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C NTENT 15-28 June 2020 www.contentasia.tv l www.contentasiasummit.com Indonesia grabs streaming spotlight Disney+, Viu, iflix, GoPlay take centre stage in CONTENTASIA latest battles AWARDS Indonesia has taken centre stage in the re- gion’s streaming wars, with talk of Disney+’s imminent launch, new money for GoJek’s GoPlay, and a swirl of speculation around a possible buyer for iflix, which counts Indo- Entries now open nesia as its top market. At the same time, new research from Media Partners Asia www.contentasiaawards.com (MPA) subsidiary, AMPD, shows PCCW’s regional streaming platform Viu in second place in Indonesia after YouTube, with 247 minutes viewed a week. The full story is on page 3 q SBS’ Backstreet Rookie countdown A+E pins Korea drama hopes on new series A+E Networks Korea debuts its first Kore- an scripted drama – Backstreet Rookie – worldwide this Friday. The 16-episode series, based on a webtoon, airs simulta- neiously on Korean network SBS, on iQiyi global (ex China/Japan) and Unext in Japan. Lifetime Korea will follow. The full story is on page 4 q Plus... • Global condemnation heaped on Philippines after Ressa conviction • Exec movement across the region • Formats in Indonesia ... and more C NTENTASIA 15-28 June 2020 Page 2. Ressa conviction a “devastating blow” to Philippines’ freedom International condemnation of Manila court decision on 8-year-old story The Philippines grabbed global attention years in prison. Both have posted bail cut down press freedom in this way and yet again this week following the cyber- pending an appeal. The pair were also to weaponise the law is a whole new libel conviction of journalist Maria Ressa ordered to pay damages amounting to level... It is something I haven’t seen since over an eight-year-old article. about US$8,000. the days of Marcos. And to see it again is The court ruling on Monday has been The 2012 story, which alleged illegal ac- heartbreaking.” described as everything from “an ugly tivities by a local businessman, predated In a press conference following the stain on the Philippines’ reputation” (U.K. the 2012 cyber-crime law but was “up- court decision, she urged journalists and barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher who leads dated” in 2014 to fix a typo. The criminal others to protect their rights, and said the international team representing Ressa libel case was filed in 2017, dismissed in that the ruling, while a blow, was not alongside Amal Clooney) and “a devas- 2018, and resurrected under the Duterte unexpected. tating blow” to media freedom (Human regime. “We are meant to be a cautionary tale. Rights Watch) to “basically kills freedom The Foreign Correspondents Associa- We are meant to make you afraid. But of speech and of the press” (Philippines’ tion of the Philippines said the conviction don’t be afraid. Because if you don’t use National Union of Journalists). was “a menacing blow to press freedom your rights, you will lose them,” she said. Ressa, the founder of news site Rap- in the Philippines and adds a new weap- Rappler and Duterte have clashed of- pler in 2012 and a long-time critic of on in a growing legal arsenal against ten, mostly about his war on drugs. Efforts Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties to silence her include a failed attempt at was convicted along with former Rap- in an Asian outpost of democracy”. shutting the news outlet over alleged tax pler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr, and Ressa, who has vowed to fight the evasion and foreign ownership. Duterte could serve between six months and six conviction, said after the ruling that “to has dismissed Rappler as fake news. @all3media_int all3mediainternational.com C NTENTASIA 15-28 June 2020 Page 3. Prophecy of Love Indonesia in streaming spotlight simulcast in Thailand, Disney+, Viu, iflix, GoPlay take centre stage in new battles China as production resumes Indonesia: time spent per user (minutes viewed per week) Prophecy of Love Thai broadcaster Channel 3 premieres new drama Prophecy of Love (Paya- korn Sorn Ruk) as the country continues to lift Covid-19 containment measures Indonesia has taken centre stage in remain under the radar; the platform will and producers return to sets and studios the region’s streaming wars, with talk of not respond to queries about its produc- across Thailand. Disney+’s imminent launch, new money tion or acquisitions strategy. The BEC World series streams simulta- for GoJek’s GoPlay, and a swirl of specu- A common perception involves sud- neously on Tencent Video in China on lation around a possible buyer for iflix, den and secretive management chang- 15 June as part