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Home , All Hail King Julien, DreamWorks Channel, DreamWorks Classics, Endemol Australia, Harlem Yu, Puss in Boots (Shrek)

27 JuLY- C NTENTASIA 6 September 2015

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Summer break begins DreamWorks rolls out with CTH now! Our next issue will be 1st kids/family channel launches on 1 August published on Monday, 7 September 2015. Our daily subscription news, ContentAsia Insider, continues as usual. Have a great Summer!

What does FremantleMedia’s latest Asia reorg really mean? Flatter management, production downgrade & yet another turn of the multinational corporate cycle in Asia DreamWorks debuts its first The carriage deal indicates something dedicated linear channel in the world of a return to grace of CTH, which is said FremantleMedia is writing a new chapter on Saturday, 1 August, in an exclusive to have lagged on payments to channel in its Asia production story, one with de- carriage deal with Thai pay-TV platform programmers in the recent past. centralisation at its heart, smaller regional CTH. DreamWorks’ signature originals, such as management, and a in existing cre- The mass-market DreamWorks kids and All Hail King Julien and The Adventures of ative resources between Asian capitals. family channel goes up in English, with a , have been included in the A large part of the future action is set fully dubbed Thai schedule up and run- launch grid, along with adventure series in China, India and Indonesia, with the ning by 1 September. Casper’s Scare School, and new original overall tone shaped by regional HQ in The HD channel will be distributed across action series . . the region by HBO Asia (ContentAsia, 10 The channel will also present a daily Singapore has been stripped of its re- December 2014), which will also handle morning pre-school block, DreamWorks gional corporate/management role, be- marketing and technical services out of Junior, featuring new productions such as More on page 15 Singapore. More on page 7

Can you Dares DW D you to fin recognize Asia‘s out! local heroes? dw.com the summit Unboxing: Asia’s content industry unwrapped

The 7th annual ContentAsia Summit opens the box on Asia’s current content industry, unwraps the trends & unpacks the latest thinking behind the content ideas and innovation driving video production, distribution, consumption and engagement in Asia.

ContentAsia Summit Friday, 4 September 2015 Venue: Westin Singapore

ContentAsia Formats Thursday, 3 September 2015 Venue: Westin Singapore REGISTER

ContentAsia Production HERE Wednesday, 2 September 2015 Venue: Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios

Our sponsors

Supporting sponsor Media Partner MAB

Contact CJ Yong at [email protected] for details contentasiasummit.com facebook.com/ContentAsia @contentasia

27 JuLY-6 september 2015 page 2. c ntentasia 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 3.

Hulu Japan adds Turner picks up Korea’s Saimdang Canada’s TUT to Jewel in the Palace returns after a decade on-demand line up Turner has picked up broadcast and syndication rights to Korea’s most highly anticipated drama in years – Saimdang, starring Jewel in the Palace’s Lee Young- ae in her first TV appearance in more than a decade. The deal with production house Group 8 for the 30x60-minute series covers pay- TV, free-TV and subscription video on demand in four Asia markets – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Tut The agreement allows Turner to air epi- Online platform Japan has picked sodes within 10 minutes of the domestic Ko- up all rights to event miniseries Tut, star- rean broadcast on free-TV channel SBS. ring Ben Kingsley in the tale of ancient Financial terms of the Turner agreement Egyptian ruler, Tutankhamun. have not been disclosed. The three-part six-hour mini-series, which Turner Asia Pacific president, Ricky Ow, Hulu Japan acquired from Canada’s said only that the deal “demonstrates Lee Young-ae as Shin Saimdang Muse Distribution, premiered on Spike TV Turner’s continued commitment to in- on 19 July. vesting in the very best Asian content out also believed to have gone way above New Zealand’s will also air the se- there”. their usual budgets. ries, which traces the life of a boy who The price tag is highly likely to be on the Saimdang (working title) will air in became Pharaoh at the age of , his upper end of anything Turner has paid for 2016. Lee Young-ae plays dual roles as rise to power and his struggle to become a series before. a university lecturer of Korean art in the a great leader, while his closest advisors, The series’ production budget is said to present day and the 16th-century artist, friends and lovers scheme for their own be more than US$15 million, or upwards of writer and poet Shin Saimdang, one of nefarious interests. Tut was produced by US$650,000 per episode. the most respected women in Korean Muse Entertainment. At the Busan Contents Market in May history. The story moves between past this year, Chinese buyers were said to and present, tracing the efforts of a have committed US$250,000 per episode. modern-day scholar to uncover secrets Ray of light for Buyers in Thailand and are of the past. India’s Sun group

India’s Sun group has been cleared to participate in radio frequency auctions, Japanese nets launch on-demand service giving rise to hopes that attempts by TVer set for October roll-out the Ministry of Home Affairs to pull its broadcast licences on national security grounds may disappear. Japan’s five major commercial broadcast The companies said TVer aimed, among Local papers are saying that the networks are rolling out their latest OTT other things, to service new media con- Information and Broadcasting Ministry ambitions in October. sumption habits and to head off piracy. – which is opposing the Home Affairs The new joint venture on-demand plat- The venture has been in development ministry’s efforts – may not pursue ac- form, TVer, is backed by Nippon Television since last year. tion against 33 TV channels in the light Network Corporation, Asahi National TVer is being offered free of charge as a of the radio decision by courts in both Broadcasting, TBS TV, TV Tokyo Corpora- catch-up service. Select archive titles will Delhi and Madras. tion and Fuji Television Network. be included in the line-up. 27 JuLY-6 september 2015 page 4. c ntentasia 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 5.

