6-19 April 2015 C NTENTASIA #TheJobsSpace pages 7

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FreeView gears up for Thai launch New platform promises subscription HD

New Thai-owned satellite platform soft launches in Thailand by May with plans for more than 110 free- TV channels – including 40 HD channels – over the next three years as well as ex- pansion to neighbouring markets in the following phases.

Story on page 2

Celestial Tiger launches 1st original production Double Vision to make new reality show for Kix

Hong Kong-based channel operator, Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), has launched its first original production initia- tive. Malaysian production house Double Vision has been commissioned to pro- duce the 12-part reality show,

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HK Filmart closes on 7,100+ visitors ATV drama plays out against vibrant backdrop

As Hong Kong free-TV broadcaster Asia Television (ATV) faced a dramatic end, Hong Kong’s media bosses played host to the most vibrant Filmart ever, with a re- cord 7,100 attendees at the 19th annual event. More on page 18 c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 2.

A+E greenlights new FreeView gears up for Thailand launch photo format season New satellite platform promises subscription-free HD History Asia to air New Thai-owned satellite platform Step’s Philipp Heussen, who is leading the Photo Face-Off 2 this year FreeView soft launches in Thailand by FreeView project. May with plans for more than 110 free- He describes FreeView’s content policy TV channels – including 40 HD channels as “mass niche”, divided into about 25 – over the next three years as well as ex- categories ranging from travel and food pansion to neighbouring markets in the to kids and news. Channels will be curat- following phases. ed to deliver tightly targetted audiences. The platform, owned by 15-year-old About 70% of Thailand’s TV revenue goes Thai media company Next Step Co Ltd, to mass-appeal channels. For starters, Next rolls out with six original channels and Step is going after the other 30% – approx the 36 digital terrestrial (DTT) channels li- US$463 million of the total TV spend of censed last year. THB50 billion/US$1.5 billion – that goes on The service, carried on an Intelsat satel- specialist channels. Photo Face-Off season one, lite, is delivered free. The only cost is the The six in-house Next Step channels A+E Networks Asia/History set-top receiver and a 60cm Ku-band include a documentary service, primar- A+E Networks Asia has greenlit a second dish, which will be available in about ily programmed with wildlife and nature season of original competition series 2,000 outlets across Thailand. Local com- shows; HD wildlife/nature channel New Photo Face-Off. pany InfoSat is supplying the boxes. The Explorer; science/tech channel MySci; The show, expanded to one-hour epi- hardware and installation costs are maxi- lifestyle channel Real Metro; and a Thai sodes from last season’s half-hours, will mum THB2,000/US$62. arts, music and culture channel. A sixth air on History later this year. Box penetration forecasts in year one channel, Thainess TV, carrying Thai-made Season two is being produced by are 500,000, increasing to one million in docs, is already on air. -based Beach House Pictures, year two. Projections are for 60% pen- “These channels are very easy to un- which has just completed Asia’s Next etration of Thailand’s 22 million homes in derstand,” Heussen says, adding: “We Top Model for Star World. eight to 10 years. have carefully selected content for Thai Season one, produced by Fremantle- FreeView channels will be 70% local audiences, so they can expand their Media Asia, ran on Tuesday nights from 23 and 30% international, all language knowledge”. September 2014 to 28 October 2014. The customised and targetting middle-class Next Step is going to both the local and series won its timeslot in Singapore, Malay- upcountry audiences. The new HD DTT international markets to bring the total sia and Thailand (Source: Nielsen Malay- channels will be broadcast in HD, giving number of channels on offer up to 111. sia/Thailand; Kantar Singapore, Period: 23 FreeView a quality advantage over the Heussen believes Thai media need to Sep – 28 Oct 2014, Tuesdays, 10.30pm). majority of satellite channels available in step up to fill the gaps created by con- Professional photographer Justin Mott Thailand at the moment. stant political change, the absence of returns for season two. The open casting “The objective is content that is infor- a long-term education strategy for Thai- call for amateur photographers across mative, educational and entertaining land, and an un-curated free-TV envi- Asia went out this week. The series pits at the same time. Once the concept ronment. “People need alternatives... to amateur photographers against Mott in is proven in Thailand, we will duplicate be educated in an entertaining way for a series of photography challenges. it in other countries as well,” says Next long-term benefit,” he says.

contentasiasummit.com facebook.com/ContentAsia @contentasia c ntentasia Singapore 2-4 September 2015 creating whole new conversations about content in Asia Programme info from Janine Stein at [email protected]. Sponsorship info from Masliana Masron at [email protected] or +65 6846-5988 6-19 April 2015 page 3.

content_asia_GOT.indd 1 11/3/15 11:19 am c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 4.

Sazzy Falak picked Celestial Tiger launches original productions for Diva style show Malaysia’s Double Vision to produce 12-part reality series How Do I Look? Asia debuts mid-2015 Hong Kong-based channel this month. operator and distributor, The series is based on a mar- Malaysian actress and Celestial Tiger Entertain- keting campaign and com- designer Sazzy Falak ment (CTE), has launched petition that CTE launched will host the Asia its first original production for Kix in 2014 in Malaysia version of NBCU- initiative. to search for “Malaysia’s niversal’s How The three-year old com- Toughest”. Do I Look? The pany will premiere home- Betty Tsui, CTE’s vice presi- series airs on Diva grown reality series, U Tough dent, programming – Kix and later this year. Enough?, on action entertain- Thrill, says the decision to turn a Falak (Gol & ment channel Kix/Kix HD in late Aaron Aziz marketing campaign into a reality Ginku) will “comple- May with a one-hour special entertainment series was based on scheduled for July. Sazzy Falak ment” Jeannie Mai, host strong stories of “endurance, resilience of the U.S. version, the The 12-part series (11 episodes of up to and tenacity” that emerged as a result of Singapore-based regional network says. 30 minutes each plus 60 mins) by Malay- last year’s contest. Mai is making special appearances; sia’s Double Vision, goes into production Actor Aaron Aziz will host the show. NBC hasn’t said whether these are live in Asia. Sources in the U.S. say Mai’s daily show, The Real, means she probably 7 April premiere for Food Wars Asia won’t make it out here in person, but the network in Asia hasn’t confirmed one kicks off original content plans way or the other. The eight-part series is being produced Scripps Networks Interactive new on-air faces. by NBCUniversal’s Matchbox Asia. premieres its first original The series, adapted from a Food Network Asia produc- Scripps’ format in the U.S., tion, Food Wars Asia, on is being produced by En- Tuesday, 7 April, at 8pm demol . ABS-CBN retires The (HK/Singapore). Food Wars Asia pits res- Buzz after 15 years The six-part half hour series taurants in Singapore and Showbiz news “will is hosted by newbie Michele Malaysia against each other Lean, who won a regional tal- to see who makes the best never die”, Michele Lean network promises ent contest Scripps ran to find version of local dishes.

