C Ntentasia 2016

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11-24 January C NTENTASIA 2016

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Netflix baits Asia’s censors

U.S. streamer shuts eyes to region’s content codes, regulatory slap in the face for local players

If Netflix was a country, the world may well be prepping for war right now. Instead, law makers in Asia (with the exception of China, which Netflix hasn’t dared enter yet) seem to be rolling out the red carpet to the U.S. streaming service. Others haven’t said a word, so effectively, the carpet is equally plush. What’s deeply puzzling about this pic- ture? As staggeringly wonderful as Netflix is (and it is, truly deeply), Asia’s regulators are effectively giving the finger to programmers in the region who have followed the rules, been respectful, paid their taxes, created jobs, trained people, contributed on the ground in so many ways. The big swinging ballsiness of Netflix’s move into Asia is overshadowed only by the mammoth unfairness that now hangs heavy over the entire industry. Unless, of course, regulators plan to use the situation to open up everything to everyone, and let parental controls/ PIN codes rule. A level playing field. Now wouldn’t that really be something? Right now, there’s a lot of hairsplitting over which digital services are actually covered by what regulations. How much is being censored? How much did Me- diaCorp actually cut out of Weeds on Toggle despite parental controls? What exactly did HBO Go cut from Game of Thrones in Singapore? Will regulators take the shackles off? Maybe. Hopefully. After all, the sky hasn’t fallen yet because Netflix dared. More on page 13 c ntentasia 11-24 January 2016 Page 2.

Hong Kong’s PCCW flicks the switch on viu Singapore Telco flexes mighty Korean content muscle, deal with Singtel in the works

Hong Kong telco PCCW turned on the year. Viu Malaysia will be up and running Singapore exclusively to viu eight hours Singapore version of multi-screen platform by April, followed by Indonesia and India after they air in Korea. Select titles will be viu on Monday (11 January), opening later in the year. subtitled in English and Chinese. access to the most comprehensive legal PCCW has signed deals with Korean gi- Other Asian content, including Japa- slate of current Korean content on one ants KBS, SBS, MBC and CJ E&M for 4,000 nese and Taiwanese titles, is being OTT platform across the region ever. hours of new shows a year to power the added. Viu will be offered for free at first, with a viu platform across the region. PCCW Media managing director, Janice premium subscription tier and other func- The rights deal covers about 95% of the Lee, said the platform’s research showed tionality to follow in the next few months in new drama titles from all four broadcast- that between 53% and 80% of viewers in partnership with Singapore telco Singtel. ers, including Remember, Moorin School key markets watch Korean drama regu- Details of the Singtel offering have not and Signal. Viu’s February schedule fea- larly. 66% of Singaporeans regularly down- been disclosed, but are likely to include a tures Descendants of the Sun and Please load and/or stream Korean content. comprehensive download-to-go option. Come Back Master, following the end- KBS Television Division executive MD, Lee The free platform has some download-to- January premiere of Happy Ending Once Ueng Gin, said viewers would find the viu go functionality. Again. Variety titles include Running Man offering appealing “as opposed to having The viu Singapore launch follows Hong and The Return of Superman. pirated, unstable streaming/download on Kong, where viu went live in October last Many of the shows will be available in illegal sites”. c ntentasia 11-24 January 2016 Page 3.

Lim joins Sony Asia Outdoor Channel goes wild – official Wildlife, fishing, sports & extreme gourmet top 2016 slate

Former FremantleMe- dia Asia head of production and senior executive producer, Jef Lim, joins Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia on 1 February 2016 as Jef Lim head of production, based in Singapore. Lim reports to Virginia Lim, head of content and marketing. Sony confirmed the appoint- ment today after a month at least of speculation (ContentAsia, 18 Decem- ber 2015).

