Advanced Info Service (AIS) has resumed a long-standing partnership with global content giant HBO by providing content streamed by HBO to its customers via its AIS Play mobile application and AIS Playbox set-top box platform at affordable prices.
According to Pratthana Leelapanang, chief consumer business officer at AIS, the latest move is aimed at cashing in on the sustained growth market for streaming services of both short-form and long-form content.
Mr Pratthana said the business ecosystem of streaming services, especially long-form content such as movies or series, has grown, driven by AIS's quality 5G network and the growth of AIS Fibre's broadband internet subscriber base.
Currently, the AIS Fibre broadband internet service has around 2.3 million household subscribers.
AIS began providing HBO content via its mobile platform and AIS Playbox in 2017 and then ended of the partnership in February 2020 due to the expiry of the service contract. AIS recently entered into a new partnership contract with Warner Bros, of which HBO is a part.
Warner Bros Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company. Among its famous brands and products are HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, CNN, DC and Eurosport.
Mr Pratthana said there are currently 8 million active monthly users of the streaming service via AIS's platforms, representing around 1 billion views per month. The average time spent on all of AIS's platforms stands at 318 minutes per use per day.
Of 8 million active monthly users, 1.1 million are classified as heavy daily streaming users. The prime time for AIS Play usage is 7-10 pm.
AIS users spend 70 minutes per user per day on average via the AIS Play mobile app, and 402 minutes per user per day via AIS Playbox.
Shonali Bedi, Warner Bros Discovery's head of affiliate distribution & digital partnerships -- Southeast Asia & Hong Kong, said the expanded partnership builds on its successful collaboration with AIS, and with the full portfolio of HBO channels coming to AIS Play, Thai fans of premium entertainment are in for a real treat.
"Alongside our existing Warner Bros Discovery channel pack, the new HBO pack and the launch of HBO GO increase our brand footprint in Thailand -- a key country for us in Southeast Asia -- as we continue our growth trajectory in the region," she said.
