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13-27 January C NTENT 2020 www.contentasia.tv l www.contentasiasummit.com

Whitehead exits in ViacomCBS reorg rolls into Europe, ME, Africa under Raffaele Annecchino

May the gods of Health, Wealth & Happiness on you always. Happy Year

of the Rat! Mark Whitehead

Thailand, Veteran Asia pay-TV head, Mark White- Australia and New Zealand. head, is exiting ViacomCBS’ - Kyriacou joins the newly expanded strengthen ties in based regional networks operation at division on 3 February as president, Vi- the end of this month in a wide-ranging acomCBS Networks U.K. and Australia, BEC, deal re-org announced out of New York and which includes responsibility for Ireland, Ch3 originals on WeTV, London today. New Zealand and Israel. ViacomCBS Networks International’s Her role includes oversight of Viaco- Ch3+, Tencent Asia footprint will be managed by Raf- mCBS’s -to-air broadcast networks, faele Annecchino, currently president of Channel 5 in the U.K. and in Thailand’s BEC World and Chinese the division’s operations across Southern Australia, streamer, Tencent-owned WeTV, have and Western Europe, the Middle East Network 10 CEO, Paul Anderson, ad- tied up to distribute Thai in Thai- and Africa. Annecchino’s new remit also ditionally becomes EVP, ViacomCBS land and on Tencent Video in China. includes Northern/Eastern Europe. Networks Australia and New Zealand with The new deal is part of WeTV’s aggres- His new title is president, ViacomCBS immediate effect, reporting to Kyriacou. sive growth ambitions and follows strong Networks Europe, Middle East, Africa and No announcements have been made take up of BEC’s across the Asia (EMEAA). on , a joint venture which will be region in 2019. Maria Kyriacou, most recently ITV Stu- managed by the U.S. corporate office. The full story is on page 3 dios’ international president, will lead The rest of the story is on page 5 the C NTENT

26-27 August 2020, BANGKOK SERIES 2 COMING SOON

award-winning original content from

SERIES 2 SEX talks COMING with DR. HOLMES SOON

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13-27 January 2020 page 2. C NTENTASIA 13-27 January 2020 Page 3.

BEC World, Tencent Video strengthen content ties BEC/Ch3 original drama to stream on WeTV Thailand, Ch3+ and Tencent Video

Thai media outfit BEC World and main- land Chinese streaming platform, Tencent-owned WeTV, have tied up to distribute long-form Thai drama in Thai- land and on Tencent Video in China in 2020. The new deal is part of WeTV’s ag- gressive -growth ambitions in Thailand for this year and follows strong take up of BEC World’s dramas across the region in 2019. WeTV Thailand country manager, Ka- nokporn Prachayaset, said the target was a 400% increase in consumption for Thai drama on the platform in Thailand by the end of the year. The Tencent Video/WeTV agreement, announced in Bangkok on Monday (13 Feb), involves an undisclosed number of Ariya Banomyong, President, BEC World; Jeff Han, SVP, Tencent Penguin Pictures titles commissioned/produced by BEC World’s terrestrial broadcast station, Thai agnostic to reach our full audience po- has not been confirmed. TV Ch3. tential,” he says. The new alliance also includes rights to Financial terms of the deal have not He adds that WeTV’s base is growing in Ch3 drama for WeTV territories in other been disclosed. Thailand, and that the streamer is an “im- parts of Asia. Details are not immediately Ch3’s 2020 drama line-up will be avail- portant OTT partner to achieve this goal”. available. able on WeTV Thailand from this month, WeTV launched in Thailand in 2019 with BEC World’s expanded China footprint two hours after the terrestrial broadcast. a slate from Tencent Penguin Pictures, comes on top of the best year in memory The shows will also stream on BEC World’s including The Untamed, and about 200 for Thai content licensing around the newly rebranded Ch3+ streaming app. Chinese series. region. The list of exclusive titles for Tencent WeTV Thailand’s country manager, Ka- Deals brokered by licensing partner, Video – including series that will simul- nokporn Prachayaset, says the expansion JKN Global Media, include the first Thai cast in Thailand and China – is still being beyond Chinese content in Thailand has drama to air on free-to-air terrestrial tel- finalised. only just started. evision in , as well as the first Thai Company bosses said the new alliance “We will continue to introduce local dramas licensed for free-TV in is their response “to strong demand from content from our leading local partners in a deal with Rajawali TV (RTV). online audiences across both Thailand to fulfil our users’ needs,” she says. In another deal sealed by JKN late last and China for Ch3 drama content”. BEC World drama has already chalked year, Korean channels operator TRA Me- BECi’s managing director, Warut up audience successes in China. dia picked up rights to eight Thai drama Leeruangsakul, says the company’s own The debut simulcast – The Crown titles for its two cable channels – Smile streaming service, Ch3+, will continue to Princess – on Tencent Video, has been Plus () and TVA Plus (Asian air Ch3 drama. viewed more than 280 million times and drama channel). The agreement marked But, he adds, “as the leader in Thai ranks in the top five list of most-viewed BEC World’s debut in the Korean market. drama content, we must be where our Thai content on the platform, according JKN Global Media reported a 127% audiences are at”. to BEC’s chief commercial officer, Ron increase in revenue from international “While Ch3+ will continue to serve as Kamnuanthip. sales of programme rights for the first nine our own platform to engage our core Tencent Video has about 550 million months of 2019, driven largely by its BEC user base, we should also be platform monthly active users. WeTV engagement World licensing arrangement.

contentasia C NTENTASIA 13-27 January 2020 Page 4.

