For people living in Southeast Asia, cutting the cord is no longer a pipe dream. With so much legal content and apps floating around, you just might find yourself able to ditch cable for cheaper alternatives. Watch TV in Southeast Asia with these apps.
Netflix
Just like everywhere else in the world, you can watch TV in Southeast Asia thanks to Netflix. The popular streaming service is available here, however its content library is not as robust in Southeast Asia as it is in America. You’ll find the familiar Netflix interface and it is available on just about every device imaginable. But when you type in a show you want to watch, there is a 50 percent chance you will only find shows similar to it. Prices start at est. USD 6 per month.
iFlix
This popular regional start-up, founded and based in Kuala Lumpur, has grown rapidly since launching in 2014. The ability to download shows and local language capabilities has made it the most popular content streaming provider in Southeast Asia. The service is not available in Singapore or Cambodia. Prices start at est. USD 3 per month.
HOOQ
Only available in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, HOOQ claims to offer 35,000 hours of content with everything from Hollywood to Bollywood covered. Prices start at est. USD 4 per month with weekly and movie rental options available in select markets.
Football/Soccer
If you’re looking to watch soccer, the BeIN Sports app has all the major leagues, including the EPL. The app is easy to use and Chromecast compatible. Quality is usually HD although there can be some lag here and there. Monthly package is roughly USD6 while yearly packages run close to USD50.
American Sports
All of the major US sports have dedicated streaming apps where users can watch matches live or on demand. All of these apps are available on a wide-range of devices and offer broadcasts in HD quality. The only downside is that you have to invest in a single sport and aren’t able to enjoy a selection of different ones without paying for multiple packages. Prices start at USD 100+ per season for each sport.
RugbyPass
The ultimate app for rugby lovers, RugbyPass is available throughout Southeast Asia and has just about every league or competition you could want including Super Rugby and the NRL. The app itself is reliable with great picture quality and Chromecast compatibly. Price is USD 19.99 per month with weekly and yearly packages available.
News
Unfortunately, there isn’t much in the way of online news that can be streamed live. CNN, Fox News, BBC and Al Jazeera all have video new stories and other clips from their programmes up on their respective websites and apps, but the live stuff is usually reserved for event coverage. News agency Reuters and its Reuters TV app is the closest thing to having live news at your fingertips. It is updated with news stories 24-hours a day. You can also create customised news broadcasts that can be downloaded and saved for offline usage.
