9-22 DECEMber C NTENTASIA 2013

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Dope show Weeds to air in Singapore Celestial seals 700 hour SVOD deal with Toggle

Wishing you a wonderful 2014. happy Mary-Louise Parker in Weeds Award-winning TV series, Weeds, will air scription video-on-demand rights to feature legally on-demand in Singapore in 2014 as films from U.S. studio Lionsgate. holidays! part of a 700-hour slate acquired by over- The TV and film titles will air on Toggle Eve the-top platform Toggle. and Toggle Movies channels. Distributor Celestial Tiger Entertainment Weeds stars Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy (CTE) says this is not the first time Singapore Botwin in a dark U.S. comedy about a rights to Weeds have been licensed. The marijuana-dealing mother living in an af- C NTENTasia name of the previous broadcaster has not fluent suburb. This is the final issue ofContentAsia newslet- been disclosed. CTE also says it is up to lo- In addition to Weeds, TV titles include five ter for 2013. We will be back on 13 Janu- cal broadcasters to comply with program- seasons of Mad Men; reality show Nail Files, ary 2014. Subscription daily, ContentAsia ming/censorship codes, and that it does about salon owner Katie Cazorla; and Run- Insider, will continue to publish Asia’s top news stories through the holidays. Contact not track edits. ning Wilde, a half-hour comedy starring Will [email protected] for details. The Lionsgate package also includes sub- More on page 4 contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 2.

Hong Kong regulator SkyCable sets up free viewing for typhoon victims clamps down on Info & entertainment for families in relief centres product placement and in-show sponsorship

Hong Kong’s Communications Au- thority (CA) has “serious concerns” about product placement in TV pro- grammes, saying that clear prohibi- tions are being openly and frequently flouted by the territory’s broadcasters. “The contents of certain television programmes appear to be intention- ally designed and edited to cater for certain sponsors’ products/services to create advertising effect for the spon- Seated, from left: Tim Bautista, Baby Zarate, Cable Boss; Gladys Jacinto, Jude Turcuato, Fox Internat- sors,” the CA said. tional Channels; March Ventosa, ABS-CBN, Creative Programs Inc. Standing, from left: Liza Latinazo, Universal Networks International; Carlo L. Katigbak, SkyCable; Eugenio Lopez III, ABS-CBN; Eloisa Earlier this month, the regulatory Balmoris, Jaja Suarez, Ray Montinola, SkyCable body warned broadcasters to toe the line, and said publicly that heavier Philippines’ pay-TV platform SkyCable has pany, SkyCable will continue to operate fines were being considered to clamp set up free viewing stations in 10 areas these free viewing stations for as long as down on the “increasing trend of across the country to “provide quality en- it is needed by the affected communi- breaches” of the current codes ruling tertainment and relevant information for ties,” the company said, adding that it indirect advertising and product/serv- families in relief and evacuation centres” “recognises the importance of providing ice sponsorships. in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. positive entertainment that will inspire Hong Kong’s codes prohibit indirect The initiative started a week after the their spirits, and constantly provide them advertising in programmes and aim deadly typhoon struck. with valuable information”. to “preserve television programme SkyCable said typhoon victims were SkyCable also raised funds and in-kind integrity by not allowing programme able to catch “the much-awaited wed- donations from Singapore Technologies agendas to be distorted for com- ding of Maya and Sir Chief with the show- Telemedia (STT), international channel mercial purposes”. This includes ing of Please Be Careful with My Heart”, partners, including Turner, Fox International embedding advertising material within as well as kids content, live news and Channels, NBC Universal and Disney, and programmes “whether inadvertently updates. local distribution partners Cable Box Office or by design”, the CA said. More than 5,000 people also watched Shows and Systems Corp (Cable Boss) and The code allows sponsor exposure the free and live telecast of the Pacquiao- Accion Cable Communications. In addi- within programmes as long as this is Rios fight at the Astrodome in Tacloban, tion, A+E and Discovery developed televi- “clearly justified editorially, not ob- while thousands more caught the match sion spots that encouraged donations to trusive to viewing pleasure and not in viewing stations in other centres. the Typhoon Haiyan victims via ABS-CBN’s gratuitous”. “As the country’s leading pay-TV com- Sagip Kapamilya Foundation.