Asia-Pac pay-TV Close encounters revenue at $66b Asia’s pay-TV industry takes cover, braces for tough 2020 by 2024 Asia’s pay-TV industry is bracing for an- exit of Syfy and Universal Channel in June Grim forecast for growth other tough year. 2017, leaving the network with Dream- outside of China and India Even the brighter spots like India are Works for kids and biz network CNBC. blighted by the uncertain impact of re- At about the same time, CBS and RTL Asia-Pac pay-TV revenue could hit US$66 cent regulations, and uncertainty hangs pulled the plug on their four-year-old billion by 2024, according to Media dark and low as international giants adjust channels JV, offloading two regional Partners Asia’s (MPA) latest report, pub- their commitment to their linear services networks – RTL CBS Entertainment and lished on Monday (13 January). in favour of shiny new direct-to-consumer Extreme – to ’s Blue Ant Media. Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution 2020 options. As part of an industry-wide shift away shows China at US$27 billion of the 2024 Our prediction is more tough conversa- from large bundles towards a focus on total, logging growth of 3% (CAGR) over tions as traditional platform partners and higher-performing channels and key the five years. programmers work out a way forward – or brands, Turner (pre-WarnerMedia) also India will lead the region’s growth until not – juggling costs, content rights and took an axe to its linear bundle, shutter- 2024, at 6% (CAGR), to take US$15 billion relationships in a gyrating landscape. ing (TCM) and truTV of the total. South Korea is third at SU$8.3 So far, there’s no confirmation of HD across Southeast Asia and billion followed by Japan at US$7 billion. region-wide rollouts of Disney+ or HBO from January 2019. US$15 billion goes to India, with Korea Max or Peacock or even Disney’s India Discovery has also axed channels in fa- at US$8.3 billion (3% growth) and Japan platform . So those are among vour of a tighter focus on fewer services. at US$7 billion (1% growth) for a total of the unknowns at the dawn of the Year In the past few years, Discovery Kids linear US$57 billion for these four markets. of the Rat. has gone, along with Setanta sports - MPA puts India in the growth lead with Meanwhile, we’re counting the fallout work and Eve, the network’s short-lived 6% growth a year (CAGR) between of changed priorities in the region, and effort to target female audiences. 2019 and 2020. India will also contribute watching out for the next wave of stream- As 2020 moves into week three, the almost half of net subscriber additions in lining. This will wash over an industry that industry remains on high alert for more Asia Pacific over the next five years. has been in attempted-reinvention mode changes at (FNG) Total Asia-Pacific pay-TV industry reve- for the past two years. under Disney. So far, FNG has pulled the nue (subscription fees, local/regional ad In the latest change, Pictures Tel- plug on three on-demand play channels sales), grew 6% to US$57 billion in 2019. evision has offloaded its Asia networks – Asia, Chinese Movies Play Excluding China and India, total Asia- (excluding the lucrative India biz), sell- and Fox Movies Play. Those went in June Pacific pay-TV revenue grew only 1.3% ing for an undisclosed amount to a new 2018. FNG also closed Nat Geo Music and in 2019 to US$23 billion. By 2024, 1.1% entity set up by veteran Sony execs Andy disappeared Channel [V], an early victim growth to US$25 billion is projected. Kaplan and George Chien. of changing times and consumer habits. The total Asia-Pacific pay-TV subs base Both Kaplan and Chien know exactly Where does original content creation grew 2% in 2019 to reach 630 million, what’s under the hood here, so we’re tak- stand in all this? Depends. Our is that representing 62% penetration of total TV ing the view that the acquisition is a vote big-brand originals like Asia’s Got Talent homes (adjusted for multiple subscrip- of confidence in linear pay-TV services for Sony’s AXN will take a while to return to tions in a home). and that there is a business there. It’s just pay-TV, if they ever do. HBO Asia will con- By 2024, total Asia Pacific pay-TV subs not the kind of business that U.S. studios tinue to drive originals and investments in is expected to grow to 663 million, rep- like Sony find compelling anymore. other companies’ projects. will con- resenting 63% penetration (adjusted for Sony’s appetite for the linear networks tinue to spend, but more selectively and multiple subscriptions). business in Asia has been under an in- maybe not so much in Southeast Asia/ Outside of China and India, pay-TV dustry microscope for months – even Taiwan until they figure out how not to re- subs in Asia Pacific are expected to before it shuttered the 12-year-old English- peat their mis-steps, but definitely in India grow 1.3% (CAGR) between 2019-2024. language general entertainment service, and Japan. Ditto on India and Japan at In 2019, Asia Pacific, including China Sony Channel in May 2019 – as part of the . is all systems go, that it and India, added 12.8 million net new scrutiny of U.S. studios’ commitment to has amputated the India unit. If there is subs. India contributed 47% of the in- linear channels in the region. local production by pay-TV programmers, crease, and China 37%. NBCUni was under the same micro- our bet is that it will be led by sponsored Excluding China and India, net adds scope. On 31 Dec 2019, the plug was projects with heavy product placement were two million in 2019. 42% of those pulled on the last of its entertainment that have paid for themselves before they came from Korea, driven by telco IPTV. channels – E! and Diva. This follows the are greenlit. Sigh.

C NTENTASIA 13-27 January 2020 Page 5.

