Pops launches AVoD app in Thailand

Marvel’s 2009 toon series Wolverine & the X-Men

South-East Asian digital entertainment company Pops has launched a free ad-supported video-on-demand (AVoD) service in Thailand.

Marissa Hanafi

Pops App features more than 2,000 age-appropriate episodes from shows specifically curated for kids and families, including Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

Deals have been done with distributors such as Sony, Animax and ZooMoo for the shows.

Pops App also features Thai originals from Pops’ production arm and its creator network, which includes digital influencers such as Bie the Ska, Tor Torpedo and eSports phenomenon Bacon Time.

The launch of the app will alleviate growing fears among South-East Asian parents over the content their children are consuming online, the company said. Built-in safety features include password protection and time-controlled viewing.

More Thai originals, animation and anime content is set to arrive on the app in future. Pops launched its AVoD application in Vietnam last October.

Marissa Hanafi, head of OTT and content of Pops Worldwide, said: “Expanding Pops App in Thailand especially during this unprecedented time cements our dedication towards providing our kids, teen and millennial viewers a truly safe haven of free, top-tier entertainment and edutainment programmes.”

Hanafi moved over to Bangkok-based Pops last month, having previously been head of business development at pay TV platform Astro in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.