Hong Kong – August 16th 2010 – 3 Hong Kong has partnered with UK-based mobile video content distributor Swanbay to offer free mobile video content to all its customers who do not mind watching advertisements.
Swanbay will provide free International and Regional video content such as the highlights of World Cup and Premier Leagues, Basketball NBA, music videos and movies on Planet TV, which is exclusively available on 3 Hong Kong’s mobile platform.
John Haskins, Director of Sales for Swanbay, said the company saw potential opportunity as mobile phone users are spending more time online and are willing to watch ads on their mobiles for free content, allowing the business model to shift to advertiser-pay.
“We draw in different types of viewers by providing a wide range of content for free including sports, movies, music, cartoon and educational programmes for kids, and hence appealing to a wide range of advertisers,” Haskins said.
Raymond Ho, head of content management of 3 Hong Kong, said Swanbay’s service will attract more viewers to 3’s mobile platform, which has been only offering paid video content until now.
“Some users prefer to paid for premium content, and some prefer watching an ad instead,” Ho said.
“Now we’re serving both types and Swanbay’s Planet TV service will further encourage our customers to enjoy infotainment service anytime anywhere.”
Since the beginning of 2010, Swanbay has launched its service in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and soon to launch in across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Local strategic marketing specialist Medesign will handle Planet TV’s advertising business in Hong Kong.
About Swanbay
Swanbay enables mobile network operators worldwide looking to reduce churn and retain loyalty, with the ability to provide premium video content to their subscribers, for free. Swanbay currently has a subscriber base of approximately 300 million with a further 500 million subscribers under contract and launching by the end of 2010.
International and national advertisers are proving keen to market to interest specific consumers in all territories by embedding video and banner ads into video content, and Swanbay provides the end to end solution that allows them to do so.
Swanbay is a privately held company with headquarters in London and regional offices in India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and soon to open in the Balkans and the Middle East.
