10-23 C NTENTASIA MARCH 2014

www.contentasia.tv l https://www.facebook.com/contentasia facebook.com/contentasia l @contentasia l www.asiacontentwatch.com

ESPN deal with Outdoor Channel Exclusive agreement for IndyCar and X Games

ESPN and Asia-based TV network, Out- door Channel, have sealed an exclusive pan-regional agreement for IndyCar Series and two X Games franchises – X Games Austin and X Games Aspen – in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, India, Mon- golia, South Korea and Taiwan, among other markets. The multi-year agreement involves joint promotion and marketing across South- east Asia. While exclusive regionally, deal terms allow for specific individual licens- ing agreements to be negotiated on a country-by-country basis. The deal, which will be announced this week, could be the first of other lin- ear channel collaborations with Outdoor Channel as ESPN moves further into its post-ESPN Star Sports (ESS) era in Asia. Gregg Creevey, the managing director of Outdoor Channel operator Multi Chan- nels Asia’s (MCA), said both properties were hugely successful in the U.S. and presented “enormous potential for growth in the Asia-Pacific region”. MCA’s content agreement with ESPN is part of Outdoor Channel’s 2014 push into more mainstream positioning with, among other shows, Ironman Asia Pacific cham- pionships, Australasian Safari, World Heli Challenge, Wild Spirits and the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championships. Since the end of the ESPN Star Sports joint venture in 2012, ESPN operated no ESPN-branded linear television channels in Asia. The company’s focus has been digital platforms, including ESPNFC and ESPNcricinfo. Last year, ESPN Digital Media said it logged almost 145 million views of ESPN videos in Asia Pacific, an 80% increase on the previous year. Asia Pacific traffic was up 18% last year. contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 2.

Who was at... ContentAsia 8th birthday party in Singapore on 6 March

Ryan Shiotani, BBC Worldwide Asia; Ling-Sze Donovan Mohlman, AMC/Sundance Channel Nicole Sinclair, CBS Studios Int’l; Matthew Ash- Gan, A+E Networks Asia; Greg Ho, Global; Jonas Engwall, RTL CBS Asia croft, Jeeyoung Lee, Shine Int’l; Kristan Rivers, Turner International Asia Pacific Entertainment Network Paramount Digital Entertainment Asia Pacific

Vanessa Ching, Snell Group; Theresa Ong, Ripa Rashid, The iClif Leadership & Governance Soo Hui Lee, StarHub; Hui Keng Ang, Discovery; Andrea Peterson, The Walt Disney Centre; Darby Sanchez, GlobeCast Asia; Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia Company (SEA); Laura Wendt, SingTel Michelle Guthrie, Google Asia Pacific

Jessy Tse, NBC Universal International TV Steve Burton, HBO Asia; Avi Himatsinghani, Lee Lih Fen, Disney; Colin Brown, Lucasfilm Distribution Singapore; Karen Lai, Rewind Networks Animation; Carol Sun, Disney; Carolyn So, Magdalene Ew, HBO Asia Rewind Networks

Yoko Takashima, Allison Hashiba, Nippon TV Rajiv Dhawn, Steven Murphy, Jocelyn Little, Janine Campbell, Japan; Hani Sallim, GlobeCast Asia; NBCUniversal GroupM Entertain- Steven Dijkhulzen, Beach House Pictures Farah Rahman, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific Television Distribution ment (Asia Pacific) 10-23 March page 3. contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 4.

HBO Go launches in the Philippines Streaming service signs exclusive deal with SkyCable

HBO Asia’s HBO Go broadband stream- ing service rolls out in the Philippines on 10 March in an exclusive deal with major pay-TV provider SkyCable. This is HBO Go’s second market in Asia after Hong Kong, which launched last year. The HBO Go platform offers more than 1,000 hours of uncut, award-winning HBO and Cinemax original series on multiple

