31 May-13 June C NTENT 2021 www.contentasia.tv l www.contentasiasummit.com Netflix Girl from Nowhere tops Thailand C NTENT Chinese drama displaces Korean titles, AMPD/MPA says On-demand video consumption in Thailand, May 2021 The Plot Thickens 25-27 August 2021 Animation sweeps demand in Taiwan Japanese anime takes three of top 10 spots Tsunami Umino’s Japanese romance Source: 1-29 May 2021, AMPD Research, Media Partners Asia (MPA). Platforms measured: iQiyi, Line TV, Netflix, TrueID, Viu, WeTV josei series, Nigeru Wa Haji Daga Yaku Ni Tatsu, is rising on our radar, emerging in fourth place in Taiwan for the week of Mainland Chinese drama titles ac- WeTV, AMPD/MPA says. 19-25 May, according to data science counted for 27% of online video con- Local content remains strong, con- company Parrot Analytics. sumption in Thailand in May 2021, ac- tributing 23% of online content con- cording to Media Partners Asia (MPA) sumption in May. The full story is on page 18 subsidiary, AMPD Research. Netflix thriller, Girl from Nowhere Chinese dramas have edged out season 2, was a hit in Thailand and q Korean as the top consumed content across Southeast Asia for the month to segment in May, data from 1-29 May 29 May. shows. The series was the top consumed title The recently concluded tvN drama, in Thailand in May, and charted in the RTHK stands firm Vincenzo, streaming on Netflix, was the top 10 in Indonesia, Malaysia and the top performing Korean title in Thailand. Philippines. on June 4 segment Chinese content consumption has GMM One drama Krachao Seeda on Pubcaster issues been increasing in the market, pow- iQiyi, was another top local title in May. stern guidance on new ered by the popularity and sheer Japanese anime holds a consistent abundance of new period romance 17% share of consumption, anchored editorial framework and fantasy dramas on Tencent- to new episode releases of ongoing owned freemium streaming platform, anime series across Line TV and Netflix. Radio Television Hong Kong bosses are standing firm on a decision to drop a report on a Tiananmen commemora- tion marathon during a programme that covers proceedings in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. Management told ENTRY DEADLINE: RTHK’s Programme Producers Union they CONTENTASIA had to understand that “the editorial in- 11 JUNE 2021 dependence of RTHK is not the same as AWARDS the editorial independence of individual RTHK production staff”. www.contentasiaawards.com The full story is on page 3 By 2029, HD Cable Households are Expected to Increase by 78% to 306 Million Across the Asia-Pacific Region Are you prepared to capture this growth? As a global leader of broadcast services and communications and a clear leader in this region, Intelsat continues to deliver the reliability and scalability programmers need to deliver high-quality video to viewers. Check out our latest eBook to understand the shifting media trends across the region and to make sure you are positioned to capture future subscribers and revenue in this highly competitive market. 230M+ Pay TV subscribers _________ 800 Channels _________ 5 Premier Video Neighborhoods _________ 3 Satellites Learn more by downloading intelsat.com linkedin.com/company/Intelsat Intelsat’s Media Market Watch 2021 twitter.com/Intelsat A Complete Guide to Pay TV Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Region facebook.com/Intelsat youtube.com/user/IntelsatMedia 31 May-13 June 2021 page 2. C NTENTASIA 31 May-13 June 2021 Page 3. Production begin RTHK stands firm on 4 June segment Yoon Jong-bin’s first Pubcaster issues stern warning on editorial policies show for Netflix Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) had acted professionally and in accord- Netflix has confirmed the production of bosses are standing firm on a decision ance with the new editorial manage- filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin’s first Korea TV to drop a report on a 4 June Tiananmen ment mechanism, put in place in March. drama series, Suriname (working title). commemoration marathon during a These include “submitting detailed pro- Based on real-life events, Suriname is programme that covers proceedings in posals to the editorial board for contro- about an ordinary entrepreneur who Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. versial programmes” as well as sending risks his life in joining the secret mission Responding to comments from RTHK’s the finished show in its entirety to the of government agents to capture a Programme Producers Union, the public board for approval. Korean drug lord. broadcaster’s management repeated “The new editorial management This is Yoon’s first collaboration with that prior permission had not been mechanism is generally operating Netflix. His previous works include The sought to air the 4 June segment. smoothly,” RTHK said. Since March this