Philippines broadcast network ABS- CBN has retired long-running showbiz FIC Content Sales debuts NHNZ Archive talk show, The Buzz, after more than 15 years. The last episode was on Sunday, Fox International Channels Content Sales 5 April. is offering the first batch of programming The network said in the announce- out of NHNZ’s new Archive Unit at this ment that “The Buzz deems it a neces- year’s MipTV (13-16 April). sary step to reinvent to start anew” but The first three titles are natural his- promised that “showbiz news will never tory specials Fur Seals: Battle for Survival, die. The showbiz talk genre remains.” Japan’s Wild Year and Madagascar’s There’s no word yet on when or if the Legendary Lemurs. NHNZ launched The show will return. Thanking viewers for Archive Unit in 2014 and signed 16 hours of sticking with the show, ABS-CBN said co-production with National Geographic Madagascar’s Legendary Lemurs only: “See you again soon”. Wild U.S. and International. c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 5.

Schult joins Tan to head Videofashion Asia Pacific Imagine Group Fashion brand expands global footprint

Former FremantleMedia Asia manag- U.S.-based Videofashion has panding its client base and cover- ine director, Patrick Schult, is joining Riaz opened its first base in Asia Pa- ing fashion on a local level. Mehta’s Imagine Group to head up new cific. The new regional joint Tan was most recently chief business development. Schult joins former venture, based in Singapore, operating officer of a Singa- NBCUniversal channels vice president, is headed by chief executive pore conglomerate with inter- David Gunson, at the Singapore-based Michael Tan. ests in luxury marina clubs, quick regional operation. Announcing Asia-Pacific ex- service restaurant KFC Vietnam, pansion plans in the run up to Michael Tan and casual dining and distribu- MipTV, Tan said the joint venture tion of FMCG products. He was CJ, Amuse tie up on would provide stronger support to ex- previously Asia chief operating officer Korea/Japan drama isting customers in the region, while ex- for Reed Elsevier. New series rides higher regional cooperation

Korea’s CJ E&M and Japan’s Amuse Rodriguez upped at ABS-CBN Global are producing new drama starring boy New MENA boss to drive int’l expansion band Big Bang’s T.O.P and Japanese actress Juri Ueno (Nodame Cantabile). ABS-CBN Global has upped Kai and strategic planning head, and The two entertainment companies say Rodriguez to managing direc- has worked for the Lopez Group the series, a love story targeting global tor of Europe, Middle East and of Companies since 1996. audiences, will air in second half 2015 Africa operations. Rodriguez Among other roles, she was fi- across multiple platforms. The show is will be based in the company’s nance director of Studio 23 and the story of two people who overcome European HQ in London. in 2000 joined ABS-CBN Corpora- memories of heartbreak while attempt- Rodriguez takes over from Ed- tion as AVP for finance. She was ing to find new love. The project took gardo Garcia, who has assumed Kai Rodriguez appointed CFO of the ABS-CBN about a year to put together. the role of ABS-CBN Global’s Global group in late 2004. In Oc- chief financial officer and strategic plan- tober 2005, she was appointed concur- ning head. Rodriguez was most recently rent strategic planning head of the glob- Ah Boys heads for ABS-CBN Global’s chief finance officer al group. Hong Kong, Taiwan Ah Boys to Men 3 breaks Malaysia BO records Online video leads adspend growth Singapore listed film producer/distributor Global adex growth dips to 4.4% in 2015 mm2 Asia is hoping to take Jack Neo’s chart topper Ah Boys to Men 3: Frog- Global online video advertising grew 34% Between 2014 and 2017, ZenithOptimedia men to Hong Kong and Taiwan later this to US$10.9 billion in 2014, and forecasts expects an average growth rate of 8.5% a year after breaking box office records in are that growth will average 29% a year year in China. Malaysia with RM3.63 million/US$1 million to reach US$23.3 billion in 2017, accord- ZenithOptimedia predicts global ad ex- from 74 screens in two weeks. The sequel, ing to ZenithOptimedia’s latest Advertis- penditure will grow 4.4% in 2015, reach- Ah Boys to Men 2, took RM3.50 million. In ing Expenditure Forecasts. ing US$544 billion by the end of the year. Singapore, the third film in the series fell Despite a slowing economy, mainland Japan is expected to be up 2.5%. Ad- short at S$7.52 million/US$5.56 million after China adspend will grow 9.1% this year – vanced Asia will grow by 3.4%. Fast-track 42 days, S$370,000/US$274,000 less than below the 10.5% annual growth averaged Asia (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the box office record of S$7.89 million/ over the past five years, but more than Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand US$5.83 million set by Ah Boys to Men 2. twice the rate of the world as a whole. and Vietnam) will be up 9.2%.

c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 6.

Nick to air Alvin & the Gupta eyes 10x subs $ increase in India Chipmunks in Asia Revenues could be US$48b a year, Star boss says

Nickelodeon premieres the return of India’s broadcast subscription business dia charged Rs10/US$0.16 for Star Plus, Alvin and the Chipmunks to television had the potential to grow 10-fold to “which caters to a very large consumer after 20 years in new series, Alvinnn!!! Rs300,000 crore/US$48 billion a year, pro- base”. For Star World, “where only a and The Chipmunks, on Friday, 8 May vided it “moves from a pre-liberalisation small set of consumers watch English at 6.50pm (HK/Singapore). The 52-part mindset of price control to free market,” content”, the price is Rs2.5/US$0.04. “It is chief operating officer, Sanjay ironic that in India the pricing for premi- Gupta, said at this year’s FICCI Frames um content is less”. In another example, in Mumbai. in Kerala, Star India priced Asianet, the During a panel on a vision for Indian top channel in that market, at Rs5.35/ broadcasting by 2020, Gupta said the US$0.09 “and the regulator asked us to true value of the industry was far from take out that extra Rs0.35. I don’t know being unlocked. what the right price should be, but let

