with their latest series “Sorry Naik Lori”.

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The new series is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between iQIYI and food panda in which the two companies worked from the bottom up to integrate foodpanda’s branding and app in the series. This process started with a collaboration between iQIYI, foodpanda and Universal McCann in developing the scripting and concept for the series. In the end, they produced a quintessentially Malaysian tale that tells the story of a husband and wife as they pursue two different versions of success.

“Sorry Naik Lori” follows the misadventures of Khairul, a young lorry driver living in Penang who is averse to Social Media and his wife, Nadia, who dreams of becoming a successful social media influencer. Nadia stumbles upon success when she becomes “ComelPasembur” when a NikNok video of her at her mother’s Pasembur restaurant goes viral. As her following grows, she is approached by a talent agency and decides to pursue her dreams against her husband’s wishes. This forces Khairul to learn to navigate the world of social media as he tries to keep his marriage alive while Nadia is forced to hide her marriage in pursuit of social media stardom.

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The series also integrates a foodpanda rider, Talib, played by Tajul. The character not only plays a role in foodpanda’s brand integration into the series but also helps further the plot and misadventures in the slice-of-life rom-com.

The series is steeped in the Malay culture of Malaysia’s most popular island – Penang. Everything from the mannerisms and dialect used in “Sorry Naik Lori” is infused with typical Penangite flavours. The series stars Nizam Othman as Khairul and Ruhainies as Nadia. They are supported by a notable cast which includes local singer, Tajul, TikToker Ahmad Saffuan, Nafiz Muaz, Sheila Mambo and Asha Zainul.

“Sorry Naik Lori” premieres on 4th November 2022 on iQIYI. iQIYI’s freemium model allows you to enjoy the series for free with ads. However, if you want an uninterrupted viewing experience, you can just sign up for iQIYI’s VIP subscription for as low as MYR11.90.

Netflix Original Series You’ll Be Able to Binge Before 2022 Ends

Netflix’s TUDUM event isn’t anything new for long-time Netflix viewers. The event returned for an exciting, feature-packed event over the weekend. There wasn’t any stone left unturned – from series to movies to games.

However, it wasn’t all just shows making their debut in 2023. Here are some of the English language series you’ll be able to binge before 2022 ends or during the holidays during some much-needed R&R.

Already Debuted & Debuting in September

Umbrella Academy (Seasons 1 – 3) – Already Available

I know, I know – it’s a little late for Umbrella Academy to make this list. But Netflix did show off a new blooper reel during TUDUM which you have to see.

The Umbrella Academy Season 3 | BLOOPER REEL | Netflix

The first three seasons of the adventures of the Hargreeves siblings are available for you to catch up on before the fourth and final season debuts. If you haven’t met Vanya, I mean Viktor, Diego, Klaus, Luther, Allison, and Five – what are you waiting for? Follow the story as they discover the secret behind their powers and their dysfunctional family.

Entergalactic (Debuts September 30, 2022)

Entergalatic is a special television event that follows Jabari, an artist on the brink of success. Follow his journey as he learns where love fits into his life while he chases his big break.

https://youtu.be/c_pHCqZkXvY

The animated feature showcases amazing animation and a love story that spans more than just the here and now. It also features music from Kid Cudi and debuts on the same day as his latest album – Entergalactic – drops. Characters are voiced by Scott Mescudi (Jabari), Jessica Williams (Meadow), Timothée Chalamet (Jimmy), Vanessa Hudgens (Karina), Jaden Smith (Jordan) and more.

Coming to Netflix in October 2022

The Watcher (Debuts October 13, 2022)

The Watcher follows a couple who purchase their dream home in the idyllic suburb of Westfield in New Jersey. Follow Dean and Nora Brannock as they discover that all is not as it seems in Westfield as their “unique” neighbours give them an icy welcome. Things go from awkward and irritating to a nightmare as the couple start receiving disturbing letters from “The Watcher”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HDkw100sXQ

The series is based on the true story of the infamous “Watcher” house in New Jersey. The series is spearheaded by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan who have worked on hit series like Ratchet, Glee and Netflix’s latest hit Dahmer. Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts play Dean and Nora.