Email: [email protected] contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 3.

Henson shutters © Korean Broadcasting System Breakfast Network Singapore commentator Bertha Henson has pulled the plug on her Breakfast Network website rather than register with Singapore’s Media Devel- opment Authority (MDA). Henson’s an- nouncement came on the eve of the MDA’s registration deadline. Henson said she would return to blogging for the moment. The website this morning said, “Kitchen closed. It was a pleas- ure serving you”.

HBO squeezes windows HBO Asia opens 2014 with licensing windows squeezed to a week of U.S. telecast on shows such as eight-epi- Korea pushes sode HBO Original series True Detec- TV show for tive (19 January); four-part miniseries Unesco register Olive Kitteridge; and Cinemax Original Finding Dispersed Family, KBS Korean War live The Knick with Steven Soderbergh. drama “reflects The regional network is also premiering Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration originality and returning seasons of Banshee (10pm, 17 harsh & tragic is pushing to include a locally produced genuineness as January, Cinemax), Boardwalk Empire, reality” 453-hour TV series in UNESCO’s Memory of well as interna- Game of Thrones, Girls (19 January, the World Register in 2014. tional importance”. 10pm, HBO Signature), The Newsroom, True Blood and Veep. The series, Finding Dispersed Family, by If Finding Dispersed Family is included in public broadaster Korean Broadcasting the register, the number of Korean items Asia picks up eight GRB titles System (KBS), aimed at reuniting families will increase to 12. Other items include War U.S. distributor GRB has sold eight titles separated during the Korean War. Diary (Nanjung Ilgi); Archives of Saemaul to broadcasters across Asia, including The series aired twice a day for four Undong (New Community Movement); Inside West Coast Customs to Discov- months in 1983. Local daily, the Korea the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty; Jikji ery Asia and Monster Bug Wars to Herald, said the show introduced a total (Korean Buddhist document); and Hun- China’s CCTV. International sales vice of 53,536 cases of families and individuals minjeongeun (the original manuscript of president Benn Watson said he had believed to have lost family. 10,189 of the Hangeul). sold Unleashed: K9 Broward County, cases aired ended in reunions. The sequel to Finding Dispersed Family, Full Force Nature S1, Full Force Nature The report quoted the Cultural Herit- a follow-up programme that attempted S2, Hostage: Do or Die, I Cloned My Pet age Administraion as saying that the to reunite separated families in South to Cineplex in Thailand and Titans to programme “reflects the harsh and tragic Korea and China, has also been put up Korea’s Dream n Company. reality of a divided nation. The show has for inclusion. contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 4.

WarnerTV wins November Viacom ramps up Nick’s China presence with new Sohu deal WarnerTV has won November in Sin- gapore, delivering the highest ratings Viacom International Media Networks and share since launch among cable (VIMN) Asia is putting 200 hours of Nickelo- audiences 25-54 across the day and in deon content on mainland China’s Sohu prime time. (Source: Kantar Pay TV Rat- online platform from 15 December 2013. ings, Singapore, 1-30 Nov 2013). The 12-month licensing deal is part of a WarnerTV also claims top spot across strategic online/on-demand collabora- the day among cable 4+ audiences tion announced out of Beijing and Singa- for eight of the past 12 months, and pore at the beginning of December. for nine of the past 12 months among VIMN said the collaboration would al- cable females 15+. Among men low more than 389 million online video 15+, Warner was the top channel in users in China free access to program- StarHub’s entertainment package ming dubbed in Mandarin and subtitled across the day and in prime time. in simplified Chinese. WarnerTV beat its two closes rivals – Fox Titles include SpongeBob SquarePants, and AXN – in every audience demo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar: November. The Last Airbender. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Indonesia’s Trans breaks into Cambodia with 20 movies Indonesian TV company Televisi Transformasi Indonesia (Trans TV) has HK’s ATV fined HK$200,000 for audit failure agreed to sell a slate of 20 Indonesian telemovies to Cambodian free-TV Authority cites “serious lapse of management” broadcaster Cambodia Television Net- Hong Kong’s Communications Authority ATV attributed its failure to comply with its work (CTN). This is Trans TV’s first export (CA) has fined free-TV broadcaster Asia free-TV licence conditions to, among other outside the Malay archipelago coun- Television Ltd (ATV) a total of HK$200,000/ things, ongoing disputes and legal action tries such as Malaysia, Singapore and US$25,800 for failing to submit annual au- between ATV shareholders as well as the Brunei. The telemovies are slated to air dited accounts for four years from 2009 inability to secure approval of the audited throughout 2014. to 2012. accounts by ATV’s board of directors. The CA said earlier this month that ATV The broadcaster also blamed recent from page 1: Weeds had ignored six official reminders. allegations against ATV, including the Arnett as a rich, self-centered bachelor “To date, ATV still has not rectified the CA’s investigation into ATV control and who has everything he wants except the lapse. The non-compliance reflects a seri- management. girl of his dreams. ous lapse of the management of ATV,” the The CA said the failure to submit audited Feature films include American Pie, authority said. accounts was a “blatant breach” of li- American Psycho, Dirty Dancing, Resi- ATV has been given until 13 Decem- censing conditions, and said ATV should dent Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and ber to submit accounts or face stricter have taken into account the time required the Cube and Leprechaun franchises. punishments. to complete the auditing process. contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 5.

