ITV

Tag: Asia

  • Twitter elevates Preetha Athrey as director of Global Business Marketing, APAC

    Twitter elevates Preetha Athrey as director of Global Business Marketing, APAC

    MUMBAI: Microblogging and social networking giant Twitter has elevated Preetha Athrey as director of global business marketing, APAC. Previously, she was heading marketing at Twitter India. Athrey replaces Disha Goenka, who is now taking on a global role leading regional business marketing teams overseeing marketing strategies across Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America.

    Both Athrey and Goenka took to the microblogging site to share the development.

    Athrey wrote, “I am truly honoured to lead the amazingly creative and enthusiastic Global Business Marketing team across APAC – full of energy, zest and who make work fun every day! We will continue to amplify the best of Twitter to activate our customers through inspiration and education.”

    Goenka posted: My journey @Twitter takes me to an exciting global role as Head of Regional Business Marketing teams across Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. I’m honoured to lead this all-star team and excited for all the work we’ll be doing to serve our customers.

  • WarnerMedia announces three senior content hires in Asia

    WarnerMedia announces three senior content hires in Asia

    Mumbai: WarnerMedia on Friday announced three senior content hires in Asia to bolster its original productions teams in advance of the launch of HBO Max in the region.

    In the Singapore-based team, Mark Francis has been appointed group lead of production and development (scripted and unscripted), and Wee Shi Ming has been named lead of entertainment content acquisition for North Asia content. They both will report to WarnerMedia head of content – entertainment for Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong Magdalene Ew.

    In Mumbai, Saugata Mukherjee joins WarnerMedia as head of content – entertainment, India. The newly-created role, like Ew, reports to managing director of India, Southeast Asia and Korea Clement Schwebig.

    “These are vital roles as we look to ramp up our original content and programming ambitions in this region,” said Schwebig. “Saugata, Mark and Shi Ming have a great eye for a winning project and have enviable connections within the industry. With them all now in place over the past few months, we’re looking in great shape to entertain local audiences with a well-rounded and premium slate.”

    Former Astro head of OTT content and iflix chief content officer Francis will lead a regional team to develop Asian original productions under the ‘Max Originals’ banner.

    Wee Shi Ming, in the content acquisition team, started in late 2021 and will focus on securing Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Anime titles. Prior to this role, Wee was at Viu and Sony Pictures Television Networks, where she was head of acquisition and programming for Asian content. Wee now works alongside Katheryn Lim, who leads content acquisition for international and English-language entertainment titles, with both of them reporting into Ew.

    Former SonyLiv and Disney exec Mukherjee also joined in late 2021 and is responsible for commissioning local originals, as well as acquiring and developing Indian content across all general entertainment genres.

    In September 2021, WarnerMedia also announced the appointment of Audrey Wee as the physical production lead for its growing line-up of regional entertainment content in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. And in July, May-Yi Lee was named Lead of development and production – unscripted for the same region. Wee reports into Ew while Lee reports into Francis.

  • Starz streamer Lionsgate Play launched in Malaysia

    Starz streamer Lionsgate Play launched in Malaysia

    Mumbai: In continuation of its expansion in Asia, Lionsgate-owned Starz on Friday announced the launch of its independent direct-to-consumer OTT app Lionsgate Play in Malaysia. The service is being introduced in association with Telekom Malaysia (Unifi TV).

    “We are thrilled to launch the eagerly-anticipated Lionsgate Play app in Malaysia, delivering the finest global entertainment to captivate our audiences with bespoke content encompassing current releases and our vast premium library, all at an affordable price and at consumers’ convenience,” said Lionsgate Play MD of South Asia and networks – emerging markets Asia Rohit Jain. 

    “We are also pleased to launch with a great partner in Telekom Malaysia, who will give us a strong head start in the territory with their broadband reach and deep streaming offering,” Jain added.

    Lionsgate Play debuted in India in 2019 and the subsequent expansion took it into Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and, most recently, the Philippines.

    “This partnership will solidify our strong consumer offering with an extensive premium library. Lionsgate Play boasts iconic, bold and edgy content that is gripping and will be loved by our subscribers,” said Telekom’s content head for Unifi TV Ho Hock Doong.

    Lionsgate Play Malaysia will bring blockbuster film franchises such as “The Hunger Games”, “The Twilight Saga” and “Now You See Me” as well as popular and critically acclaimed TV series “Weeds,” “Power,” “Mad Men” and “The Spanish Princess” among others, to Malaysian audiences.