Coming to Netflix in November 2022

Manifest Season 4 Part1 (Debuts November 4, 2022)

Manifest is probably one of the most well-known series on the list. The series was initially cancelled after a successful 3-season run on NBC. Netflix swooped in giving the series a final fourth season. The fourth season continues the story of the mysterious flight 828 that disappeared en route to New York from Jamaica only to reappear five years later.

Manifest: Season 4 | Official Trailer | Netflix

Season 4 will take off where Season 3 ended with Cal reappearing after mysteriously vanishing when he touched the tail fin of Flight 828. But all is not as it once was as he’s returned older than he was. The series will continue to follow our heroes – Michaela, Ben, Cal, Zeke, and Saanvi – who race to unravel the mystery surrounding their reappearance before time runs out. The series stars Josh Dallas, Melissa Roxburgh, Matt Long and J.R. Ramirez.

The Crown Season 5 (Debuts November 9, 2022)

Netflix’s critically acclaimed historical drama of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign continues into its 5th and penultimate season this November. Having already covered the early part of her reign in Season 1, her wedding, and her relationship with Margaret Thatcher and Lady Diana Spencer, the new season of The Crown will continue in chronological order.

The Crown | Season 5 | A Message From Imelda Staunton | Netflix

The 10-episode fifth season will trace Her Majesty through the late 90s and early 2000s. The season also marks the second wholesale recasting of the ensemble. Imelda Staunton leads a brand new ensemble with the talents of Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Jonny Lee Miller, Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki.

Dead to Me (Debuts November 17, 2022)

After many delays, the third and final season of Netflix’s Emmy Award-nominated dark comedy, Dead to Me will finally debut on November 17. Follow unlikely friends – Jen and Judy – as they continue to get into awkward situations and hijinx that are mind-numbingly hilarious.

Dead to Me: Season 3 | Official Teaser | Netflix

The third season picks up where season 2 left off with our dynamic duo injured and abandoned after their fateful car crash. Find out what happens as they will undoubtedly get into more hijinx and drama. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini reprise their roles in the final season.

1899 (Debuts November 17, 2022)

1899 is a brand new German series coming to Netflix on November 17, 2022. The period mystery-horror follows a group of European migrants as they leave London on a steamship in the hopes of starting new lives in New York. However, things take a turn when they encounter another migrant ship adrift in the open sea. The series stars Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Andreas Pietschmann and Miguel Bernardeau.

1899 | Official Teaser | Netflix

Wednesday (Debuts November 23, 2022)

The Addams family is coming back to the silver screen with a brand new series which follows the daughter of the family – Wednesday Addams.

Wednesday Addams | Official Teaser | Netflix

The new Netflix Horror comedy will follow Wednesday Addams as she attends Nevermore Academy. The supernatural mystery comedy will see Wednesday and some familiar characters as she learns to master her psychic powers, stop a mysterious killing spree of town citizens and unravel a supernatural mystery that has her family in the centre of it all. The series stars Jenna Ortega, Luis Guzman, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Coming to Netflix in December 2022

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio ( Debuts December 9 2022)

Gullermo Del Toro spearheads a stop motion retelling of the popular tale of Pinnochio, a wooden puppet to comes to life in 1930s Italy.

GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO | Official Teaser Trailer | Netflix

The new animated feature, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio, will follow Pinnochio as he becomes a boy and discovers the meaning of life. Pinnochio turns out to be one of the worst behaved boys playing pranks and causing mischief. Can he live up to his father’s expectations?

The animated feature stars Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley and Christoph Waltz.

Emily in Paris Season 3 (Debuts 21 December 2022)

Emily Cooper is back for a third season in Paris! After the events of season 2, Emily finds herself in between a rock and a hard place both romantically and professionally.

Emily in Paris Season 3 | Date Announcement Teaser | Netflix

Continue to follow the misadventures of Emily in Paris as she continues to navigate the highs and lows of her life as a Marketing Executive. Lily Collins, Lucas Bravo, Ashley Park, and Lucien Laviscount all reprise their roles in the new season.

