C NTENTASIA 16-29 June 2014

www.contentasia.tv l https://www.facebook.com/contentasia?fref=ts facebook.com/contentasia l @contentasia l www.asiacontentwatch.com

Discovery Asia creates Eve New women’s channel part of biggest portfolio rebirth in a decade

Discovery Networks Asia Pacific unveils new women’s channel, Eve, on 1 August as part of a major rebirth the Singapore- based network says is its most significant portfolio renewal in the region in more than a decade. The revamp also includes bringing two new Discovery brands – DMAX and ID – to THE #1 BRAND NEW COMEDY ON U.S. Asia as well as expanding the program- Fridays at 9:00pm (8:00pm JKT/BKK) ming profile of existing channel TLC and retiring two brands – Home and Health and Turbo. The portfolio refresh comes 10 months after former Asia boss, Arjan Hoekstra, took the reigns of the 20-year old Asia-Pacific channels operation in September last year. Along with the revamped TLC, the new Eve/TLC combo ups the ante for female- focused channel leaders such as A+E Networks Asia (Lifetime) and NBCUniversal (Diva, E!, Universal). Eve, created in and for the region by the Discovery team in Singapore, is the first factual channel in Asia targetting women. The Eve line up includes Alaska Gold Diggers, about a Southern California mother and her four daughters who head for Alaska to reopen their deceased grandfather’s gold mines. Eve will replace Discovery Home and Health, which reaches more than three million subscribers in Asia Pacific and has carriage deals in, among others, Malaysia

(), (now TV) Singapore T h e M i l r s © 2 0 1 3 C B S t u d o I n c . (StarHub) and Thailand (TrueVisions). TLC, largely known in Asia for travel and cuisine shows, goes forward from 1 August For carriage inquiries, please contact [email protected] with an upsized programme schedule www.rtlcbsasia.com RTLCBSEntertainment @RTLCBSEntertain The rest of the story is on page two... First and Exclusive except in The Philippines contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 2.

Hello Eve, DMax, ID; bye Home & Health, Turbo

from the horse's mouth ContentAsia’s take on industry events in the Year of the Horse

Looks like Universal’s punt on the Gutierrez family is working – at least in the Philippines. The six-part original series following the Manila-based celeb family posted 185% ratings growth among women 16+ in the second episode over the premiere on E! in early June. The show airs on Alaska Gold Diggers will air on Discovery’s new Eve channel E! Sundays from 9pm to 9.30pm. Discovery: from page 1 offering for young men. DMAX rolls out on It Takes Gutz to be a Gutierrez drove driven by travel, cuisine, family reality and 7 July. E! to #1 among women 20-44 in the bridal content. Reality and bridal shift from DMAX Asia will tap the U.S. network’s con- time slot and second among women Home and Health. tent pipeline, including sub-genres such as 16+ out of 80+ English-language pay- Among other programme movements, ‘fighters’, ‘subcultures’ and ‘money’. TV channels (including sports), ac- this means reality fave, Here Comes Honey Two versions of ID arrive in Asia in the sec- cording to Kantar Media Philippines Boo Boo, shifts from Home and Health to ond half of the year and will be distributed data released by Universal. the new TLC, which launches in August to different markets. E! beat 24 of its direct competitors with the tagline: “The remarkable meets ID launches in India on 1 August, with a in the general entertainment and life- the relatable”. line-up that is closely aligned with the U.S. style categories to the top spot in key is being retired to make version of ID. The second version for South- demographics: total viewers, adults way for DMAX, which expands to a broad east Asia focuses more on mystery. 16+, women 16+, adults 20-44 and women 20-44 during the timeslot. Will the series work outside of the DreamworksTV launches on YouTube Philippines, where the Gutierrezes elicit DreamWorksTV launched its global has promised short-form content “that more of a ‘who?’ than an ‘oh, them’. To YouTube channel on 16 June with a celeb is laugh-out-loud funny, featuring fresh soon to tell but, as NBCUni’s global pro- line up including , and new voices and iconic characters”. Series gramming SVP, Gracia Waverly, pointed . Led by AwesomenessTV highlights include family-friendly versions of out when she was in Singapore recently, founder Brian Robbins, the new channel reality TV (Prank My Parents, Record Setter “No one knew who Kim Kardashian was went live with original live action and Kids), and original animated web series either in the beginning”. animation programming. DreamWorksTV from top creators. contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 3.

