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8-21 C NTENT February 2021 www.contentasia.tv l www.contentasiasummit.com 恭 喜 发 财 C NTENTASIA Yim taps Taiwan true crime for debut drama series Sixty Percent kicks off with Imagine, CalFilms Fox Networks Group’s long-time original production lead, Cora Yim, has of- ficially hung out her new Sixty Percent Productions shingle with partner Kit Low, going live at the weekend with the first project in development and a lot more where that came from, courtesy of outsize demand from global and local streamers, Taiwan’s booming production landscape, plus long and deep roots in Asia’s production industry. The full story is on page 6 PLUS • Hero’s welcome for Disney+ in HK • Zee taps sports format for music show • GMA opens new DTT era in Philippines • RTHK review under way 8-21 February 2021 page 2. C NTENTASIA 8-21 February 2021 Page 3. Less than 1% of films in Philippines’ GMA rolls out new mobile era SG censored, MCI says US$13.50 DTT dongle opens access to TV platform Less than 1% of films screened in Singa- pore were cut to comply with content Philippines’ network GMA rolled out its DepEd TV will be added soon (no date classification in the past five years, Sin- new mobile digital terrestrial TV receiver, confirmed) along with other free-to-air gapore’s Ministry for Communications GMA Now, at the weekend, promising a channels available in specific user areas. and Information (MCI) said this month. game-changing entertainment experi- The Manila-based network, which has Answering questions in Parliament ence in enabling users to watch TV on taken over top broadcast spot after the about approvals before general re- the go for free. exit of ABS-CBN in May last year, has lease, MCI said the Infocomm Media The new device costs a one-off Ps649/ made the new device part of its appre- Development Authority had received US$13.50 with no monthly fee. ciation message to “our loyal Kapuso for 24,196 applications for classification for GMA Now enables Android smart- the unceasing support”. films and 5,001 for arts/entertainment phones to receive live broadcasts of The plug-and-play dongle, developed (videos/plays/etc) in the past five years. GMA, GMA News TV, Heart of Asia and in-house by digital media and tech unit, 137 films (0.57%) were edited to com- Hallypop channels. GMA New Media Inc, includes exclusive ply with classification guidelines. Over An Apple iPhone platform will follow; interactive features. the same period, 18 arts/entertainment no date has yet been confirmed. GMA says the device is the first mobile productions (0.36%) were edited. The dongle also enables viewers to DTT receiver to combine traditional TV “The majority of these edits were access GMA Videos-On-Demand via a with interactivity via the internet. made for offensive religious content or dedicated on-demand tab; a messag- GMA Now is available in parts of explicit sexual depictions. A small minor- ing platform, Groupee Chat, which is Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampan- ity were assessed to promote terrorism being enhanced to deliver GMA show ga, Cavite, Laguna, Baguio City, Pan- or individuals who espoused violence,” updates along with promotions that gasinan, Batangas, Metro Cebu, Metro MCI said. involve quizzes and polls for prizes. Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. @all3media_int all3mediainternational.com C NTENTASIA 8-21 February 2021 Page 4. Piano sets up APAC HQ RTHK review under way, Yau tells LegCo in Singapore No plans to privatise Hong Kong pubcaster The review of Hong Kong’s government- said the government had no plans to funded public service broadcaster, privatise RTHK. Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), is He also underlined the broadcaster’s expected to be complete within six editorial independence, its commitment months, Secretary for Commerce and to accuracy and impartiality and its Economic Development, Edward Yau, compliance with Communications Au- told the Legislative Council on 3 Feb. thority codes of practice, and said the The dedicated review team was current mechanisms in place to handle established in mid July 2020 to look at viewer complaints were effective. RTHK governance and management, Yau said seven complaints about and to provide recommendations. RTHK’s programmes in the two years Replying to questions from Chan Hau- from 2019 to January 2021 were found pan about RTHK’s programme quality, to be valid. One serious warning was governance and development, Yau issued. Tim Rowell Subscription/customer experience soft- Now TV will regain momentum in 2021 – HKT ware platform Piano has set up its Asia- Sports and new relevant content to drive gains Pacific HQ in Singapore, led by former U.K. general manager Tim Rowell. Hong Kong telco HKT expects its Now US$83.5 million. The new office – Piano’s first in the TV pay-television business to regain