Khanom to head FIC format sales Carter’s W.A.R. (Wild Animal Response)

Jess Khanom is heading up global format Outdoor Channel enters its sixth year in areas (September 2016); and The Obses- sales for Fox International Channels (FIC) Asia in 2016 with a slate of new exclusive sion of Carter Andrews, (February 2016) Content Sales, effective immediately. original productions from Outdoor Chan- the story of a man who spends 300 days Khanom most recently served as Sales nel in the U.S., prime-time sports docu- a year on the water, from Panama to Director TV Productions for Warner Bros. mentary feature films, a new Outdoor X the Snake River, and the Louisiana Gulf Her new role is based out of London franchise and the exclusive broadcast Coast to Russia. and reports to Prentiss Fraser, FIC’s SVP/ of new Steve Irwin commemoration/cel- Outdoor Channel is also premiering 12 global head of content sales. ebration series Crocodile Hunter. feature-length sports documentaries on Formats on FIC’s catalogue include the Topping the list of Outdoor Channel Friday nights from March as part of the recently launched Lucky Ladies, School originals is Carter’s W.A.R. (Wild Animal Friday Film theme. for Husbands and F***ing Telemarketers Response), which follows wildlife detec- New franchise, Outdoor X will include as well as National Geographic Chan- tive and professional hunter, Ivan Carter, action and extreme programming on nel’s Brain Games, Street Genius, Car onto the front lines of the wars being weekday prime times and weekends. S.O.S and Science of Stupid and a bou- waged on Africa’s wildlife. The series Returning to the five-year-old Out- quet of telenovela and entertainment premieres in April. door Channel Asia this year are ESPN’s and scripted formats from Fox Interna- The originals slate also features Blue flagship franchises, IndyCar Series and tional Channel’s global hubs. Water Savages, hosted by former U.S. Summer and Winter X Games alongside Navy deep-sea diver and marine natu- ESPN series Search 4 Hurt, World of X https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts ralist, Robin D. Berg, and shark expert Games and Kenny Mayne’s Wider World https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts Eli Martinez (June 2016); Alaska’s Wild of Sports, as well Outdoor Channel origi- https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts Gourmet, which tracks Bradley Ewing nals – Gun Father, Wardens, Alaska Ulti- https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=tsfacebook.com/contentasia delivering gourmet experiences no mat- mate Bush Pilots, Fight To Survive, Gold https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts ter how in Alaska’s most remote and wild Fever and Madfin Shark. c ntentasia 11-24 January 2016 Page 4.

Gan, Valentin join Indovision debuts CTE’s Miao Mi NBCU Asia Pac Pre-school schedule highlights Mandarin learning

Sony Pictures Television Networks’ former affiliate sales head, Ling Sze Gan, is joining NBCUniversal

Ling Sze Gan

International Networks on 21 January as Paul Valentin vice president of affiliate sales and branded digital partnerships for Asia. Gan reports to Christine Fellowes, managing director, NBCUniversal International Networks Asia. In a second new hire, the Asia operation has brought veteran NBCUni exec, Paul Valentin, to Hong Kong-based regional programmer, positioned it as the first pan-regional Singapore. Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), has Mandarin kids channel “created spe- Valentin joins the regional TV sales debuted new regional kids channel Miao cifically to entertain and educate pre- team in the newly created position Mi on Indonesia’s PT MNC Sky Vision. school children regardless of their lan- of vice president, sales strategy The Mandarin educational/entertain- guage backgrounds”. and development. ment channel is carried exclusively on Miao Mi targets kids between three Valentin was previously with Indovision’s Galaxy, Super Galaxy, and and six years old. NBUniversal International for 10 Venus packs, as well as Okevision’s ba- Acquisitions are from China and the years, most recently as director, sic pack. The linear channel is also avail- rest of Asia. strategy and analysis in London. able on Play Media. CTE previously announced first and ex- He will report to Jay McNamara, The linear channel will be followed by clusive acquisitions of Star Babies, Secret executive vice president, strategy on-demand and OTT versions; no time- Y and Happy Friends. development and analysis. table has been given for the digital ser- New buys include Dear Little Wish, vice rollouts. with the characters from Pleasant Goat Miao Mi will be offered with dual and Big Big Wolf; Little Rabbit’s Kung Fu Mandarin/Bahasa Indonesia language Academy starring the characters from tracks. Exceptions are the Miao Mi Class- China’s award-winning 3D animated film c ntentasia room belts, which only feature songs Legend of a Rabbit; Zoland Animation’s Daily news with and simple storytelling in Mandarin for Rubi; Korean animated series Eori featur- ContentAsia Insider language-learning. ing Asian folk tales; adventure series Fox email [email protected] CTE announced Miao Mi in April this Inventor; and eco-friendly 3D animated for subscription details year (ContentAsia, 20 April 2015), and series Bellbug Popo. 4-7 April 2016 // Cannes // France