ABS-2 arrives in Kourou ahead of early 2014 launch

ABS-2

Never Give Up Dodo, Sohu original online series Viki signs major Asian content Online platform Viki has signed major new Sanli Enter- content deals with mainland Chinese and tainment Tel- deals The new ABS-2 satellite has arrived at the Taiwanese partners as part of a ramped- evision and Original shows, European Spaceport in Kourou, French up initiative to boost global content flow. will bring all China, Japan Guiana ahead of scheduled launch in Viki is also boosting its involvement in Asian of its on-air focus for 2014 early 2014. content creation, securing exclusive ac- dramas to Viki The Space Systems/Loral (SSL) com- cess to original shows as part of ambitious in 2014. mercial satellite, which was designed plans for 2014. Viki founder and and built for Asian satellite operator The platform’s first original drama invest- CEO, Razmig Hovaghimian, says original Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS), will be ment is in live-action Korean drama series, Chinese web content is an increasing fo- launched aboard an Ariane 5 launch Inspiring Age, set in 1930s Shanghai. The cus, and that 92% of Viki users around the vehicle by Arianespace. series is a co-production with Korea’s Ray world are watching Chinese content with ABS-2 has been optimised to provide & Mo and stars Kim Hyun Joong (Boys Over subtitles. The remaining 8% are watching in multiple services across a broad geogra- Flowers, Playful Kiss). the original Chinese. “We’re increasing the phy and 60% of the world’s population. Viki holds the series’ web and mobile size of the pie, these are new audiences,” The satellite is a multi-mission C-, Ku- and streaming rights for all territories except he says, adding: “That’s becoming really Ka-band satellite, designed to provide Korea and Japan, as well as exclusive interesting for content partners in China... multiple services including direct-to-home rights for North America and Europe. The we’re opening up the world for them”. and cable television distribution, VSAT series is slated for a January 2014 launch Among other initiatives to increase en- services, data networks, and telecommu- on viki.com. gagement with China, Viki is building a team nications services across four continents. It Among other deals announced this and partnerships on the ground in China. will be positioned at 75º East. month, Viki has partnered with Chinese por- Deeper engagement with Japanese ABS-2 has a total of 89 active C-band, tal Sohu to distribute original online series, audiences is also a priority for 2014, as is a Ku-band and Ka-band transponders including idol dramas and sketch comedies deeper involvement with technology. The across 10 different beams. The satellite Unconditional Love and Never Give Up Japan play includes a new partnership includes six dedicated high-powered Dodo starring Peter Ho, and Another Taste with Showtime, which is, like Viki, part of the Ku-Band beams for DTH TV services in the of Love featuring Godfrey Gao. Viki also Rakuten stable. eastern hemisphere and provides high broadcasts period dramas and online At the same time as drilling down in- powered C-Band beams for Africa and series from Chinese broadcasters Huace country, Hovaghimian keeps his eyes on Southeast Asia connectivity requirements. TV and LeTV. global content opportunities, including The Ka-Band beam is positioned over the In Taiwan, Viki has signed on with TVBS – Latin America, Europe and India. Middle East and North African region, the Taiwan unit of Hong Kong’s dominant “There’s so much great content out where it will provide service for both com- broadcaster, Television Broadcasts Ltd there,” Hovaghimian says, adding: “This is mercial and military applications. (TVB) – for the exclusive broadcast of the not long tail. This is the middle, prime-time ABS chief executive, Tom Choi, said Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Countdown live content with high-production values. We’re the satellite was “one of the largest sat- to the rest of the world. unlocking that, letting it travel. We’re bring- ellites ever to be launched in the Eastern In addition, Viki has renewed its agree- ing down the language barrier and letting Hemisphere”. ment with Taiwanese media company it flow, getting it to its fans”. contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 6.

