KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) has roped in internet television service provider iflix to enhance its content distribution.

TM executive vice president of new media Jeremy Kung said the group's partnership with iflix is its first collaboration with an over-the-top (OTT) player, and that TM is open to working with other OTT players in the future.

"We want to work with people who complement what we have to offer," Kung told reporters after the launch of the collaboration between the two parties.

On whether there is an overlap of contents by the two providers, Kung explained that TM's HyppTV service provides more recent contents, while iflix will bring in a wide array of library contents, mainly television shows.

"They don't offer linear channels, but we do. We wouldn't be doing this collaboration if it is a competition," he added, but declined to comment on TM's investments into the collaboration with iflix.

All TM UniFi customers will be able to access iflix's contents for 12 months — valued at RM96 or RM8 per month — from mid-December 2015, at no additional charges.

According to an iflix statement, the collaboration will enable the launch of significant product breakthrough with seamless sign-ups for TM's Unifi and Streamyx customers.

"To access their subscription, TM customers simply go to iflix.com or the iflix app, with no need to sign up or sign in ... the iflix system will instantly recognise the user is on a TM Unifi or Streamyx connection, and will tag that device using proprietary technology, be it a phone, laptop, desktop or tablet, and enable iflix on that device to allow the TM customer to watch iflix wherever, whenever," it read.

TM customers will also be able to download shows to their mobile phone or tablet to watch their favourite shows, even when they aren't connected to the internet, it added.

Meanwhile, iflix group chief operating officer and chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said both iFlix and TM will study how consumers will be utilising the service within the one-year period.

"Beyond the 12-month period, TM might choose to extend the collaboration for its customers, or they might give a preferential rate.

"For example, customers might be able to get [iFlix subscripton] at a lower rate," Azran said.

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