We are running an industry of the Alvinnn!!! and The Chipmunks 21st century with a mindset from 11-minute series will also air in the Philip- the pre-liberalisation era.” pines at 7.30pm on the same day and on Friday, 15 May at 7.55pm in Malaysia. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Star India After the premiere, new episodes will air on Saturdays at various times across the “All broadcasters are creating as much the market determine that.” region. Alvinnn!!! and The Chipmunks is as 100,000 hours of fresh content each Explaining how pricing is still genre- produced by Bagdasarian Productions year, engaging 700 million consumers in based and not driven by the nature of and OuiDO! Productions. this country, which is not a small num- content, Gupta said that despite the ber,” Gupta said, adding: “But what are “big difference in [sports] costs between people paying for consuming all of this World Cup cricket, which possibly every- TVNZ picks up content? Around Rs30,000 crore/US$4.83 one is watching, and UFC – which many billion a year. See how that compares would not have even heard of – the Jay’s Jungle to a simple market like soaps and de- pricing remains the same”. tergents, for which people are paying “The fundamental challenge en route Natalie Lawley’s Escapade Media has Rs100,000 crore/US$16 billion a year in to unlocking the full potential value of sold a second season of Ambience India”. the media and entertainment industry,” Entertainment show Jay’s Jungle to New Gupta said he believed broadcast Gupta said, lay in the fact that “we are Zealand’s TVNZ. Like the first season, subscription could rise to Rs300,000 running an industry of the 21st century season two will air on TVNZ’s Kidzone crore/US$48 billion. “The fundamental with a mindset from the pre-liberalisation channel. issue is that we have regulated this in- era. It is ironic that in a creative industry dustry from a very wrong perspective,” where value unlocking can come from he said. celebrating diversity, we are still caught He pointed to India’s telecoms indus- in celebrating uniformity.” try, which he said had grown dramati- The FICCI-KPMG Indian Media & En- cally in the last 10 years – from 40 million tertainment Industry Report 2015 shows subscribers to 900 million subscribers and that the total industry grew to Rs102,600 from US$8 billion to US$100 billion – on the crore/US$16.5 billion million in calendar back of de-regulation and telcos imple- year 2014. menting measures to benefit consumers. Star India broadcasts more than 40 Citing glaring and illogical price dis- channels – including eight sports chan- Jay’s Jungle parities in media, Gupta said Star In- nels – in seven languages. c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 the NTspaceENTASIA Page 7. JC b the place to look for the jobs that matter

FilmBox debuts on Dens.TV Four SPI channels head for Indonesia

Indonesian IPTV platform Dens.TV has agreed to carry four new FilmBox-branded entertainment channels operated by RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network is a venture of two of the Europe’s SPI International. The SPI TV package is being broad- world’s largest content producers: RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, and CBS Studios International, cast in English. the leading supplier of programming to the international market The channels cover multiple genres, including fashion news, place. The Network has two channels: the general entertain- documentaries on nature/human civilisation, extreme sports ment channel, RTL CBS Entertainment HD and the male-skewed and festival/arthouse movies. entertainment channel, RTL CBS Extreme HD. The Channels The four channels include factual platform, DocuBox HD, are distributed in over 15 Asian markets including Hong Kong, which promises a line-up of award-winning documentary fea- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand tures, “exploring mysteries and beauty of our planet”; and and Vietnam. Fast&FunBox HD, which airs action sports such as car racing, Program Manager - based in Singapore motorcross, base jumping and skydiving. • Manage broadcast schedule (including live content) and Filmbox International executive director, Berk Uziyel, says the logistics Indonesian roll out is part of a broader Asia growth plan. • Work with EVP, Programming to create short and long term Dens.TV, operated under CBN’s subsidiary Digdaya Duta schedules and highlights Digital, launched in January. The platform has signed carriage • Manage/coordinate all on air information – content, (including deals with, among others, Da Vinci Learning. program inventory, advertising and on air promotions) • Ensure all schedules are optimized to maximize ratings and ad The video channels are bundled with internet connections sales provided by CBN. The four packages start from Rp499,000/ • Support EVP, Programming with International Acquisitions, US$38 for 43 channels, 10 video-on-demand titles and 5Mbps sourcing content and executing deals internet connection to Rp1,599,000/US$122 for 48 channels, 10 VOD titles and 25Mbps internet connection. Experience Required • Minimum 5 yrs of relevant work experience Haslingden’s ZooMoo turns 1 Head of Legal - based in Singapore • Reporting to the RTL CBS Asia CEO Channel celebrates 12+ markets • Draft and negotiate all carriage agreements across all Asian platform partners David Haslingden’s ZooMoo kids channel celebrates its first birth- • Draft and negotiate all content agreements with all U.S. studios day this month with launches in 12 markets across Asia and Latin and other content providers America and six more carriage deals on the table for 2015. • Draft and negotiate production and talent agreements ZooMoo Networks’ chief executive, David Haslingden, said • Draft advertising sales agreements • Company secretary duties and compliance matters the decision to design the TV channel with a second screen • Liaise with shareholders in the U.S. and Europe on all legal matters app from inception had paid off.

In March, the ZooMoo App received a Parents’ Choice Ap- Experience Required proved Award Seal of Approval under the programme run by • Minimum 10 yrs of relevant work experience the Parent’s Choice Foundation in the United States. The Parents’ Choice review called the app “safe, intuitively Knowledge and Skills (for the above positions) designed and [an] entertaining way for young children to learn • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills facts about animals and habitats, as well as the importance of • Proficient with computers and office software (word, excel, power point, etc.) caring for them”. • Passion for TV and media • Creative, proactive personality • Strong attention to detail • Desire to learn and develop

Please send your CV to [email protected], with job title and current salary. ZooMoo founder David Haslingden Click here to see more job listings c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 8.