Men’s lifestyle channel 8 Jan strut for Asia’s Next Top Model 2 heads for Asia

Lanny Huang, Li Kuo Hsing, Gary Rosenson The second season of Asia’s Next Top model hopefuls from 12 countries in Asia. and Patrick Tong Model premieres on Fox International ActiveTV produced season two. FIC said Channels’ (FIC) English-language general season one had 39 million viewers. New Asian lifestyle channel, Lifestyle TV entertainment channel, Star World, on 8 FIC hasn’t disclosed the production (LSTV), is gearing up for an early 2014 January 2014. budget beyond “multi-million dollar”. In- launch across Asia Pacific. The 13-episode, pan-regional reality dustry estimates are between US$3 million- The channel targets men aged 18-38 series airs in a 9.40pm slot and follows 16 US$4 million. with travel, cuisine, adventure and fash- ion content. Carriage deals have already been signed in Hong Kong, Thailand, Mongolia StarHub breaks ground on new one-north facility and the Philippines. A mix of Asia and international con- tent includes haute cuisine cooking led by celebrities Chang Min (2AM) and Alex Chu from South Korea, as well as Latin Angels, Girls Gone Wild and 69 Sexy Things To Do Before You Die. Korean drama, Fighter, will also premiere Asia- wide on the channel. LSTV is a joint venture between the Mei Ah Entertainment Group’s MATV and Playboy Plus Entertainment.

From left: Tan Guong Ching, Chairman, StarHub; Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore Minister of Communica- tions and Information; Tan Tong Hai, CEO, StarHub

Singapore’s communications company The six-storey building – part of Singa- StarHub has started building its new Media- pore’s emerging media park – will occupy Hub facility at Singapore’s one-north, prom- 8,590 square metres, with about 21,400 ising at the ground-breaking ceremony “to square metres of floor area. The new facil- push the boundaries beyond conventional ity will house a social media analytics lab telecoms and media business”. and an adaptive production studio, as Construction is expected to be com- well as a business data centre for digital pleted by the early 2016. media and cloud services. Latin Angels

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WE ARE EXPANDING!

Company Background The product of an “East meets West” alliance, Celestial Tiger Enter- tainment (CTE) was formed when two premier Hollywood media companies partnered with Asia’s leading pay-TV platform to build a regionally focused, entertainment powerhouse. Lionsgate, Saban Capital Group and Astro joined the KIX and Thrill channels with Celestial Movies and Celestial Classic Movies, offering a mix of Asian- and Western-programmed pay television services under one roof. Together with our just launched cHK channel, these linear and digital networks comprise the largest bouquet of pan-Asian channels dedicated to Asian entertainment.

CTE is also Lionsgate’s exclusive distributor of film and TV content in Asia. With top movie franchises such as The Hunger Games and Twilight, as well as hit TV series such as Boss and Mad Men, CTE has generated record sales for Lionsgate properties in Asia.

Expansion Southeast Asia is home to the fastest growing TV markets in the world, and CTE is 100% focused on the region. Celestial is the most widely distributed Chinese movie service in the world. cHK is a one-stop channel for cool, chic and contemporary Hong Kong entertainment. KIX is already the leading English language High Definition channel on Southeast Asia’s largest pay-TV platform, and Thrill is the only regional channel in Asia dedicated to the popular suspense genre.

