NBCUniversal’s SVOD Hayu lands in Southeast Asia

Keeping Up With The Kardashians

NBCUniversal International (NBCUI) has launched its reality-skewing SVOD service Hayu in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore, taking its overall reach to 14 countries.

The service was launched in the UK, Ireland and Australia in 2016 and has since been rolled out across the Nordics, expanding into the Benelux and Canada last year.

NBCUI describes Hayu as a “single source” for reality shows that offers more than 6,000 episodes from over 200 programmes, the majority of which debut on the service the same day as they premiere in the US.

Series such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Real Housewives, Million Dollar Listing, Below Deck, Dance Moms and Vanderpump Rules are on offer.

It costs P149 (US$3) in the Philippines, HKD$40 (US$5) in Hong Kong and SGD$4.99 (US$3.50) in Singapore, available on a monthly-basis with the first month free for new subscribers.

Hendrik McDermott, SVP of branded on-demand at NBCUI, described the expansion and “improved functionality on the platform” as “key milestones” for the service.

It remains unclear how Hayu will fit into the strategy for Peacock, NBCU’s forthcoming streamer that is set to launch in the US next year followed later by a global roll-out.