Expands Turkish Drama offerings as core focus in the region
PCCW (SEHK:0008): Dubai, UAE, Oct 30, 2024: Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, after the success of Secret of Pearls season 1, has launched season 2 with Arabic dubbing within one week of its telecast in Turkey, a first for the platform.
With an aggressive content expansion strategy, Viu has co-produced and added more than 25 Turkish titles in under two years, further strengthening its position in the Turkish content landscape. This expansion has led to increased viewership in key regional markets such as KSA and UAE, where Turkish content consistently tops the charts.
Secret of Pearls follows the compelling journey of Azem, played by Yılmaz Erdoğan, Best Supporting Actor winner for his role in The Water Diviner (2014), a literature teacher wrongfully imprisoned for his wife’s murder. The first season introduces the audience to his pursuit of redemption and justice as he attempts to reunite with his children and rebuild his life. In Season 2, the story intensifies as Azem grapples with new emotional challenges, continuing to explore deep themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Earlier in August, yet another Turkish hit Lost in Love, exclusively on Viu in the MENA region, rapidly ascended the rankings, securing a spot at the top of the charts in MENA since its release. The series stars Cemre Baysel, popular for her role in Twist of Fate, and plays İncila, a maid to the spoiled Naz. As Naz and Mete, her betrothed fiancé chosen by their families from childhood, navigate their relationship, things take a turn when İncila becomes entangled in this love triangle. Lost in Love, available exclusively on Viu in the Middle East, is subtitled and dubbed in Arabic. Viewers can now experience the first 10 episodes of the show for free, with the remaining episodes accessible through subscription.
Through strategic partnerships with leading Turkish production houses, Viu is expanding its long-term plans to bring more exclusive Turkish content to the region. This strategy is evident not just in volume but, also in the platform’s ability to secure high-quality Turkish content. Other exclusive titles, including My Wonderful Life (Güzel Hayatım), Twist of Fate (Kaderimin Oyunu), Stickman (Çöp Adam), and Three Sisters (Üç Kız Kardeş), all continue to draw in numerous Turkish drama enthusiasts across the MENA region, solidifying Viu as the go-to platform for Turkish content in the Middle East.
Samer Majzoub, General Manager of Viu Middle East and North Africa, commented “We are excited to bring Lost in Love and Secrets of Pearls to our audience in the Middle East, further enhancing the Turkish drama landscape in the region. These series showcase the rich storytelling and cultural depth that Turkish dramas are known for, which strongly resonate with our viewers. At Viu, we are dedicated to curating a diverse range of content that caters to the unique preferences of our audience, and these additions are a testament to that commitment.”
About Viu
Viu, a leading pan-regional over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service, is available in 16 markets across Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa.
The Viu service is available to consumers through a dual model, with an ad-supported free tier and a premium subscription tier. In addition to premium original productions under the brand “Viu Original”, Viu showcases TV series, movies, and lifestyle programmes from top content providers in local and regional languages with subtitles. Viu Scream Dates, its multi-market fan-meet offering, extends the Viu experience beyond the screens by bringing stars closer to their fans via live events.
In June 2023, PCCW and CANAL+ formed a partnership to accelerate the growth of Viu, making CANAL+ a strategic investor in Viu.
Viu also operates MOOV, a popular digital music streaming and live concerts service in Hong Kong.
Viu is a member of PCCW Media under PCCW Limited, a global company headquartered in Hong Kong with interests in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, property development and investments, and other businesses. PCCW also operates ViuTV, a free television service in Hong Kong, through HK Television Entertainment Company Limited, and has interests in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, among other global investments.
For more information, please visit www.viu.com.