We are currently recruiting the following positions based in Hong Kong:

• Marketing Director / Senior Marketing Manager To develop and implement strategies to build, establish and grow the company’s channel brands, build viewership for its channels, build and maintain strong relationship with channel For more information, affiliates, and support the sales teams’ efforts on channel distribution and advertising sales. please visit www.celestialtiger.com/career.asp or submit your CV to [email protected] • Graphic Designer & Production Coordinator Design and manage the creation of innovative off-air and online marketing collaterals to stimulate demand for our channels and content.

25 NOVember - 8 DECEMber page 7. contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 8.

Who’s at... Hits’ launch party in Singapore

Avi Himatsinghani, Rewind Networks/Hits; Mansi Sandie Lee, Rewind Networks/Hits; Alistair Jennings, Vivek Couto, MPA; Lee Soo Hui, StarHub Himatsinghani Sony Pictures Television Asia Pacific

Ranganathan Somanathan, Starcom MediaVest; Vivek Couto, MPA; Sue Taylor, Cisco; Rob Gilby, The Rahul Welde, Unilever; Janet Eng, The Walt Disney Amit Malhotra, The Walt Disney Company SEA Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia Company Southeast Asia

Karen Lee, SingTel Mio TV; Sandie Lee, Rewind Networks/Hits; Samantha Seow, StarHub; Andrea Tay, SingTel Brendan Zauner, 20th Century Fox Television Distribu- Mio TV; Carol Tang, Shu Fen Lin, StarHub tion; Cyrus Farrokh, Electus

Robert Tam, Jacqui Shi, The Walt Disney Company Reagan Chan, MPA; Mark Lay Karen Lay, ESPN Asia Pacific; Carol Sun, The Walt Southeast Asia Disney Company Southeast Asia contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 9.

2013 in quotes

“At the end of the day, it has “Big data analysis gives you the trends, “Anytime you are in to be about capitalising on and it’s critical. But if you can gather a world that hasn’t relationships built. And you the small data that means you can been defined, it’s can only build on that if you be more targeted and relevant in all about learn- provide the value and the what you deliver, that becomes really ing... the best result experience that consumers powerful.” Marcel Fenez, of act two [the next want.” Rohana Rozhan, CEO, Global Entertainment digital development Astro Malaysia Holdings and Media Leader, phase] would be truly understanding our Pricewaterhouse- consumer, knowing effectively how to use “If piracy is ahead of pay, Coopers that understanding to provide value at the what then is the value of right price and at the right time.” Albert pay? That’s a real fun- “Digital delivery of con- Cheng, EVP/Chief Product Office, Digital damental question we tent is shaping Media, Disney/ABC Television Group have to ask ourselves.” a new entertainment ecosys- Henry Tan, COO, Astro tem… the missing link is ways “There is a gen- Malaysia Holdings to access content without eration of peo- credit cards.” Sandy Agar- ple that doesn’t “MSO’s rightly complain wal, CEO/Founder, Swiss- care if it’s free that they cannot pass clear Global view or pay. They price increases on to their just care about the subscribers, and that the “Non-resident Indian audi- brand the content repre- more they increase the ences don’t want to see [movie] Life in sents. That’s the world we are building to- price, the more attractive a Metro because that’s too Western. They wards.” Eric Berger, EVP, Digital Networks, they make lower-cost opera- want to see the glamorous side of India.” Sony Pictures Television tors.” David Haslingden, Chairman, Pranab Kapadia, President, Distribution, Eros Northern Pictures (NHNZ) International Multiple screens and media options may be “the pinnacle of convenience for con- “Our greatest challenges “We are getting less and less sumers”, but the new digital media environ- in the pay-TV space are time to get our messages to ment is also “an utter headache from an escalating content consumers, but this chal- audience measurement and advertising costs and content lenge is a good one be- analytics standpoint”. Digital measure- piracy.” Tan Tong Hai, cause it makes for smarter, ment agency comScore in 2013 South- CEO, StarHub better and more effective east Asia Digital Future in Focus creative.” Glenn Bartlett, “I remain con- Creative Director, Turner “The use of the second vinced that... quantum Broadcasting System Asia Pacific multi-screen by kids is leaps are possible across a growing phenom- the media and entertain- “It’s like any relationship. If you lie to the enon.” Natasha ment sector... in business audience, bore them or Malhotra, General and creative terms, the Indi- take them for granted, Manager, Branded an media and entertainment they are going to go Media Content, The sector still remains much smaller away. And it will be Walt Disney Company, than it should be in a country of 1.2 billion very, very hard to get SEA people. Our collective and individual am- them to come back.” bitions should be taking wings around this Rob Middleton, VP, “The tablet breaks down all barriers be- big opportunity.” Uday Shankar, CEO, Star Network Presentation tween linear and non-linear... the poten- India, and Chairman, FICCI Media and Content Group, Astro Malay- tial for educational gaming is unlimited.” Entertainment Committee 2013 sia Holdings James Ramsay, Head of Networks, Da Vinci Media contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 10.