Fox launches Korean sports channel c ntent Tie up with Korea’s JTBC for JTBC3 Formats Outlook 2015

Q3 update out on 2 September

The where, when, From left: Eui-Joon Park, managing director, executive, JTBC; Inwon Cho, CEO, Qtv; Kyungmoon Jung, CEO, JTBC Sports; Seongwan Hong, broadcasting sports advisor, JTBC; Sugil Kim, CEO, president, JTBC; what, JTwhyBC3 FOX andSports Sig ning CeremoZubinny Gandevia, president, Asia Pacific/Middle East, Fox International Channels (FIC); Joon Lee, execu- Seoul, Korea tive vice president, content and communications, Asia Pacific/Middle East, FIC; Craig Dobbs, senior vice how ofJu lyFormats 28, 2015 president, acquisitions, Fox Sports Asia; Jay Hyun Yang, vice president, content and communications, FIC Korea in FAsia.rom Left to Right: ● Eui‐Joon Park ‐ Managing FoxDire cInternationaltor, Executive, Channels JTBC (FIC) has tied Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon ● Inwon Cho – CEO, Qtv up with Korean media company JTBC to tennis grand slams. ● Kyungmoon Jung – CEO, JlaunchTBC Spo rco-brandedts sports channel, JTBC3 FIC Asia Pac/Middle East president, ● Seongwan Hong ‐ BroadcaFoxstin gSports. Sports Advisor, JTBC Zubin Gandevia, said the Korean service ● Sugil Kim ‐ CEO, President, J TTheBC new channel, part of FIC’s localisa- “completes our sports brand’s APAC Zubin Gandevia – President, Asia Pacific & Middle East, FOX International Channels BE INCLUDED.● tion strategy, will carry a mix of interna- footprint”. ● Joon Lee – Executive Vice President, Content & Communications, Asia Pacific & Middle East, FOX International Channels tional and local sports, all fully localised The Korean service comes just head ● Craig Dobbs – Senior Vice President, Acquisitions, FOX Sports Asia of the first anniversary of FIC’s Fox Sports ● Jay Hyun Yang – Vice Presinid eKorean.nt, Content & Communications, FOX International Channels Korea Contact Aqilah at The international line up includes Asia rebrand/re-positioning in August last [email protected] Bundesliga, Formula One, the Australian year. or +65 6846-5985 to add your formats deals and productions Fox Sports’ Wimbledon viewership up 29% in Asia Facebook daily reach up 87%, Asia network says

Wimbledon viewership on Fox Sports in Asia ing an increase in its daily reach by 87%. was up 29% this year, according to data FIC attributed increased viewership and www.contentasia.tv from Fox International Channels (FIC). reach in part to extensive cross-promotion The Hong Kong-based regional network on its entertainment, factual and movies @Contentasia says 14.2 million people in channels, along with an aggressive social Facebook/Contentasia tuned into the grand slam tournament media strategy. over two weeks in July. 11 million people Fox Sports produced more than 200 tuned in in 2014. hours of live tennis for its two sports chan- Fox Sports Asia Facebook page register- nels and Fox Sport Play. c ntentasia 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 6.

Da Vinci debuts Voice of China breaks ratings records in Korea Season four premiere 28% up on season three finale

Da Vinci Media’s Da Vinci Learning channel debuts in Korea in August with branded blocks on Korean educational channel, Jei English TV. The two two-hour blocks (10am- noon/6pm-8pm) premiere on 3 August and will focus on science, art and his- tory. Additional blocks will follow on kids channel, Jei TV from September. The kids blocks will run from 10am-11am and from 11pm to midnight. The strategic partnership between Da Vinci Media and South Korea’s JEI Cor- poration is part of a broader partnership to develop a broadcasting and educa- tion business in Korea. The MoU, which includes support for global expansion, of China was signed in Seoul in July.

