The Job Space The place to look for the jobs that count C NTENTASIA See page 5 www.contentasia.tv Issue 110: December 20, 2010-January 16, 2011 what’sinside Summit wraps on high note for 2011 Viewing up, budgets coming together, new services taking off across Asia, original production progress... This year’s second ContentAsia At the same time, speakers atiger’seyes Summit wrapped with a few clear throughout the day highlighted sentiments. And perhaps none the timeless power of storytelling. What’s really going on were clearer than the long life still “You don’t buy a smart phone out there... left in linear television in Asia and to use the phone,” Rob Gilby, the increasing focus on upping Disney Media Distribution’s Asia Fox’s Joon Lee packed Active year-end for Celestial relevance for local audiences. Pacific senior vice president and the most punch at the Celestial Pictures closes 2010 on Layered on top of that reality managing director, said, adding: Disney Media Distribution an active note, with cameras were the digital services that are “You buy a smart phone to use Superhero party that closed rolling on its first feature and expanding traditional media con- the services and take a look at this year’s ContentAsia Sum- deals that give the studio’s sumption, and rethinking – or not the content”. mit. Of all the people who channels access to some of – traditional rights arrangements. 2011 is looking good with, punched the bag, Lee scored the hottest upcoming titles, in- Delegates also heard about the among other things, the biggest highest. Those who were there cluding the Asia remake of Hol- ongoing challenge of monetising formats ever being planned in say Lee used both hands, lywood’s What Women Want, new distribution platforms, al- India and China, the formats giving him double power. We starring Andy Lau and Gong Li. though knowledge of what peo- panel heard. liked him before for thinking See page 3 ple will pay for is growing, and the Media companies with strong out of the box. Now we like radical changes heralded by the syndication units, such as Com- him more. Eyewitness accounts Who said what about... smartphone revolution. More on page 12 are that a Malaysian women’s What Asia is watching these team from free-TV powerhouse days, distributing content, Media Prima did pretty well, localisation, value, measuring putting all other women to new habits and rights, among Finale fever hits Singapore shame. Go Girls! other things. See page 4 Media bosses expect bumper formats year in 2011 Two huge questions The latest seasons of blockbuster remain unanswered as Indonesia’s Trans gears up prime-time regional formats, The Asia’s media industry Trans TV is stepping into the in- Amazing Race Asia season four brings out the sparkly stuff for ternational spotlight in 2011 with, and The Biggest Loser Asia sea- the holiday season. among other things, an inter- son two, wrapped this month, The first is the date of the Big national channel and a higher with finale parties that, among Reveal on Singapore’s new focus on syndication sales. other things, celebrated the on- cross-carriage regulations and See page 5 going popularity of reality shows how, actually, it’s all going to in the region. work. Some are hoping we get People & Parties Ratings released so far show to know before the end of the Singapore was party central that The Biggest Loser Asia finale year. Either way, there’s still not this month as Asia’s media was Diva Universal’s number one a programmer we can find in industry gathered for the big- Tuesday prime-time show across favour of the new rules. gest regional week of the year. all key satellite and cable TV The second question is the Here’s who was at... demographics in Malaysia. This shape in Asia of the merged • ContentAsia’s second an- covered all viewers 4+, males 4+, Comcast NBC Universal entity. nual ContentAsia Summit females 4+ as well as women 15- And no, the exec search for • Disney Media Distribution’s Raj Vivegananoam, winner of The 44 and adults 25-54 (source: AGB an Asia channels vice presi- Super Hero cocktail at the Biggest Loser Asia season two Nielsen media research) dent that everyone is asking ContentAsia Summit The finale was number one in its other places, China, where Fre- us about is probably part of • The Mix, the first joint gathering slot among all English-language mantleMedia Asia has sold Hole the ‘business as usual’ stand of informal industry get-togethers pay-TV channels among women in the Wall to state broadcaster and not a secret signal about – Singapore’s Media Nite and aged 15-44, and the second China Central Television (CCTV) things to come. Insiders say Hong Kong’s Media Mingle. highest rated show for the night. for its flagship CCTV1 channel. they honestly don’t know yet, Ratings for the rest of the region The show, which has been and even if the