Who was at... HBO Asia’s Oscars party at the PCTA in

Tim Bautista, Cable Boss; Jonathan Spink, HBO Fan Beibei, Steve Burton, HBO Asia Avi Himatsinghani, Amit Malhotra, Disney Asia; Peter Yee, Cable Boss Rewind Networks

Alan Hodges, A+E Networks Asia; Magdalene Ew, Felipe Bince III, Cable Holdings Inc; Allan Dungao, Satellite Cable Network; Jonathan HBO Asia Ralph B. Casino, Southern Inc; Allan Motong, Cordoba Cable TV Network; Marme P. Dungao, Satellite Cable Network Inc Alonsabe, GSAT

Former PCTA president, Fernando Morales; co- Jane D. Chua, Mico Marco, Cora Santiago, - Jon Arayata, James Dumlao, SkyCable; Theresa chair PCTA Technical Committee, Julian Ventura; Cable; Mickey Ong, Celestial Tiger Entertainment Ong, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific; Jomar Jacelyn Kek, HBO Asia; former PCTA president, Leo Lobregat, First United Broadcasting Corp Wong; former PCTA director, Pacito Manlangit

Baby Q. Zarate, Emmylou Villasis, Cynthia Paguio, AC Villacorta, Gel Jose, Alan C. Supnet, Jon Arayata, SkyCable; Bryan Krishnan, Julian Lim, HBO Asia; Cable Boss Thirdee Deacosta, Jojo Javillonar, SkyCable party pics brought to you by

6-19 April 2015 c ntentasiaStanding L-R: Eves Ledesma – AVP Finance Cable BOSS, Emmylou Villasis – OMI Operations Manager Page 9. Seated L-R: Bryan Krishnan – Senior Manager Affiliate Marketing HBO Asia, Kelly Low, HBO Asia, Magdalene Ew – SVP Marketing HBO Asia

Who was at... Cable Boss’ PCTA party in Manila

L-R: Baby Zarate, Emmylou Villasis and Tim Bautista with Gladys Jacinto - Affiliates and Distribution Head FIC and the FIC Channels Management Team.

Standing from left: Eves Ledesma, Emmylou Villa- Standing from left: Nirav Haji, Simply Money, Tim Peter Yee, Cable Boss; Jonathan Spink, HBO Asia; Standing sis, Cable L- R:Boss; Eves (seated Ledesma from – AVP left) Finance Bryan Cable Krishnan, BOSS, EmmylouStandingBautista, Villasis L- R:Baby – Nirav OMI Zarate, Haji Cable– Simply Boss. Money, Seated Tim from Bautista left: – VP/COOAlan Dungao, Cable BOSS, PCTA; BabyBeibei Fan, HBO Asia; Edric OperationsLKelly-R: BabyLow, Manager Zarate,Magdalene Leo San Ew, Miguel HBO Asia– , Mark LayZarate – CASBAA,Venancio – AVP EmmylouLo,Network Cedric Distrution Sazon, Alex Cable Paras, BOSS Joel Da- Dy, Cable Boss SeatedVillasis, L -TimR: Bryan Bautista, Krishnan Peter – YeeSenior – PresidentManager Affiliate Cable BOSS MarketingSeated bao, HBO L -PhilippinesR: Asia, Dr. Kelly Venancio Cable LoTelevision – PCTA Association Director, Engr. (PCTA) Cedric Sazon – PCTA President, Low, HBO Asia, Magdalene Ew – SVP Marketing HBO Asia Alex Paras – PCTA Director, Joel Dabao –L PCTA-R: Baby Director Zarate, Tim Bautista, Peter Yee, Jonathan Spink – CEO HBO Asia, Alan Dungao – PCTA Director, Beibei Fan– SVP Business Development HBO Asia, Edric Dy

– Business Development Officer Cable BOSS

Tim Bautista, Cable Boss; Leo San Miguel, Cablelink; Mark Lay, Casbaa; Eves Ledesma, Edward Chen, Renee Tan, Ricklee StandingLJanine-R: Tim Stein, L Bautista,-R: NiravContentAsia Janine Haji – SteinSimply Money, Tim Bautista – VP/COOEmmylou Cable BOSS, Villasis, Baby Tim Bautista, Cable Boss Zarate – AVP Network Distrution Cable BOSS Seated L-R: Dr. Venancio Lo – PCTA Director, Engr. Cedric Sazon – PCTA President, Alex Paras – PCTA Director, Joel Dabao – PCTA Director

L-R: Nirav Haji, Tim Bautista, Karl Dy – Business Development Head Cable BOSS, Baby Zarate,L -PeterR: Eves Yee, Janine Ledesma, Stein, Ramez Edward Shiekh Chen – NBCU, – Ricklee, Lindsay NgoRenee – Marketing Tan – Ricklee, Baby Zarate, Tim Manager NBCUBautista L-R: Baby Zarate, Leo San Miguel – Cablelink, Mark Lay – CASBAA, Emmylou

Villasis, Tim Bautista, Peter Yee – President Cable BOSS

Ramez Shiekh, NBCU; Jomar Lobregat, First United Cable Boss team: Standing from left: Mydee Diao, Emmylou Villasis, Cynthia Paguio, Clara Roura, Che Broadcasting Corp Carasig, Billy Salcedo, Tim Bautista, Baby Zarate, Karen Cepeda, Mark Carasig, Michelle Villaflor, Fe Pac- toranan. Seated from left: Eves Ledesma, Don Borbor, Danilo Mateo, Gary Liwanag, Joemell Alba, Dave Aranjuez. Cable BOSS Family party pics brought to you by Standing L-R: Mydee Diao, Emmylou Villasis, Cynthia Paguio, Clara Roura, Che Carasig, Billy Salcedo, Tim Bautista, Baby Zarate, Karen Cepeda, Mark Carasig, Michelle Villaflor, Fe Pactoranan.

Seated L-R: Eves Ledesma, Don Borbor, Danilo Mateo, Gary Liwanag, Joemell Alba, Dave Aranjuez.

L-R: Tim Bautista, Janine Stein

Out now!

Live: 235 Trim: 245 Bleed: 259

ISSUE ONE 2015 C NTENTASIA C NTENTASIA The difference on-demand PLUS: Formats, TV life beyond cricket , line & sinker: in India – nor not, what’s going on in OTT gamechangers is really making in Asia Asia’s factual schedules: Mongolia, the industry in numbers Asia’s top factual trends Who’s who and what’s on where

Bleed: 349 Bleed: Trim: 335 Live: 325 FACTUAL 2015

Bad people make good TV.

        

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MIPTV _Content_Asia_Front cover /Volumes/Print/Jobs/360_Creative/2015_360_Creative_jobs/15-0087-15-A MIPTV

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1 ContentAsia...in print+interactive

Find us at MIP Doc (11-12 April), MIP TV (13-16 April) and at MPA’s APOS (22-24 April)

For editorial info, contact Janine at [email protected] To advertise in any of ContentAsia’s publications or online, contact Masliana at [email protected] (Asia, Australia and Middle East) or Leah at [email protected] (Americas and Europe)

6-19 April 2015 page 10. ... & here’s what’s inside 4 C NTENTASIA contents ContentAsia... in print and online . Find us at MIP Doc (11-12 April), MIP TV (13-16 April) and at MPA’s APOS (22-24 April)

Travel Bug, World Heritage Channel What’s going on in...