The season four premiere The primary audience is of Star China Media’s The below 35 years old. This de- Optimism dips in Voice of China has topped mographic represents 24% Southeast Asia ratings records in China. of the audience. Viewership data released ’s Southeast Asian consumers remain by Star China Media put new season is also beating the most optimistic in the world, even ratings at 5.418% and share popular original production though levels in some markets have at 16.597% across the 50 cities Where Are We Going Dad?, dipped from previous highs, Nielsen’s measured. Iris Xia based on the Korean format. Consumer Confidence Index for the Star China Media said this was Season three judges and second quarter of 2015 has found. the top rating of any entertainment Wang Feng are back for season The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand show premiere ever on Chinese televi- four, and season two’s Harlem Yu returns and Vietnam have maintained their top sion. for season four. The new judge this season 10 ranking as the most optimistic con- The performance of the new season is . sumers globally. may allay fears that singing shows have Season four premiere coincided with However, the Philippines was the only had their day in China, and that audi- the departure of vice president/chief market where consumer sentiment ences have moved on to other non- representative, Vivian Yin, who has joined increased, ending the quarter at the studio-based genres. FremantleMedia as managing director highest levels on record. Nielsen says the The Voice of China returned to Zhejiang for China, and the promotion of Iris Xia continued influx of foreign investments Satellite TV on Friday, 16 July. to deputy general manager, Star China and a robust domestic consumption The rating of the first episode of season Media. base is driving optimism in the Philippines. four increased 28% over the final episode Star China’s formats also include So Vietnam and Malaysia both of season three, and it was also higher You Think You Can Dance and China’s dropped. Nielsen says Vietnam’s opti- than the finale of season two. Got Talent, as well as home-grown for- mism is being dampened by declining The premiere’s rating is way above mat, Sing My Song, which is distributed foreign direct investment and “a strug- premieres of the first three series. Season globally by ITV Studios. Just before she gling retail environment”. one was 1.48%. Season two was 3.52%, left, Yin closed a deal for Korean format, and season three was 4.16%. Infinite Challenge, for China. c ntentasia 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 7.

Thailand’s Peace TV From page 1: DreamWorks Raa Raa The Noisy Lion and Guess with back on air – for now Jess. Dragons: Race to the Edge, inspired by the theatri- Thailand’s Peace TV is back on air while cal franchise, build out the schedule in the country’s courts decide whether the fourth quarter of this year. action taken to revoke its licence is fair CTH subscribers can access the or not. At the same time, the station has DreamWorks channel anywhere been ordered to comply with licensing from THB99/US$2.84 to THB499/ conditions and military junta orders. US$14 depending on their sub- Peace TV has been off air since the scription packages. The Adventures of Puss in Boots end of April after Thailand’s National In the original announce- Broadcasting and Telecommunica- ment last year, DreamWorks Eric Ellenbogen, co-head, tions Commission (NBTC) said it had Animation promised “more international TV and DreamWorks Classics breached licensing terms and the original content than any other announcement on Tuesday junta’s orders. kids channel in the region”. (28 July), Ellenbogen said the The Administrative Court injunction The company also said the channel benefit of being “late” into the market is that allows Peace TV to resume broad- would tap more than 2,000 hours of exist- that “we arrive without legacy issues... we casts was issued after the court said the ing DreamWorks TV content in addition have a complete set of rights available for NBTC had not allowed Peace TV to put to more than 1,000 half-hours of original all markets”. forward its side of the story. animation the company currently has in The decision to launch a linear channel Local observers say not all shows on production. as part of a multi-platform, multi-media Peace TV will go on as normal, and that Eric Ellenbogen, co-head, international offering rather than push programme the future of one of the programmes – TV and DreamWorks Classics, says the licensing/sales was made because of Mong Klai by political activist Jatuporn service has been designed for a multi- the amount of TV content DreamWorks Promphan – remains in doubt. screen universe, with all rights across all has available. “The [licensing/syndica- platforms available to partners in Asia. tion] market can’t absorb all we have,” “It’s not only TV,” he stresses. he says. Letv adds virtual A full suite of online, on-demand, apps Pro-social advertising options are being and games as well as options such as explored for about five minutes an hour. reality to ICC online ‘download to go’ run alongside the linear DreamWorks Animation is already pro- offering. Consumer access points include ducing television content in Asia, includ- Mainland Chinese online sports broad- free online/mobile video shorts, games ing two series in Korea and George of the caster, Letv Sports, has promised a and some content and range up to full Jungle, a co-production with Singapore- virtually real version of the 2015 Interna- content-rich apps authenticated with based production house August Media. tional Champion’s Cup (ICC) China in subscription partners. Ellenbogen is after “every form of dis- a 360-degree virtual reality livestream. “We aim to make our content very easily tribution in Asia”, with a preference for The transmission is using Hong Kong tech accessible,” he says, adding that “making exclusive carriage agreements. The ap- company Holdings’ im- content ubiquitous, available everywhere, proach, he says, is to “put all our eggs mersive video camera technology. is the best defense against piracy”. into one basket and watch the basket Speaking in Bangkok just ahead of the carefully”. c ntentasia interview 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 8.

ContentAsia’s regular interview talks to people doing big and bigger things to move the industry forward. Asia’s Karen Appathurai-Wiggins on beauty, reality & riding Asia’s original production upswing.

Audiences will forgive you for a calibrate drama carefully. “In less than perfect shot if the story Fazura, a girl was pushed is good... that’s what they are into a pool. In Australia, watching for.” that would have been a tiny drama,” Karen Appathurai-Wiggins, series producer for unscripted content, Appathurai-Wiggins Matchbox Pictures Asia says, adding: “But big or small, there’s always Karen Appathurai-Wiggins and the team driving for Matchbox the subtext that you at production house Matchbox Pictures Pictures’ six-month- can explore no matter Asia spent a good part of this year asking: old Singapore-based where you are.” ‘What’s beautiful?’ After that, ‘What’s production unit. Editors in Asia are also beautiful in Asia?’ Before How Do I Look? Asia, walking new paths in telling