Celestial Malaysian strongman Zarol “Baby Ox” Alfiyan gets tough Strongman stunt

Malaysian pay-TV platform Astro and Mr Goodwin kicks off Asian channels operator Celestial Tiger with escape Girls Malaysia search Entertainment (CTE) kicked off a month- artist Jonathan devices 12 hours after the U.S. premiere long search for Malaysia’s toughest talent Goodwin; new and before they air on HBO channels in this month. action adventure se- the region. The “Are You Tough Enough?” campaign ries SAF3 about an elite rescue force; Titles include Game of Thrones, True launched with Malaysian strongman Zarol and Hero, with Takeshi Kaneshiro in a tale Detective, Girls, Veep and Strike Back. “Baby Ox” Alfiyan pulling 5,000kg – two of brothers who flee south to escape The service also offers unlimited ac- Hummers packed with Kix HD’s “Tough drought. cess to HBO’s library of movies, concerts, Troopers” girls – through city streets. Kix’s team of Tough Troopers will front documentaries and series, including Sex The hunt for the country’s 10 toughest the talent search across the Klang Valley. and the City and The Sopranos, along people is part of action channel Kix HD’s Contestants will compete in a series of with exclusive HBO Go behind-the-scenes strategy to own the ‘tough’ space. challenges, both physical and mental. content from productions such as Board- On-air, this involves mixed martial arts The 10 finalists will compete for the title walk Empire, True Blood and Banshee. properties such as BAMMA, which CTE of Malaysia’s Toughest and a prize of HBO Asia chief executive, Jonathan acquired first and exclusive, and Belator RM30,000/US$9,000. Spink, says the streaming service helps to 360. The action schedule also features The finale – billed as “the ultimate show- combat piracy and gives subscribers the reality shows such as The Great Escape, down of toughness” – takes place on 26 chance to watch newest episodes earlierWho asshrunk well as series my suchWho asBig The shrunkList? Incredible myApril in BigKuala Lumpur.List? than on the linear channel.

Based on The Big List,$VLD·VGHÀQLWLYHSULQWGLUHFWRU\WKH&RQWHQW$VLDDSSOHWV\RXBased on The Big List,$VLD·VGHÀQLWLYHSULQWGLUHFWRU\WKH&RQWHQW$VLDDSSOHWV\RX Find out who’s who. Search and browse companiesFind out who’sand their who. key Search executives. and browse companies and their key executives.

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Save contacts to your phonebook, or share Savecontacts contacts with colleagues.to your phonebook, or share contacts with colleagues. 5BQUPJOTUBOUMZDBMM FNBJM WJFXBDPNQBOZXFCTJUFPSMPDBUFBOPGmDFPOBNBQcontent5BQUPJOTUBOUMZDBMM FNBJM WJFXBDPNQBOZXFCTJUFPSMPDBUFBOPGmDFPOBNBQasiaMobile Who’s who, what they do, where to contact them All in ContentAsia’s The Big List directory app. AvailableAvailable FREE for a limited free time. for aAvailable limited FREE for time. a limited time. Coming soon Coming soon

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Coming soon 10-23 March page 5. contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 6.

CinemaWorld boosts line up with Zodiak slate Pay-TV/VOD focus on French prime-time drama