Indonesia’s Paul Anderson to lead ViacomCBS Aus/NZ debuts Combined ops “will add value,” int’l boss David Lynn says Putri Mahkota ViacomCBS Inc has appointed Network ditionally have local oversight of ’s ’ ABS-CBN 10 chief executive, Paul Anderson, to lead family of flagship pay TV networks – includ- breaks new ground with its combined operations in Australia and ing Central, MTV, New Zealand. and Nick Jr. – and a range of associated scripted format Anderson will additionally become businesses, as well as retaining oversight executive vice president, ViacomCBS of Network 10’s portfolio of free-to-air TV Networks Australia and New Zealand, with networks and digital platforms. immediate effect. Ben Richardson, general manager of His appointment follows the merger of Viacom’s existing networks operations in Viacom and CBS Corporation. Australia and New Zealand, will report to Network 10, which has been part of Anderson as GM, SVP, ViacomCBS Pay CBS Studios International since November Networks and Network 10 Business Devel- 2017, has been integrated into Viacom- opment. CBS Networks International and will now David Lynn, CEO, ViacomCBS Networks be combined with Viacom’s existing International, said today that “operating operations in Australia and New Zealand our combined free-to-air, pay TV and under Anderson’s leadership. digital assets as a single portfolio will add In his expanded role, Anderson will ad- value to our business in Australia”.

Putri Mahkota From page 1: ViacomCBS Jules Borkent has been promoted to Indonesian free-TV network Antv Unveiling its “new simplified manage- EVP, VCNI kids and family, reporting to premiered its remake Philippines’ TV ment structure designed to maximise Lynn and Brian Robbins, ViacomCBS scripted series, The Heiress, this month. growth”, ViacomCBS Networks Interna- Domestic Media Networks’ kids and fam- The Indonesian adaptation, Putri tional said the reorg streamlines Viaco- ily entertainment president. Borkent has Mahkota, airs daily on the terrestrial mCBS networks into two brand groups been with Nickelodeon since 2001. schedule at 7.30pm. and three pan-regional management “Consolidating our international flag- The series is Antv’s first foray into hubs, reporting to David Lynn, president/ ship brands into two groups will simplify scripted adaptations from the Philip- CEO, ViacomCBS Networks International our structure and more closely align our pines, and comes as Asian program- (VCNI). business with ViacomCBS’ U.S. brands, mers increase their content exposure to Kerry Taylor, currently EVP, MTV Inter- enabling us to share more content and neighbouring markets. national and CMO VCNI U.K., has been resources across our different brands and The Heiress is about two women fight- promoted to EVP of VCNI Entertainment extract maximum value from our content ing over family wealth in a story laden & Youth Brands, reporting to Lynn and investment and libraries,” Lynn said in with afternoon drama – love, rivalry, Chris McCarthy, president, entertainment today’s announcement. abuse, dark and painful secrets, and and youth brands, ViacomCBS Domestic Whitehead joined Viacom International high-emotion encounters. Media Networks. Media Networks in mid 2014. His most Taylor’s remit includes international recent role was president and managing oversight of MTV, , Para- director of VCNI Asia Pacific. Patrick Lim joins CJ ENM mount Network and BET.

Patrick Lim has joined the regional programming operation of Korea’s CJ ENM as senior manager, brand partner- ships. Lim was previously in a marketing role at NBCUniversal, also in Singapore. contentasia Before NBCUni he worked for Singtel and . C NTENTASIA 13-27 January 2020 programmingpicks Page 6.

On Becoming A God In Central Set in a small Orlando-adjacent town in 1992, the dark comedy series follows Krystal Stubbs (Kirsten Dunst), a minimum-wage water park employee who lies, schemes and cons her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise (FAM) — the cultish, flag-waving, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme that drove her to ruin in the first place. Determined to make a better life for herself, Repercussion Krystal dives deep into FAM until her business begins Repercussion is a Thai period drama to affect those closest to her. Length: 10x60 mins Sony about a Thai-Chinese family full of Pictures 2/F Cityplaza Three, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, volcanic troubling issues. The bus- Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong T: +852 2913 3788 tling sea of love, greed, revenge and power struggles are stirred from 10 Years Younger inside out and outside in. The setting 10 Years Younger is the transformative begins in 1967 at Chumsaeng Market, show that has worked its magic across Nakornsawan province, Thailand. the globe. A team of experts take on The story is led by Yoi, a store owner, the ultimate challenge – to turn back a mother of four grown-up children the clock, making them feel and look and the mastermind behind all these younger both inside and out. Using conflicts who felt that the only way to the very latest beauty treatments, this her family’s success and happiness is wonderfully flexible and inventive show Backstreet Rookie through her planning and controlling can be adapted to suit any market or 30-something Dae-hyun runs a small of everyone’s life. Length: 19x105 mins budget. Every episode builds towards a convenience store in his neighborhood. JKN Global Media 45/14 Moo1 Song- heart-warming reveal When his only part-time cashier quits, kanong, Sam Phran District, Nakhon and is packed he has to find a replacement. In walks Pathom 73210, Thailand T: +66 3431 with tips and college co-ed Saetbyul. Dae-hyun 0569 beauty breathes a sigh of relief and he hires knowledge, the beautiful but tough-as-nails giving Saetbyul on the spot. But Dae- everyone hyun soon begins to realise that the confi- he and Saetbyul are not complete dence to strangers. In fact, they shared an look 10 Years impulsively romantic moment in the Younger. past – a moment he will never forget. Length: 60 mins Length: 16 x 60 mins A+E Networks [Format] all3media 80 Bendemeer Road, #07-04 Hyflux 1 George Street, #10-01, Innovation Centre, Singapore 339949 Singapore 049145 T: +65 6817 3780 W: sales.aenetworks.com E: intl.sales@ Big Cat Country aenetworks.com Real Drama. Real stories. Big Cat Country is the ultimate lion saga. In Ruthless City the heart of Zambia’s Luangwa Val- Seher was living with her two daughters, son and ley, three lion prides collide. Each is her mother in law in Antakya, a small city south determined to fulfill its destiny – one to east of Turkey. Her family’s life changes dramati- maintain power, another to conquer cally when her mother in law makes a deal to sell and a third to save itself from collapse. one of her daughters to a wealthy man from her A wildlife camera team gets caught hometown, Agah Karaçay, who has a beautiful up in the action as they follow the wife and two children. This arrangement is a test lions day and night through every twist for every person in both families and threatens to and turn of fortune. Length: 6x60 mins uncovers an old and dangerous secret. Length: S1 is 9x140 mins / 30x45 mins (S2 in 4K+HDR Blue Ant International 200-130 production) Kanal D International YELDA HABER VE GORSEL YAYINCILIK A.S., Demio- Merton Street, Toronto, M4S ren Medya Center 100. Yıl Mah. 2264. Sk. No:1, 34204 Bagcilar, Istabul, Turkey 1A4, Canada T: +1 416 646 4434 T: +90 212 413 56 66 C NTENTASIA 13-27 January 2020 Page 7.

