PCCW-owned streaming service Viu is expanding the volume of Korean content on its Indian platform, following the success of shows including Come Back Alive and Descendants Of The Sun.
Viu is also streaming shows such as Heirs, My Love From Another Star, Sweet Stranger And Me, Doctors and Poet Warrior Youth. It plans to launch 20 more Korean shows by March 2018.
Korean dramas are already hugely popular across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, but until recently have been relatively unknown in South Asia.
Speaking to Chime in September, PCCW Media Group managing director Janice Lee said: “We are experimenting with bringing Korean content into India and we’ve been told by our Indian team that they’re gaining good traction. We’ve heard from focus groups that the talents are attractive and there’s a strong music element in Korean series.”
In a press statement released today, Viu India country head Vishal Maheshwari said: “We have witnessed a very healthy uptake by young viewers, aged 18 to 24 years, who are watching Korean TV shows with English subtitles.
“The youth of India today are looking for world class TV shows. Korean shows deliver on all aspects from story to production, which makes it such a success. The trend of watching Korean content is picking up rapidly across the country.”
Viu has acquired around 4,000 hours of Korean drama and variety shows from CJ E&M and broadcasters including SBS, KBS and MBC for all regions.