19-25 November C NTENT 2018 www.contentasia.tv l www.contentasiasummit.com Sony reworks A-P channels structure Global reach leveraged for LEVISON WOOD English prog/acquisitions Sony Pictures Television has unveiled the next phase of its Asia-Pacific reorg, cen- tralising functions in the U.S., leveraging global scale, and refocusing a stream- lined channels team on local program- ming/production. The restructure comes as little surprise to an industry braced for dramatic adjustments in 2019. The full story is on page 2 China approves Disney’s Fox deal Unconditional greenlight clears major potential hurdle Disney has secured mainland Chinese approval for its acquisition of 21st Century Fox entertainment assets. The greenlight clears a significant potential hurdle for the US$71.3-billion deal. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2019. Malaysian giants locked in battle MCMC vs TM over soaring service complaints Malaysia’s media authorities and the country’s biggest telco are locked in battle over service quality. The Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commis- sion says complaints about Telekom Ma- laysia’s (TM) service are up 43% over 2017. Admitting legacy network issues, TM says it is advising customers on free broadband upgrades where possible. TM says more than 50% of 340,000 customers on the low- speed plan have been upgraded. The full migration target is March 2019. Other plans are being made for areas not yet covered by the high-speed fibre network. C NTENTASIA 19-25 November 2018 Page 2. Sony Pictures reworks Asia-Pacific channels structure Global leverage for English-language acquisitions, programming, branding & tech ops Sony Pictures Television has unveiled the tions/technical services under TC Schultz were a continuation of the June 2018 next phase of its Asia Pacific reorg, cen- at Sony’s Culver City HQ in the U.S. restructure that combined networks, dis- tralising some functions in the U.S., lever- The Southeast Asia channels team, un- tribution and home entertainment into aging global scale on English-language der Virginia Lim, Sony Pictures Television one business unit. programming and acquisitions, and refo- Networks Asia’s senior vice president Lo also said the centralised services cusing a streamlined channels team on and general manager, will take care of team’s goal was “to deliver channels Asian content and original production as Asian content acquisitions, the develop- around the world that are consistent in well as revenue-generating functions. ment of local original productions and their branding and operate efficiently The changes, presented to staffers at sponsored customised productions, as by leveraging our global scale”. a town hall in Singapore on Monday (19 well as sales and marketing functions. “The media industry is experiencing Nov), are effective immediately. The Asia-based programme planning changes in unprecedented scale and The company has not confirmed the and scheduling team comes under An- speed, and these moves, while difficult, number of jobs in Asia impacted by the thony Danna, based in L.A., with Pamela are necessary to compete in the fast- changes. Speculation is that about 20 Pang continuing to head up the English- changing and increasingly complex roles are involved for now. language team on the ground in Sin- global marketplace,” he added. Working with teams on the ground in gapore for Southeast Asia/Hong Kong/ Sony Pictures Television operates five Asia, global centres out of the U.S. will Taiwan. regional channels out of Singapore – take final control of English-language Ken Lo, Sony Pictures Television’s exec- AXN, Animax, Sony Channel, One and programme acquisitions/programming, utive vice president, distribution and net- Gem, which is a joint-venture channel branding/creative service and opera- works for Asia Pacific, said the changes with Japan’s Nippon Television. MRS WILSON How well do you know the one you love? @all3media_int all3mediainternational.com 19-25 November 2018 page 3. C NTENTASIA 19-25 November 2018 Page 4. ABS-CBN under fire over hit drama “No intention to smear”, Philippines broadcaster says Coco Martin as both Ador de Leon and Cardo Dalisay in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano Philippines’ broadcaster ABS-CBN ences and authorities, with supporters moved into damage control mode saying the series portrays courage, pat- this month after being attacked by the riotism, valour and the triumph of law country’s top cop for its portrayal of the over crime, and detractors criticising its police force in popular long-running use of uniforms and unfair portrayal of action drama, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. police. Three years after FPJ’s Ang Probinsya- FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano has been a no (aka Brothers) premiered, ABS-CBN ratings winner since its debut, con- has assured police authorities that the stantly topping charts with average series is 100% fiction. ratings of more than 40%. The real life-drama followed public ABS-CBN told the police that “the comments by Philippine National Po- characters, places, and incidents in lice (PNP) chief director general Oscar the programme were purely fictitious Albayalde objecting, among other as stated in the disclaimer aired at the things, to the TV series’ fictional por- start of the show every night. trayal of the PNP chief as a corrupt and “There is no intention to smear the brutal villain. reputation of any organisation or portray In a report by the government- any person in a negative light,” ABS-CBN backed Philippine News Agency (PNA), said, adding that the main character, Albayalde was quoted as saying it was Cardo, was portrayed as a hardworking a “bit unfair to PNP when you portray police officer “dedicated to saving lives that kind of [bad] activity that doesn’t and serving his fellow men”. really happen in our organisation”. “As in the past years, FPJ’s Ang Prob- “We are a nation of laws, not of men. insyano has highlighted that good shall That is what we want to show, that is always triumph over evil and has shared why we are giving our comments,” the valuable lessons and family values that PNA report quoted him as saying. have resonated with viewers,” the The public argument has split audi- broadcaster said. 19-25 November 2018 page 4. GIVING BUYERS PREMIUM ACCESS TO THE WORLD’S LEADING DISTRIBUTORS SEE INSTANT AVAILS AND SCREEN OVER 70,000 HOURS OF GREAT CONTENT ALL IN ONE PLACE Sign up for free at trx.tv/sign-up Come and have a demo at ATF STAND: JO9 19-25 November 2018 page 5. C NTENTASIA 19-25 November 2018 Page 6. Psychic doc on HBO’s pre-Xmas sched Real life fills the gap between Teen Psychic seasons Jitong Zhang Ming-Yi in The World Behind The Teenage Psychic HBO Asia’s original doc, The World Be- dium in the Sanchong district, a family hind the Teenage Psychic, premieres of Taoist priests from Keelung city, and on 16 December as part of a pre- an award-winning actress and singer Christmas schedule that also includes whose family runs a funeral business in All The Money In The World (9pm, 1 Nantou county. December), A Quiet Place (9pm, 8 The documentary is designed to fill December), and Pitch Perfect 3 (9pm, the gap between seasons one and 15 December). two of HBO Asia’s first Mandarin origi- The one-hour show looks into the tra- nal drama, The Teenage Psychic. Sea- ditions and culture behind HBO Asia’s son one in 2017 was a co-pro with Tai- first Mandarin drama series, The Teen- wan’s Public Service Television (PTS). age Psychic, through the eyes of vari- Filmed in Taiwan, the doc will air on ous people across Taiwan. HBO Asia’s linear service at 8pm as well These include an 18-year-old me- as on on-demand platform HBO Go. A+E boosts int’l scripted development Former Sky Vision exec Bidessie to drive new plan Moreyba Bidessie is A+E Networks In- ternational’s new director of scripted development and sales. Based in London, Bidessie is part of the U.S. network’s bid to drive interna- tionally focused scripted co-produc- tion. She reports to MD, international content sales and co-production, Richard Tulk-Hart. Bidessie was most recently scripted acquisitions manager for Sky Vision. Moreyba Bidessie 19-25 November 2018 page 6. WWW.CBSSI.COM @CBSINTLTWEET © 2018 CBS STUDIOS INC. 19-25 November 2018 page 7. C NTENTASIA 19-25 November 2018 Page 8. Malaysia’s DimSum rolls Drama series top new Asian awards battle out standalone streaming Final countdown to 6-7 Dec awards in Singapore in Singapore Asia’s new television event, the Asian ily soap and epic period tales. Two-year-old Malaysian stream- Academy Awards, heads into its final The series competing for the title in- ing service DimSum has expanded stretch before the 6-7 December cer- clude The Teenage Psychic, an HBO its subscription options in Singapore emony in Singapore with 11 dramas from Asia co-pro with Taiwan’s PTS; Astro Ma- beyond its six-month-old sell-through across the region competing for Best Dra- laysia’s action mini series Do[s]a, about deal on StarHub Go, going live earlier ma Series award. three brothers and their struggle to save this month with a S$4.99/US$3.64 a Nine directors – including Anurag Kashy- their sister; ABS-CBN’s long-running fam- month direct-to-consumer standalone ap for Netflix’s Sacred Games and Kyoji ily melodrama, The Greatest Love; iQiyi’s subscription platform. New titles on the Otuka for Hulu Japan’s You are Tender crime drama Burning Ice; Viu Indone- platform include The King of Blaze and When It Rains – are up for Best Director.