with C NTENTASIA A week in the life of content in Asia. Highlights in 60 seconds max. New episodes are available on Saturdays at www.contentasia.tv and across C NTENTASIA countryprofile 13-27 January 2020 Page 8.

India In numbers Population...... 1.339 billion Households...... 298 million TV households...... 197 million TV penetration...... 66% Pay cable TV subs...... 98.5 million Pay DTH TV subs...... 69.30 million Pay HITS TV subs...... 1.5 million Active DTH subs...... 54.26 million Pay TV channels...... 330 - HD channels...... 98 - SD channels...... 232 Registered satellite TV channels...... 910 Registered MSOs...... 1606 DTH operators...... 4 Mobile phone subs...... 1.173.75 million Internet subs...... 687.62 million Broadband subs...... 625.42 million

Source: World Bank (population), Telecom Regu- latory Authority of India (TRAI, mobile, broad- band, TV channels, DTH), BARC India (house- holds, TV households) Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL)

Terrestrial/Free TV three NDTV-branded services: NDTV 24x7 Times Network (English-language news), NDTV India Times Network, the television arm of ( news) and NDTV Prime (male- Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL) aka Established in 1959, Doordarshan (DD) targeted infotainment). , distributes is India’s government-funded national (English-language news), ET Now (stock/ broadcaster, transmitting to 90% of the Networks India business news), (English gen- population via 1,412 terrestrial transmit- Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), a eral news), /HD, MN+ (Hol- ters. DD also operates the DTH DD Free subsidiary of Sony Corporation, oper- lywood movies), /HD (Eng- Dish satellite service (launched 2004), ates a slew of channels, including Max/ lish-language entertainment), MNX/HD offering both TV and channels. DD HD (Hindi movies, special events), (Hollywood entertainment) and Zoom is overseen by public broadcast corpo- Max 2 (Hindi movies), SAB/HD (family ( general entertainment). ration, Prasar Bharati, an autonomous comedy), Pix/HD (English-language body that also looks after movies), AXN/HD (English-language (AIR). entertainment), and sports Sony Six/HD. Viacom18 is a 49/51 joint venture in India SPN reaches over 700 million viewers in between Viacom Inc and TV18, distribut- India. ing a portfolio of entertainment channels, Multi-channel including Colors (Hindi general entertain- Programmers ment), Rishtey (general entertainment), Star India broadcasts more than 60 chan- MTV (youth/music/lifestyle), Sonic (kids), ​Discovery Communications nels in eight languages, reaching 9 out of Nick Jr (kids), (English enter- 10 C&S TV homes in India. Genres range Launched in 1995, Discovery Commu- tainment), VH1 (int’l entertainment) and from GEC, movies, kids to sports and life- nications reworked its model for India Comedy Central (English-language com- style, including its flagship Star Plus. in 2017, emerging with, among other edy). Viacom18 also operates Viacom18 initiatives, the male youth-focused gen- Motion Pictures and runs Viacom’s con- Sun TV Network eral entertainment channel Jeet and a sumer products business in India. Sun TV Network operates 33 satellite TV bundle of online verticals. The company channels (including four HD channels) in operates 12 channels in India, including Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) four languages (Tamil, Telugu, , the flagship Discovery Channel. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited ) serving more than 95 million (ZEEL) owns more than 260,000 hours of NDTV households in India. The channels are television content and rights to more also available in 27 countries, including New Television (NDTV) distributes than 4,800 Hindi movie titles. Brands in- Singapore, Malaysia and . clude Hindi GECs Zee TV/HD, &TV/HD, C NTENTASIA countryprofile 13-27 January 2020 Page 9.