from the horse's mouth There’s a lot the industry is holding its breath about this year – not least the release (or not) of return path data and how the whole information process is going to be managed (or not). We hear some pretty interesting viewer usage habits are emerging, as platforms in Asia start to get their big data ducks in a row. Word on the street is that delegates at MPA’s Asia Pacific Pay-TV Operators Summit (APOS) in Bali next month will be given sneak peaks Echoes from the Dead at some of the innovation and strate- gies around data and how platforms Zodiak Rights has sold pan-Asia pay- Johan Theorin, as well as a selection of are thinking about an environment that TV and VOD rights for seven titles to French prime-time dramas produced by gives them an unprecedented ability Singapore-based Asian movie outfit GTV. The French titles include 90-minute to hyper-target. CinemaWorld. drama, Jury Duty, about a murderer If this leap in transparency isn’t good The shows are from Zodiak production called up for jury duty in a trial in which news for every channel, it has to be a companies Yellow Bird, GTV and Touch- he is the real criminal; two-part mini great leap forward for a multichan- paper Television. series Agatha’s Double; Deadly Hitch, a nel industry that is hamstrung in many The titles include three-part crime se- 90-minute drama about a journalist cov- markets in Asia by either the absence ries, Murderland, a story told through the ering the death of a child in which he of a common currency or by the way eyes of three central characters, and is himself involved; Who killed Little Red available research is managed. 90-minute thriller Echoes from the Dead, Riding Hood, a four-part murder mystery; Channel bosses, who love the idea based on the book by Swedish author and two-part thriller Troubled Waters. of a robust common currency acces- sible to all, say this has the potential to level the playing field like little else in Soriano to star in GMA’s new soap the history of pay-TV in the region. After Eye on local move to limit foreign dramas in prime time all, what’s not to love about a system that shows what’s working and offers Philippines’ broadcaster GMA has signed foreign dramas were the ability quickly to change the things up award-winning local actress, Maricel unnecessary com- that aren’t. Soriano, to star in new prime-time soap petition for local TV The big question is how pay-TV plat- opera, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real (The productions. forms in Asia will choose to release the Closer Mistress). “We should help data – and to whom. The best-case Soriano plays Divina Cortez-Real oppo- our local TV networks scenario is that they make it available site Dingdong Dantes and Lovi Poe. The and make sure their to content partners and everyone works series is directed by Andoy Ranay. actors have work,” the Maricel Soriano together to build a better business. The Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real is scheduled paper said, also quoting worst case is that the opportunity is ig- to air in May this year on GMA’s domestic Atienza as saying that the proliferation of nored and consumers do what they’re and international services. shows from neighbouring countries such doing now – find the content they want Running alongside ever-powerful local as Korea, Japan and Taiwan “lessens wherever it is, legal or not. drama production is a move to bar for- the time available for our Philippine- eign dramas from local prime time. produced shows”. The Manila Standard quoted congress- Atienza is also behind the bill that gives Twitter @ContentAsia man Lita Atienza this month as saying that the film industry tax breaks. MIPTV_ContentAsia_192x250sansEB.pdf 1 23/01/14 12:01

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10-23 March page 7. contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 8.

NHK wracked by Momii controversy

Japan’s usually staid public broadcast- er NHK is in the midst of a real-life head- line-grabbing drama as its controversial new boss, Katsuto Momii, implements systems that, among other things, allow him to fire executive directors whenever he wants, and fends off growing calls for his resignation. The latest reports out of Tokyo have Momii blaming the media for asking the questions that led to his answers. Momii’s reported insistence that direc- True tracks tors write undated resignation letters Tasmanian follows an outcry over his defence of “comfort women” during World War II. Tim Faulkner Devil Tim Momii, an appointee of conservative New series to air prime minister Shinzo Abe, said sex slavery Thai pay-TV platform TrueVisions has True Explore was widely used in times of war and that picked up Australian wildlife expert Tim channel in on in-house factual Japan should not be judged by today’s Faulkner’s latest series, The Wild Life of Tim mid-2014. channel morality. He criticised South Korea’s call Faulkner. The Wild Life of for compensation, but later conceded Faulkner, best known for animal series Tim Faulkner is pro- that this was his personal opinion. Bondi Vet, is the operations manager at duced by Australia’s Ziggy Entertainment Momii stirred controversy from his first the Australian Reptile Park and has led (a WTFN subsidiary) and distributed by days in office in January this year with, the battle to save the Tasmanian Devil Fred Media. among other things, his view that NHK from extinction. The 10-part half-hour se- Series two is in production, and is sched- should adhere to the government’s line ries will premiere on TrueVisions’ in-house uled for an October 2014 release. on territorial disputes. NHK’s non-partisan position is en- shrined in Japan’s Broadcast Law, and the public broadcaster usually prides Khatri wins India’s firstCEO’s Got Talent itself on its impartiality. Observers say FremantleMedia initiative benefits Genesis Foundation Momii’s approach undermines this reputation. The chief executive of India’s Kaytek “Any head of a news organisation Computer Services, Atul Khatri, has won should be aware of the detrimental the first edition of FremantleMedia India’s consequences of muzzling its own staff CEO’s Got Talent competition. members,” the Asahi Shimbun said in an Khatri beat 11 other contestants with his editorial. comedy act. In second place was Rankaj “But this is apparently not the case Chaturvedi, executive director and chief with Katsuto Momii... We suspect Momii executive of Rich Graviss Products, fol- has little understanding of the ABCs of lowed by David Fischer, chairman of The journalism,” the paper added, saying Xlantic Group. too that Momii’s insistence on unsigned Contest judges included director Ma- resignation letters was “tantamount to hesh Bhatt and Colors chief executive declaring his dictatorial authority over Raj Nayak. the public broadcaster and warning The CEO talent hunt airs on Indian busi- the directors that should they ever disa- ness channel CNBC TV18 on 22 and 23 gree with or stand up to him, he would March. dismiss them. This is the last thing the The gala finale included an auction with head of any news organisation should the proceeds going to Genesis Founda- ever do”. tion, which supports critically ill children. Atul Khatri www.CommunicAsia.com