The Witcher: Blood Origin (Debuts December 25, 2022)

Set 1200 years before the events of The Witcher, Blood Origin follows a group of outcasts that fight to preserve what was once taken from them.

The Witcher: Blood Origin | Post-Credits Teaser | Netflix

The quest sees the creation of the first Witcher as conflict arises and threatens their worlds. The events of Blood Origin will unravel the untold tales which took place before the “conjunction of spheres”. The series stars Michelle Yeoh, Jacob Collins-Levy, Sophia Brown and Laurence O’Fuarain.

iQIYI Launches Local Original ‘Rampas Cintaku’ in Partnership with Grab is not Just for Show 

iQIYI, for those unfamiliar, is one of the bigger streaming platforms in Malaysia beside Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video. The contents you can find on iQIYI, compared to the other streaming platforms, are quite unique as well. They offer mostly Asian based contents mainly from places like China, they are a China based streaming platform, after all. 

iQIYI is unique not just because it offers their own Asian based contents. Now they are going into making their own localised contents for their platform. When we say localised, we mean that they are funding Malaysian production houses to create exclusive content. The shows available on iQIYI will also be available in other regions where the platform operates giving even more exposure to local production, 

The first of many to come is ‘Rampas Cintaku’. It is a Bahasa Melayu title that translates to ‘Snatch My Love’ in English. It is also the first locally produced show that is produced and distributed exclusively by iQIYI in over 191 countries.  

In comparison, there is one locally produced show exclusively funded by and for Netflix, but there are no plans for more yet at this conjuction. The show is also only available in select regions. Then again, there are plenty of Netflix shows and movies available in other regions that are not available locally and vice versa,  

We said that ‘Rampas Cintaku’ is the first of many locally produced shows on iQIYI. That is also because iQIYI has a proper roadmap that outlines more locally produced shows to be published on their platform and to be available in over 191 countries they operate in. They have not mentioned any titles yet, but they have teased that their next locally produced show will be in partnership with FoodPanda. 

The premise of more Malaysian films to be aired on an international streaming platform is quite significant. It is a sort of validation or indication that there is demand for locally produced films. It also signifies that the demand for locally produced films is not limited to the local market, but also foreign markets like China.

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IQIYI is not really playing guessing games when it comes to deciding where their money goes to as well. Before their exclusively produced ‘Rampas Cintaku’, iQIYI has been licensing plenty of locally produced shows with Bahasa Melayu as the spoken language. Following the increasing number and consumption pattern of the locally produced shows on iQIYI, it only makes sense for the platform to take things to the next level and start funding the local production houses to produce iQIYI exclusive shows and develop local talents even further.  

Of course, there is also the aspect that iQIYI offers more creative freedom to scriptwriters in their storytelling. Taking ‘Rampas Cintaku’ as a sort of benchmark, the romance melodrama touches sensitive topics that cannot usually be shown on local television. The show touches on certain taboo topics like extramarital relationships. Obviously, the show is really made for the more mature audience group.  

‘Rampas Cintaky’ is now available for viewing exclusively on iQIYI. You can either download the app from Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store or access their website directly to view the series. You must also have a subscription plan to access iQIYI’s full library and ‘Rampas Cintaku’. More on ‘Rampas Cintaku’ can be found on their website

Disney+ Introducing new Ad-Supported Tier But You Still Have to Pay for It

Disney+ is coming off a pretty good quarter when it comes to subscribers. The streaming service is now the largest of its kind with 152.1 million subscribers worldwide. However, it looks like the House of Mouse is still struggling to make its streaming businesses profitable. Yep – businesses – Disney has more than one streaming service repertoire; Disney+ is its most widely available. Hulu, ESPN+ and Live TV are also part of the catalogue but aren’t widely available. Altogether, the businesses have seen an aggregated USD$1.1 billion in losses.