Stingray Digital Mnet returns dance survival show retunes Asia strategy Dancing9 season two fills Friday 11pm talent slot Global multichannel music outfit, Stingray Digital, has re-tuned its Asia strategy, driving forward in the region as part of Gregg Creevey’s Multi Channels Asia (MCA) bundle. The new partnership puts Stingray Digital’s subscription music services, in- cluding local channels in every territory, in the same stable as MCA’s Havoc 247, Ginx, MoshCam and the flagship . Stingray, which began its Asia push at end 2013, offers 100+ commercial- audio music channels in all musical gen- res, Galaxie Music Videos on Demand, The Karaoke Channel and Concert TV. The multi-platform services have 100 mil- Dancing9 lion subscribers in 113 countries. Korean media company CJ E&M pre- ing that season one has so far been sold “In today’s digital age, we are at a miered the second season of global to new Japanese channel, Dance Chan- time of unprecedented music fragmen- dance survival format, Dancing9, on nel, which launches in October. tation, yet the consumption of music Friday, 13 June, at 11pm. The show airs Dancing9 covers a range of genres, has never been stronger,” Creevey on music channel Mnet. including K-pop, jazz and ballet. A new says, adding that Asia Pacific remains a Upgrades in season two include using category for group applicants has been largely untapped market for integrated Dartfish technology, which CJ says is added this year. subscription music services. commonly used in sports broadcasting to This latest format follows a vibrant mix capture swift movement in better detail. of local and international formats on The Indonesia Channel The number of foreign applicants for Mnet, including Superstar K, The Voice goes global the second season was up 30% to 63 of Korea and Trot X. All aired in Mnet’s Indonesia’s first English-language en- countries on six continents, CJ said, add- 11pm slot. tertainment and lifestyle channel has signed a deal with Globecast in Sing- pore for global distribution on multiple The Powerpuff Girls return to in 2016 platforms, including mobile/OTT. Distri- Cartoon Network is bringing back The “We are calling these girls back into bution is via the Measat-3 satellite for Powerpull Girls in 2016 in a global TV and action based upon an overwhelming Asia Pacific and on Globecast’s fibre licensing roll-out that follows the “re- demand for sugar, spice and Chemical network in Europe. The privately funded imagined” special in January. X,” said Cartoon Network’s chief content channel offers a mix of news and gen- will produce officer, Rob Sorcher, at the opening of this eral entertainment. the all-new TV series. year’s 2014 Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.

3-5 September 2014 Grand Hyatt Singapore More info from CJ Yong at [email protected] OUT NOW!

issue two 2014 cC NTENTntentASIA

Outlander’s Ron Moore Astro’s Rohana Rozhan PLUS: A who’s who of online/ OTT platforms in Asia, India’s happy SATELLITE 2014 Outside Front Cover advertisement size on sex, kilts & the universe on what’s next programmers & all the numbers fit to count Trim: 245mm (Width) by 260mm (Height) Type Area: 235mm (Width) by 250mm (Height) Bleed: 260mm (Width) by 270mm (Height)

Game Of Chefs Our Latest Masterpiece The cooking format is on the move.

MEASAT-3b

The Starry Night Vincent Van Gogh

itvstudiosge.com Tel: +60 3 8213 2188 Email: [email protected] Web: www.measat.com

GOC Advert.indd 1 07/05/2014 12:04 1. AdCover layout.indd 1 9/6/14 10:39:54

Astro boss Rohana Rozhan on what’s next A who’s who of online & OTT platforms in Asia PLUS What industry bosses said & heard at APOS, what digital is doing to Indian cable homes, the skinny on satellite activity in Asia & a whole lot more

All in ContentAsia...in print+interactive out on 16 June Find us at Casbaa Satellite Industry Forum & BroadcastAsia/CommunicAsia

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)

16-29 June page 4. contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 5.

