Indonesian streaming platform Vidio plans to launch more than 15 new original titles this year.

Seven of the titles were unveiled in Jakarta this afternoon during a showcase titled "House of Star-Studded Stories”.

While the volume of original drama is smaller in 2024 than in past years, the platform is focusing on bigger budgets, higher production values and differentiated story telling.

Vidio CEO, Sutanto Hartono, said during the event that release strategies had been adjusted based on evolving consumer behaviour and engagement.

OTT platforms are “still kind of guessing what's the right business model…we want to be as flexible as possible,” he said.

“In the past, we were thinking about releasing one new episode per day (365 episodes a year or 45 titles with eight episodes each or four titles a month).

“In 2022, we launched 31 original Vidio series… we were struggling a bit, releasing four titles in one month. So we went back and asked ourselves, ‘is this the right quantity?’ We decided to spend more time developing the titles and increasing the budgets, so now our formula is 20-22 titles a year,” he said.

Hartono added that the new slate involved bolder storytelling and plot lines that were closely related to social issues facing Indonesia.

Today’s showcase caps almost 80 original series released since 2019.

Hartono said of the 77 titles released over the past five years, 51 titles (406 episodes) were released in 2022-2023.

"Vidio's success in being able to beat the dominance of global and regional OTT as the platform with the most subscribers in Indonesia has inspired us to provide… the best and highest quality shows,” Hartono said.

The seven series announced today include both new and returning series, including Frontier Pictures’ crime drama “Ratu Adil”, which premieres today (29 Feb).

The four new series are romance/teen drama “Santri Pilihan Bunda”, thriller “Ular Tangga Darah”, mature drama “The Perfect Strangers”, and zombie series “Zona Merah”.

Release dates have not been confirmed.

Teen drama “Santri Pilihan Bunda” is about a young woman whose dreams of a masters degree are threatened when her mother arranges a marriage to an Islamic boarding school student.

The eight-episode “Santri Pilihan Bunda” is produced by Screenplay Films, directed by Angling Sagaran, and stars Naura Ayu, Fadi Alaydrus, Teuku Rassya and Sarah Sechan.

“The Perfect Strangers”, adapted from a Wattpad story, is about a woman who goes to great lengths trying to save her father from a death penalty, including becoming the personal assistant to the son of a mafia family involved in her father’s case.

Produced by Screenplay Films, the eight-part “The Perfect Strangers” is directed by Ferry Pei Irawan and stars Beby Tsabina, Maxime Bouttier, Kevin Ardilova and Rayna Snova.

“Ular Tangga Dara” is about Dara, who is bitten by a poisonous snake and dies after trying to escape from bullies. A year later, those responsible begin to die and the question arises: are the deaths the result of Dara’s spirit seeking revenge, or is there another perpetrator?

The eight-episode “Ular Tangga Dara” is produced by Sky Films, directed by Robby Ertanto, and stars Fadly Faisal, Hana Saraswati, Lea Ciarachel and Arya Vasco.

Zombie series “Zona Merah” is about a female worker struggling to find her missing sibling with the help of a journalist. The pair race against time as an epidemic of the undead threatens to engulf them.

“Zona Merah” (eight episodes) is directed by Sidharta Tata and stars Aghniny Haque, Maria Theodore, Andri Mashadi, Lukman Sardi, Haru Sandra and Devano Danendra. Produced by Screenplay Films.

The two returning series are adult drama “Open BO Lagi” season two and romance “Suami-Suami Masa Kini” season three.

The new season of adult comedy “Open BO Lagi” is about Gina, trying to help her family, and politician Billy, who faces issues with his fiancée.

“Open BO Lagi” (eight episodes) is directed by Monty Tiwa and stars Darius Sinathrya, Naomi Zaskia, Wulan Guritno, Winky Wiryawan and Tante Ernie. The series is produced by production house Amadeus Sinemagna.

MVP Pictures’ “Suami-Suami Masa Kini” returns for a new season with Yuda, Raka, Ical and Toby facing complicated personal problems, including relationship, business, a test-tube baby and Toby’s sudden marriage.

The eight-part series is directed by Ody C. Harahap and stars Ringgo Agus Rahman, Tarra Budiman, Marcell Darwin, Tanta Ginting and Dwi Sasono.

Vidio closed 2023 with more than four million paid subscribers, making it Indonesia’s top SVOD platform.
 
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