“Studies have shown that more “India is moving away from “The greatest chal- and more pre-schoolers are reality, scripted (fic- lenge is in securing now going online super- tion) replacing the the digital rights vised by their parents and dip in non-scripted that are so essen- caregivers. Very often, (non-fiction).” Mat- tial for any premi- their entry to the online thew Ashcroft, SVP, um linear channel to world is via games and ac- Shine International have these days.” Todd tivities that are TV programme Miller, CEO, Celestial Tiger Entertainment or channel related.” Ryan Shiotani, VP, “The fundamentals have Branded Services, BBC Worldwide Asia not changed [for the “As the window of Philippines], more so time continues to “The kids market is a now with the recent s h r i n k b e t w e e n high-potential sec- devastation in Central a show’s original tor in Asia Pacific, Philippines. Viewers and regional pre- with over 50% of the will continue to look for m i ere, w e w a nt world’s under 14s lo- narratives with messages of to… streamline the cated in this region hope, inspiration and upliftment.” Evelyn process for delivering and India having the Raymundo, VP, Integrated Acquisitions and promotional material for broadcast.” largest kids population in International Sales and Distribution, ABS-CBN Ashok Miranda, Director, Creative Services the world, at over 420 million.” Kevin Dickie, – English Content, Networks, Asia, Sony SVP, Content Group, Discovery Networks “At least 20% of revenues Pictures Television Asia Pacific – if not higher – are lost in 72 hours of the movie “As much as piracy is a threat, we also “Decentralisation and entre- theatrical release have to recognise that there is still a preneurial spirit as well as a due to [pirate] user huge and growing audience out there stronger execution team uploads. It’s time for subscription linear channels.” Ofanny are critical going forward that the industry at Choi, EVP, TV Networks, Celestial Tiger for Turner Broadcasting large addresses online Entertainment Asia.” Vivek Couto, Execu- piracy aggressively or else we’re not tive Director, Media Partners unlocking the true value of the content “The shift to large screen TVs, along with Asia (MPA) in this economy with the growth projected the increased importance with which for small devices.” Prakash Ramchandani, family is being viewed after events such “Sports in Asia today Head, South Asia, Spuul as the 2011 disasters, has perhaps caused is very underdevel- the ‘connections’ between family and oped…We need “HBO Asia is still in the business of delivering friends to be re-evaluated.” Naoji Ono, to grow the entire the biggest and best Hollywood blockbust- Vice President, NHK Japan [sports] market and ers and series; this milestone investment our share of the marks the beginning of our commitment to “Whether branded or funded in-house, pie.” Joon Lee, SVP, produce top-quality, relevant and riveting we just want to create a really good Content and Communi- content.” Jonathan Spink, Chief Executive property that delivers a really good cation, Asia Pacific and Middle East, Fox Officer, HBO Asia experience… I believe that branded International Channels content can fit into that if it’s done in “With television view- a tasteful and a credible way.” David “Broadcasters are respond- ers having the ten- Gunson, Vice President of Channels, ing to increased market dency to channel Universal Networks International fragmentation by focus- surf or not watch ing on content, which their television dur- “Building an app for specific large tent- is theirs exclusively and ing breaks, I see the poles may not be effective for each made for their audienc- industry increasingly territory, but we can leverage resources es.” Joanne Azzopardi, VP, relying on in-programme promotions to across territories for maximum impact.” Sales Australia, New Zealand, communicate with the viewer.” Magdalene Christopher Barry, MD, International Strat- Asia, Beyond Distribution Ew, SVP, Marketing, Creative and Content, egy and Digital Media, A+E Networks HBO Asia contentasia 9 - 22 DECEMber 2013 Page 11.

