ITV

Tag: Astro

  • Rahul Thappa takes over as dentsu Media managing director Singapore

    Rahul Thappa takes over as dentsu Media managing director Singapore

    MUMBAI: He’s shuffled between jobs in the south east Asian region and in India. Between being on the media side and on the broadcast side. 

    Rahul Thappa, however,  is now on the media side as he has taken over as managing director of dentsu Media based in Singapore from 1 January 2025.

    His remit: looking after investment and management for dentsu’s  regional and global accounts out of Singapore and growing the agency’s customer experience capabilities  (CX) with Merkle.”

    Merkle is dentsu’s technology-enabled, data-driven CX  management company.

    Thapa was last the managing director of Vista Equity Partners-backed global centre of excellence Naviga for the past three and a half years based in Gurugram. He took a shot at self-employment by setting up a consulting firm VDO Focus Consulting for a year and half advising start ups to manage their digital campaigns and strategy between January 2020 and July 2021.

    Between July 2013 and September 2019, he made south east Asia his home base – first in Astro in Malaysia as VP data analytics, trading & sales enablement and then at Fox network group in Singapore as SVP ad sale strategy, sales operations.

    A short stab at entrepreneurship preceded that which ended in in six months. As did his assignment with Mindshare in Gurgaon in the leadership team where he stayed for around a year. He hopped on to Mail Today as COO, but could continue there for only nine months between April 2011 and December 2011.

    A mathematics graduate and post graduate diploma holder in marketing communication from Mica and PGPX in general management from IIM-A., Rahul sent six years and six months at Mindshare Malaysia rising to become managing partner.
     

  • Malaysian media baron Ananda Krishnan passes on

    Malaysian media baron Ananda Krishnan passes on

    MUMBAI: Another media baron passes into the great beyond. Malayasian billionaire Ananda Krishnan who set up the successful pay TV platform Astro in Malaysia  and established satellite operator Measat passed away on 28 November at  the age of 86.  

    Ananda was known to be close to Mahathir Mohamad who was Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and 2018 to 2020. He persuaded him to build the famed Petronas twin towers in Kuala Lumpur.

    Ananda was the founder and chairman of Usaha Tegas, as well as the founder of Yu Cai Foundation. He also helped transform telecom firm Maxis into one of the largest operators in the country. He helped finance Bob Geldof’s  Live Aid concert in the eighties. He  was ranked Malaysia’s sixth-richest person and 671 wealthiest person globally in 2024, with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, according to  Forbes.  

    In India, Ananda unsuccessfully  invested an estimated $7 billion to set up telco Aircel which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018.

    Ananda had three children, including his only son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo who is a Buddhist monk.

    May he Rest in Peace!

    Astro Malaysia made the following post on its website:

    Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (Astro) mourns the loss of our shareholder, Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam, on 28 November 2024, whose unparalleled contributions shaped the landscape of Malaysia’s media, telecommunications, and entertainment industries.

    Group Chief Executive Officer Euan Daryl Smith expressed profound sorrow on behalf of Astro, stating: “Mr Ananda Krishnan’s vision went beyond creating a company; he created a purpose. Through Astro, he touched lives—by providing jobs, nurturing talent, and fostering a shared sense of joy through the power of entertainment. His enduring commitment to excellence and humanity will continue to inspire us as we carry forward his legacy. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this time of loss.”

    We join the nation in honoring a remarkable individual whose contributions will forever be etched in Malaysia’s history. Our deepest condolences go out to the family during this difficult time.

    We humbly request that the family’s privacy be respected as they mourn their loss.”

     

    (Pix courtesy Scott Jordan)

  • Nippon TV secures their first format deals in Malaysia

    Nippon TV secures their first format deals in Malaysia

    Mumbai: Japan’s multiplatform entertainment powerhouse – Nippon TV has announced that they have finalised a deal with Astro, Malaysia’s content and entertainment company which has acquired the rights to Nippon TV’s award-winning scripted formats Love’s In Sight! (60 min. eps.) and Homeroom (60 min. eps.). Juita Viden, one of Malaysia’s largest independent distributors of local and international content, brokered the Malaysian adaptation deal for both formats. Astro is set to air the Malay-language version of Love’s In Sight! (Dari Mata Turun ke Hati in Malaysia) starting 12 August and Homeroom (Kelas Tahanan Cikgu Hiragi in Malaysia) to follow. The announcement has been made by Nippon TV’s format licensing and content business – Sally Yamamoto.