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Philippines’ free-TV showdown: #1 ABS-CBN vs #1 GMA

News magazine show leads for The Voice Kids GMA Network’s 2015 tops ABS-CBN’s shows in 2015 All-local news, variety, drama reigns Local versions of international formats take five of top 20 spots

Marimar The Voice Kids Philippines

News magazine show, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, was GMA’s The local version of Talpa format, The Voice Kids was Philippines’ top show for 2015 in the high-worth areas of Urban Luzon and broadcaster ABS-CBN’s most popular show last year, drawing just Mega Manila, GMA says. under 50% audience share nationwide, the Manila-based national The network added that its viewership remained unrivalled in network says. both regions and all day parts for the full year last year, based The competition format is one of a slate of local adaptations on Nielsen audience data. that made it into the country’s top 20 list for the year, based on Top performers were Magpakailanman, Eat Bulaga, Marimar, data from Kantar Media (rival GMA uses Nielsen). Little Nanay, Sunday Pinasaya, Pepito Manaloto, and Straw- Going into 2016, ABS-CBN said its average national audience berry Lane. share from January to December last year (excluding Easter Holy These were followed by news show 24 Oras, Ismol Family, Be- Week) was 43%. This puts ABS-CBN ahead of rival GMA 7, which cause of You, Pari ‘Koy, Once Upon A Kiss, Empress Ki, Beautiful Kantar has at 36%. ABS-CBN says it scored an average national Strangers, Celebrity Bluff, Hiram na Alaala, The Half Sisters, More prime-time audience share of 50%. Than Words, Let the Love Begin, Mundo ni Juan Sa Japan, Sec- ABS-CBN shows dominated Kantar’s top 20 list for 2015 with 19 ond Chances and Karelasyon. All are local productions. of the top 20. The Voice Kids Philippines (41.7%) was followed by GMA said total day ratings for full year 2015 NUTAM (National FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (38.8%), Nathaniel (34.6%), Pangako Sa’Yo Urban Television Audience Measurement) household shares (33.5%) and MMK (30.5%). Dance Kids, which premiered in Nov, were 35.4%, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 34.9% and TV5’s 9.2%. came in sixth for the year, with an average national TV rating of GMA says it overtook ABS-CBN in September 2015 and main- 30%, followed by Dream Dad (29.9%), Your Face Sounds Famil- tained its ratings lead for the rest of the year. iar season one (29.8%), Forevermore (29.2%) and flagship news Urban Luzon continued to be a strong area for GMA with a programme TV Patrol (28.2%) in 10th spot. Other programmes in share of 39.7%. GMA’s share in Mega Manila was 41.7%, against the top 20 are Wansapanataym (27.9%), Rated K (25.2%), Your ABS-CBN’s 27% and TV5’s 8.5%. Face Sounds Familiar season two (25.1%), Home Sweetie Home For December 2015, GMA says it posted a stronger total day (24.2%), The Voice of the Philippines (23.2%), Pasion De Amor lead with 38.9% in NUTAM, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 33.6% and (23%), Bridges of Love (22.2%), Goin Bulilit (21.4%) and On the TV5’s 7.8%. Wings of Love (21.3%). 11-24 January 2016 page 7. c ntentasia 11-24 January 2016 Page 8.