Disney

It would seem that to make the business more profitable, Disney+ will be introducing a Disney+ Premium subscription while the current tier will become an ad-supported one. You read that correct, Disney isn’t introducing a brand new tier, it’s turning its current tier into an ad-supported one. The new ad-free “Premium” tier will be priced at USD$10.99 (MYR48.85), a 37.5% increase in price. It would seem like the ad-supported tier will be screening 15- to 30-second ads for every hour of viewing which can be pretty disruptive especially if you’re watching a movie. The change will be introduced on December 8, 2022.

The change in the subscription structure has, so far, only been confirmed for the United States. Disney hasn’t commented on the change in other regions. In Malaysia, the service is currently available for MYR54.90 for 3 months that’s equivalent to USD$3.09 a month. However, it’s available under its Disney+Hotstar brand which carries a whole other catalogue including local content and licensed content under Hotstar. If the service is to follow the repricing the U.S. is doing, yearly commitment for the service would be MYR301.95 from the current MYR219.60. At which point, it may be cheaper to simply get it as part of a bundle from Astro.

That said, Disney+ isn’t the only service looking at introducing an ad-supported tier. Just recently, Netflix announced that it would be doing the same in a partnership with Microsoft. However, Netflix’s implementation of the ad-supported tier will limit the amount of content accessible to the user in its ad-supported tier. For now, Disney+ seems to not do this. However, we shall wait and see.

Streaming Meets eCommerce in iQiyi’s New Comedy – My Ofis

iQiyi chose a very opportune time to launch in Malaysia back in 2019. With the pandemic only just setting in, the streaming service saw a surge in subscribers. While that’s great news for the streaming company, they’ve adopted a business model that isn’t your typical streaming service. They provide a free, ad-supported tier that gives users access to their content.

My Ofis Jump
Source: Longhouse Films

That said, the iQiyi isn’t just resting on its laurels. The company is focusing on bringing new, original content to its platform. Naturally, this includes new, locally-produced series and tv shows. The first to debut is My Ofis which is produced by Longhouse Films. My Ofis brings together an ensemble of both emerging and seasoned actors. Malaysian legend, Alvin Wong stars together with Aeril Zafrel, Nasz Sally, Kahoe Hon, Phraveen Arikiah, Sherwyn Pang, and Pearlly Chua in My Ofis to bring to life the shenanigans that take place behind the scenes in a quintessential Malaysian office.

iQiyi My Ofis 1
Source: iQiyi

My Ofis follows Jasper (Kahoe Hon) as he leaves behind his rockstar dreams to care for his grandmother. He finds himself stumbling into a job at My Ofis run by KS (Aeril Zafrel) and his colleagues, Paul (Alvin Wong), Jessica (Nasz Sally), and Milo (Phraveen Arikiah). The series chronicles the antics of the people behind My Ofis as they navigate the business landscape.

The series will be premiering on 26th May 2022 on iQiyi. The debut season will consist of 12 episodes airing over six weeks. Each episode is 24 minutes long.

Of course, the show is just the beginning when it comes to My Ofis. iQiyi and Longhouse Productions are looking to revolutionize advertising on streaming platforms. Both companies are partnering with a local eCommerce app, JOCOM, to bring a new “watch, scan & buy” concept with the launch of My Ofis.


Dinesh Ratnam IQIYI
Source: LinkedIN

“Together with our partners Longhouse Films and JOCOM, we aim to work towards shaping a new content ecosystem fitting for today’s digital age, that empowers traditional brands and sellers to further digitalise through entertainment. My Ofis will open doors to more opportunities in bridging entertainment and eCommerce to support local brands, advertisers and marketers,”

Dinesh Ratnam, Country Manager of iQiyi Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei


The new concept will see QR codes pop up when there is any product placement in the drama. Users can then scan these codes and immediately purchase the items from the JOCOM app as they are watching the series. The new concept literally allows production houses to better monetize product placements in their series. Of course, My Ofis is just the beginning when it comes to exploring this new concept.

QR screenshot
Screenshot of product placement QR Code in My Ofis. Source: iQIYI

My Ofis will premiere on May 26, 2022, across all countries where iQiyi is available. It’s already been greenlit for a second season which will be launched soon.