    Astro vice president of Malay, international, kids & on-demand Azlin Reza Azmi said, “We are very excited to partner with Nippon TV to bring two award-winning Japanese scripted series to our Malaysian audience. Astro is constantly looking to create content based on rich characters and stories to exceed our customers’ growing expectations of compelling storytelling at high production values. This partnership reflects our commitment to bringing high-quality entertainment to our customers. The upcoming series, Dari Mata Turun ke Hati and Kelas Tahanan Cikgu Hiragi are adaptations of the hit series and will retain the core elements that have made them successful in Japan, with a local twist to resonate with our Malaysian audience. With the localization of these series featuring fresh and prominent local talents, we aim to keep our customers engaged with more ways to watch celebrated worldwide series through relevant local context, expressions, and creativity.”

    “We are delighted to be announcing two first-time format deals in Malaysia for Love’s In Sight! as well as Homeroom, thanks to the enthusiasm of our partners in Malaysia, Astro – which have shared our passion for these exciting adaptations,” commented Yamamoto. “Love’s In Sight!, based on a hit manga, vividly depicts the lives of social minorities and is full of love, laughter, and emotional moments. Homeroom, already adapted in Turkey and Thailand, is set to provoke thoughtful discussions among the Malaysian audience. With Mother now adapted in eight countries, Nippon TV will keep committing to share unique stories to the global content landscape.”

  • MPA announces launch of APOS 2020 Virtual Series

    MPA announces launch of APOS 2020 Virtual Series

    MUMBAI: APOS, the defining voice and global platform for the Asia Pacific media, telecoms and entertainment industry, is shifting online in 2020 with two virtual editions on 21-23 July and 1-3 September 2020.

    Created and curated by Media Partners Asia (MPA), the APOS 2020 Virtual Series provides unparalleled conversations, insights and connectivity across global markets, uniting diverse industry leaders and players focused on addressing the challenges and future catalysts for growth and investment across media, entertainment, sports, telecoms and technology sectors. 

    “Bringing together TMT industry leaders across continents to provide strategic vision online with interactive and on-demand functionality, the APOS 2020 Virtual Series will be a definitive experience and knowledge platform, enabling key stakeholders to navigate the future of video globally with a special focus on Asia Pacific,” said MPA executive director Vivek Couto.

    KEY TOPICS

    Asia's Path to Recovery

    The world faces major economic challenges in the midst of the pandemic. What does the path to recovery look like and which countries have momentum as economic activity resumes? What policies need to be emphasized?

    Investment Dynamics

    With depressed valuations, markets are signalling downgraded views of profitability. How true is this narrative and what structural changes do key players need to embrace? How can consolidation across key verticals and geographies generate synergies and value? What are the potential sources of funding?

    Priming the Advertising Pump

    After more than three months of Covid2019-induced hibernation, brands and advertisers are re-engaging with consumers. What are the new priorities for marketers and advertisers? How are advertisers working with media owners to engage with audiences to accelerate growth?

    Rise of The Streaming Economy

    1H 2020 has witnessed unprecedented growth in online video consumption. Does this represent a fundamental change in behaviour or is it temporary? Has this accelerated OTT scalability? Will libraries be sufficiently deep and the consumer experience positive enough to retain users? What specific strategies need to be implemented to see that gains are expanded?

    The Future of TV

    With viewership higher than any time in recent history, traditional TV retains vitality. But ad revenues are shrinking and, in most markets, subscription revenues are under pressure as existing business models are stressed. How are key players managing the present and positioning themselves for the future?

    Connectivity and The Bundle

    The demand for broadband is stronger than ever. What are the implications for fibre broadband and 5G in emerging markets? What is the potential for new bundles and partnerships to meet consumer entertainment needs?

    Live Sport's Future

    With shortened or eliminated play seasons, dramatically reduced sports attendance, TV rights obligations under review, and pay-TV sports bundles under pressure, many issues are compressing professional league profits. How are leagues responding? Will an incremental bridge to next year surface or is a more radical approach required?