A Turner era ends in Asia C NTENTASIA “For all the decades, we never lost our leadership in kids and news... it’s a great feeling,” outgoing boss Marcopoto says Editorial Director Janine Stein Assistant Editor around the region pitching this 2014 opens minus the longest- Today, Marcopoto says “most Malena Amzah serving senior exec in Asia’s thing called pay TV”. of the players understand that [email protected] multichannel industry – Steve Between then and now, small [their China businesses] are Editorial Marcopoto, who exists as presi- basic bundles have exploded, not going to be traditional Haikal Jamari dent and managing director of as have genres, and interna- network TV”. [email protected] Turner International Asia Pacific tional channels’ “full export And then there was the Kimberly McFarland at the end of this year after 15 model” has expanded with emergence of India, which [email protected] years at the helm. varying degrees of locali- Marcopoto lists among Production Assistant Marcopoto’s departure sation. the region’s most CJ Yong [email protected] closes a chapter that opened “One of the big- significant mo- Research Assistant at the very dawn of pay-TV gest develop- ments, even if Sheri Omar ments is the in Asia. He takes with him the Turner’s Real [email protected] industry’s widest and deepest ramping up of and Imagine Design range of memories, beginning local platforms, joint ventures Rae Yong in the late 1980s when he was w h i c h n o w crashed and [email protected] an indie ad sales rep for Ted have rich home- burned. Turner’s CNN and closing with grown offerings T h e n e w e s t Associate Publisher unprecedented fragmenta- running alongside memories added (Americas, Europe) and tion, an explosion of choice international content to the bank include VP, International Business at every point on the dial, and brands,” Marcopoto says. a Thai joint venture and a Development Leah Gordon powerful platforms with rich, Somewhere in between, stab at a stand-alone app, [email protected] home-grown offerings running there was the “China Dream”, CN Watch and Play, that has Sales and Marketing (Asia) where population figures were alongside increasingly nimble ambitions of becoming an Masliana Masron international brands. extrapolated into expectations authenticated service. [email protected] Marcopoto was there with that came to a great big pain- There is also Cartoon Net- the entry of international chan- ful and expensive nought. If work’s first made-in-Asia Pacific To receive your regular nel heavyweights in the early there is one thing that remains animated series developed for free copy of ContentAsia, 1990s, including BBC World, MTV unchanged through the years, global distribution – 13-part Ex- please email and HBO, along with infrastru- it’s TV networks’ little-to-zero change Student Zero – that will [email protected] ture giants such as Hong Kong progress in China, he adds. be ready to air in 2015. conglomerate Wharf. Marcopoto mentions, but Marcopoto is happiest about Published fortnightly by: Looking back, Marcopoto does not dwell on, China En- the “shape of the company I’m Pencil Media Pte Ltd says that, in comparison to tertainment Television (CETV), leaving... set up for near-term 730A Geylang Road which launched in 1995 as a what there is now, the “first gen- improvements and long-term Singapore 389641 eration of experiences were “no sex, no violence, no news” growth... for great success in Tel: +65 6846-5987 plain vanilla”. channel by one-time mogul the years ahead”. contentasia.tv “My earliest experience in Robert Chua. Chua battled solo “For all those decades, we asiacontentwatch.com the industry was when I told my until 2000, before tying up with have never lost our leadership partner that we needed to take Time Warner. In July 2003, Time in kids and news. To hold up on CNN because I felt that the Warner sold a controlling 64% leadership in those two genres satellite thing was going plac- stake to the Tom Group, and with this amount of competition Twitter @ContentAsia es,” he says, adding: “We went ceded management control. is a great feeling”. Copyright 2013 Pencil Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Daily news with ContentAsia Insider Reserved. asia MICA (P) 111/06/2013 C NTENT email [email protected] for subscription details