Malaysia’s Star Media Group has launched a paid-for over-the-top (OTT) streaming service called dimsum, providing Asian content online or on the move via an Android or iOS app.
Subscribers to dimsum can choose from 10,000 hours of content including films, dramas, documentaries, variety shows and children’s TV from China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia.“This product will serve the best Asian content – the A-list shows, with exclusives, premières, and same-day same-time release with their country of origin. This is a big leap for us in transforming our business and preparing us for the future,” said Fu Ah Kiow, chairman, Star Media Group.
“Our next part of the journey continues our strategy into digital entertainment within the OTT sphere,” he added. “We have specifically put our focus into the video-on-demand space, which is currently taking the world by storm.”
The company has its roots in the Penang-based newspaper The Star.
The opening ceremony on 8 November was officiated by Communications and Multimedia Minister Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
“Tonight we see the birth of an all new video-on-demand service,” he said. “With the rise of subscription video-on-demand services, dimsum gives access to high quality and fresh legitimate content at such a reasonable cost.”
After a free 30-day trial, dimsum will cost RM15 a month. Content can be viewed on five devices at the same time, with subtitles available in English, Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia.
From December users will be able to view content offline by downloading up to ten videos at a time for up to 14 days, according to The Star.