Discovery tops Disney India adds talking dog original GRB sales Gabbar Poonchwala stripped Mon-Thurs 7pm until March

FBI Takedowns

Discovery India has added How Stuff Works, Nasty By Nature (the things animals do to survive) and When Fish Attack (what really happens underwa- ter) to its South Asian slate. Discovery also picked up FBI Take- downs for its China and Pacific Rim, U.S. distributor GRB Entertainment says. The series follows elite teams as they hunt down the world’s most-wanted criminals. GRB’s new distribution deals also include extreme nature show Prehistoric Assassins, about the deadly hunting Disney Channel has added new original Produced by Indian production house tactics of ancient predators, on CCTV production, Gabbar Poonchwala, to its Contiloe Films, Gabbar Poonchwala in China. In Japan, free-TV network TBS India lineup. The 14-episode series pre- stars Gabbar, a Haryani talking puppy, bought Without Warning. mieres on Monday, 11 January, at 7pm. and his owner/best friend Mihir Khanna. Gabbar Poonchwala is stripped in the Khanna is played by Nihaar Gite, who 7pm slot from Mondays to Thursdays calls Gabbar “not only my best friend on NHK World TV through to March 2016. the show but in real life too.” launches 9-night Asian docu fest Hollywood hot on VR, new study says

Japanese public broadcaster NHK is Virtual reality (VR) is Hollywood’s next the medium would excel in the horror dedicating nine consecutive prime- big thing, says a new study presented at genre, to create an even more visceral time slots on its international service CES in Las Vegas. experience for viewers. Another appli- later this month to indie documentary Conducted by the Consumer Technol- cation mentioned for VR was streaming features that look at Japan and Asia. ogy Association (CTA) and National live sporting matches or concerts. The NHK World TV series kicks off at Association of Television Program Ex- Study participants also pointed out 8.10pm (Japan time) on Saturday, 23 ecutives (NATPE), the study quoted Hol- challenges with the medium, includ- January, with mainland Chinese film, lywood content heads as saying VR was ing content availability and creation, a Chinese Mayor, The Man Reviving an a “game changer”. clear path to monetisation and the user Old Mining Town. The slate also includes Currently known and used mostly in the experience with VR, such as the length documentaries about Asia from Taiwan, video gaming world, VR offers a fully im- of time a viewer can wear the headset Myanmar, South Korea, Philippines, mersive environment. Participants in the and concerns of their experience as be- France and the U.S. study speculated that, beyond gaming, ing solitary. MEET THE ELITE

15 17 MARCH 2016 SINGAPORE

sportel sportelasia.com

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Schedule analysis: BBC Earth in Asia