  • Nicholas Lim returns to The Travel Corp as new CEO

    Nicholas Lim returns to The Travel Corp as new CEO

    Mumbai: Global travel company The Travel Corp (TTC) has announced the appointment of Nicholas Lim as chief executive officer, effective 16 August. As the CEO of the company, Lim will focus on the transformation of TTC’s distribution of key brands and report to TTC president Gavin Tollman.

    Lim previously headed TTC Asia as managing director from 2018 to 2020, and before that was president (Asia) for Trafalgar from 2011 to 2018. Prior to his appointment as CEO of TTC, Lim was general manager of Norwegian Cruise Lines in Asia.

    “With a strong management team in place in Asia, we are excited to have Nicholas back to help us lead the change and replicate the fantastic success he has had in the past,” Gavin Tollman said. “As travellers of the world hit the road and take to the skies again, thanks to rising vaccination rates, manageable caseloads and relaxing travel restrictions, we are confident of delivering the most enjoyable, safe, and enriching travel experiences for all our guests.”

    In his new role, Lim will work with each of the global brand executives to execute the brand strategies and set the direction to fuel further growth for the region, in particular the luxury travel market for international outbound leisure travel.

    “I could not be prouder to join the dynamic team at TTC,” Lim said. “As the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ebb, most indicators are pointing towards travel returning with a passion as numerous vacationers want to get away from the confines of their homes and as people look to reconnect and explore new destinations. With the near-universal desire to travel and with borders gradually reopening, we at TTC are excited to meet the soaring demand.”

    TTC’s business is split between its guided travel brands such as AAT Kings, Contiki Holidays, CostSaver, Insight Vacations, Thompsons Africa, Trafalgar; And the luxury brands portfolio has Inspiring Journeys, Luxury Gold, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, and Red Carnation Boutique Hotels.

  • Genero onboards Subbaraju Alluri as MD for Asia

    Genero onboards Subbaraju Alluri as MD for Asia

    Mumbai: Global creative platform Genero has announced the appointment of Subbaraju Alluri as managing director (MD) – Asia, based in Singapore.

    Alluri joins Genero less than a year after joining communications firm Redhill Communications after spending more than 19 years with Grey Group.

    According to Genero, Alluri will work closely with CEO and co-founder Andrew Lane, and the existing team in Asia to drive growth across the region. He is tasked with building on the momentum that the business has seen since the pandemic began, with “greater pressure on marketing budgets and an increasing number of in-house teams looking to augment their marketing services structures with creative tech platforms,” said the company.

    “He brings incredible experience from his years at Grey working with some of the world’s biggest advertisers, as well as a deep understanding of the industry and clients across Asia. We know that Raju’s experience will add great value to the Genero solution and for our clients,” Lane said.

    As a Grey veteran, Alluri previously held a number of roles across the agency, including president director and CEO in Indonesia, CEO of Singapore and Thailand, and group CEO of Indonesia and Thailand.

    Speaking about his new role, Alluri said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to join this amazingly progressive technology-driven global company. Excited to lead the Asia region to build Genero across a very diverse set of markets. It’s an incredible opportunity to help brands, creators, and agencies with a global creative platform built for modern marketers. This is the new way to create and I am looking forward to building something awesome with team Genero around the world.”

  • AVIA appoints Celeste Campbell-Pitt as a new chief policy officer

    AVIA appoints Celeste Campbell-Pitt as a new chief policy officer

    KOLKATA: The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has appointed a new chief policy officer to be based in its Singapore office, a first for the role. Celeste Campbell-Pitt will join AVIA on 3 May, and work with the current chief policy officer John Medeiros, who will retire after the transition period. 

    Medeiros, who is based in Hong Kong, and joined the Association then known as CASBAA, in 2005 as ice president of government relations and regulatory affairs, has been chief policy officer since 2013.

    AVIA’s key focus has been to represent the combined positions of its members and engage in constructive dialogue with governments so they may better understand the curated video industry. The chief policy officer spearheads this goal, developing and executing policy initiatives relevant to the video industry, in consultation with and on behalf of AVIA member companies. According to AVIA, the role has evolved over the years and  become a lot more critical as regulatory policies continue to develop alongside the sweeping changes the video industry has seen in recent years.

    “This role is critical for AVIA and we have taken a long time to find the right person.  While taking over from John who has made the role his own will be no easy task, I am delighted that we have found Celeste who has such a passion for the industry and a clear vision for how to build and develop the role,” AVIA CEO Louis Boswell said.

