SINGAPORE (Jan 30): SingTel has formed a joint venture with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros Entertainment to offer movies and TV series in Asia.

The start-up, called HOOQ, will enable customers to download and stream content on their smartphones or other preferred platforms, the telco said today in a joint statement with the two media groups.

The service will be rolled out in SingTel's Asian markets, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and India, this quarter.

More than 10,000 movies and TV series will be available when the service is launched.

Peter G. Bithos, a former chief operating adviser at SingTel's Philippine associate Globe Telecom, has been named CEO of HOOQ, which will have a share capital of US$27.6 million ($36.4 million).

SingTel has a 65% stake in HOOQ, while Sony Pictures and Warner Bros each owns 17.5%.

“Demand for OTT (over-the-top) video has been growing and is poised for higher growth in these markets, fuelled by better data networks and the growing supply of affordable devices," Jonathan Auerbach, CEO of SingTel's digital business, said in the statement.

"This is a more than S$1-billion opportunity in our markets," he added.