Date 4-Jan-16 5-Jan-16 6-Jan-16 7-Jan-16 8-Jan-16 9-Jan-16 10-Jan-16 Day/Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 6.35pm: Deadly 60 on a 6.35pm: Deadly Pole to Pole 6.35pm: Deadly 60 on a 6.40pm: Deadly 60 on a 7pm Mission S2 E2: Australia & New S1 E31: The Wolf Special Mission S2 E4: South America Mission S2 E6: Florida 6.45pm: Deadly 60 on a Zealand Mission S2 E8: Sri Lanka 6.30pm: Ben & James Vs The Arabian Desert S3 E3 7.00pm: The Sticky Truth 7.05pm About Sugar Ep1 7.15pm Earthflight Ep2: Africa Earthflight Ep5: Asia & Earthflight Ep3: Europe Earthflight Ep4: South America 7.25pm Australia 7.50pm Earthflight Ep6: Flying High 8.00pm China on Four Wheels S1 E2 8.05pm The Truth About Fat Ep1 8.10pm Life Story S1 E2: Growing Up Atlantic - Wildest Ocean Hunters of the South Seas S1 8.20pm The Supervet S2 E10 on Earth Ep3: From Heaven E3: The Kula Ring 8.45pm to Hell Life Story S1 E2: Growing Up Life Below Zero S3 E4: The 8.55pm Life Story S1 E2: The Making of Unknown Sugar V Fat Ep1 9.00pm Growing Up Extreme Fishing with Robson Extreme Fishing with Robson Extreme Fishing with Robson 9.05pm Extreme Fishing with Robson Green S3 E4: Sri Lanka Green S3 E5: Brazil Green S3 E6: West Africa Extreme Fishing with Robson 9.40pm Green S3 E3: China Green S3 E7: Cuba Hunters of the South Seas S1 9.50pm E3: The Kula Ring Life Below Zero S3 E4: The 9.55pm Where the Wild Men Are with Unknown Ben Fogle S2 E1: Georgia, Australia with Simon Reeve Ben & James Vs The Arabian 10.00pm China on Four Wheels S1 E2 U.S.A. Ep3 Desert Ep3 Life Below Zero S3 E4: The Unknown 10.25pm Life Story S1 E2: Growing Up 10.40pm Lands of the Monsoon Ep1: 10.45pm Bringer and Destroyer The Supervet S2 E10 10.55pm Life Below Zero S3 E4: The The Sticky Truth About Sugar The Truth About Fat Ep1 11.20pm Unknown Ep1 Sugar V Fat Ep1 Atlantic - Wildest Ocean 11.30pm on Earth Ep3: From Heaven to Hell 11.35pm Atlantic - Wildest Ocean Life Story S1 E2: Growing Up Life Story S1 E2: Growing Up Hunters of the South Seas S1 11.40pm The Supervet S2 E10 on Earth Ep3: From Heaven E3: The Kula Ring Life Story S1 E2: Growing Up 11.50pm to Hell The Supervet S2 E10 12.25am 12.25am 12.30am 12.40am 12.35am 12.40am 12.15am

Nature/disasters 11.2 hrs/32% Health/Wellness 5.25 hrs/15% People/Lifestyle 3 hrs/8.8% Automobile 1.8 hrs/5.2% Animals/pets 7.2 hrs/20.5% Activities/sports 4 hrs/11.7% Travel 2.25 hrs/6.4% Action/Adventure 0.08 hrs/0.24%

Date 1-Feb-16 2-Feb-16 3-Feb-16 4-Feb-16 5-Feb-16 6-Feb-16 7-Feb-16 Day/Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 6.10pm: Nature's Weirdest 7pm 6.40pm: Deadly Pole to Pole 6.40pm: Deadly Pole to Pole Events (Presenterless version) S1 E2: Somerset Island 6.45pm: Deadly Pole to Pole S1 E8: California S1 E1 6.50pm: Deadly Pole to Pole S1 E6: North Carolina 6.50pm: Deadly Pole to 7.05pm S1 E4: British Columbia Pole S1 E10: Bahamas 6:50pm: Is Binge Drinking that Bad (Horizon) Ep1 7.10pm Wild Things with Dominic 7.05pm: The Mekong River 7.15pm Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan S2 E10: Giant With Sue Perkins Ep4 Monaghan S2 E7: Arizona 7.20pm Wild Things with Dominic Salamander Tarsier Tails Ep1 7.45pm Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan S2 E9: Costa Rica Monaghan S2 E8: New 8.00pm Tarsier Tails Ep2 Zealand Sugar V Fat Ep1 8.05pm Life Story (Natural History) Life Below Zero S3 E8: 8.10pm (Presenterless Version) S1 E6: Lands of the Monsoon Ep4: Emergency Cache Orang-utans - The Great Life Story (Natural History) 8.40pm Parenthood Animal Super Senses S2 E2: Isles of Plenty Ape Escape Ep1 (Presenterless Version) S1 Sound 8.45pm E6: Parenthood 8.55pm Life Story: the Making of Are Health Tests Really a Good 9.00pm Parenthood (6-part version) Life Story: the Making Lands of the Monsoon Ep4: Idea? Ep1 of Parenthood (6-part Isles of Plenty 9.05pm Robson Green: Extreme version) Robson Green: Extreme Robson Green: Extreme Fisherman Ep8: Ecuador 9.10pm Robson Green: Extreme Fisherman Ep6: Borneo Fisherman Ep7: Guatemala Robson Green's Extreme 9.35pm Fisherman Ep5: Madagascar Fishing Challenge S3 E1: 9.40pm Greenland Life Below Zero S3 E8: Emergency 9.50pm Life Story (Natural History) Cache The Mekong River With Sue (Presenterless Version) S1 E6: 9.55pm Simon Reeve's Sacred Rivers Nature's Weirdest Events Where the Wild Men Are with Perkins Ep4 Life Below Zero S3 E8: Parenthood 10.20pm Ep1: The Nile (Presenterless version) S1 E1 Ben Fogle S3 E1: Namibia Emergency Cache 10.35pm Lands of the Monsoon Ep5: Xploration Earth 2050: Set 01 10.45pm Transformation S1 E3: The Future of Food Orang-utans - The Great Ape Life Below Zero S3 E8: Escape Ep1 11.10pm Xploration Earth 2050: Set Is Binge Drinking that Bad Are Health Tests Really a Emergency Cache Sugar V Fat Ep1 11.15pm 01 S1 E4: The Cyborgs Are (Horizon) Ep1 Good Idea? Ep1 11.30pm Coming Life Story (Natural History) 11.35pm Life Story (Natural History) Animal Super Senses S2 E2: (Presenterless Version) S1 E6: Animal Super Senses S2 E2: Life Story (Natural History) (Presenterless Version) S1 E6: Orang-utans - The Great Lands of the Monsoon Ep4: Sound Parenthood 11.40pm Sound (Presenterless Version) S1 Parenthood Ape Escape Ep1 Isles of Plenty E6: Parenthood 12.30am 12.30am 12.35am 12.35am 12.35am 12.25am 12.10am