Zing and ; regional entertain- Indian languages (Tamil, Telugu, Malay- Network India Pvt Ltd with a vision to ment /HD, /HD, alam, Kannada). Monthly subscription bring a paradigm shift in India’s cable TV Zee Yuva, /HD and Zee Ban- packages cost from Rs129.66/US$1.80 a distribution industry through digitalisation gla Cinema; movies Zee Cinema/HD, month for the My FTA pack (157channels) and by providing value added services. Zee Action, Zee Classic and &pictures/ to Rs329.66/US$4.60 a month for the ROI The platform serves over four million sub- HD; and niche channels Zee Cafe/HD, DPO Pack 3 (266 channels). scribers in 200+cities via 12,000km of un- /HD, Zee ETC and &prive HD. derground and 10,000km FTTH networks. Zee claims a reach of more than 1.3 bil- Tata lion viewers across 173 countries. Launched in Aug 2006 as a joint-venture GTPL between Tata Sons and TFCF Corporation GTPL commenced in 2006 in Gujarat of- (formerly ), offers fering CATV services and now expanded Direct To Home (DTH) upward of 500 TV channels and services to 750+ towns across 11 states in India, Satellite to about 18 million users across more providing both CATV and broadband than 20,000 towns. Monthly subscription services. GTPL had 7.75 million active Airtel Digital TV fees for Tata’s curated packs range from CATV subs, of which 7.25 million pay- Global telecommunications provider Rs45.08/US$0.60 for the Malayalam Metro ing subs (Sept 2019) and 355,000 active launched direct-to-home plan (6 SD channels) to Rs772.41/US$11 broadband subs, of which 75k FTTX subs. (DTH) satellite TV platform, Airtel Digital for the Tamil Telugu Premium Sports Eng- GTPL distributes 650+ channels, including TV, in Oct 2008. The DTH service offers lish HD package (67 HD and 91 SD). Tata 79 HD and 36 in-house across India. 694 channels and services, including 78 also operates mobile service Tata Sky Mo- HD channels, 5 international channels bile, offering up to 400 live TV channels Hathway Digital and 3 interactive services to over 15 mil- and 5,000 VOD content. Established in 1995, Hathway Cable lion subs (Aug 2019). & Datacom is a digital cable TV and broadband service provider. The plat- /Dish TV/Zing Multi-system Cable form has six million cable TV subscribers, The amalgamation of Videocon d2h Operators of which 290,000 are HD subs (Sept 2019) and Dish TV completed in Dec 2017 and across 350+ cities and major towns. took effect in March 2018. Post merger, Asianet Digital Subscriptions cost from Rs130/US$1.80 DTH services d2h and Dish TV continue Established in 1993, Asianet Satellite a month for the FTA pack to be offered as separate products. The Communications is a provider of digi- (100 channels) to Rs669/US$9.40 a month combined entity, Dish TV India Limited, tal cable TV and broadband internet for the English Diamond HD tier (209 carries more than 701 channels and ser- services in , , Andhra channels). Hathway owns and operates vices, including 31 audio channels and Pradesh and . Asianet Satel- 15 in-house channels. The platform also 71 HD channels/services to a total net lite’s cable TV subsidiary, Asianet Digital, has 860,000 broadband subscribers and subscribers of 23.9 million (Sept 2019). offers about 270 SD and 60 HD channels. claims 5.5 million broadband homes Dish TV launched in Jan Asianet Digital had 1.48 million active passed in 26 cities (Sept 2019). 2015 to provide regional language DTH subscribers in Sept 2019. Asianet also services for Tamil viewers in the states of operates an OTT service, Asianet Mobile InDigital Kerala, and Odisha. TV, accessible worldwide from US$30/six Established in 1995, IndusInd Media and months or US$50/year for about 100 live Communications Limited (IMCL), backed DD Free Dish TV channels and 20 radio channels. In by Hinduja Ventures, carries about 700 TV State-owned broadcaster, Doordarshan India, the OTT service costs Rs499/US$7 for channels to about five million subscrib- (DD), launched free-TV DTH service, DD six months or Rs899/US$12.70 a year. ers in India. Monthly subscription costs Free Dish (formerly DD Direct Plus), in from Rs130/US$1.80 for 141+ free-to-air TV Dec 2004 with 33 channels. The Ku-band Den Networks channels. Ala carte channels cost from platform now offers 80+ TV channels and Established in July 2007, Den Networks Rs0.25/US$0.003 a month to Rs19/US$0.27 about 40 radio channels. DD Free Dish is a cable TV/fixed line broadband ser- a month. transmits to about 20 million subscribers, vice provider with a reach of about 4.3 and is available nationwide (excl Anda- million active subs in 500+ cities across man/Nicobar Islands). 13 states (Sept 2019). Den Networks’ ’s multi system operator, Siti monthly plans start from Rs149/US$2 to Networks Limited (formerly Siti Cable TV Rs385/US$5.40 for the Okhla Delhi packs. Network Limited/Wire and Wireless In- Established in Dec 2007 as an 80:20 joint dia), operates 10 digital head ends and venture between India’s Maran Group Fastway Transmissions a network of more than 33,000km of and Malaysia’s Group, Sun Direct TV Fastway Transmissions Pvt Ltd was found- optical fibre and coaxial cable in India. offers more than 200 channels in multiple ed in 2008 in association with Digicable Monthly subscriptions rates range from Rs152.87/US$2.15 for 140 TV channels to C NTENTASIA countryprofile 13-27 January 2020 Page 10.