The 11th International Information Technology Exhibition & Conference for the Enterprise www.goto-enterpriseIT.com

Comprehensive showcase of innovative technologies 4G / LTE, AR and innovations, connected Power-packed Exclusive and line up of speakers at home delivery network, unique showcases / FTTx, M2M, multi-screen networking functions technology, OTT and at companies’ many others by exclusive hospitality over 1,300 international to discuss on the latest suites industry’s trend. located at Level 3. exhibitors.

CE14AdW192xH250P.indd 1 10/1/14 4:27 PM 10-23 March page 9. contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 10.

Jain, Sharma beef up Spuul realigns for global expansion Zee sales team Ramchandani shifts to Singapore to head content

Zee Entertainment enterprises has brought in veteran media execs Mona Indian streaming service Spuul is rework- gagement within this Jain as executive vice president, cluster ing its team, bringing in Rajiv Vaidya as fast-evolving ecosys- head, and Rahul Sharma as senior vice chief executive for India and shifting tem. This will include president/national sales head. former India CEO, Prakash Ramchandani, expanding to new to the platform’s Singapore headquarters markets, generating as chief content officer. access to the balloon- Jabiru-2 countdown Vaidya joins Spuul from Hughes Net- ing digital ad spends Prakash works in the U.S., where he headed sales and building mutually Ramchandani Australian satellite company NewSat is and marketing for the Americas and Asia beneficial partnerships.” on track with the Jabiru-1 satellite build Pacific. He has shifted to India to take up Spuul offers a mix of free streaming and and has started the countdown to the the new role, which will focus on brand pay-per-view specials (US$0.99 each) as launch of Jabiru-2’s hosted payload on and advertising sales. well as a premium monthly subscription Malaysian satellite operator Measat’s Ramchandani’s global content role service for US$4.99 a month. Measat-3b satellite, in May. NewSat includes international marketing. The platform’s current premium titles CTO, David Ball, says Jabiru-1 – another Spuul co-founder and global chief include One by Two, Miss Lovely and build with Measat – has “reached the executive, Subin Sugajah, said the re- Singh Saab The Great. Free movies in- level of design maturity required for structure would allow the platform to clude Zila Ahaziabad, thriller John Day a thorough analysis of all subsystems “take the business to its next level of en- and Kahaani, among others. before the assembly, integration and test of the complete satellite can take place”. With Jabiru-1’s critical design review under way, the next step is the Docs execs head for China preliminary mission analysis review in second half 2014. Asia’s role in global docs highlighted at ASD 2014

AMC/Sundance ups More than 450 factual execs head for sion will look at major opportunities, trends Gendler, Connolly China later this month for the four-day and pitfalls on the road to the theatrical annual Asian Side of the Doc fest (18-21 release of factual content. AMC/Sundance Channel Global has March). One of the practical workshops covers promoted Gail Gendler to VP of ac- This year’s show opens with a focus on the best ways of developing a project for quisitions and Patrick Connolly to VP of Asia’s involvement in global co-produc- the international market. This conversa- programming and scheduling. Both con- tions, and will be followed by a series of tion will be led by documentary producer pitch sessions over the four days. Bjoern Jensen, who will talk about the A keynote address will be delivered importance of telling and selling stories, by Vikram Channa, who has been with titles and trailers. Discovery Networks for almost two dec- Other topics on the agenda include a ades. Channa will talk about the state of session with the World Congress of Science the Asian documentary sector, how best and Factual Producers; an in-depth focus to reach audiences across borders and on mainland China’s science and educa- what creative collaborations may look tion channel, CCTV-10, and its documen-