Animals/pets 9.25 hrs/26.4% Action/Adventure 5.5 hrs/15.7% Activities/sports 3.9 hrs/11% Science/Educational 0.8 hrs/2.4% Nature/disasters 7.3 hrs/21% Health/Wellness 5.3 hrs/15.2% Travel 1.8 hrs/5.2% People 0.8 hrs/2.4%

Source: BBC Worldwide, schedules are correct as of 6 January 2016 c ntentasia schedules 11-24 January 2016 Page 11.

Lands of the Monsoon

Three-month old BBC Earth is on in Singapore in December last Lands of the Monsoon, which explores the hunt for more Asian stories. year, beating six other channels how life around Southern Asia both en- The channel, which kickstarted in the factual set (source Kan- dures and depends on the mighty mon- the new year with stellar results tar Media Singapore, among soon that annually transforms the land; for Singapore, replaced BBC pay-TV 4+ audiences; Conten- and a series of health/wellness/food Knowledge in October last tAsia Insider, 7 January). programming, including The Truth About year, and is currently looking at The strong performance in Calories (13 January, 10.45pm), about increasing the presence of Asian Singapore has been attributed to smart eating without taking the joy out of Ryan Shiotani programming on its offering. shows like The Hunt, narrated by Da- food; The Truth About Meat (14 January, This year’s Asian line-up on BBC Earth vid Attenborough; Extreme Fishing with 10.45pm), which explores the damage includes natural history series Wild Japan, Robson Green; and Life Below Zero. The livestock farming is causing to the planet; a co-production with Japanese public Hunt aired on the channel in Asia less and Tomorrow’s Food (27-29 January, broadcaster NHK. The documentary pre- than 24 hours after the U.K. 10.45pm), about the cutting edge tech- mieres on 8 February. BBC Earth’s driver content is a mix of nologies that transform how we grow, BBC Earth is also planning on-ground everything from landmark natural history buy and eat our food. events, such as the Planet Earth concerts, series to documentaries that look at the in the region. planet from surprising perspectives, says What’s on the grid: Prime time on BBC “Following Giant Screen movie En- Shiotani. Earth runs from 7pm to midnight (SG/HK) chanted Kingdom’s success in Japan, New titles for 2016 include Fishing Im- and is dominated by animals/wildlife and we are also exploring how we can ex- possible, about a group of hard-core nature programming (weekly schedules, pand that experience to markets such as fishermen as they attempt to catch January and February). China, Korea and Hong Kong, says Ryan some of the world’s most elusive fish; Life The week of 4-10 January is made up Shiotani, BBC Worldwide Asia’s vice presi- Below Zero series four, about the lives of of 32% (11.2 hours) nature documentary, dent of content. six people in the remote areas of Alaska 20.5% (7.2 hours) animal/wildlife factual, “In Japan, we have worked with SEGA and their daily struggles to survive in the 15% (5.25 hours) health/wellness, 11.7% on ORBI, a BBC Earth themed attraction below-zero environment; and Forces of (4 hours) activities/sports, 8.8% (3 hours) in Yokohama and will be opening a sec- Nature, which promises to explain what people/lifestyle, 6.4% (2.25 hours) travel, ond ORBI in Osaka within the first quarter lies beneath Earth’s startling beauty and 5.2% (1.8 hours) automobile and 0.24% of 2016,” Shiotani adds. ultimately what makes our world work. (0.08 hours) action/adventure series. BBC Earth topped factual pay-TV charts New titles for January and February are More on page 12 c ntentasia 11-24 January 2016 Page 12.