    Campbell-Pitt comes with over twenty years of business and legal experience in the media and entertainment industry across both Europe and Asia. Before joining AVIA, she was consulting with various global media and technology companies as well as private equity firms that were looking to expand into the Asia Pacific region.

    Campbell-Pitt was previously the vice president and head of Business Development and Advertising Sales at Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, after her stint at Endemol Shine Asia Group as the director and head of Commercial and Operations. She has also held senior legal counsel positions in international media companies including Star, Turner, and Channel Four in the UK.

  • Lionsgate expands Rohit Jain’s role in Asia

    Lionsgate expands Rohit Jain’s role in Asia

    KOLKATA: Global content leader Lionsgate has elevated Rohit Jain as managing director, South Asia and networks – emerging markets Asia.  

    With the promotion, Jain is responsible for shepherding growth across all of Lionsgate’s South Asian businesses and expanding the Starz premium subscription platform throughout the emerging markets of Asia. He joins a group of dynamic and entrepreneurial Indian executives taking on expanding regional and worldwide roles within their global companies.

    Since Lionsgate opened its first office in India in 2018 under his leadership, Jain has overseen the growth of its Asian operations by launching the Lionsgate Play streaming service across multiple emerging Asian markets including India, establishing strategic partnerships with major telcos, broadband services, OEMs and global streaming platforms. He has also been instrumental in establishing a robust South Asian licensing and distribution business to strengthen Lionsgate’s footprint in the region. 

    “Rohit is an entrepreneurial and innovative executive who has gotten our Indian operations off to a great start with the successful launch of Lionsgate Play,” Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said. 

     “He has created a forward-looking blueprint for growth in one of the world’s most important territories. As he expands our streaming initiatives into additional emerging Asian markets, he will be an important part of moving our global platform forward, ” he added further. 

    “This is an exciting time for all of us at Lionsgate as our newly launched SVOD service has received a phenomenal response from Indian viewers,” Jain said.  

    “The entrepreneurial culture at Lionsgate, a global company with the soul of a start-up, is what keeps me excited. I am thankful to Lionsgate’s visionary leadership team for creating this wonderful opportunity,” he added. 

  • AVIA announces governance framework for online curated content services

    AVIA announces governance framework for online curated content services

    KOLKATA: The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has announced the publication of the governance framework for online curated content (OCC) services (hereafter referred to as the “Governance Framework”). The governance framework delivers concrete commitments and standards in order to deepen discussions with APAC regulators and empower consumers in the region.

    OCC services are online video streaming services, which offer a fully curated content catalogue. Their unique characteristics distinguish them from other online video services, such as social media and user-generated content, as well as pay TV and broadcast TV. OCC services are operated by professional media companies and have suitable technology at their disposal to more effectively ensure controls and take responsibility for the content they distribute. These services stand ready and available for dialogue with governments, to help build a positive and growing content ecosystem.

    OCC services are transforming the way that content is created and consumed in Asia and around the world, expanding markets and options for creators and empowering consumers to safely view the professional content they select whenever, wherever and on whichever device they choose.

    A recent YouGov survey of consumers in five Asian markets found that there is a high expectation (62 per cent) that OCC service providers curate their content well with ratings and advisories, but an even higher expectation (77 per cent) that final content control is put in consumers’ hands. A large preponderance of consumers (77 per cent) also believed parental controls or content filters are an important attribute of OCC services.

    The new governance framework is designed to meet those expectations. Within its provisions, the framework proposes various industry actions that include robust systems of control by way of parental control features, program ratings, advisories, and consumer feedback mechanisms. It also proposes a notification process overseen by the regulator to ensure accountability, and formal industry-regulator consultations to continue to improve the framework.

    Importantly, the survey found that viewers have high expectations for access to the content they seek. The survey found that in reaction to government censorship, 80 per cent of streaming viewer customers would revert to piracy, cancellation or reduction of their use of legal services.

    An effective governance framework, rather than heavy regulation, is therefore critical for this dynamic sector providing an accountable framework for legal content consumption. It is designed to encourage growth of the OCC sector, and ensure the progressive adoption of higher standards by a greater number of curated service operators.

    AVIA CEO Louis Boswell said, “OCC industry leaders have already demonstrated their commitment to responsibility and ensuring accountability. This framework will help guide our members, and hopefully governments, to act in good faith and closely collaborate as this nascent sector continues to evolve. And, more importantly, it will give consumers confidence in the content provided by the OCC sector without the need for burdensome regulation on top.”