Gail Gendler Patrick Connolly like in the future. tary production strategy; a look at how A series of case studies looks at Asia- producers are adapting for new platforms tinue to report to Harold Gronenthal, EVP, to-Asia co-productions, and the solutions and technologies; and best ways of work- programming and operations. Gendler being explored and found between ing with distributors and sales agents. joined AMC Networks (formerly Rainbow broadcasters and producers within Asia. The series of special screenings include Media) in 2000 and oversees acquisitions Funding models take centre stage on I Am Here by Fan Lixin. The 90-minute film for Sundance Channel Global and We 21 March in a panel led by U.S. executive tracks the young entrants of Chinese tal- tv Asia. Connolly oversees scheduling, producer Peter Hamilton, who will analyse ent show Super Boys, in the summer of promotions and on-air creative for linear/ the budget required for major successes 2013, and shows how they cope with their VOD for the two channels. such as Flight of the Butterflies. The discus- lives as sudden superstars. contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 11. interviewcreative

Chee Nien Lau 18g Pictures, Singapore

How did you get into producing? “I got The biggest into producing by chance. I was direct- thing pro- ing for TV when a former classmate ducing has called me to be part of his first feature- taught me is to re- length project. When the producer of the project had to relinquish his role, I lax and take it easy. stepped in to become the producer Problems don’t get instead.” solved when one spends all the time Was there a role model or famous pro- ducer that inspired you? “When most stressed out...” people watch movies, they talk about the directors or the stars. Nobody paid much attention to producers or knew much about what producers did. I have to admit I was like that as a moviegoer.” Singapore is to know who he or she is mak- Tell us about your upcoming film,Rubbers ? ing that film for. There’s always talk that “Rubbers is a sex comedy that comprises What’s your biggest learning from the the Singapore market is too small to sup- three stories that involve condoms in the films you have produced? “On a personal port the local industry, and that’s true to pursuit of love, desire and reconciliation. level, the biggest thing producing has a large extent. The thing is that Hollywood In the segment Balloons, Ah Niu recalls taught me is to relax and to take it easy. has pretty much dominated the cinematic how he tricked his wife into blowing lots of Problems don’t get solved when one scene around the world, so when one condoms by telling her they were balloons; spends all the time stressed out. And being talks about making a film that will enjoy In The Plumber, Baoling decides to seduce a producer means trying to find solutions to regional or international success, one is a plumber by hiding lots of condoms around problems or obstacles most of the time. It really talking about that small percent- her house; and in Nightmare, Adam –who also means trying to come up with ideas age that manages to find success in that dislikes wearing condoms– gets an unusual to get the project realised.” foreign territory that may also be domi- punishment. The three stories are written nated by Hollywood or that territory’s own and directed by Han Yew Kwang, and What do you think the biggest challenges homegrown products. So apart from crea- star some of Singapore’s brightest talents, of being a film producer in Singapore tive challenges, there will also be territorial including Marcus Chin, Alaric Tay, Chua En- are? “From a personal point of view, a and logistic challenges to overcome. The lai, Julian Hee, Oon Shu An, Catherine Sng huge challenge is finding money and re- creative challenge is of course to create and Golden Horse Award winning actress sources once a project is decided on.” a project that contains a strong universal Yeo Yann Yann. It’s also a low-budget effort theme.” like all our past films. The only difference Does the performance of your previous being that we have higher aspirations for it, films affect funding for new projects? What do you aim to achieve with the and have put in a lot more effort into get- “Yes. Based on past films that we’ve pro- films you produce? “Just to make people ting it made. We’re also trying to finance duced, people will either approach us laugh, cry and enjoy.” part of the film via crowd funding for the first or avoid us.” time on Indiegogo (http://www.indiegogo. What would you most like to see happen com/projects/rubbers). What obstacles do you think a Sin- in Singapore to boost the creative/produc- gapore film has to overcome on its tion industry? “More investment in talent, * Chee Nien Lau will be speaking at this journey to regional/international commer- research and education. Just as one wants year’s Creative Content Production Con- ference, which runs in Singapore from cial screens? “I think the most important to build any industry that lasts, you’ll want 18-19 June alongside BroadcastAsia and thing for anyone embarking on a film in to make sure the infrastructure is solid.” CommunicAsia. contentasia formats 10-23 March 2014 Page 12.