Rs459/US$6.50 for 249 TV channels. Siti’s India broadband costs from Rs599/US$8.40 a Amazon rolled out online shopping ser- Bollywood production house Eros Interna- month for an unlimited 20-Mbps internet vice Amazon Prime in 100 cities in India tional’s Eros Now offers 12,000+ Hindi, Tamil connection to Rs9,900/US$139 for 18 in July 2016 and added video streaming and regional language /TV content to months (unlimited 50-Mbps plan). The service Prime Video in Dec 2016 at no 18.8 million paying subscribers and 154.7 network had 9.123 million active digital extra cost. Prime Video now offers con- million registered users worldwide (Sept subscribers in Sept 2019. tent across six Indian languages – Hindi, 2019). Premium plans cost Rs99/US$1.40 a Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and month or Rs950/US$13.60 a year unlimited Arasu Cable TV Kannada. The offering also includes access to all content. State-owned Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable original shows such as The Forgotten TV (TACTV) was incorporated in 2007 (as Army - Azaadi Ke Liye (Jan 2020), a five- Arasu Cable TV) to provide affordable part docu that chronicles the dynamic Launched in 2017 by SVF Entertainment, cable TV services. The platform had 2.77 story of Lieutenant Sodhi and his army global streaming service Hoichoi is home million active subs in Sept 2019. of heroic men and women fighting for to Bengali content. The offering includes Indian Independence during World War 50+ hours of original web series/films and II. Amazon Prime membership costs over 500 acquired movies Channel Distributors Rs129/US$1.85 a month or Rs999/US$15 as well as Bengali songs. Subscription a year. Available standalone and via costs Rs399/US$5.60 a year. SVF also has IndiaCast Media Distribution Airtel Broadband and BSNL. interests in /TV production, film distri- IndiaCast, owned by TV18 & Viacom18, bution, music and cinemas. manages subscription and placement Bigflix services for 68+ channels, including 17+ HD ’s VOD platform, Hooq channels spanning general entertainment, Bigflix, offers 2,000+ movies in nine re- Hooq, established in Jan 2015 by Singa- kids, news, music, infotainment and movies. gional languages (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, pore telco Singtel, Sony Pictures Televi- Punjabi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, sion and Warner Bros, launched in India Bhojpuri, Bengali). Bigflix costs from Rs50/ in June 2015. Priced at Rs89/US$1.25 Online/mobile/OTT US$0.70 a month or Rs500/US$7 a year a month or Rs450/US$6.30 a year and for up to five connected devices. Select bundled with Airtel’s Xstream plan at AltBalaji movies are offered for rent (without sub- Rp249/US$3.50 a month. Carrier billing India-based global direct-to-consumer scription) at Rs80/US$1.15 a title acces- agreements with and Idea. subscription VOD platform, AltBalaji, sible for two days. launched in April 2017 offering original Hotstar Indian content in multiple local lan- DailyHunt Novi Digital Entertainment, a subsidiary guages. AltBalaji, which reported up- DailyHunt is India’s news and local lan- of Star India, launched ad-based/SVOD wards of 21.3 million paying users across guage content application, offering live platform Hotstar in Feb 2015. The platform 90 countries (Mar 2019), is operated TV (partners include YuppTV, Republic offers 100,000+ hours of drama/movies by Alt Digital Media Entertainment, a TV, BBC News, ABP News), VOD (part- in multiple languages and major sports wholly owned subsidiary of production ners include OneIndia, News X, Viu) properties. Premium subscription costs powerhouse, Ltd. and news articles. The Dailyhunt group Rs299/US$4.30 a month or Rs999/US$14.40 claims 90+ million users spending over a year. Select content is offered for free. Airtel Xstream 3.7 billion minutes on the service every Launched in Sept 2019, Airtel Xstream, is a month. Investors include Matrix Partners Hungama Play revamped version of the former Airtel TV. India, Sequoia Capital India, Omidyar Hungama Digital Entertainment Media The Android TV box offers DTH/IPTV Airtel Network, Falcon Edge and Bytedance. launched Hungama Play in July 2015 of- subscribers live streaming of 400+ TV chan- The platform, which launched as New- fering 5,000 movie titles and 1,500 hours nels and 10,000+ VOD movies/TV titles, shunt in 2009 and sold to Verse in 2012, of TV shows in multiple local languages. as well as third-party OTT services such as rebranded as Dailyhunt in August 2015. Hungama Play also carries original series, Zee5, Eros Now, Netflix and HungamaPlay. including youth comedy Boys with Toys; The service comes in three options, via Den TV+ Bar Code, about two night club owners; the Airtel Xstream Stick, a plug and play Cable TV provider Den Networks and psycho triller Damaged. device for TV sets; a set-top box; and launched Den TV+, a mobile TV app ex- via app/web access. The stick/STB costs tension of Den TV, in Feb 2017. Den TV+ JioTV/JioCinema Rs3,999/US$56 each with a complimentary offers 130 live channels, 2,500 movies and Reliance Infocomm launched live TV one year subscription worth Rs999/US$14 10,000 hours of VOD content in Hindi, Eng- streaming platform JioTV and VOD ser- for new subscribers. Airtel Digital TV sub- lish and Indian regional languages. The vice JioCinema in Sept 2016 exclusively scribers pay Rs2,249/US$32. service is offered for free to Den’s TV and for its mobile Jio subscribers. JioTV offers broadband subscribers. upwards of 575 live TV channels, including C NTENTASIA countryprofile 13-27 January 2020 Page 11.

