Streaming and Microdramas Scramble Viewer Habits in Southeast Asia

• Viewers can access a significant amount of live sports for free by combining traditional broadcast television with strategic app usage and FAST (free ad-supported streaming) services. • Tubi, a platform owned by Fox, has emerged as a major player in the free sports market by investing in official broadcasting rights.

• Streaming executives from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted the importance of Asian IP, local storytelling, and fan communities for global growth during the APOS 2026 conference in Bali. • Disney is leveraging strategic partnerships to expand, specifically citing its collaboration with Hulu Japan and the distribution of ESPN via Disney+ in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan.

• The Asia-Pacific screen economy is rapidly expanding toward a $200 billion valuation, driven by the growth of streaming and digital media. • Media Partners Asia estimates that AI could provide a regional "dividend" of up to $15 billion annually, though a significant monetization gap compared to the U.S. remains a primary challenge.

• Video-on-Demand (VOD) users in Southeast Asia spend only 8% of their digital time on premium content, with the vast majority dedicated to social media, messaging, gaming, and short-form video. • In markets with significant content investment, such as Indonesia and Thailand, local stories are currently outperforming popular Korean dramas.

• New research from Ampd and Media Partners Asia reveals that microdramas are becoming the primary "top-of-funnel" entry point for streaming audiences in Southeast Asia. • The data shows that local content is outperforming Korean titles in key markets, with local productions holding a 33% share in Indonesia and 28% in Thailand.

• South Korean productions became the most-watched non-U.S. content on Netflix, generating 12.1 billion viewing hours between April 2025 and March 2026. • Global hits such as Squid Game, Daehongsu, and Pokssak Sog-atsuda drove this growth, allowing South Korea to outperform other major exporters like Japan, Spain, and the UK.

• Amazon regional entertainment leaders presented their strategy to transform Prime Video into a comprehensive "Entertainment Hub" for the Asia-Pacific region during the APOS 2026 conference in Bali. • The company highlighted its aggressive localization efforts and the establishment of over 600 distribution partnerships to expand its market reach.

• Critic Adam White reviewed "I Will Find You," the latest Netflix adaptation of a Harlan Coben bestseller, describing it as an "irredeemably awful" yet "irresistible" viewing experience. • The series is criticized for its nonsensical plot points, including DNA swapping, Swiss orphans, and inconsistent accents across its eight-hour runtime.

• The BBC has announced a series of significant cost-cutting measures targeting Breakfast and Radio 4 as part of a broader plan to save £160 million. • These budget reductions are designed to streamline operations and reduce spending across the broadcaster's key programming and radio services.

• Harry Styles received a standing ovation after performing a "stunning" cover of a Simon & Garfunkel track during the Meltdown festival. • Accompanied by a full orchestra, Styles described the experience as an "incredibly special week" and a highlight of his career.

• Actress Daveigh Chase, known for her roles in *The Ring* and as the voice of Lilo in *Lilo & Stitch*, has died at the age of 35. • According to her manager, Chase passed away in a Los Angeles hospital due to sepsis following a battle with meningitis.