And the answers are....? Wait and see. she was Karen Appathurai-Wiggins more dramatic, engaging Right now she’s not telling, reluctant to for five-part constructed- stories that are local but can give anything away before the end- reality series, Facing Up To play anywhere in the world. August premiere of NBCUniversal format, Fazura, for E! Asia, and series producer “There are no format points in constructed How Do I Look? Asia, on Diva channel. on constructed reality series, It Takes Gutz reality other than telling a great story,” What she will say right now is that there to be a Gutierrez season two for E! Asia. Appathurai-Wiggins says. “Editors who was a bridge to cross between notions The newest title is E! Top 5 Philippines, an can take that vision and make it reality of TV beauty as skinny models in talent eight-part 30-minute “clip countdown are really difficult to find,” she adds. shows and her goal: making participants with a Tonight show feel”. New-generation editing workflows are the best versions of themselves. Over the past decade, Appathurai- a mix of cross-border communications, “We weren’t just casting a show, but Wiggins’ prints have, in one role or multiple-language skills, Dropbox, Skype dealing with perceptions of beauty,” she another, been all over properties such as WhatsApp and Viber. Camera techniques says, adding: “In the U.S. version, people The Real Housewives of Melbourne and are also a mix of traditional, professional on the show are really different. In Asia, Formal Wars for Matchbox Pictures, Big and consumer tech, as well as mobile the differences are much more subtle”. Brother Australia for Australia, phones. “We use every bit of technology Appathurai-Wiggins, Matchbox Asia’s Prank Patrol for activeTV Australia, and we can,” she says, adding: “This is both a series producer for unscripted content, Gardening Australia for the ABC. style choice and a budget necessity”. says the format is “about empowering Figuring out beauty was but one of the On Fazura, “we took every opportunity women in a culture fixated on beauty”. challenges Matchbox has faced in its we had to follow the story”. This meant “It was a re-education process for a lot short history in Asia, where channels are shooting on mobile phones to capture of people involved... we are so used to on a serious hunt for local relevance and an unplanned moment. “We got some of the modelling shows with young skinny production ambitions – if not budgets – our best material in the car,” she says. girls, and not the shows that empower are soaring. Living with mobile-phone quality is women and mean not one size fits all,” Another challenge is that the type easy. “Audiences will forgive you for she says. of constructed reality, such as that of a less than perfect shot if the story is The eight-part series is part of a slate Facing Up To Fazura is so new in, in this good,” she says, adding: “That’s what of productions Appathurai-Wiggins is case, Malaysia, and producers need to they are watching for.”

Wh atsYoursto y c ntentasia formats 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 9.

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.

Asian/Astro Battleground, Malaysia

Malaysia’s Astro expanded regional street-dance contest, Asian Battleground, this year from a one-off special to a three- part regional competition involving 11 countries across Asia. The three regional episodes will run straight on from the latest domestic Battleground series, which ran for seven episodes. The Malaysian winner (Kidiotics), and runner-up (Death Notz) compete in the regional competition. The regional finale airs live on 7 August. The first Astro Battleground 2015 two episodes of the three-part regional special aired on 17 and 24 July. nine (11x60 mins, bilingual) winner in the show’s nine-year history. The The regional version this premiered on 22 May and aired younger team Kidiotics emerged as the year featured 80 dance on Fridays at 10.30pm. group champion (RM50,000/US$13,107 groups from 11 countries, M o r e t h a n 1 0 0 d a n c e cash prize) and Death Notz first runner-up including Japan, Korea, China, enthusiasts turned up for season (RM20,000/US$5,243 cash prize). Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand nine auditions, held in April. Asian/Astro Battleground judges are and Singapore. Choo Chi Han 30 were flown to Japan for dance gurus: Funky Lia (Korea), Taichi Astro Battleground launched in intensive, professional training (Japan), Vince (Philippines), Yiu (Hong Malaysia in 2007 with the “aim to provide and competed in battle rounds to earn Kong) and Chun Hsiang (). a platform to discover and support individual spots for the finals. Hosts are beauty pageant-turned-emcee talented youths who love street dance”, The 18 finalists were grouped into three Trisha Kuck and home-grown dancer says Choo Chi Han, vice president of teams (Kidiotics, Death Notz and The Dennis Yin. Astro’s Chinese customer business. BeastZ) to compete in a dance-off to Produced by a full production crew of The format airs on Cantonese satellite/ clinch the ultimate spots in the group. Solo 30 people, the greatest challenge was OTT (Astro on the Go) linear channel, Astro finals were held on 4 July. the three-month deadline to train and Wah Lai Toi, with an average viewership The winner for this year’s solo Astro scale up contestants’ skills, says Astro’s of 500,000+ Malaysian households per Battleground championship was Faris Azim Choo. episode. Abd Karim from Selangor (won RM20,000/ “It was also not easy searching for Seasons one to eight were scheduled US$5,243 cash prize and a Japan workshop suitable judges and trainers overseas,” in the weekend prime-time slots. Season scholarship), who was also the youngest Choo added. c ntentasia FORMATS at the ContentAsia Summit 2015 3 September 2015. Be included. Contact Malena at [email protected] 27 JuLY-6 september 2015 page 10. c ntentasia platforms 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 11.