of a multi-title distribution which counts Indonesia as its top market. es and erratic stabs at high-profile video deal signed early this year. At the same time, new research from properties, although the new funding The action romcom, which runs Mon- Media Partners Asia subsidiary, AMPD, (a rumoured US$15-million indepen- days and Tuesdays at 8.20pm until early shows PCCW’s regional streaming plat- dent round announced this month) has August, stars James Jirayu as celebrity form Viu in 2nd place in Indonesia after given rise to hopes of increased energy and Ice Preechaya as the psychic Rosita YouTube, with 247 mins viewed a week. around original production. who he ultimately saves. This puts Viu well ahead of other re- All GoPlay has said is that the new mon- Thai producers have been given the gional/global players on the list, includ- ey will be used to “enhance technology” go-ahead to resume production with a ing Netflix, which continues to struggle and that this tech will “enable more Indo- max 50 people on set and safe distanc- in Indonesia for various reasons, among nesian filmmakers to showcase their tal- ing measures. these a cold regulatory and telco shoul- ent and better meet consumer demand der and, some say, not enough local for high-quality local content”. content to compete as well as it might. CEO Edy Sulistyo talks about the “huge www.contentasia.tv iflix comes in at 8th spot, neck and potential that is not being addressed neck with the NBA, which answers some by commercial movie theatres, and we www.contentasiaawards.com of the questions around what the un- are working hard to close the gap be- www.contentasiasummit.com named Chinese buyer might be looking tween supply and demand,” he said. At at with the purchase. More on that soon. 112 minutes a week, GoPlay’s gaps are contentasia At the very bottom of AMPD’s list is Go- clearly broader and wider than that of Play, whose content play continues to supply and demand. C NTENTASIA 15-28 June 2020 Page 4. Francis, Pudney, Lim exit SBS’ Backstreet Rookie countdown long-time Asia roles A+E Networks pins Korea drama hopes on new series Three well-known local/regional execs are exiting long-held jobs in Asia this month. Mark Francis, iflix’s recently promoted chief content officer, exits at the end of June after a little over four years with the Malaysia-based regional streamer. In Hong Kong, Keshet Inter- national’s long-time Asia general man- ager, Gary Pudney, is also wrapping up at the end of the month after five years. In Singapore, Irene Lim, Mediac- orp’s chief customer officer, is leaving after 14 years with the network in vari- ous roles. Mediacorp says a search has begun for Lim’s replacement. Mean- while, the job is being shared by CEO Tham Loke Kheng, chief content officer Doreen Neo, and editor-in-chief Walter Fernandez. None have said what they will be doing next. q Mass layoffs at Backstreet Rookie One Championship A+E Networks Korea debuts its first Kore- Directed by Myoungwoo Lee (The Fi- Asian sports brand One Championship an scripted drama – Backstreet Rookie – ery Priest) and produced by Taewon has laid off 20% of its total workforce in worldwide this coming Friday (19 June). Entertainment, Backstreet Rookie stars a streamlining exercise, the company The 16-episode series, based on a Changwook Ji as 30-something store said today. No further details, including popular 2016/7 webtoon, will air on owner, Dae-hyun Choi, and Yoojung the geographic breakdown of the job free-TV network SBS in Korea in the well- Kim (Half Holiday) as college co-ed losses, were available. The mass layoffs established Friday/Saturday prime-time Saetbyul, who Dae-hyun hires, against coincided with US$70-million new fund- 10pm drama slot. his better judgement, as a part-time ing from existing backers and one new The show will also be available in Ja- employee. institutional investor. The new money pan in a simultaneous rights deal with A+E Network has global rights to the brings the company’s total capital to long-time partner U-Next, as well as on show as part of its early investment last US$346 million. Hua Fung Teh, group iQiyi’s global streaming platform, which year. president of ONE Championship said also has simultaneous rights (excluding Backstreet Rookie follows a slate of he was “thrilled” and “full of gratitude” mainland China and Japan). A+E Networks’ unscripted and digital at the investor vote of confidence A+E Network Korea’s domestic chan- originals for Korea over the past two and “amidst the worst global economic nel, Lifetime Korea, will air the series after a half years, including Man vs Child and crisis in 100 years”. SBS. Pyjama Friends. 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