Cheng takes over Da Vinci seals double deal in Vietnam Lucasfilm Singapore Family learning channel on OneTV & MyTV Animation/visual effects veteran, , takes over as GM Berlin-based family learning channel, interactive TV service OneTV’s basic IPTV of Lucasfilm Singapore Da Vinci Learning, has launched on two package. in the summer. Cheng platforms in Vietnam – FPT Telecom’s MyTV will offer the channel to subscrib- was most recently senior OneTV and Vietnam Posts and Telecom- ers of its Silver, Silver HD, Gold and Gold production exec for the munications Group’s MyTV. HD packages. JV between DreamWorks The channel has been localised in MyTV is owned and operated by Vi- Animation in the U.S. and Vietnamese as part of the new carriage etnam Posts and Telecommunications China’s Oriental Dream- deals. Group (VNPT) subsidiary VASC Software Works. She replaces interim Da Vinci Learning goes up as part of and Media Company. GM Colin Brown and reports to Lynwen Brennan, president/GM of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). Cheng’s feature credits include and Mada- BesTV flies with Big Bird gascar. ILM Singapore is currently working Multi-platform deal for China on Transformers: Age of Extinction, Star Wars Episode VII and Agent 47. China’s BesTV is offering Sesame Street epi- sodes on its video-on-demand service as part The Cartel in Mongolia of a multi-platform deal with the U.S.-based Caracol Television’s The Cartel pre- Sesame Workshop. mieres on Mongolian channel Rights include IPTV, digital TV and OTT devices, and Edutainment TV on 16 the agreement also involves cross-promotional oppor- June. The telenovela is tunities, digital marketing, and co-development of stripped Monday to early childhood educational content and mobile Friday at 10pm. The applications. Cartel is the story of One of the featured programmes is Martin “Strawberry” Sesame Street’s Big Bird Looks at the González, a young mid- World, co-produced with the Shanghai dle-class man seduced by Media Group. Sesame Workshop has drug trafficking’s easy money. been distributing content in China since 1983. New gov’t lights up DD Zhang Yue, BesTV’s executive India’s new government is believed to vice president and CEO said the have lit a fire under stodgy state broad- Sesame Workshop rights were caster , telling broadcast part of BesTV’s two-part kids bosses to move fast, get new channels on initiative – online education the air and move DD up the ratings charts. and premium children’s shows. contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 6.

Crack Them Up finds Pinewood Iskandar cuts the official opening ribbon success in Asia Gov’t backed facility boost Malaysia on global production stage

Crack Them Up

Vietnam’s Dien Quan Media and Enter- tainment has picked up Ukrainian com- edy format Crack Them Up. In a second Asia-Pacific deal done by distributor Eccho Rights, Australia’s Essential Media bought local rights to the format. The From left: YBhg Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, YAB Dato’ Mohd Khaled Nordin, Michael Lake, DYMM Sultan Ibrahim two new deals follow the premier of the Chinese version in February 2014. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios offi- Lake, said​ the opening “marks the start of cially opened its doors this past weekend, our journey towards becoming the centre HBO wins formally kicking off a Malaysian govern- for international production in Asia”. ment-backed effort to put the country ​The opening comes about two months Promax/BDA Awards on the international film and television after Pinewood Iskandar inked a deal production map. with The Weinstein Company to shoot The RM550-million/US$170-million 50-acre upcoming television series, Marco Polo​,​ complex, which its bosses say is the largest at the facility​. indie integrated studio facility in Southeast “​Attracting a production the size of Asia if not Asia, was opened by the Sultan Marco Polo is testament to our ability to of Johor. Pinewood Iskandar is an alliance offer world-class amenities to filmmakers between ​the Pinewood Studios Group looking for a one-stop shop from script to and the Malaysia​n government’s strate- screen,” Lake said. gic investment fund, Khazanah Nasional In​ addition, in​ February 2014, Japan’s Berhad. Imagica Corp formed a post-production HBO Asia walked away with six awards Pinewood Iskandar chairman, Tan Sri joint venture with Khazanah – including three gold – at this year’s Pro- Rafidah Aziz ​, said the facility was “com- Ivan​ Dunleavy​, CEO of U.K.-based Pine- max/BDA Awards in New York. The HBO: mitted to lead in developing a robust wood Shepperton,​ ​said during the Johor Home Of The Originals print advertisement ecosystem of creative talent and high opening that the facility would ​“play a bagged three awards (gold, silver and quality SMEs” ​in the area. strategic part in Pinewood’s ever expand- bronze). Pinewood Iskandar’s CEO, Michael ing international offering”.