6 Factual 8 Mongolia 10 What’s your story

When Turner adds documentary Mongolia’s broadcasters Talking to people service World Heritage Chan- nel to its Asia bouquet in the and platforms may be doing big & bigger things next few months, the regional battling. But their commit- to move Asia’s content network takes another step into an expanded future mapped ment to upping their game industry forward... out 15 months ago with the ap- pointment of Ricky Ow. runs strong.

We recognise the need for high quality 12 stories to be built by 18 Asia for Asia… con- VOD in Asia tent that resonates OTT Update well across Asia with Korean content distributors quality scripting and Asian telco Singtel is changing might be weeping over China production... This will right now, but on the whole, be part of our journey the regional OTT game with a rights owners are revelling in new in the years ahead.” new platform that combines online opportunities opening up across the region. Peter Bithos, Hooq U.S. studio content with local page 22 libraries and up-close-and-in- the-bank billing relationships with about 500 million custom- ers. But this is an environment 26 of mega-challenges, not least Formats content costs, infrastructure is- A US$16-million formats kicked off in Asia in March with sues, and an estimated total Asia’s Got Talent and Asia’s Next online video subscription rev- Top Model. Coming soon are the first Asian versions enue of US$2.3 billion across of MasterChef and 13 markets by 2020. How Do I Look?. The four are fuel-

ling hopes of a My Husband’s Lover, GMA Network new era of pan- regional mega- formats. 42 46 In 32 SPORTS Numbers

Formats: Who’s Who India’s ad industry yawned Star India’s Uday Shankar when Star India presented US$400m Telugu play & why Who’s who on Asia’s formats the Pro Kabaddi League. Uday Shankar thinks it’s impor- tant; FIC celebrates 10X over; charts. Plus details of the top How wrong they were. Or Asia-Pac online video $$, and formats on air across the region were they? Here’s what other numbers the industry is happened next and why. in the first three months of 2015. counting right now.

Asia’s Next Top Model season three host, Georgina Wilson

issue one, april 2014

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6-19 April 2015 page 11. c ntentasia schedules 6-19 April 2015 Page 12.

ContentAsia Schedules – a look at scheduling strategies around the region. Nat Geo People

Day/Time Monday, 9 March Tuesday, 10 March Wednesday, 11 March Thursday, 12 March Friday, 13 March Saturday, 14 March Sunday, 15 March 6.35pm: George Clarke's Hook It, Cook It Ep6: River Hook It, Cook It Ep8: Baking Good, Baking 7pm Hook It, Cook It Ep2: Imperia Hook It, Cook It Ep4: Herault Roam: India Amazing Spaces S2 Ep9 Test Pyrenees Bad Ep6 David Rocco's Dolce Vita 4: Valentine Warner's Wild Baking Good, Baking East Bites West With Chef World's Best Chefs: Grant 7.30pm Food School: Seattle Wineroads: Rhone Valley Alchemy Table: Yukon Territory Bad Ep5 Wan: Plymouth Achatz Lee Chan's World Food Hook, Line and Sisters: East Bites West With Chef Chefs Run Wild: Philippines World's Best Chefs: Jose 7.55pm Rustic Adventures Italy Ep8 Eat Street S5: Seoul Food Tour: Vietnam Danger On Deck Wan: Falmouth Part 2 Andres Lee Chan's World Food Market Values: Greece- Hook, Line and Sisters: Take David Rocco's Dolce India: Top Tables, Top Cities: 8.25pm Travel Oz: Vic Fires Rustic Adventures Italy Ep8 Tour: Egypt Athens My Fish… Please? Chef's Challenge Barcelona Meat V Veg: Maria Heart Baking Good, Baking Tales From The Bush Larder 8.50pm Eat Street S5: Serial Grillers Bondi Rescue S4: Ep3 and Martha Wolfenden Bad Ep5 S2: Samburu, Kenya Eat: The Story Of Food: Home Strange Home Ep15 Top Tables, Top Cities: Tales From The Bush Larder Tales From The Bush Larder Baked & Fuzz 9.20pm Bondi Rescue S4: Ep4 Eat Street: Fresh, Local, Wild Barcelona S1: Crayfish S2: Entebbe, Uganda

World's Best Chefs: Massimo Tales From The Bush Larder On Hannibal's Trail: Hannibal Food Lover's Guide To The East Bites West With Chef 9.45pm Wineroads: Rhone Valley Bottura S1: Rice and Fowl The Great Planet: Fancy Fast Food Wan: Plymouth Cesar To The Rescue Asia: Singapore's Canine Prisoner World's Best Chefs: Michel David Rocco's Dolce India: Food Lover's Guide To The East Bites West With Chef 10.15pm Rustic Adventures Italy Ep8 Bras Chef's Challenge Dream Cruises S2: Aqua Planet: Sweet Tooth Wan: Falmouth Valentine Warner's Wild American Food Battle: Exposition Mv Aqua David Rocco's Dolce Vita: Eat Street S3: Sea Food 10.40pm Rustic Adventures: Italy Ep7 Travel Oz: Vic Fires Table: Yukon Territory Health Food In L.A. Room With A View & Eat It Lee Chan's World Food Tales From The Bush Larder Eat Street S3: Home 11.10pm Eat Street S5: Seoul Food Grandma's Boy: Rieti Tour: Vietnam S1: Mud Crabs Cooking On The Run Eat: The Story Of Food: Home Strange Home Ep14 Tales From The Bush Larder Guilty Pleasures Lee Chan's World Food Grandma's Boy: 11.35pm Eat Street S5: Serial Grillers S1: African Wild Honey & Rustic Adventures Italy Ep8 Tour: Egypt Graffignano Game Meat 12am

Food: 25hrs/70% Travel: 4hrs/11% Lifestyle: 3hrs/7% People: 2hrs/6% People&pets: 1hr/3% History: 1hr/3%