AMC Asia to air Fear the Walking Dead 2

Fear the Walking Dead

AMC Asia will air the second season of Fear the Walking Dead from April as part of the global premiere running si- multaneously with the U.S. release on 11 April at 9am (HK/SG) with a prime-time encore at 10pm. The Truth About Meat Review show Talking Dead, hosted by Chris Hardwick, will air at 11pm con- From page 11: Schedule 15.2% (5.3 hours) health/wellness, 11% (3.9 junction with each episode of Fear the Nature documentary Earthfightkicks off hours) activities/sports, 5.2% (1.8 hours) Walking Dead throughout season two. the prime-time weekday slots in the first travel, 2.4% (0.8 hours) science/educa- The Asia channel will also premiere week of January. The series airs Mondays tional and 2.4% (0.8 hours) people. eight-part espionage drama, The Night to Fridays from 7.05pm to 8.05pm. Prime time in February starts with Wild Manager, starring Hugh Laurie (House) Other prime-time nature shows are Things with Dominic Monaghan season two and Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers) on Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth (Monday to Thursday at around 7.10pm to Monday 22 February at 10pm (HK/SG). (Wednesday, 8.05pm-9pm), a three-part 8.10pm), about some of the planet’s most Season two of Fear the Walking Dead series exploring the natural history of the rare and life-threatening creatures. will air in two parts – the first seven epi- Atlantic Ocean; and Life Below Zero sea- The rest of the animals/wildlife series in sodes of the total 15 will air from 10 April son three (Tuesday, 10.45pm-11.35pm), the first week of February are Life Story and the other eight will air later this year. about people who live in the remote ar- season one (Monday, 8pm-9.05pm); Ani- The Night Manager, a contempo- eas of the Alaska. mal Super Senses season two (Tuesday, rary interpretation of John le Carré’s The animals/wildlife slate for the first 8.10pm-9pm), about the extraordinary espionage novel, follows former British week of January consists of Life Story sea- sense of sight in the animal world; Orang- soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) son one (Monday, 8pm-9.05pm), about utans: The Great Ape Escape (Wednes- recruited by intelligence operative An- the lives of animals; and The Supervet day, 8.05pm-9pm), about the orang- gela Burr (Olivia Colman) to infiltrate the season two (Monday, 10.40pm-11.30pm), utans returned to their natural habitat inner circle of international businessman about some of the hardest-to-cure pets. in the Bukit Batikap Conservation Forest Richard Onslow Roper (Hugh Laurie). For the week of 1-7 February, the sched- after spending years in a rescue centre; AMC will air a marathon of Fear the ule is 26.4% (9.25 hours) animal/wildlife and Tarsier Tails (Friday, 7.20pm-8.10pm), Walking Dead season one from 5pm on factual, 21% (7.3 hours) nature documen- which looks at humankind’s smallest liv- 11 April. tary, 15.7% (5.5 hours) action/adventure, ing relatives. c ntentasia 11-24 January 2016 Page 13.