In ContentAsia’s regular section on up-and-coming online platforms in Asia, Malena Amzah speaks to Greeny Dewayanti, director of Indonesia’s PT Mega Media about over-the-top (OTT) TV service Genflix.

How much of the offering is also on Or- ange TV? “We have different content from Orange TV since we are aiming dif- ferent target markets.” What kind of windows are you working with? “We aim for the shortest possible theatrical window.” Will you be producing your own-brand- ed OTT/online content? “Yes, this would be feasible in future. We want to focus on better understanding our consum- ers’ behaviours and preferences be- fore we embark on the original content strategy.” Target demo Indonesian youth who Genflix want to consume premium content on the go. Genflix is available to everyone What is Genflix? Genflix is an OTT exten- Italy (2013-2016), Spanish league Copa in Indonesia, including non-Orange TV sion of DTH satellite pay-TV service Or- Del Rey and French Ligue 1 (2013-2016), subscribers and is accessible on all net- ange TV, offering live linear TV channels via linear channels BeIN1, 2 and 3. Genflix works (Wifi, 3G, 4G from any operators) and VOD content. Geo-blocked for In- also carries more than 1,000 VOD local/ in Indonesia. donesia, Genflix is accessible via apps on international movies and TV series. July No. of subscribers “It is still early to dis- Android-/iOS-based smartphones and a titles include local movies Tania, Gending cuss numbers since we just relaunched website on internet connected devices Sriwijaya, Taman Lawang; international in June 2015, but so far we have gener- (best viewed on Google Chrome). movies Pee Mak (Thailand), Kollegiet ated about 100,000 registered users.” The name “Genflix (Generation Flix) rep- (Denmark), Araf (Turkey), Deadly Hitch Social media “Genflix itself is a digital resents the new lifestyle of the digital (France), Ditto (Korea); and TV series dra- service for digital-savvy users, so our generation, who seeks one stop enter- ma ATM2 (Thailand), MMA Road presence on Facebook, Twitter, tainment available instantly at their finger Fighting Championship (South Instagram and others is immi- tips.” Korea), drama Autumn’s Con- nent. We generally post trail- Launch In September 2013. Commercial certo (Taiwan), MMA Bellator ers, schedule reminders (of re-launch in June 2015, with an update Fighting Championship (U.S.), live matches), promos, quiz- (version 1.5) introduced in July 2015 educational children’s series zes and more.” Operated by PT Festival Citra Lestari, a World Ahoy. Challenge “OTT is still new in subsidiary of PT Mega Media Indonesia Price/rates US$2 a month for Indonesia but we are embrac- Group, which also owns and operates unlimited content ing 4G and seeing a tremendous Greeny Dewayanti DTH satellite pay-TV platform Orange TV Wishlist “We will add some features growth in smartphone usage and Who’s who Greeny Dewayanti, director; to enhance user friendly experi- adoption here.” Harianto Tan, head of IT; Artine Utomo, ence and of course some hottest local Priority “Market penetration on both small chief content officer; Andreina Lusia, se- content.” and big screen users.” nior content manager Will you consider game shows, compe- The best thing that has happened to the Head count “We are a small operation tition, lifestyle, cooking... “There’s a pos- OTT industry in Indonesia this year is... team specialising in both native mobile sibility to provide that kind of program- “The emergence of new OTT players as and digital web app formats.” ming but it will depend on demand and well as the roll outs of 4G and FTTH (Fibre Offering Key offering is sports (powered choices... content strategy may change To The Home) network infrastructures that by Orange TV), which includes the Eng- in future but currently sports remain as our contribute to a bigger and better eco- lish Premier League (2013-2016), Serie A entry point.” system here.” 27 JuLY-6 september 2015 page 12. c ntentasia schedules 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 13.

ContentAsia Schedules – a look at scheduling strategies around the region. Warner TV

Date 22-June-15 23-June-15 24-June-15 25-June-15 26-June-15 27-June-15 28-June-15 Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 5.40pm: Person of 5.40pm: Person of 5.40pm: Person of Interest 5.40pm: Person of 5.40pm: Person of 5.40pm: The Closer 5.40pm: Person of 6pm Interest 311 Interest 312 313 Interest 314 Interest 315 Ep716 Interest 314

6.30pm Friends Ep1015 Friends Ep1017 Friends Ep101 Friends Ep103 Friends Ep105 Person of Interest The Closer Ep717 6.55pm Friends Ep1016 Friends Ep1018 Friends Ep102 Friends Ep104 Friends Ep106 315 Rizzoli & Isles 7.20pm Rizzoli & Isles Ep201 Rizzoli & Isles Ep203 Rizzoli & Isles Ep204 Rizzoli & Isles Ep205 The Closer Ep718 The Flash Ep110 Ep202 The Vampire Diaries 8.10pm The Closer Ep714 The Closer Ep715 The Closer Ep716 The Closer Ep717 The Closer Ep718 The Flash Ep111 517 The Last Ship Person of Interest Person of Interest 9pm Arrow Ep308 Murder in the First Ep203 Stalker Ep107 Ep201 421 421 Saturday Night The Last Ship The Vampire 9.50pm The Flash Ep109 The Originals 222 (finale) Rizzoli & Isles Ep602 Movie Special: Cop Ep202 Diaries 517 Out (107 mins) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory 10.40pm Cinema Sunday: Theory Ep221 Theory Ep223 Ep302 Ep304 Friday Night Movie The Dark Knight (152 Special: The The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory mins) 11.05pm Campaign (85 Theory Ep222 Theory Ep301 Ep303 Ep305 Wrath of the Titans mins) (95 mins) 11.30pm Arrow Ep308 The Last Ship Ep201 Murder in the First Ep203 Stalker Ep107