    Opportunities in Online Gaming

    A multibillion-dollar industry with its own ecosystem, from IP creation to distribution, has seen unprecedented demand over the last 6 months. What does the future roadmap look like for the online gaming ecosystem and which parts of the value chain will benefit most?

    The Creative Economy

    With unparalleled demand for video content and social distancing norms stressing traditional production processes, how are the current challenges for content creation being navigated and what is online video’s evolving impact on storytelling?

    Premium Video Advertising

    While consumption has spiked, low realization rates plague the sector. What are the strategies to fuel the growth of AVOD as global social video platforms, connected platforms and local broadcasters expand the digital video advertising pie?

    Theatrical Trends

    Theatres have been closed. Hollywood tentpoles delayed while other films go direct to VOD. Social distancing is the new normal. How are producers and exhibitors responding to this unprecedented environment?

    Phygitisation and the Video-First Future of E-commerce

    E-commerce is pervasive. Short video apps are starting to look more like commercials, but e-commerce apps may also have to become video apps as the lines between the two start to blur. In parallel, new hybrid ‘phygital’ models are developing in large scale emerging markets.

    CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

    Over two series (alphabetical company order): 

    .          Allen Lew, Chairman, AIS

    ·         Somchai Lerstutiwong, CEO, AIS

    ·         Mike Hopkins, SEVP, Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios 

    ·         Henry Tan, Group CEO, Astro

    ·         Nicholas Swierzy, Group Chief Strategy Officer, Axiata

    ·         Sunil Taldar, MD, Bharti Airtel DTH India 

    ·         Kishore Moorjani, Senior MD, Blackstone Group 

    ·         Kevin Mayer, CEO, TikTokand COO, ByteDance

    ·         Manuel Rougeron, EVP, APAC, Canal+

    ·         Peter Chernin, Founder and CEO, Chernin Entertainment

    ·         Jean-Briac (JB)Perrette, President and CEO, Discovery Networks International

    ·         Alvin Sariaatjama, CEO, Emtek

    ·         Ajit Mohan, CEO, Facebook India

    ·         Scott Lorson, CEO, Fetch TV

    ·         Patrick Delany, CEO, Foxtel

    ·         Ernest Cu, President, Globe Telecom

    ·         Ashutosh Srivastava, CEO, APAC, GroupM

    ·         Gong Yu, CEO, iQiyi

    ·         Xianghua Yang, SVP, iQiyiand President, Overseas Business Group, iQiyi

    ·         Joy Lee, CEO, Kakao Page 

    ·         Andy Kaplan, Co-Founder, KC Global Media Entertainment

    ·         Jae-Ho Song, EVP, Korea Telecom

    ·         Johannes Larcher, MD, Digital and VOD Websites, MBC

    ·         HaryTanoesoedibjo, CEO, MNC Group 

    ·         Michael Nathanson, Partner, Moffett Nathanson 

    ·         Vivek Couto, Executive Director and Co-Founder, MPA

    ·         Andre Kudelski, Chairman and CEO, Nagra

    ·         Juliet Dongwha Kim, Director, Business Development (Korea), Netflix

    ·         Hugh Marks, CEO, Nine Entertainment 

    ·         Patrick Tillieux, CEO, OSN

    ·         Janice Lee, MD, PCCW Media 

    ·         Alfred S. Panlilio, CEO, Smart and Chief Revenue Officer, PLDT

    ·         Joseph Ravitch, Co-Founder and Partner, Raine 

    ·         Arthur Lang, CEO, International, Singtel 

    ·         Jared Grusd, Chief Strategy Officer, Snap 

    ·         Nana Murugesan, MD, International Markets, Snap

    ·         Joonpyo (JP) Lee, CEO and Managing Partner, Softbank Asia Ventures

    ·         Soo Hugh, Executive Producer and Writer

    ·         Peter Kaliaropoulos, CEO, StarHub 

    ·         Maaz Sheikh, CEO and Co-Founder, Starz Play Arabia

    ·         Jinhee Choi, CEO, Studio Dragon 

    ·         Hyun Park, MD, Studio Dragon International

    ·         Abe Peled, Chairman, Synamedia

    ·         Jamie Lin, President, Taiwan Mobile

    ·         Harit Nagpal, CEO, Tata Sky 

    ·         Dan Brody, MD, International, Tencent Investments

    ·         David Goldstein, CEO, Towers AP

    ·         Afshin Mohebbi, Senior Advisor, TPG     

    ·         Robert Bakish, President and CEO, ViacomCBS 

    ·         David Lynn, President and CEO, ViacomCBS Networks International

    ·         Nancy Dubuc, CEO, Vice Media

    ·         Uday Shankar, President, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star and Disney India 

