ITV

Tag: Asia

  • Uday Shankar becomes president of 21st Century Fox, Asia

    Uday Shankar becomes president of 21st Century Fox, Asia

    Mumbai: Star India chairman and CEO Uday Shankar has been elevated to the position of president, 21st Century Fox (21CF), Asia, effective immediately.

    According to 21CF, in his new role, Shankar will lead the company’s video businesses across all of Asia, including Star India and Fox Networks Group, and work closely with 21CF leadership on key strategic initiatives in the region. He will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of Star India, a key driver of 21CF’s growth and one of India’s largest media and entertainment companies. Fox Networks Group Asia president Zubin Gandevia, who used to earlier report into 21st Century Fox president Peter Rice, will continue to oversee video brands across 14 markets and now report to Uday  under this realigned regional structure. 21CF’s film business in Asia will continue to report directly to 20th Century Fox Film chairman & CEO Stacey Snider.

    “Uday’s new role will enhance our strategic focus across all of Asia and enable us to further capture opportunities, building on the transformation Star India has driven in our most important growth market,” said Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch and CEO James Murdoch in a joint statement.

    “Under Uday’s leadership, our India business has firmly established itself as a world-class asset with durable businesses across entertainment, sports, satellite distribution and OTT. His strategic vision has put 21CF at the forefront of content and distribution in one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and we are very fortunate to benefit from Uday’s expanded leadership at a global level,” they said.

  • Monaco Festival to showcase drama, thriller and comedy films, partners Bomanbridge

    Monaco Festival to showcase drama, thriller and comedy films, partners Bomanbridge

    MUMBAI: Bomanbridge Media has partnered with the Monaco Government Tourist Bureau Asia, represented by Horus Development & Consulting, to host Asia’s first edition of Monaco Film Festival in Singapore.

    The Monaco Film Festival will be presented at the Alliance Francaise Cultural Center from 14 to 22 October 2017, with a VIP Gala held at the Capitol Theatre during the festival. The festival will be an exciting celebration of the assets of Monaco / Monte-Carlo.

    Movie-lovers can enjoy Monaco-focused feature films, spanning across genre lines from drama to thriller, comedy and more, featuring titles such as “Grand Prix,” “La Fille de Monaco”, and the iconic “To Catch a Thief” starring Grace Kelly in 1955, just before she became H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco a year later.

    The festival aims to appeal to a broader audience through cinema, a medium that transcends age and culture. Gorgeous images and excerpts of Monaco and Monte-Carlo can be found in the movies lined up for the festival.

    Other than Bomanbridge Media, the festival is organised in collaboration with Alliance Francaise de Singapour, the Singapore Film Society and the Capitol Theatre, with the support of Air France KLM, Creme Simon, APM Monaco and Gong.

  • 80k illicit streaming consumers lost connections in Asia, CASBAA says

    80k illicit streaming consumers lost connections in Asia, CASBAA says

    MUMBAI: Tens of thousands of consumers of illegal TV services in Asia have lost their connections in recent weeks, as enforcement action against networks operating through illicit streaming devices (ISDs) picks up speed. Asian regional pay-TV association CASBAA applauded recent police actions in Thailand and Malaysia, which resulted in takedowns and arrests of operators of ISD networks.

    “The criminal syndicates selling ISDs have defrauded many consumers into believing their services were legitimate,” said CASBAA Chief Policy Officer John Medeiros. “They are not. And anyone buying an illicit IPTV box takes the risk of losing their money without warning when the network is taken down.”

    After the Thai raids, an estimated 50,000 consumers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia and other places all lost service, despite having pre-paid substantial amounts for “Expat.tv” services. The enforcement action that shut down the service led to the arrest of two British nationals and one Thai citizen, as well as the seizure of a considerable amount of equipment.

    In Malaysia, police estimated that 30,000 consumers were receiving service from a syndicate illegally retransmitting programming from Astro channels. Six men were arrested in raids in Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

    CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter said the TV industry — including creators of all genres of TV content as well as leading distribution companies like Astro, PCCW, and True Visions – are determined to keep up enforcement actions against ISD networks. “It’s important for consumers to understand that if a bouquet of TV programming offered on a box seems “too good to be true”, then it probably is not legitimate,” he said. “Money invested in an ISD is at risk of loss at any time.”

    Consumers also risked infection with malware when they attach ISDs, with their dodgy apps, to home networks, warned Medeiros. “Researchers in the UK have found ISD boxes importing viruses that could allow hackers access to all devices on home networks. This could result in the theft of personal data, credit card fraud or even being held to ransom. It’s only a matter of time before this problem hits consumers in Asia, too.”

    “Legitimate, licensed TV services are a far more reliable and more secure way to obtain programming.”

  • Fox launches video streaming service in Asia

    MUMBAI: After Hooq, iflix, and Netflix, Fox Networks Group Asia has entered the digital space with the launch of its video streaming service Fox+.

    The streaming service app features TV series, first-run Hollywood blockbusters, hit Chinese series and movies, live sports and thrilling documentaries, all in one place, accessible from any device (on televisions, computers, tablet, smart phones) in high definition.

    The app was launched on 7 March at Makati City in the Phillipines by Fox Networks Group Asia president Zubin Gandevia. Its launch in seven more countries in the Asia Pacific is slated to follow suit within the year.

    The app showcase the latest TV series shown on the same day as the US, the latest movies shortly after theatrical release, both often one full year before other subscription services. It will have live sports via Fox Sports, amounting to more than 10,000 hours of content.

    Fox is not just a robust content creator with movies such as Deadpool, Logan, etc, but it also claims to be the biggest content-buyer in the region. Several studios like Walt Disney will also be making available their content on the service.