Drama/action/crime: 18hrs/43% Drama/comedy: 7.5hrs/18% Movie: 7hrs/16% Drama/superhero: 4hrs/9% Drama/thriller: 3.5hrs/8%

Drama/supernatural: 2.5hrs/6%

Date 20-Jul-15 21-Jul-15 22-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 24-Jul-15 25-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 5.40pm: Arrow S2 5.40pm: Arrow S2 5.40pm: The Closer 5.40pm: The Flash 6pm 5.40pm: Arrow S2 Ep209 5.40pm: Arrow S2 Ep210 5.40pm: Arrow S2 Ep211 Ep208 Ep212 S2 Ep202 S1 Ep116

6.30pm The Mentalist S6 Ep608 The Mentalist S6 Ep609 The Mentalist S6 Ep610 The Mentalist S6 Ep611 The Mentalist S6 Ep612 The Closer S2 Ep203 The Flash S1 Ep117

7.20pm Rizzoli & Isles S4 Ep406 Rizzoli & Isles S4 Ep407 Rizzoli & Isles S4 Ep408 Rizzoli & Isles S4 Ep409 Rizzoli & Isles S4 Ep410 The Closer S2 Ep204 The Flash S1 Ep118

Rizzoli & Isles S6 8.10pm The Closer S1 Ep113 The Closer S2 Ep201 The Closer S2 Ep202 The Closer S2 Ep203 The Closer S2 Ep204 The Flash S1 Ep119 Ep606 Murder in the First S2 9pm The Flash S1 Ep116 The Last Ship S2 Ep206 Stalker S1 Ep111 Proof 102 Ep207 Two and a Half Men S11 9.50pm 2 Broke Girls S3 Ep301 Ep1107 The Vampire Diaries The Flash S1 Ep117 Rizzoli & Isles S6 Ep606 The Notebook Two and a Half Men S11 S5 Ep521 10.15pm Mom S2 Ep201 Ep1108 Tlotr: The Return of The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory S4 The Big Bang Theory S4 The Big Bang Theory S4 the King 10.40pm S4 Ep415 Ep417 Ep419 Ep421 The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory S4 The Big Bang Theory S4 The Big Bang Theory S4 11.05pm Must Love Dogs S4 Ep416 Ep418 Ep420 Ep422 Interview with the Murder in the First S2 Vampire 11.30pm The Flash S1 Ep116 The Last Ship S2 Ep206 Stalker S1 Ep111 Ep207

Drama/action/crime: 17.7hrs/42% Drama/superhero: 7.7hrs/18% Movie: 7hrs/17% Drama/comedy: 5hrs/12% Drama/thriller: 2.6hrs/6% Drama/supernatural: 1.7hrs/4% Channel’s primetime: 6pm-12am Source: Warner TV, SEA schedules correct as of 5 June 2015

About three months after Turner pushed content, Marianne Lee, says in Singapore, males 20-34 and females 20-34.* Warner TV into an edgier, more dramatic young audiences between 20 and 44 The strategy is driven by shows such as space in Asia, programming bosses report years old are on the up, cementing early Gotham, iZombie and The Flash; seasons steady growth in the younger audiences successes. In April, a month after the two of Gotham and iZombie return later that the re-launch was designed to reach. relaunch, Warner TV was the No.1 English- this year. Turner International Asia Pacific’s vice language entertainment channel among The Last Ship, Arrow (season four returns president for general entertainment 20-44 years olds, as well as among younger More on page 14

* Kantar Media Singapore. April 2015. All time. Reach refers to viewing for at least one minute. Ranking among rated Entertainment package channels on StarHub TV. c ntentasia schedules 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 14.

From page 13: Schedule later this year) and The Big Bang Theory are part of a template of drama, ac- tion and comedy that is unique to the channel. Lee says superhero titles – part of the action line-up – “continue to be a big priority for us and... reinforce our new younger-skewing branding and target audience”. First-window rights are a goal for new series. Movies not so much. Lee says titles such as The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight and Harry Potter “have great repeat value and are highly re-watchable even after several years”. Flagship express titles for the next few months include The Last Ship (season two) and Murder in the First (season two), Arrow season three as well as Agent X, a new drama starring Sharon Stone, which airs in September. Lee believes TV everywhere options Mondays to Fridays; crimes solving The are critical, and says “existing subscrib- Closer season two, stripped at 8.10pm ers should be able to watch content on Mondays to Fridays with repeats of three whichever screen they want”. back-to-back episodes on Saturdays at Warner TV’s licensing deals include non- 5.40pm; and detective series Murder in linear rights “so we’re very interested in the First season two at 9pm with repeat working with our distribution partners and at 11.30pm on Wednesdays. affiliates to provide catch-up and SVOD Superhero drama series in the third options,” she says. An example is Warner week of July made up 20% (8.5 hours) of The Last Ship season two TV Encore with now TV in Hong Kong. Warner TV’s prime-time 6pm-midnight “We are very committed to schedule with two titles: Arrow the prime-time schedule. June’s action/ working with a partners to de- season two, about spoiled crime TV drama series were Person of liver on this and we believe, billionaire playboy Oliver Interest, earlier episodes from The Closer, if done well, will enable us to Queen who went missing Rizzoli & Isles and Murder in the First. continue engage a younger, and returned five years later Comedy drama series in the weekly underserved and even new as a hooded vigilante crime June schedule filled about 18% (7.5 hours) audiences,” she says. buster, stripped at 5.40pm of 6pm-midnight prime-time with two In the third week of July (20-26 Mondays to Fridays; and speed titles: long-running series Friends, stripped