ContentAsia’s regular section, ContentAsia Formats, is dedicated to formats and format development in Asia, including new seasons, series and trends and what these mean to channels, producers and the overall formats industry in the region.

The Band New local reality show, The Band, pre- mieres on Malaysian pay-TV channels Astro Ria and Astro Mustika HD on 31 March. The Band is a competition format cre- ated by Malaysian entertainment group Sedania’s founder and group CEO, Azrin Mohd Noor, who has plans to format the show internationally. The series is produced by Sedania subsidiary I Like Entertainment. Auditions for the 40-episode talent hunt for six band members kicked off across Malaysia in September 2013 and ran to January this year. The 31 March premiere features snip- pets of the auditions and an introduction to the competition’s format. From 4 April, the series will air three times a week (Fri- Datuk Azrin Mohd Noor days at 9pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm). producing Who Wants to be a Millionaire that by the end of production, they will Friday nights feature Whazzup The Band for Malaysia. Chia has more than 15 years feel and think along the same lines I do. I rehearsals. Saturdays episodes, Konsert in production, and has been involved in want to empower them and show them The Band, are the format’s competition Fear Factor, Deal and No Deal, among that the next level is totally possible. So rounds, while X The Band episodes on other reality shows and TV dramas, live my biggest challenge to bring everyone’s Sundays are the elimination rounds. reality shows, and awards show for the creativity to the next level.” Iris Chia, The Band producer and chief Malaysian market. At the conclusion of the show, the six executive officer of I Like Entertainment, Chia says the biggest challenge is to winners will be signed under Astro and says, “Instead of a group of people create a totally new format. “We try nurtured to be international music stars. choosing whom they want to be with to instill a spirit of creativity in everyone The programme is hosted by local in their band, we let ‘The Agents’ (the involved,” she says, adding: “I don’t just celebrity Awal Ashaari. Judges are Aznil judges) decide”. Chia says the aim is to want to create a show; I want at the same Nawawi, Syafinaz Selamat and Yusry Kru. create international superstars. time to challenge the team to think out- The Band’s music and vocal instructor is Show creator Mohd Noor’s format cre- side of the box. These people have never Damien Mikhail Seet, dance instructor is dentials include local versions of Wheel created something like this, something so Alam Wakaka and image consultant is of Fortune and Family Feud as well as different and new from scratch. I hope Wahyu Rahman.

FORMATS at the ContentAsia Summit. September 2014. Be included. Contact CJ at [email protected] contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 13. PlatformiWantTV