    The entry of Fox+ makes it the fourth streaming service in the country. A Fox+ subscription costs around approx Rs 512/month (P390) whereas its competitor Netflix starts at Rs 486/month (P370) for the basic tier while Hooq charges Rs 261(P199) and iflix Rs 169 (P129)

    Fox+ will be available for subscribers of Cignal and PLDT/SMART broadband subscribers for a discounted price as the company wants to preserve the loyalty of their fans.

  • Telestream to acquire IneoQuest

    MUMBAI: Telestream has announced its agreement to acquire IneoQuest, the global leader in video quality monitoring and analytics solutions for content distribution across managed and unmanaged networks.

    Founded in 2001, IneoQuest is headquartered in Mansfield, Massachusetts, with sales operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. With this acquisition, Telestream will enable its customers to deliver the highest possible video quality to their viewers on any device. The terms of the deal were not disclosed as both companies are privately held.

    With video quality a critical part of the viewer experience, IneoQuest’s analytics solutions help hundreds of media companies and service providers around the world deliver the highest possible quality across any network, managed or unmanaged.

    Recognised as an industry leader and innovator by Deloitte, Red Herring, Inc., Frost & Sullivan, and others, IneoQuest’s patented solutions continue to set the standard for measuring video quality, quality of service, and viewer experience.

  • YouTube TV announced for US markets, Asia next?

    MUMBAI: From user generated content on YouTube in the beginning to original content on YouTube Red to live streaming of more than 40 channels in the US on YouTubeTV – that’s the direction the world’s largest media company Google is taking. Earlier this week Google announced the launch of the service at a monthly sticker price of $35 for six user accounts per home. Each account comes with its own viewer profile which tracks what you watch to enable recommendation and separate cloud based DVRs with unlimited storage.

    No launch date for the service has been announced, but YouTube is asking interested users to sign up for it to get updates on it. Additionally, it will be introduced in select premium markets in the US before being rolled out nationally.

    Google had earlier this year signed on CBS to deliver its content live on YouTube TV and has added other major broadcast networks such as ABC, Fox, and NBC and cable channels such as ESPN, FX, USA, E!, Bravo, CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC to that roster. Subscribers can also watch premium cable TV channels such as Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus by anteing up some extra dollars. YouTube TV is also working with local TV stations and regional sports networks across the US to provide users with local TV news, weather, and sports.

    With YouTube TV’s announcement, Google is seeking to offer younger video viewers an alternative to expensive cable TV and it is also running head to head in competition with services such as Dish’s Sling TV, Sony’s Playstation Vue, AT&T’s DirecTV Now, and Hulu which is slated to launch a live streaming app in the near future.

    Media watchers are speculating whether YouTube TV will be launched in Asia soon. You Tube chief business officer Robert Kyncl is expected to be in Asia next month for a major video distribution conference.

    Watch this space for more news!

  • 33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

    SES is a leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and 12 in medium earth orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government).

    In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7 per cent to 2,495 channels. Today, 33 per cent of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27 per cent of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60 per cent of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

    The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14 per cent to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

    SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50 per cent of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

    In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

    The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

    “With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment.”

  • 33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

    SES is a leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and 12 in medium earth orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government).

    In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7 per cent to 2,495 channels. Today, 33 per cent of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27 per cent of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60 per cent of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

    The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14 per cent to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

    SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50 per cent of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

    In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

    The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

    “With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment.”

  • ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ s2 to air on AXN; multi-year deal with FreemantleMedia confirmed

    ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ s2 to air on AXN; multi-year deal with FreemantleMedia confirmed

    MUMBAI: The search for “Asia’s Got Talent” will continue in Season 2 this year after its successful first season in 2015. Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, has finalised terms with FremantleMedia International for the talent show’s rights.

    Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia International co-produced the “Got Talent” franchise. It appears in the Guinness World Records as the “Most Successful Reality Television Format” with 70 local versions produced across the Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The talent show format is telecast in 186 countries around the world, Yibada reported.

    As yet, “Asia’s Got Talent” Season 2 has no local production firm or judges but is anticipated to start talent auditions throughout Asia. Its premiere is scheduled for the second half of the year, and is likely to broadcast on Sony’s AXN network across much of the Asia-Pacific region. It geographically includes the key territories of India, Japan, Korea, and China.

    FremantleMedia International GM – Asia and executive VP Ganesh Rajaram said in a statement that ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ Season 1 had become the benchmark for talent shows in the pan-regional space and that they were thrilled to have had secured the multi-year partnership with Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

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  • ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ s2 to air on AXN; multi-year deal with FreemantleMedia confirmed

    ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ s2 to air on AXN; multi-year deal with FreemantleMedia confirmed

    MUMBAI: The search for “Asia’s Got Talent” will continue in Season 2 this year after its successful first season in 2015. Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, has finalised terms with FremantleMedia International for the talent show’s rights.

    Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia International co-produced the “Got Talent” franchise. It appears in the Guinness World Records as the “Most Successful Reality Television Format” with 70 local versions produced across the Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The talent show format is telecast in 186 countries around the world, Yibada reported.

    As yet, “Asia’s Got Talent” Season 2 has no local production firm or judges but is anticipated to start talent auditions throughout Asia. Its premiere is scheduled for the second half of the year, and is likely to broadcast on Sony’s AXN network across much of the Asia-Pacific region. It geographically includes the key territories of India, Japan, Korea, and China.

    FremantleMedia International GM – Asia and executive VP Ganesh Rajaram said in a statement that ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ Season 1 had become the benchmark for talent shows in the pan-regional space and that they were thrilled to have had secured the multi-year partnership with Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

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