announce- PLUS and for The Amazing Race Asia on air for more than a month, ment does come before year have not yet been released. has become the number one end, it will be at least mid-2011 • Things 2 know... snippets 2011 is shaping up to be a entertainment show in China before it’s all sorted out. from the TV world around us bumper formats year in, among More on page 11 01 Happy Holidays! C NTENTASIA ContentAsia Issue 110: December 20, 2010-January 16, 2011 02 December 20, 2010-January 16, 2011 things2know Camera’s roll on Celestial’s My Kingdom Film kicks off plans to produce three to five features a year, Pollack says France 24 heads to India French platform France 24 Filming began this month in has been granted its Indian Shanghai on Celestial Pictures’ broadcast licence. Distribu- multi-million dollar martial arts tion talks are already under epic My Kingdom. The film is way, Philippe Rouxel, France scheduled for release in the 24’s vice president worldwide second half of 2011. distribution, said. “The op- My Kingdom kicks off Celes- portunities offered by India tial’s plans to produce three to are incredible and we look five features a year, says chief forward to being able to executive Ross Pollack. deploy all our efforts there,” My Kingdom, directed by he added. Gao Xiaosong, is the tale of two brothers’ quest for fame, love Colors comes to Singapore and revenge, set against the Singapore pay-TV platform Shanghai opera stage during StarHub is adding Hindi gen- its 1920’s heyday. The film stars eral entertainment channel Wu Chun (14 Blades), Barbie Hsu Colors to its line up on 31 (Reign of Assassins), and pop December, along with Japa- sensation Han Geng in his fea- Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu stars in My Kingdom nese public broadcaster ture film debut. NHK’s NHK World internation- Celestial is co-producing My al service. Colors joins India’s Kingdom with Chinese studio deal with Distribution Workshop. media platform for the first time. top channels, including Star Skyland Films (Beijing) Company The strategic licensing agree- The first and exclusive multi- Plus and Sony Entertainment and production company DW ment with digital entertainment year pay-TV licensing agreement Television, on the Singapore Films. Celestial has all rights outside company Creative Technol- with Distribution Workshop covers platform. The channel will China. Skyland will handle sales ogy involves distributing 668 Shaw the new 3-D martial arts extrava- be offered free until mid- and marketing in China. Brothers films and 500 hours of ganza, Flying Swords of Dragon January, and priced at S$8 a In addition to feature films, the Celestial’s original TV dramas on Gate (working title), by iconic month after that. NHK World Malaysian-owned studio and portable devices in Singapore. director Tsui Hark and starring joins StarHub’s complimen- channels operator has launched The agreement gives Creative Jet Li and Zhou Xun. The deal tary bouquet. drama production in China, and non-exclusive digital download also gives Celestial access to the is looking at modernising the rights and internet download- Chinese remake of hit Hollywood Now tracks K-pop Shaw Brothers’ library “in a way to-own rights to a slate of films, movie, What Women Want, star- Hong Kong’s Now TV has makes it even more relevant for including The One-Armed Swords- ring Andy Lau and Gong Li. added Korean pop chan- younger audiences, whether man, Come Drink with Me, The films will air on Celestial’s nel KMTV to its pay-TV line that’s through video games and Vengeance and The Heroic Ones. flagship Celestial Movies chan- up. The channel, featuring other media,” Pollack said during Drama titles include Empress Feng nel in Singapore, Malaysia, icons such as Wonder Girls, the second ContentAsia Summit of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Silent Brunei and Indonesia. The agree- costs HK$25/US$3 a month. in Singapore earlier this month. Tears and Let’s Dance. ment includes pay-per-view and The channel is offered in The movie also tops a fortnight Celestial said the Creative ar- VOD rights. Earlier this year, Ce- Korean with traditional of Celestial announcements, rangement made available a lestial signed output deals with Chinese subtitles. including a digital deal for Singa- significant number of titles for full- Media Asia Distribution and with pore and a four-country output length download via a portable Emperor Motion Pictures. r side in he inside ia om t s s fr a ew t t n n en nt e o t c n ia be happy on the inside s A y l C i a d ...with ContentAsia Insider, delivered electronically to you wherever you are Subscription includes fully searchable online news and features database email [email protected] or call +65 6846 5988 for subscription information C NTENTASIA 03 December 20, 2010-January 16, 2011 Who said what about..