users. SkyCable subscribers have ac- cess to Al Jazeera, Asian Food Channel, Basketball TV, The Biography Channel, Bloomberg, Cartoon Network, CNN, Food Network Asia, History Channel, Jack TV, Lifetime Channel, National Geographic Channel, Nick, RTL-CBS Entertainment Channel, Solar Sports, Telenovela Channel and WarnerTV. What’s offered on demand? Episodes of all shows from ABS-CBN Channel 2, ANC. Select content from ABS-CBN regional channels, ABS-CBN Sports + Action, E!, Kix/Thrill, Knowledge Channel and Nick, as well as exclusively produced content from ABS-CBNmobile. How many new titles added each month? “On-demand content is mostly catch-up, so content is updated daily. New, particu- In a regular section looking at up-and-coming platforms in Asia, larly for ABS-CBN content, is in sync with Malena Amzah speaks to ABS-CBN’s Ralph Menorca, head of iWant TV, broadcast launches.” digital head for access. What’s the biggest challenge? “Online video piracy.” What is iWant TV? iWant TV launched opened to all online users in December Take up expectations for 2014… “We in December 2010 as an online video 2012. There are 2.4 million registered users, hope to double the number of registered service offering content from ABS-CBN, of which 200,000 are paying subscribers of users by end of 2014, driven by the growth SkyCable, ABS-CBNmobile and other sub- ABS-CBN’s pay-TV and mobile platforms. of mobile internet access and usage.” sidiaries. Content is streamed on demand Biz/pricing models… The free tier carries What’s the average viewing time? “The and live. SkyCable subscribers have ac- advertising. SkyCable and ABS-CBNmo- typical iWant TV user finishes at least one cess to channel content. ABS-CBNmobile bile subscribers are provided access to episode (about 20 mins) per session.” subscribers have access to content pro- ad-free premium and exclusive content. What are the most-watched titles so far? duced exclusively for mobile. The service What about paid services? “iWant TV is “For 2013, the most watched titles were Be is geo-blocked for the Philippines. constantly evolving... Currently, we feel our Careful With My Heart, Ina Kapatid Anak, What are you hoping to achieve? “It is content is best made available on a free Gandang Gabi Vice, MMK and, more all about giving Filipinos the freedom to basis. However, paid services [for iWant recently, Got To Believe.” choose the way they want to enjoy con- TV only] may be considered in the future, Is there anything surprising about us- tent. Our goal is to provide the best online when we see that our [online] users have age? “One of the surprises is the habit of viewing experience by offering the best developed the appetite for paid, premium repeating an episode again and again. lineup of shows, and by providing access content.” Another is our Comment Boards, becom- in the platforms most relevant to them. We Who’s driving the initiative… Ralph ing a venue of fans to converge, discuss, hope that in the near future, iWant TV will Menorca, head of iWant TV, digital head and even create small communities. Both become top-of-mind as the primary venue for access; Connie Lopez, head of digital phenomena were most evident among for Filipinos to watch their favourite shows, in partnerships and ecosystem manage- Be Careful With My Heart viewers.” the same way as traditional TV is today.” ment; Richard Reynante, head of content How are you using social media? “We Available on… Desktops, smartphones for access; Tina Rita, platform manager; utilise Facebook and Twitter to keep our and tablets. The iWant TV Mobile App Joyce Villasor-Villaflor, content manager. users abreast with the latest launches and launched in Google Play Store and Ap- Live linear streamed channels... ABS-CBN featured shows. We also use social media ple’s App Store in November 2013. Channel 2, ABS-CBN News Channel, to gather feedback and address any is- Targeting… iWant TV’s free tier was DZMM TeleRadyo and MOR 101.9 for all sue that our users may have.” contentasia 10-23 March 2014 Page 14.

Saturday Night Live Korea debuts on top Local adaptation pushes tech, content boundaries C NTENTASIA

Editorial Director Janine Stein Assistant Editor Malena Amzah [email protected] Production Manager CJ Yong [email protected] Editorial Research Aqilah Yunus [email protected] Research Assistant Yogeswary Gunasagaran [email protected] Design Rae Yong

Associate Publisher (Americas, Europe) and VP, International Business Development Leah Gordon [email protected] Sales and Marketing (Asia) Masliana Masron [email protected]

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Published fortnightly by: Pencil Media Pte Ltd Saturday Night Live Korea 730A Geylang Road Singapore 389641 The premiere episode of Korea’s local cepting questions from fans via social Tel: +65 6846-5987 adaption of long-running U.S. series, networks. contentasia.tv Saturday Night Live, was the top show in Other changes for the latest season in- asiacontentwatch.com its time slot among the country’s pay-TV clude a studio redesign that reduces the channels. Korean content company CJ physical distance between stage and Copyright 2014 Pencil Media Pte E&M also said this month that the debut audience and doubles the number of Ltd. All Rights Reserved. on March 1st was the number one pro- seats; more storylines tailored for female MICA (P) 111/06/2013 gramme among female audiences. viewers; and more interaction with the Season five of the iconic U.S. show,Sat - host on the Weekend Update segment. urday Night Live Korea, airs on general Saturday Night Live Korea launched in entertainment channel tvN. Korea in December 2011. The series’ chief producer, Ahn Sang- The comedy format is part of CJ E&M’s whi, has promised “diverse improvements growing library of international format asia to entertain and engage viewers even adaptations for the South Korean market. c ntent better” this season, which coincides with Other local adaptation rights acquired Daily news with the show’s 40th anniversary in the U.S. for Korea include FremantleMedia’s ContentAsia Insider Among others things, producers are Project Runway, CBS Studios’ America’s planning to leverage Korea’s advanced Next Top Model, Shine International’s email [email protected] digital environment to enhance interac- MasterChef and BBC Worldwide format for subscription details tion with audiences. This includes ac- Top Gear.