Day/Time Monday, 6 April Tuesday, 7 April Wednesday, 8 April Thursday, 9 April Friday, 10 April Saturday, 11 April Sunday, 12 April 6.35pm: Dog Whisperer S2: 6.35pm: Home Strange 6.35pm: Home Strange 6.35pm: Dog Whisperer S2: 6.35pm: Dog Whisperer S2: Baking Good, Baking Bad Into The Drink: Costa Rica 7pm Drop It Sugar!, Three's a Home Ep15 Home Ep16 Bikini, Fella, Winston & Oliver Cesar's Toughest Cases Ep10 Part 2 Crowd, The Other Woman Valentine Warner's Wild David Rocco's Dolce Vita Market Values: Turkey - Baking Good, Baking East Bites West with Chef 7.30pm Table: to PEI to S4: Sauces Istanbul Bad Ep9 Wan: Devizes Cruise Ship Diaries: City Chase Rome Ep2 Carnival Eats: Miami-Dade Honeymoon Season Lee Chan's World Food East Bites West with Chef 7.55pm Eat Street S5: Monster Trucks County Fair/Sarasota Tour: Malaysia Wan: Wells George Clarke's Amazing County Agricultural Fair Space: Ep1 Lee Chan's World Food Eat Street S2: Bacon Mania Carnival Eats: 89er Days/ David Rocco's Dolce India: Meat V Veg: Julie Hedley 8.25pm Tour: U.S.A. Baby Pungo Strawberry Festival Chennai Express Eat: The Story of Food: and Darius Dar Khan Tales from the Bush Larder David Rocco's Dolce India: Baking Good, Baking Bad Baked & Buzz The Food Files (Detectives): 8.50pm Get Stuffed: King Trapper Bondi Rescue S4 Ep11 S3: Lake Kariba - Zambia Holi Gurudrwara Ep10 Noodles Get Stuffed: World Pizza Tales from the Bush Larder David Rocco's Dolce India: Eat Street S5: Claws For The Food Files (Detectives): 9.20pm Bondi Rescue S4 Ep12 Eat Street S5: Monster Trucks Games S1: Sailfish Warrior Chef Celebration Fruits And Vegetables World's Best Chefs: Juan Tales from the Bush Larder Meat V Veg: Julie Hedley Food Lover's Guide To The East Bites West with Chef 9.45pm Food School: Mexico Mari Arzak S2: Kampala, Uganda and Darius Dar Khan Planet 2: Oaxaca Style Wan: Devizes George Clarke's Amazing World's Best Chefs: Michel My Sri Lanka With Peter: Tales from the Bush Larder Into The Drink: Honduras Food Lover's Guide To The East Bites West with Chef Space Ep2 10.15pm Guerard Kuruvita Ep1 S3: Lake Kariba - Zambia Part2 Planet 2: Farm To Fork Wan: Wells Tales from the Bush Larder My Sri Lanka With Peter: American Food Battle: David Rocco's Dolce Vita 2: Eat Street S4: Some of This, 10.40pm Into The Drink: St. Croix Travel Oz: Bilby Release S3: Hoedspruit - South Africa Kuruvita Ep2 Family Battle Trouble With Pepe Some of That David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Lee Chan's World Food Tales from the Bush Larder 11.10pm Eat Street S5: Monster Trucks Grandma's Boy: Bari Eat Street S4: Getting Lucky S1: Houseguest Tour: Malaysia S1: Tea and Molo Lamb Extreme Expeditions David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Lee Chan's World Food Grandma's Boy: Polignano Tales from the Bush Larder Tales from the Bush Larder 11.35pm Eat Street S5: Miami Mia S1: Great Expectations Tour: U.S.A. a Mare S1: Octopus S3: Lake Kariba - Zambia 12am

Food: 25.5hrs/73% Lifestyle: 3hrs/9% Travel: 3hrs/7% People&pets: 2hr/6% People: 1hr/3% Competition: 1hr/3% Channel’s primetime: 7pm-11pm Source: Nat Geo People, as of 2 March 2015

Nat Geo People, launched in Asia in FIC service, National Geographic Chan- dia, Singapore, All C&S, M&F25-54). March 2014, has a powerful food-first nel. More local production is a priority for agenda, with a few big characters doing The four-episode 60-minute series, star- 2015. other things, some travel, a smattering of dog whisperer Cesar Milan, first aired About 70% of Nat Geo People’s prime- home design, and a little bit of history. on National Geographic Channel on time schedules for the second weeks of The big local show on Nat Geo People Wednesdays at 9pm from 8 October last March and April were food related. is Cesar To the Rescue Asia, which is part year and increased ratings of the timeslot Lifestyle and travel programming were of Fox International Channels’ (FIC) origi- by 476% among 25-54 year old cable a distant second with no more than a nal/exclusive production slate for sister viewers in Singapore (Source: Kantar Me- More on page 13 c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 13.

c ntent Formats Outlook 2015 Carnival Eats From page 12: Schedules single travel slot a day two or three times Q2 update a week and on weekends. Out now! Food titles are mostly international, with shows such as My Sri Lanka With Peter: Kuruvita, Lee Chan’s World Food Tour: Malaysia/Vietnam and Eat Street The where, when, S5: Seoul Food flying the flag for Asian info. what, why and The line-up is, in reality, how of Formats in as varied by title and ge- David Rocco’s Dolce Vita season five ography as Nat Geo Peo- Asia. ple head Sun Young Moon promises. lowed by season five at the same

email The randomly selected week Sun Young Moon time on Wednesdays. [email protected] in April shows about 20 different The nine priority shows for 2015 in- for your copy of the titles across prime time from 7pm to mid- clude Carnival Eats, about food linked quarterly update night, covering everywhere from South to American fairgrounds; Lee Chan’s Africa and the U.S., to Zambia, Malaysia, World Food Tour, a food show on lo- Plymouth and India. cal favourites, modern delicacies and Please contact “Our priority is to have viewers celebrat- whacky desserts; the first season ofChar - Aqilah at ing the amazing moments in life together lie Luxton’s Homes by the Sea, a tour of [email protected] with our inspiring hosts and characters,” Britain’s best coastal properties led by or +65 6846-5985 says Moon, Fox International Channel’s architectural designer Charlie Luxton; to add your formats vice president of programming/channel Baking Good, Baking Bad, a cooking deals and productions head of National Geographic Channel series featuring healthy eating expert in Asia Asia, Star World Asia and Channel [V] In- Harry Eastwood and healthy and more ternational. unhealthy recipes; and season three of Eat Street, which tracks down the best George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, about www.contentasia.tv curbside eats across North America, was transforming tiny spaces into places to @Contentasia Nat Geo People’s top-rated series in live, work and play. Facebook/Contentasia 2014 (Source: Kantar Media, Singapore, Nat Geo People replaced Nat Geo all C&S, F19-39). Season four aired at Adventure across Asia in March 2014 as 7.55pm (HK/Singapore) on Mondays, fol- part of the channel’s global rebrand. NEW!

NEW!

BCA15AdW192xH250-3P.indd 1 6/4/15 10:56 AM 6-19 April 2015 page 14. c ntentasia interview 6-19 April 2015 Page 15.