Do global business in your own backyard! www.kidscreeneast.com contentasia formats 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 7.

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.

Dance Your Ass Off

Thai terrestrial broadcaster Bangkok Enter- tainment’s (BEC) Channel 3 moved into June on a reality high following the suc- cessful close of its latest dance series. Season two of weight-loss dance for- mat, Dance Your Ass Off (known locally as Dance Your Fat Off), closed on 24 May after 12 episodes of 90 minutes each. No decisions on season three have been confirmed. If it does happen, a 2015 premiere could be on the schedule. Channel 3’s programme acquisition head, Art Kaneearch Dandumrongsuk, said season two built on the first series. Dance Your Ass Off “Ratings were higher, more people were talking about it… it was a healthy show for director, says the show “generally rated the series is about positive lifestyle jour- the channel,” he says. better than the channel’s average rating neys, and that weight has little to do Season two aired in the same Saturday for that timeslot”. with grace. “There is also the perception 5.30pm-7pm slot as season one. The final episode of season two (24 that overweight people can’t dance as Brokered by NBCUniversal, Dance Your May) attained a TV rating of 3.8 for all 4+ gracefully and our show has proven every Ass Off features full-figured contestants nationwide and a high of 6.9 amongst one wrong,” Ng says. competing to lose the most weight and female 25-34 (Bangkok/urban). The first The Thai version followed the format’s score the highest in dance routines. Con- episode in March earned a TV rating of Asia debut on Hangzhou/Zhejiang pro- testants are paired with professional dance 3.3 for all 4+ nationwide and a high of 5.3 vincial television network station, Zhejiang partners training them for weekly stage among female 25-34 (Bangkok/urban). Satellite TV, in 2012. performances, which range from hip hop “The format targets adults but is notice- “ continues to be one and ballroom to pole dancing. The weak- ably more popular with women aged of the vibrant format markets for 2014,” est contestant with the lowest dance score 15-40,” Ng says. Ng says. Other drivers in the year ahead and weight loss is sent home. Viewers uploaded series’ clips online, are interest in new formats genres out Producers on the ground are given the which drove buzz, Dandumrongsuk says. of China, driven by success with Korean flexibility to use local songs and dance rou- If production budgets and China regula- titles, and the launch of new channels tines “as long as it is entertaining and serves tions in Asia are a region-wide challenge across the region, including Thailand, as a good dance workout after all”. for the entire industry, one of NBCUni’s Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. Linfield Ng, NBCUniversal International unique challenges in selling Dance Your Television Production’s format sales liaison Ass Off is convincing broadcasters that

FORMATS at the ContentAsia Summit 2014 September 2014. Grand Hyatt, Singapore. Be included. Contact CJ at [email protected] contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 8.