60+ HD channels and JioCinema carries NexGTv library movies, short films and TV shows, over 100,000 hours of on-demand con- Mobile TV app NexGTv, offers 130+ live as well as originals and UGC in Hindi, tent). Reliance Jio reported more than 280 TV channels and 1,000+ movies/TV se- Kannada and Telugu. Dish TV’s foray million Jio subscribers in Dec 2018. ries/sports on-demand titles. into original webseries includes Vote the Hell, which features comedians and their Lattu Kids SonyLIV satirical take on on the Indian elections; Launched in 2016, edutainment plat- Launched in Jan 2013, ad-based plat- action/ drama Mission Breaking form Lattu Kids offers curated content form SonyLIV offers 40,000+ HD of News; a comedy drama Chhoriyan; and for kids/toddlers for Rs599/US$8.55 for select content from thriller drama Rakhta Chandana. The three months or Rs1,999/US$28.50 a Network-branded channels and 700+ Bol- Watcho app is available for download year. Select content is available free. lywood/Hollywood movies as well as orig- and view on the web for free. New users get one month free trial us- inal web series, live sports (Indian / age. Lattu Kids has about 100,000 users football), live TV channels and music. YuppTV (Jan 2019). Premium plans start from Rs29/US$0.40 a YuppTV delivers 250+ live TV channels in month to Rs499/US$7.13 a year. 14 national/regional languages, 200+ TV MiTiVi India shows and 3,000+ Bollywood/regional Unveiled in Oct 2018, OTT service MiTiVi movies from India, short films, web series, carries 1,000+ live TV channels and over Global streaming service Spuul starting from Rs99/US$1.40 a month. 500,000 hours of on-demand content, launched in 2012 targeting the South including movies, TV shows and songs. Asian Diaspora with over 10,000 hours Zee5 Set-up box costs Rs2,499/US$35 with a 12 of Hindi/regional language movies. In Zee’s global OTT freemium platform months free subscription. India, Spuul costs from Rs30/US$0.40 to Zee5, launched in Feb 2018, consoli- Rs150/US$2.20 a month. dates Zee’s former ad-based OZee and MX Player subscription-based dittoTV. Zee5’s of- MX Player, owned by Ltd TVF Play fering includes originals, Indian and int’l (TIL), a subsidiary of The Times Group, Internet media company movies and TV shows, music, health and started off as a cross-platform media launched video streaming TVF Play in lifestyle across 12 languages (English, player developed by South Korea’s app June 2015, offering original and acquired Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, publisher J2 Interactive, was majority ac- content. Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Guja- quired by Times Internet in June 2018 for rati and Punjabi), as well as live TV chan- Rs1,000 crores/US$143 million. MX Player Vodafone Play nels. Zee5 costs Rs99/US$1.50 a month. re-launched in Feb 2019 as a freemium Vodafone’s OTT service, Vodafone Play, Available standalone and via Airtel video streaming service, offering original offers 300+ live streaming HD/SD TV Broadband, Samsung smart TVs, Ama- shows and 50,000+ hours of content from channels in 14 languages in addition to zon Fire Stick, and Xiaomi Mi TV. partners such as AltBalaji, Arre, TVF, Dice int’l/Indian TV shows and a catalogue Media and Sony, as well as ’s of 14,000+ movies to both prepaid and Production Hum TV and ARY, in 10 Indian languages. postpaid 3G/4G Vodafone subscribers. The Times group’s foray into the digital Vodafone Play also offers third-party OTT entertainment space kicked off in 2013 services such as Eros Now, Hoichoi, Hooq -backed Applause with the launch of on-demand service and YuppTV. Entertainment is a content and IP cre- BoxTV.com offering Hollywood, Bolly- ation studio with a focus on creating wood and regional movies/TV content. /Voot Kids digital drama series. Production credits The BoxTV.com service was shut down in Launched in May 2016, Voot is an include the Indian version of Israeli dra- 2016. ad-supported VOD platform offering ma Fauda and family comedy Mind the 60,000+ hours of original series/webseries Malhotras. Netflix and select latest/library content to 80+ Netflix launched in India in Jan 2016. million active users a month. Voot Kids is Balaji Telefilms Monthy direct-to-consumer plans cost a SVOD platform launched in Nov 2019, Balaji Telefilms was originally incorpo- between Rs500/US$7.20 and Rs800/ offering 20,000 local/international chil- rated as a private limited company in US$11.50 for four HD/UHD screens. Availa- dren/family titles at Rs799/US$11 a year 1994 and went public in 2000. Today, ble direct and through partnerships with or Rs99/US$1.38 a month (Nov 2019). the listed company has produced over telecom and broadband players like 17,000 hours of TV content, including Airtel and ACT Broadband; and devices Wacho drama series Kyu Ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bhau such as Vu TVs and OnePlus 7 Pro. Dish TV launched Wacho in April 2019 Thi (Star Plus/Hotstar), Bade Achhe Lagte targeting mainly the younger audiences Hain (Sony Entertainment Television), Pa- in India. Watcho offers 1,000+ hours of vitra Rishta (Zee TV) and Naagin (Colors C NTENTASIA countryprofile 13-27 January 2020 Page 12.