Asian censorship under pressure Programmers likely to push for Netflix-style environment C NTENTASIA

Asia woke to a wonderland of uncensored programming restrictions. Editorial Director content on the first Thursday of January, Programmers and platforms are laying Janine Stein Assistant Editor courtesy of U.S. streaming service Netflix, low – publicly. But they are unlikely to Malena Amzah which flipped the switch on the SVOD keep totally quiet and let Netflix com- [email protected] platform in more than 130 new countries – mand the SVOD ring unchecked for Research Manager excluding China and North Korea – during long. Word is that platforms are beating CJ Yong the CES show in Las Vegas. a path to Netflix door, falling over them- [email protected] In deciding to go so gloriously big, Netflix selves to integrate the service into their Editorial Research became the first programmer with legally subscription offerings; no announcement Aqilah Yunus acquired content ever in Asia to rise above have yet been made. [email protected] so many programming codes all at once. Our bet, however, is that rather than pull Online/Digital Nudity, sex, drugs, homosexuality... it’s all Netflix back into a fold shaped during the Emily Seibel there in, among other titles, Marco Polo, analogue era, a strong bid will be made [email protected] Design Orange is the New Black and Clockwork for everyone to do be allowed to do what Rae Yong Orange, which was banned in Singa- Netflix is doing in the digital space. pore for more than three decades and Singapore’s Media Development Au- Associate Publisher released only in 2011 as a festival movie thority (MDA) said in its official response (Americas, Europe) and VP, with a R21 rating. to the Netflix launch that it “welcomes International Business Development Missing titles – most significantly House of Netflix’s arrival in Singapore and its com- Leah Gordon Cards – are MIA in Asia not because of con- mitment to aligning with our media clas- [email protected] tent, but because rights have already been sification framework”. Sales and Marketing (Asia) sold to broadcasters (who dutifully cut out The MDA also said that it would “con- Masliana Masron the bits that will get them in trouble) in the tinue to work with Netflix to provide [email protected] region. Ditto with other titles; in this, Netflix viewers with more informed choices and To receive your regular free copy has been perfectly proper and respectful. put in place measures to safeguard the www.contentasia.tv of ContentAsia, please email Arguments are being made about ex- young from inappropriate content”. [email protected] actly what regulations there are for SVOD None of the other regulators have in Asia, about the challenges regulators commented yet. Published fortnightly by: face in a digital world that wants to be Netflix is already available in Australia Pencil Media Pte Ltd borderless. As one Asian industry boss said: and Japan. New countries in Asia are 730A Geylang Road Don’t blame Netflix, just ask the regulators Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Singapore 389641 what they’re going to do about it. Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Tel: +65 6846-5987 Books have now opened on the response Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, contentasia.tv from regulators, and bets are being made Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South on either how quickly other programmers Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. MCI (P) 091/11/2015 in Asia will be allowed to follow, or how fast China and North Korea are excluded. Copyright 2016 Pencil Media Pte Netflix will be forced to toe lines in local In China, Netflix says it is still considering Ltd. All Rights Reserved. markets along with everyone else. its options. Looks like not even Netflix has The markets at the top of our watchlist the balls to do first and deal with Chinese are Singapore (where regulations are often authorities later. The decision to exclude viewed as the gold standard by neigh- North Korea is because U.S. regulations c ntentasia bouring markets) and Malaysia, followed preclude American companies from Daily news with by Indonesia and India. operating in North Korea. ContentAsia Insider Hong Kong and the Philippines are un- How much behind the scenes activity is email [email protected] likely to be a problem for Netflix; HBO Asia’s there on a situation where companies on for subscription details HBO Go streaming service is already avail- the ground are held to local standards able in those two markets, uncensored. In and Netflix is given free reign with its 0000 Singapore, HBO Go content is modified (or default pin code? No idea, there has to at least HBO says it is) to comply with local be some. Meanwhile, happy viewing.