Spy Gone North, Kundo: Age of the Management also said that the item year, only three of thousands of hours of Rampant and Nameless Gangster: was not relevant to the LegCo show. programmes produced in Hong Kong Rules of the Time. “The management of RTHK welcomes and Taiwan “did not conform to the Suriname stars Ha Jung-woo as Kang the opinions of the trade union, but also principles of objectivity and impartiality” In-gu, who sets off to Suriname to make hopes that the opinions put forward ... “We must emphasise that the RTHK big bucks but ends up knee-deep in can be based on facts and respect the programme production staff union must drug crimes. Hwang Jung-min plays a existing editorial management mecha- also understand that the editorial inde- powerful drug lord. nism of RTHK”. pendence of RTHK is not the same as The series is produced by Moonlight RTHK also said that most of its produc- the editorial independence of individual Film and Perfect Storm Film Inc. tion teams in Hong Kong and Taiwan RTHK production staff. @all3media_int all3mediainternational.com Targeted Advertising Who says TV can’t make new money? They say ad revenues are plummeting. We say they’re just not using their data properly. Leverage targeted advertising to attract new customers, generate more revenue, and show people advertising they actually want to watch. We’re Synamedia. We’re here to help you create a brand new advertising model for your business. Find out more at synamedia.com 31 May-13 June 2021 page 4. C NTENTASIA 31 May-13 June 2021 Page 5. New Malaysia lockdown, Linear still strong in emerging Asia govt outlines new OTT most successful as a supplement, Intelsat says production requirements Malaysian authorities have outlined strict processes for the communica- tions and broadcasting/media industry from 1-14 June as the country enters a two-week full lockdown to stem record Covid-19 spread. Source: S&P Global, Intelsat Media Market Watch 2021 Applications to categorise media outfits as essential services will run Emerging markets in Asia are giving linear consistent” and “the revenue isn’t there”. through the Malaysian Communica- TV service a boost, according to a new “OTT has seen the most success as a tions and Multimedia Commission paper from global satellite operator supplement to pay TV,” the report says. (MCMC), which has been authorised Intelsat, which charts an “abundance of Quoting S&P Global data, Intelsat says by the Ministry of Communications and growth opportunities” in cable and direct the pay-TV market through 2025 is ex- Multimedia Malaysia. to home services and says cable con- pected to continue to grow at a rate of Provided permission is granted, ac- nections will surge with the migration from over 2.5% across all services (particularly tivities that will be allowed until 14 June analogue to digital. in India and smaller markets across South include content production, including Acknowledging the pressure from OTT Asia) for a projected worth of US$26.4 news, information and current affairs; services on the linear distribution market, billion by 2029. and broadcast services, including cus- Intelsat says OTT is struggling to keep up By 2029, HD cable households are ex- tomer service. with pay TV in emerging Asia because, pected to grow to 306 million across the among other reasons, “the quality is in- region – a 78% increase from 2020. 31 May-13 June 2021 page 6. C NTENTASIA 31 May-13 June 2021 Page 7. Astro returns Ramarajan, GMA set to ride 2022 election fervour debuts Swara Layam in Philippines national network’s 2021 fortunes soar new Tamil line up Philippines’ broadcaster GMA Network little over PHP2,018 million/US$42 million, is all set to ride the slipstream of the from the PHP583.4 million/US$12 million 2022 presidential elections, meanwhile reported in the same quarter last year. enjoying some of the benefits of having Gross revenue for the three months in- the Philippines virtually to itself after the creased 55% to PHP5,457 million/US$114 exit of ABS-CBN in May 2020. million from PHP3,5312 million/US$73 mil- A year after ABS-CBN was refused lion in Q1 2019. a broadcast franchise renewal, GMA For the first three months of 2021, con- has – pandemic be damned – report- solidated advertising revenues soared ed some of the most stellar results in its to PHP5,096 million/US%107 million, over- Ramarajan 2.0 history. taking last year’s peg by PHP1,841 mil- GMA’s net lion/US$39 million or 57%. Malaysia’s strongest media group Astro income for The Manila-based national network is bumping up its Tamil programming, the first said it had ushered in 2021 “with great beginning with season two of Kabilan quarter of zeal and enthusiasm”. Plondran’s Ramarajan (9pm, 1 June this year It also said the company’s opera- on Astro Vinmeen) and new musical soared tions remained largely unhampered by drama series, S.