TV). Balaji Telefilms is also involved in film Red Chillies Entertainment BSNL production () and Red Chillies Entertainment was involved State-owned telco BSNL provides fixed streaming services (AltBalaji). in the production of Netflix’s original se- line and mobile telephony, internet, digi- ries, The Bard of Blood, which is based tal television and IPTV services to about Asia on Bilal Siddiqi’s novel. 124 million customers. Banijay Asia, a JV between Banijay Group and Deepak Dhar, creates content for Sagar Productions Idea/Vodafone TV, films and OTT platforms. Programme Sagar Productions engages in the me- and com- genres include entertainment, factual, dia production and trading activities in pleted its US$23-billion merger in August scripted and reality for all territories in India India. The company produces TV pro- 2018. The combined entity, which contin- as well as Asia. Productions driven by Bani- grammes and TVC. Sagar Productions ues to operate as two separate mobile jay Asia include ARRived, Roar of The Lion was incorporated in 1980 as Kirti Finvest brands, reported 320 million total subscrib- and . Limited and rebranded as Sagar Produc- ers in India at the end of June 2019. tions in 2010. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Dharma Productions was founded in Viniyard Films Limited (MTNL) 1976, producing its first filmDostana star- The production house was involved in State-owned telco MTNL offers fixed-line, . As of 2018, the the production of Viu’s original series iB GSM/CDMA cellular and broadband company has produced more than 47 Cricket Super Over League (premiered services to about 3.5 million subscribers in Feb 2019), a virtual cricket tournament Hindi films, including 2019’s period film Delhi and areas. for the India and Middle . East markets. Reliance Jio Shine India Jio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reli- Endemol Shine India produces over 800 ance Industries, is a LTE mobile network Yash Raj Films has produced over 75 films hours of programming annually, includ- operator founded in 2010. The company since it was founded in 1970. Services ing TV shows like (Hindi, Kan- launched commercial services in Sep range from production to post produc- nada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam 2016, disrupted the market in a big way tion, domestic/international distribution, and Bangla), , MasterChef with low-cost data, and quickly became licensing and merchandising. Production India, So You Think You Can Dance and a front runner with 331.3 million subscrib- credits include action/adventure film over 450 episodes of for ers (June 2019). Thugs of Hindostan (2018), action thriller Sun Network. (2017) and sports drama Media film Sultan (2016). Regulators Eros International Media co-produces, acquires and distributes Indian language Telcos/mobile Department of films in multiple formats worldwide. The Telecommunications (DOT) company was founded in 1977. Bharti Airtel The Department of Telecommunication is Established in July 1995, Bharti Airtel responsible for setting growth strategies, Mango People Media offers 2G/3G/4G, mobile commerce, granting telecoms service licences and for Mango People Media produced season fixed-line, high-speed DSL broadband, spectrum management. two of Love, Lust and Confusion for IPTV, DTH, OTT TV and enterprise services Viu. The 13-episode romantic dramedy to 304.7 million subs across its operations Adapted from ContentAsia’s released in Mar 2019. in India (Sept 2019). The Big List 2020

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The Mandalorian rules Hong Kong Disney+ series demand 93% up on Netflix’s The Witcher C NTENT

Editorial Director Disney’s The Mandalorian demolished Iconic ViacomCBS show, South Park, Janine Stein entertainment competition for the week banned in China last year for its attitude [email protected] of 19-25 December, generating almost towards mainland policies, made it onto Assistant Editor double the activity than its closest rivals the Hong Kong top 10 list for the week Malena Amzah – Japanese anime series My Hero Aca- with higher demand than seven of the [email protected] demia and Netflix’s The Witcher. titles on the digital list. Research Manager On the overall list of international TV The top 10 for the week shows strong CJ Yong shows tracked by data science com- support for a variety of animated genres. [email protected] pany Parrot Analytics, demand for The In addition to My Hero Academia and Editorial Research Aqilah Yunus Mandalorian was 73% higher than the #2 South Park, the list includes kids animated [email protected] title in the top 10 – Japanese anime series series Peppa Pig, adult sci-fi sitcom Rick Design My Hero Academia – and 93.4% ahead and Morty and pre-school property PJ Rae Yong of The Witcher. Masks. Associate Publisher Top 10 overall TV shows: Hong Kong (Americas, Europe) and VP, International Business Development Rank Title Average Demand Leah Gordon Expressions® [email protected] 1 The Mandalorian 844,951 Sales and Marketing (Asia) 2 My Hero Academia 487,598 Masliana Masron 3 The Witcher 436,875 [email protected] 4 Peppa Pig 417,963 To receive your regular free copy 5 Rick and Morty 412,593 of ContentAsia, please email 6 PJ Masks 389,728 [email protected] 7 387,080 Published fortnightly by: 8 The Flash 314,887 Pencil Media Pte Ltd 9 The Expanse 312,234 730A Geylang Road 10 South Park 308,702 Singapore 389641 Tel: +65 6846-5987 Top 10 digital originals: Hong Kong www.contentasia.tv Rank Title Platform Average Demand Expressions® MCI (P) 091/11/2015

1 The Mandalorian Disney+ 844,951 Copyright 2019 Pencil Media Pte Ltd. 2 The Witcher Netflix 436,875 All Rights Reserved. 3 The Expanse Prime Video 312,234 4 Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation Tencent QQ 252,708 5 The Handmaid's Tale 205,671 6 The Crown Netflix 180,701 7 Stranger Things Netflix 177,678 8 Titans DC Universe 169,580 9 The Grand Tour Prime Video 158,267 C NTENT 10 The Man In The High Castle Prime Video 146,770 Daily news with ContentAsia Insider Date range: 19-25 December, 2019 email [email protected] Demand Expressions® (DEx): The global TV measurement standard devel- for subscription details oped by Parrot Analytics, which represents the total audience demand being expressed for a title, within a market. Audience demand reflects the desire, engagement and viewership, weighted by importance; so a stream/ download is a higher expression of demand than a ‘like’/comment.