Big character-driven reality series are here to stay but, says BBC Worldwide Asia’s content vice president Ryan Shiotani, “we are seeing a growing appetite for more authenticity in the way stories are told in this space”. As factual programmers, along with everyone else, continue to explore new ways of telling stories and engaging with audiences, Shiotani says “viewers are still connecting with unique char- acters who push personal boundaries, master new skills and achieve once in a dreams, but it’s increasingly in a more authentic and less overpro- duced way”. BBC Knowledge’s top-rated shows across Asia last year were factual entertainment series Top Gear and Under- The Hunt, BBC Worldwide cover Boss. The episode two premiere of Top Gear (series nology to film shark behaviour aired last year. The documentary focuses 21) was the channel’s top-rated never seen before – including on the owners of animals including tigers programme in Singapore for the Ryan Shiotani courtship, giving birth, the per- and chimpanzees and the issues sur- whole of 2014. The episode did a 1.21 ils of growing up and even how sharks rounding animal captivity in the U.S. rating/6 share among cable PMEB indi- clean their teeth. Shiotani says the biggest program- viduals at 9.50pm (Sunday, 23 February “We are also looking for human ad- ming/scheduling challenge in the fac- 2014, source: Kantar Media Singapore). venture stories about people pushing tual space in Asia is meeting consumer The episode featured a race around boundaries and authentic lives in demand for content anytime and any- Lake Como and Tom Hiddleston (Loki often extreme environments,” Shiotani where. “It’s not unique to factual,” he from Thor/The Avengers) as the Star in a says, adding that this is territory already says, adding: “People move seamlessly Reasonably Priced Car. explored with Where the Wild Men Are from device to device, so we must con- Shiotani, who has headed up pro- with Ben Fogle and new title Life Below tinue to push for the necessary rights to gramming for BBC channels in Asia Zero, which features people who have make our branded services and content since the bouquet launched across the chosen to live ‘off the grid’ in the remot- available whenever and wherever peo- region in 2007, says premium natural est reaches of Alaska. ple want it. At the same time, the growth history content continues to be a pri- While there have been few real viewer- of digital means we have the opportunity ority for BBC Knowledge this year. The ship surprises in the past year, Shiotani says to superserve our with branded BBC Earth brand will continue to be he’s “always happy when a well-crafted, services that have more in-depth con- built with landmark titles from the BBC’s thought-provoking one-off documentary tent and curated collections on a range Natural History Unit. These include The cuts through the crowded landscape of of subjects”. Hunt, which looks in unprecedented big factual and factual entertainment detail at the strategies predators use series to find an audience”. An abridged version of this interview to catch their food and prey use to es- He’s talking about America’s Most Dan- appears in ContentAsia Factual 2015, cape death; and Shark, which uses the gerous Pets from award-winning TV jour- printed for Mip Doc (11-12 April 2015) latest 4K and high-speed camera tech- nalist and presenter Louis Theroux, which and APOS (13-16 April 2015)

Wh atsYoursto r y c ntentasia formats 6-19 April 2015 Page 16.

ContentAsia’s regular section, ContentAsia Formats, looks at 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.

Step Right Up

Thai production house Zense Entertainment has greenlit a new season of long-running Endemol show Step Right Up Thailand, taking the total number of episodes past the 150 mark. The game show, currently in its fifth season (26x60 mins) on general entertainment Thai TV Channel 9, will be followed straight on by the sixth installment. Season six is scheduled to air in May/June. Additional seasons are also on the cards, Zense says. The ongoing commitment to Step Right Up is part of Zense Entertainment’s growing formats strength. Production is about to begin on a Thai version of Step Right Up Endemol reality show Your Face Sounds The show, hosted by Jentanakul, in three “fast pace energetic games” Familiar. The show will air in Thailand as has been running on Channel 9 since and a final jackpot Car Bowling segment, Sing Your Face Off Thailand at the end January 2013. The first four seasons ran where participants drive an old vehicle of this month. from January 2013 to end of 2014. into the studio and try to hit all 21 giant Step Right Up s e a s o n f i v e a i r s Production costs are US$25,000 an bowling pins to win a US$26,600 Isuzu Wednesdays at 8.30pm-9.30pm, a slot episode/US$650,000 for each 26-episode SUV. Over the past two years, there have traditionally reserved for prime-time season. been nine jackpot winners and a total of soap. Seasons one to four of Step Right In addition to the new time slot, the US$270,000 worth of prizes won. Up aired on Fridays at 6pm-7pm. set was refreshed for the current season. Elements introduced for the Thai version “This new prime-time slot gives an “With new lighting design and a modern through the years have included the alternative to ubiquitous all-time favourite graphics, the stage’s atmosphere is now introduction of five local celebrities (the soap operas... we did well garnering very high-end and filled with energy,” original version had only contestants and ratings second to those shows,” Zense Jentanakul says. no celebrities). The celebrity+contestant Entertainment chief executive officer, Special episodes for the rest of the group competed in all three games (the Varavuth Jentanakul, says. year include participants from needy original format had different groups for Step Right Up has an average TV rating organisations and students seeking study each game). The Thai version has also of 1, hitting its highest point with 2.3 in funds. included an extra co-host, instead of the December 2013 (source: Nielsen Thailand, Each week, Step Right Up features five single host in the original. provided by Zense Entertainment). celebrities and 15 contestants competing c ntentasia FORMATS at the ContentAsia Summit 2015 2-4 September 2015. Be included. Contact Malena at [email protected] c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 17.