PlatformDitto TV

Biggest challenge in 2014 “A recurring challenge is collecting the payment from the user. To work around this, we have moved to a 360-degree payment mecha- nism. Rather than having just an online payment mechanism, we have started various offline methods as well. We offer prepaid cards and virtual cards wherever internet services or devices are sold, and also work with distribution and payment collection solution providers like Oxigen, besides mobile operators. We are trying to partner with every company that a customer is likely to have a billing relation- ship with. There is also a cash-on delivery model, where Ditto TV prepaid cards are delivered to the doorstep.” Priorities for 2014 “With increasing screen sizes, and increase in number of handsets, In a regular section looking at up-and-coming platforms in Asia, we will be looking at bundling with hand- Malena Amzah speaks to Manoj Padmanabhan, business head of Ditto TV. set providers and mobile phone opera- tors. We are also working on technology that will allow users to view content on What is Ditto TV? Ditto TV is an Indian OTT which comprise a mix of free and paid rent, so that they can pay to watch only TV distribution platform offering live TV and content. a particular content.” on-demand content on internet-enabled The offering105 live multi-genre channels The best thing that has happened to the devices, including mobile phones, tablets, from the Times Group, TV Today Network, OTT industry in Asia so far this year is… A laptops, desktops, entertainment boxes Sony Entertainment Television and BBC, greater willingness to partner and a grow- and connected TVs. Ditto TV was created among others. Also offers catch-up TV ing understanding of OTT as a value add. by Zee New Media, the digital arm of Zee content from general entertainment “This is a big shift towards bringing content Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL). channels such as Zee TV and Colors along directly to the consumers screen and it is Aims to Revolutionise “the way TV and with regional channels. Content includes very encouraging... on the whole.” VOD content is delivered and enjoyed, TV shows Comedy Nights with Kapil, Balika What do you think will have the most im- spurring the transition from traditional ap- Vadhu, Dance India Dance, Jodha Ak- pact on the OTT industry in Asia in 2014? pointment TV viewing to a more flexible, bar; classic MTV Bakra, MTV Coke Studio, “The ecosystem is growing very fast and customisable alternative”. Hum Paanch (featuring Vidya Balan); and we are optimistic that improved and bet- Who’s who… Manoj Padmanabhan, busi- movies Chennai Express, English Vinglish. ter quality bandwidth as well as reduction ness head, Ditto TV Content wishlist Planning to acquire eth- in internet rates coupled with the pen- Users More than 4 million nic/local content in each market. etration of mobile phones and tablets, is Geo-blocked Content is geo-blocked for Rights Exclusive and non-exclusive going to have a very positive impact on different regions New titles Catch-up TV catalogue is re- the OTT industry in Asia.” Business/pricing model Subscription- freshed with all on-air daily episodic con- The best thing that has happened to Ditto based model. Ditto TV pays a per-sub- tent. Adds about 500-600 hours of content TV so far this year The Ditto TV revamp scriber fee to the content provider. Users each month. and the new interface that allows users to download the app for free but pay a fee Social media “Ditto TV being a completely directly login to the website from their user based on the package they choose. Of- digital medium, social media campaigns ID. This surpassing the need to download fers daily, weekly and monthly packages, help us connect well with our users.” the app to their desktops. contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 9. interviewproduction

Michael Lake, CEO, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios

Where do you think Asia’s film industry as a whole is at the moment compared to I think that where you think it could be? “I think that there are the industry as a whole at the moment is great oppor- very healthy. The major countries such as tunities on the back Korea, China and Japan have consoli- dated their positions whilst smaller country of the finalisation of are seriously starting to develop both their ASEAN for there to be domestic industries as well as getting their a truly regional pro- films out to a broader audience, be it in ducing community.” the region or internationally. Also, box office takings for most countries in the region, not only for Western movies, is the biggest drivers of the industry over the biggest milestones in the past year have seeing an increase. In the future, I would coming year with an increase in screens been the attraction of Imagica Corpo- like to see an increase in co-productions to be built in Malaysia, large commitments ration, Japan’s largest post production by producers within the region. I think that by the Lippo Group and Blitzmegaplex in company, to set up Imagica Southeast there are great opportunities on the back Indonesia and CJ’s entry into Vietnam. Asia at the studios offering a complete of the finalisation of ASEAN for there to be Another driver for me will be an increase range of post production services. Most a truly regional producing community.” in finance available for production as the importantly the attraction of The Wein- industry matures in many countries through stein Company to produce the 10-hour What are the major production trends you the region and private investors seeing op- Netflix series, Marco Polo, at the studios. are seeing in Asia at the moment? “I see portunities within the industry.” A great coup and whilst it has stretched an increasing trend from Western produc- the facilities, it will be a game changer for ers to film in the region not only using loca- What do you think are the production in- international production in Malaysia. The tions but also in terms of story where the dustry in Southeast Asia’s (or Asia) major two key drivers for this were the size and product is becoming more Asian centric. achievements in the past 12 months? “I quality of the facility and the 30% Film In Of course, there continues to be a major believe that there will be an increase in Malaysia Incentive.” push into China but other countries are the amount of product produced and also benefiting from this. There also ap- an increase in the quality of that product. What is your forecast for 4K roll out? “Mar- pears to be an uptick in producers across I see more opportunities for that product co Polo is being shot in 4K and several the region working together. An interest- to move into the international market. other projects we are talking to also are ing move has been CJ’s entry into both Because of the focus on the Asian Industry planning to shoot in 4K. My belief is that 4K Vietnam and Indonesia producing local- from the international film-making com- will become for international language films.” munity there will also be an increase in film and television production over the international production in the region and coming year or so.” What do you think the major advances with that an opportunity for local produc- will be for Asia’s film industry in the next 12 ers to partner on this production.” Michael Lake will be speaking at this months – and what are the drivers for this? year’s Creative Content Production Con- ference, which runs in Singapore from “I believe the increase in screens availa- What have been Pinewood’s biggest 18-19 June alongside BroadcastAsia and ble within the region is going to be one of milestones in the past year? “The two CommunicAsia.