July), action/crime drama series Marianne Lee superhero The Flash season one, at 6.30pm and 6.55pm Mondays to filled about 42% (17 hours) of with back-to-back episodes on Fridays; and The Big Bang Theory, stripped Warner TV’s prime-time (6pm-midnight) Mondays at 9pm and 9.50pm. at 10.40pm and 11.05pm Mondays to schedule with TV series The Mentalist Movies, which filled 17% (seven hours) Thursdays. No comedy series were aired season six, about an independent of the 20-26 July prime-time schedule, run during weekends in June and July. psychic consultant turned California on Friday nights at 10.40pm, and 9pm on Superhero drama series – early episodes Bureau Investigation (CBI) investigator, Saturdays and Sundays. of Arrow and The Flash – in the third week stripped at 6.30pm on Mondays to Fridays; The rest of the Warner TV July prime- of June made up 9% (four hours) of the Rizzoli & Isles season four, which follows time offering includes comedy drama primetime 6pm-midnight schedule. the complete opposite police detective (12%/5 hours), thrillers (6%/2.6 hours) and The rest of the June’s prime-time offering Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner supernatural drama (4%/1.7 hours). are thriller filling about 8% (3.5 hours) and Maura Isles duo in their mission to solve In June (22-28 June), action/crime supernatural drama series with 6% (2.5 murder mysteries, stripped at 7.20pm drama series filled about 43% (18 hours) of hours) of the weekly schedule. c ntentasia 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 15.

From page 1: FremantleMedia dia International. The first original show is FremantleMedia titles in 2015 coming a production centre for regional scheduled to air in 2016, Hogg says. 1. Cambodian Idol (on air) projects such as, hopefully, the second Former regional managing director season of mega-format Asia’s Got Talent. Paul O’Hanlon’s new role as creative di- 2. Mongolia’s Got Talent (in production) Thailand, where FremantleMedia has a rector for China adds heavyweight cre- 3. Thailand’s Got Talent (on air) small production outfit, will report into Sin- ative support to FremantleMedia’s ambi- 4. The Price is Right Thailand (on air) gapore. tions in China. The China business is being 5. Myanmar’s Got Talent (in production) FremantleMedia’s regional sales/licens- driven by newly appointed managing 6. Myanmar Family Feud (on air) ing/distribution team in Singapore under director, Vivian Yin (ContentAsia Insider, 7. Myanmar Idol (on air in Nov) Ganesh Rajaram is unaffected by the 14 July 2015). O’Hanlon takes up his new change, and will still be responsible for position in 2016 after time off from mid- 8. Perfect Score Vietnam (on air) format sales across Southeast Asia. September to welcome a new baby. 9. The Price is Right Vietnam (in prod) Digital content development and strat- The China joint venture was put togeth- 10. My Mom Cooks Better than Yours egies will sit within individual business er by O’Hanlon’s now-disbanded region- Vietnam (in prod in August) units, with a global function in New York al team in Asia, with a key role played by 11. Vietnam Idol (on air) working with local divisions. chief operating officer Michelle Landy. 12. Hole in the Wall Vietnam (on air in The obvious question being asked in the Landy exits the Asia operation as part of days following the announcement (Con- the restructure. December 2015) tentAsia Insider, 22 July 2015) is: What does FremantleMedia doesn’t disclose finan- 13. Project Runway Vietnam (on air in the new structure really mean for Freman- cials, but going by the number of shows December 2015) tleMedia and, if anything, for the rest of on air, the outfit is currently Asia’s second the industry? biggest format distributor. Source: FremantleMedia The most likely answer is this: lower costs Market leader Endemol Shine is a long and good optics. Which markets, after way ahead, with about three times as all, don’t like to be told they’re big and many titles on air or commissioned across are in Cambodia (Idol, already on air) and powerful enough to be autonomous? the region in the 12 months to end March Mongolia (Got Talent, in production). Across the region, “we’re giving people this year, according to ContentAsia’s For- Whatever is unclear about the way more resources on the ground”, says Ian mats Outlook Q2 2015. ahead, the one definite thing Fremantle- Hogg, FremantleMedia’s regional chief This year so far, FremantleMedia has Media did in Asia this year that bust every executive officer for Australia and Asia about 14 shows on-air or production in barrier and had the entire industry united Pacific. He also says that the new struc- Southeast Asia, including Asia’s Got Tal- in hope was Asia’s Got Talent for Sony ture mirrors the company’s operations in ent which ran to mid-May. The figure ex- Pictures Television Networks’ AXN. and other parts of the world. cludes China and India. The regional talent format broke re- It’s also decentralisation’s turn in the Regionally, CBS Studios is third in number cords on numerous fronts. The show had, well-rehearsed cycle of international me- of titles, with at least eight series – mostly among other online stats, upwards of 100 dia businesses operating in the region. It’s versions of Next Top Model – either on air million YouTube views. Two weeks after not an unfamiliar situation and it’s by no or commissioned during the 12 months to the 14 May series’ finale on means restricted to production compa- the end of March this year, according to Television Networks’ AXN, online engage- nies or to FremantleMedia. ContentAsia’s Formats Outlook. ment continued with more than 276 mil- What the latest turn means for Freman- Apart from the flagship regional Asia’s lion minutes watched on YouTube and tleMedia’s production business in Asia this Got Talent, FremantleMedia’s 2015 slate likes/comments hitting 380,000. time is more direct reporting into Austra- includes six shows in Vietnam – Hole in Inevitably, links are being made be- lia, some cost savings, shuffling creative the Wall, Project Runway Vietnam, Per- tween the uber-expensive format and resources, and an indication of the high fect Score Vietnam, The Price is Right the restructure two months after the fi- hopes the company has for China and its Vietnam, Vietnam Idol, My Mom Cooks nale. Hopes are/were that the format new joint venture with the Shanghai Me- Better than Yours, which goes into pro- would set new budget and production dia Group/BesTV and China Media Capi- duction in August. quality standards for regional production tal. The venture was announced in April. The other seven include three in Myan- in the region. And it did. For now though, The company’s hopes for the China ven- mar (Got Talent, Family Feud, Idol, which is with all eyes on the costs FremantleMe- ture centre around creating original IP that in pre-production and scheduled to air in dia is taking out of the business, hopes broadcasts in China on Dragon TV and November), and two in Thailand (Got Tal- of matching those any time soon are BesTV, and beyond through FremantleMe- ent, The Price is Right). The remaining two receding. c ntentasia 27 JuLY-6 September 2015 Page 16.