Lift off... Tech Storm licenses content recognition system ContentAsia’s Proprietary Nanyang Uni software boosts engagement satellite update New tech-focused platform Tech Storm The new tech platform has also appoint- has licensed automatic content recogni- ed SingTel Lifelab’s former chief technol- tion (ACR) technology from Singapore’s ogy officer, Lee Lup Yuen, as technology India launches 4th Nanyang Technological University subsid- advisor, and named its first two celebrity navigation satellite iary, NTUitive Pte Ltd. hosts – Erin Lim and Benjamin Kheng. Tech Storm says it is the first licensee The NTUitive technology will be embed- ISRO plans 7-satellite in Singapore to adopt NTU’s proprietary ded on Tech Storm’s original production, indie GPS technology, which detects connected Storm Bytes, which is being produced by mobile devices and delivers pre-embed- Singapore-based production house Sitting India’s Space Research Organisation ded content to users. The idea is to en- In Pictures. The first episode features Singa- (ISRO) has launched its fourth navigation hance content engagement and deep- pore-based financial literacy start-up Play- satellite – the Indian Regional Navigation en interaction. moolah. Lim and Kheng host the show. Satellite System (IRNSS)-1D. The new sat- ellite is part of a series of seven satellites in India’s GPS network. The first of the IRNSS satellites launched Biggest is best, and more is better, SEA viewers say in July 2013, followed last year by two launches. The fifth satellite is scheduled to TV tops media choice, connected devices drive always-on demand launch towards the end of this year. The network should be in place by end 2016 Television maintains its foothold as the me- addition, more than six in 10 say a tablet and will reach across India and about dia platform of choice for the majority of is just as good as a PC/laptop for watch- 1,000km beyond the country’s borders. viewers in Southeast Asia, a new Nielsen ing programming, compared to 53% report says. At the same time, burgeon- globally. ing connected device ownership and ex- More than two thirds of Filipinos (67%) AsiaSat profit panding social media engagement and watch movies on a computer as do 62% interaction are fuelling demand across of Vietnamese compared to 47% glob- dips 25% the region for ‘always-on’ media. ally. 30% of Vietnamese, 29% of Filipinos, 2014 “a year of The report, based on a survey of 30,000 24% of Singaporeans and 23% of Thais online respondents in 60 countries, shows watch movies on a mobile phone com- transition & challenge” that video programming still generates its pared to just 16% globally. biggest audiences on TV screens across Meanwhile Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong satellite operator AsiaSat has Southeast Asia, and the majority of view- Singapore and Thailand all rank in the reported a 25% drop in profit for full-year ers around the region say bigger is better top 10 countries globally when it comes 2014 to HK$559 million/US$72 million. The when it comes to screen size. to watching movies on a tablet. operator called 2014 a “year of transi- However, respondents also appreciate  Filipinos ranked highest globally in the tion and challenge”. Utilisation rate of the convenience and portability of mo- extent to which they enjoy the freedom AsiaSat 4, AsiaSat 5 and AsiaSat 7 was bile devices. Seven in 10 people in South- of constant connectivity (94%), and In- 75% at end 2014, from 74% at end 2013. east Asia think watching video program- donesians (89%) ranked second highest AsiaSat 9, AsiaSat 4’s replacement, will ming on mobile devices is convenient. In globally. be complete by late 2016 or early 2017. c ntentasiaTECH Technology for content people Be included. Contact Masliana at [email protected] or +65 6846-5988 for advertising & Malena at [email protected] for editorial info c ntentasia 6-19 April 2015 Page 18.

HK Filmart closes on 7,100+ visitors ATV drama plays out against vibrant media backdrop C NTENTASIA

As Hong Kong free-TV broadcaster Asia TVB’s wholly owned Shaw Brothers Pic- Editorial Director Television (ATV) limped towards its end, tures, officially launched during Filmart, Janine Stein Hong Kong’s other media bosses played has announced seven new film projects Assistant Editor host to the most vibrant edition of the an- so far at an estimated total of about Malena Amzah nual Filmart ever. US$13 million. These include From Vegas [email protected] Organisers said more than 7,100 people to III and Line Walker. Research Manager CJ Yong attended the 19th annual Hong Kong Less that a week after Filmart closed, [email protected] Filmart. Buyers were up 6% and overseas Hong Kong’s broadcasting authorities Editorial Research visitors increased 8%. Indonesia, Japan stripped Hong Kong broadcaster ATV of Aqilah Yunus and Taiwan all saw double-digit percent- its free-TV licence. [email protected] age visitor growth, the Hong Kong Trade The formal notice of non-renewal was Design Development Council said. served on ATV on 1 April. The troubled Rae Yong Dominant broadcaster TV broadcaster, broadcaster has been given until 1 April Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), mean- 2016 to wind up. Associate Publisher while, was preparing to tell investors that The government’s decision came as (Americas, Europe) and VP, profit for full year 2014 was down 19% little surprise after months of desperate International Business Develop- HK$1,410 million/US$182 million. measures to keep ATV on its feet. ment Leah Gordon But not before it unveiled shiny new Nevertheless, the historic announce- [email protected] plans for an online/over-the-top (OTT) ment capped a week of high-excite- Sales and Marketing (Asia) broadcast platform, scheduled to launch ment that included ATV announcing Masliana Masron early in 2016, and spoke about its turbo- – falsely – on its evening newscast that [email protected] charged movie production plans. Hong Kong Television (HKTV) boss Ricky The new OTT platform, with VOD and Wong had stepped in as a white knight To receive your regular free copy catch-up functions, will offer 25,500 hours of investor for the ailing station. of ContentAsia, content –17,700 hours of TVB programmes The big questions facing Hong Kong please email and 8,500 hours of acquired programmes now are whether Ricky Wong will ever [email protected] – including 1,700 hours of new drama from be granted a free-TV license and – an Japan, Korea, Taiwan and mainland Chi- easier one – how will public broadcaster Published fortnightly by: Pencil Media Pte Ltd na. Japanese and Korean drama will be Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) man- 730A Geylang Road dubbed in . age ATV’s analogue spectrum from April Singapore 389641 About 1,700 hours of traditional drama next year to the end of the analogue Tel: +65 6846-5987 from TVB’s library is also being injected into era around 2020. contentasia.tv the expanded platform. The offering will in- The argument has already begun. asiacontentwatch.com clude TVB’s 13 branded pay-TV channels. Some say RTHK, well-schooled in worthy New channel, TVB Classic Movies, which programming, is ill-equipped to offer the Copyright 2015 Pencil Media Pte launched on 4 April, will also be carried on kind of news and commercial entertain- Ltd. All Rights Reserved. the OTT platform. ment services that could counter TVB’s MICA (P) 111/06/2013 To drive renewed film production am- dominance. bitions, TVB is planning a comeback for In addition, naysayers insist that choice the once powerful Shaw Brothers studio, and diversity of opinion have been which all but stopped producing movies halved for many Hong Kongers by the asia in the mid-1980s. TVB’s film activities last decision to kill off ATV. c ntent year includes Triumph in The Skies with Me- Others argue that ATV, wracked by Daily news with dia Asia Film Production Limited, One Cool financial and management problems, ContentAsia Insider Film Production Limited and Dongyang wasn’t providing much of a choice any- email [email protected] for subscription details Enlight Pictures Co, and an investment in way. Clearly this Hong Kong drama has From Vegas to Macau II. a way to run yet.