The telco’s total revenue for last year region outside of Japan – builds upon a momentum in 2021 with the exclusive was HK$32,389 million/US$4.2 billion, client base that includes Hong Kong- broadcast of the UEFA Euro 2020, post- down 2% on the previous year. based South China Morning Post, Malay- poned last year because of Covid-19. Pay-TV EBITDA for the last quarter sia’s The Star, Thailand’s Thai Rath and Reporting its first results since Now TV was HK$174 million/US$22 million; mar- Australian Community Media. was transferred from PCCW at the end gin was 27%, aided by content cost The Japan operation was added to of September last year, HKT said Now streamlining and improved operational Piano’s footprint via the acquisition of TV’s 2021 slate included self-curated efficiencies. Norwegian AI-powered data manage- content relevant to Hong Kong audi- Now TV ended 2020 with 1,348,000 ment and intelligent personalisation tech ences and new content through the subscriber homes. provider Cxense in October 2019. recently launched factual brand, Now HKT said revenue had softened last Piano’s decision to commit to an on- True. year because of the suspension of ground presence in Asia runs alongside The telco said new functions, includ- sporting events around the world, as a strategic shift to subscription models. ing supporting five user profiles and a well as the intermittent closure of bars “All the evidence suggests that media new personalisation and recommenda- that streamed live sports. companies across the region are em- tion engine, had kicked in in late 2020 New subscriptions and growth in ad- bracing subscription models as well as and would positively impact perfor- vertising and mobile/youth-focused first-party data strategies to drive audi- mance in 2021. streaming service, Now E, helped re- ence engagement,” Rowell says. Now TV revenues for the last three gain some of the lost ground, the telco months of 2020 were HK$647 million/ said. Countdown... CONTENTASIA Entries for ContentAsia’s 2021 Awards open on AWARDS 2021 6 March 2021 www.contentasiaawards.com https://contentasiaawards.com C NTENTASIA 8-21 February 2021 Page 5. Malaysia’s PFM pleads Zee5 taps sports format for music show for production to restart New music league reworks perennial hunt for fresh talent Malaysia’s Film Producers Association (PFM) has asked the government to ease filming restrictions implemented under the current Covid-19 control measures. Promising strict operating pro- cedures, the association outlined huge losses across the board and pleaded for immediate relief. Government funds to boost the industry cannot be deployed while projects are on pause, PFM said. q Outdoor debuts in India; France24 adds HK Cable Outdoor Channel went live on India’s Tata Sky at end January, marking the adventure lifestyle channel’s South Asia debut. Outdoor is offered as a Salman Khan, Indian Pro Music League mobile service to Tata Sky app sub- scribers and online. The channel will be integrated into the Tata Sky Binge+ Zee5 kicks off latest music series, the and Shruti Haasan in lead roles. Smart set top box later; no date yet. Indian Pro Music League, on 26 Feb- The Power, billed as a “hair-raising In another carriage deal, Hong Kong ruary, riding sports terminology and journey into the world of two lovers as Cable picked up France 24. The Janu- references in what it clearly hopes will their families are ripped apart for the ary carriage agreement gives both the become a valuable new property in a sake of revenge and power” (but ham- French and English news channels a cricket league-obsessed market. mered by local reviewers for, among new basic cable berth. The basic pack Indian actor Salman Khan has been other things, being a “Godfather tale is available to 800,000 subscribers. tapped as the face of the league that very quickly turns stale”), premieres France24 is now available to all three format music show, which features six on 11 February. TV platforms in Hong Kong. teams supported by Bollywood actors, The two Alt Balaji series are Crashh sports celebrities and musicians fighting (14 February), a family drama about to find fresh voices. four siblings separated during an ac- q Teams are led by Mika Singh, Shaan, cident and their journey to reunite; and Ankit Tiwari and Kailash Kher and celeb- Dev DD (20 February), based on Sarat Japan, Malaysia, Korea, rities attached include Rajkummar Rao, Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel with Shraddha Kapoor, Govinda, Bobby Sanjay Suri in the lead role. HK boosts kids slates Deol and Suresh Raina. Zee5 has also moved into high- The new music show caps a month of promotion mode on upcoming original Broadcasters in Japan, Malaysia, Korea multi-genre films and TV series, pro- crime-comedy Sunflower, produced by and Hong Kong have picked up a slew duced in multiple languages to service Reliance Entertainment and Good Co.