Epic turns up the volume on history Eight new shows go live with big-noise campaign C NTENTASIA

Editorial Director Janine Stein Assistant Editor Malena Amzah [email protected] Research Manager CJ Yong [email protected] Editorial Research Aqilah Yunus [email protected] Design Rae Yong

Associate Publisher (Americas, Europe) and VP, Radhika Apte in Chokherball International Business Development India’s Epic channel just launched eight point of view or a jingoistic perspective, Leah Gordon shows with a big-bang ad campaign. The Epic attempts the middle ground,” he [email protected] question is not about the noise. It’s more says. Sales and Marketing (Asia) about whether (or not) Epic’s high-decibel The potential is evident says one TV Masliana Masron [email protected] marketing campaign can create a market researcher. “Historicals (such as Colors’ for its different stories on Indian history and Ashoka Zee’s Jodha Akbar) have been To receive your regular free copy mythology? among the biggest successes on Hindi of ContentAsia, Five of these – such as Jaane Pehchaane GECs. The viewership low (for Epic) is not please email (Known Unknown) with Javed Akhtar about a comment on the opportunity but on [email protected] the trajectory of characters in Hindi films or the execution,” he says. Mid-Wicket Tales about the yester-years of Epic’s stories are told in a low-key style Published fortnightly by: cricket – are completely new shows. that Indian TV audiences are not used to Pencil Media Pte Ltd The others – such as Raja, Rasoi aur Anya and some of them are dark. For example 730A Geylang Road Kahaniyaan (The King, the Kitchen and Ekaant (Solitude) explores abandoned Singapore 389641 Other Tales) which takes you through the places across the country. Its regular Tel: +65 6846-5987 www.contentasia.tvcontentasia.tv history of various Indian cuisines – are sec- viewers though love the channel. ond series returns. “Our ratings are not very high, but the Copyright 2015 Pencil Media Pte None of the eight-month-old channel’s social chatter is high, there is a strong Ltd. All Rights Reserved. efforts at getting Hindi audiences inter- understanding of what the channel MICA (P) 111/06/2013 ested in something other than soaps or attempts,” Samat says, adding: “The song and dance reality shows seem to challenge is getting the balance right have worked. Epic’s weekly audience size between content and awareness. The remains a fraction of leader Star Plus. time is right for a segmented channel,” Mahesh Samat, managing director, Epic he adds. television networks (and former head More than half of India’s 161 million TV of Disney India), reckons that the issue is homes are already digital. Epic is, argu- c ntentasia not the programming but the awareness ably, an interesting experiment. More so Daily news with around it. “This time we are putting more because its investors include the deep- ContentAsia Insider money into awareness,” he says. pocketed Mukesh Ambani (25.8%) and email [email protected] Samat believes passionately in the chan- Anand Mahindra (25.8%). At 49% Samat for subscription details nel’s raison d’tre. “There is so much history is the largest shareholder. - Vanita Kohli- in India but much of it is told from a Khandekar