C NTENTasia facebook.com/contentasia I @ContentAsia contentasia 16-29 JUNE 2014 Page 10.

Media Prima’s TV3 turns 30 C NTENTASIA Malaysia’s leading free-TV network, TV3, celebrates its 30th anniversary this month Editorial Director with a Transformers extravaganza that runs Janine Stein into August. Assistant Editor The three movies involved in the festivi- Malena Amzah ties are Transformers (June 13), Transform- [email protected] ers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 20), Production Manager Transformers: Dark of the Moon (August) CJ Yong and the premiere of Transformers: Age of [email protected] Extinction on 25 June. All air in the Mega Editorial Research Aqilah Yunus Movie slot at 10pm. [email protected] During the anniversary celebrations, Media Prima CEO Ahmad Izham Omar Design Media Prima chief executive, Ahmad Rae Yong Izham Omar, outlined the broadcaster’s bringing together talent from Malaysia, community and charity programmes. Singapore and Indonesia for the first time, Associate Publisher He also said new co-pro You Whisper, would premiere in September. (Americas, Europe) and VP, International Business Development Leah Gordon Measat ups Tan, unveils new corporate image [email protected] Sales and Marketing (Asia) Malaysian satellite (Asia Pacific). On the eve of this year’s Masliana Masron o p e r a t o r, M e a s a t BroadcastAsia/CommunicAsia, Measat [email protected] Satellite Systems, has also unveiled its new corporate logo promoted Alex Tan to and image, saying the additional colours To receive your regular free copy of senior sales director reflect the changes in the organisation ContentAsia, please email – telecoms and VAS over the last eight years. [email protected]

Published fortnightly by: Pencil Media Pte Ltd Australia’s Nine picks up ITV’s reinvented Thunderbirds 730A Geylang Road Singapore 389641 Thunderbirds Are Go! arrives in Australia Australia’s Nine Network youth-skewing Tel: +65 6846-5987 in spring 2015 in ITV Studios Global Enter- digital chanel Go!, ITV Studios said in a contentasia.tv tainment’s first international broadcast statement out of the U.K. on Monday. asiacontentwatch.com deal for the reinvention of the iconic The series’ catch-up option will be kids series. available via 9jumpin’s VOD service. Copyright 2014 Pencil Media Pte The series from ITV Studios and New The 26x30 mins series premieres on ITV Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures will air on and CITV in the U.K. in 2015. MICA (P) 111/06/2013

Malaysia’s TV1 blocks Singapore feed

Malaysia’s public broadcaster RTM has pulled the plug on its Singapore channel until the final whistle has been blown on C NTENTasia the World Cup in Brazil. StarHub subscribers Daily news with were greeted last week with an on-screen banner telling them that RTM has encrypt- ContentAsia Insider ed its satellite signal source “so that only email [email protected] viewers in Malaysia are able to access the for subscription details 2014 FIFA World Cup matches on TV1”.