    The concept for the governance framework grew from initial discussions at the ASEAN Telecom Regulators Council dialogue, held in Bangkok in September 2017. This forum brought together both regulators as well as industry in dialogue, to create pan-ASEAN solutions. The initial output from this was the subscription video-on-demand industry content code for ASEAN. Similar content codes have also been released in India and Taiwan, creating room for a region-wide framework that puts forward guiding principles for the industry.

    AVIA has put these principles forward in the spirit of continued dialogue and engagement between industry, government, civil society and consumer groups. AVIA members look forward to discussing with governments how policy and regulation can be developed to benefit consumers across the Asia-Pacific region and help grow the region’s creative industries.

  • Multi-territory video streaming service Hooq files for liquidation

    Multi-territory video streaming service Hooq files for liquidation

    MUMBAI: Multi-territory video streaming service Hooq said last week that it has filed for liquidation as giant players are looking more into streaming services and the competition intensifies across the globe.

    The service was launched in 2015 by the Singapore-based telecom company Singtel and was also backed by Warner and Sony. Along with India, Hooq was also available in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

    “Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (“Singtel”) wishes to announce that HOOQ Digital Pte Ltd (“HOOQ”), a joint venture company in which Singtel has an indirect 76.5 per cent effective interest, has commenced a creditors’ voluntary liquidation. The liquidation of HOOQ is not expected to have any material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Singtel,” it said in a stock exchange filing.

    According to media reports, Hooq said in a statement that it had been unable to grow fast enough to keep up with global and regional rivals, and also noted “significant structural changes” in the over-the-top (OTT) video market in the five years since its launch.

    “Global and local content providers are increasingly going direct, the cost of content remains high, and emerging market consumers’ willingness to pay has increased only gradually amidst an increasing array of choices,” said Hooq.

    “Because of these changes, a viable business model for an independent, over-the-top distribution platform has become increasingly challenged,” it added.

    Hooq has appointed Messrs Lim Siew Soo and Brendon Yeo Sau Jin as its joint and several provisional liquidators. A shareholder meeting and creditors’ meeting have also been set for 13 April.

    Back in 2018, Hooq struck a unique deal with India’s leading streaming service Hotstar. Under the partnership, HOOQ’s 6,000 hour catalogue of Hollywood TV shows and movies were made  available for Hotstar Premium users. It also started offering more than Pay TV channels to their premium offering in partnership with brands across Asia.

    Experts already warned about upcoming consolidations and exits in the media industry. Towards the end of 2019,  Hong Kong-headquartered PCCW Media’s Asian video streaming service Viu also  decided to fold its India operations.

  • India’s paid VoD users spend 53 per cent watch time on local content

    India’s paid VoD users spend 53 per cent watch time on local content

    MUMBAI: Despite a deluge of global content coming to India thanks to a multitude of streaming platforms, the Indian audience continues to retain a strong appetite for local content. According to a report from Alphabeta Strategy and economics, the paid video-on-demand (VoD) audience in the country spends 53 per cent watch time on local content. Along with India, other Asian countries also show the same fondness for local content.

    AlphaBeta commissioned a survey of internet users watching paid online VOD once a month or more in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. The survey has also found that the demand for local content remains same across all the age groups. During a session in FICCI FRAMES 2019, Alphabeta Strategy and Economics engagement manager Dr. Konstantin Mathhies revealed the findings.

    “With strong consumer demand for local content, VOD players will have to increasingly provide high-quality local content to align with these preferences. Already, many VOD players in Asia have developed “hyper-local” strategies in content investment – with a focus on producing high-quality shows that also differentiate their offerings in a competitive market,” the report read. It also cited the example of global players like Amazon, Netflix going local in Asia.

    While all the large international players are investing in the Asian countries, local players are also ramping up the investment in content. The study estimates that the content spending in Asia could go up to US$10.1 billion in 2022 from US$2.7 billion in 2017.

    Moreover, foreign direct investment in local content in Asia is also expected to get a boost given the fact that VoD spending is largely driven by global players . The report added that the potential FDI could reach US$4 billion by 2022.

    The key findings of the report depict that over 80 per cent of VoD executives cite a welcoming investment environment, supportive regulations, and high-quality content production infrastructure as key to driving content investment. It also adds that VoD makes it easier for Asian entertainment to reach at least 450 mn people globally today.