    ·         Gerhard Zeiler, CRO, WarnerMediaand President, WarnerMediaInternational Networks

    ·         Stephanie McMahon, CMO, WWE

    ·         Punit Goenka, CEO, Zee Entertainment

  • Malaysia-based Astro woos Tamil diaspora with more HD content

    Malaysia-based Astro woos Tamil diaspora with more HD content

    MUMBAI: Malaysia-based Astro has added more Tamil HD content on the platform including Zee Tamil HD, Star Vijay HD, Colors Tamil HD. The Chakravarthy Pack will be offering premium content to over 300,000 Tamil households in Malaysia.

    Astro Indian channel business vice president Marc Lourdes said, “As we continue to offer customers relevant, high-quality entertainment, we are excited to introduce more HD content from 1 June. Astro Vaanavil HD (CH 201) will offer Astro and NJOI customers a better viewing experience along with new series – Tamiletchumy and Nalam Ariya Aaval, as well as more local Tamil movies, telemovies, short films, and, local Malayalam and Telugu dramas are in the pipeline.”

    “Fans of legendary superstar Rajinikanth will be able to enjoy seventy of his movies in celebration of his 70th birthday this year, ranging from his first movie Apoorva Raagangal to the latest release this year Darbar on Rajini70 HD (CH 100), a pop-up channel from 1 to 30 June.  Zee Tamil HD (CH 235), one of India’s most popular channels, will also be available on the Chakravarthy Pack,” Lourdes added.

    Chakravarthy Pack customers can enjoy more HD content with Zee Tamil HD in addition to Star Vijay HD and Colors Tamil HD which will offer premium shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs S2 and Comedy Gangsters; inspiring talk show, Tamizha Tamizha; variety shows including cooking show, Anjarai Petti; exciting game shows Genes S9 and Super Mom S2; and special effects-laden epics, as well as dramas including Sri Vishnu Dasavatharam, Rettai Roja and Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari. In light of the recent upgrade of Chakravarthy Pack to HD, SD channels i.e. Raj TV, Jaya TV and Kalaignar TV will no longer be available on the pack.

    “It’s good to be back in Malaysia. Even better is launching our leading Tamil channel Zee Tamil on Malaysia’s leading content provider Astro. We are excited to bring the best of Tamil entertainment to the local market. Hopefully this is going to be the first of many endeavours in Malaysia,” Zee Network APAC executive vice president Tripta Singh commented. 

  • Sports media revenues to grow at 7 per cent CAGR IN 11 APAC markets over 2019-2024 to reach $7.2 bn

    Sports media revenues to grow at 7 per cent CAGR IN 11 APAC markets over 2019-2024 to reach $7.2 bn

    MUMBAI: Sports rights costs across 11 Asia Pacific markets grew 2.4 per cent in 2019 to reach $5.5 billion. in aggregate while sports revenues across TV & online video increased 7.8 per cent in 2019 to reach $5.2 billion in total, according to a new report published today by Media Partners Asia (MPA). MPA projections indicate sports rights costs will grow 3.8 per cent CAGR between 2019-24 to reach $6.6 billion by 2024 while sports revenues in TV & online video will grow at a 6.7 per cent CAGR to reach $7.2 billion by 2024. The report, entitled ASIA PACIFIC SPORTS MEDIA 2020, tracks the growth trajectory of sports rights and TV & online video sports revenues across 11 markets in Asia Pacific with historical data & projections as well as analysis of key players & sports properties by geography.

    OTT accounted for 21 per cent of sports media revenue generation in 2019 in the 11 Asia Pacific markets. This is likely to almost double over the next five years to reach 40 per cent by 2024. Excluding China, OTT will account for 23 per cent of sports media monetisation in 2024 across the measured markets, up from 12 per cent in 2019. The MPA report notes: (1) Sports rights costs & revenues are seasonal and lumpy; major global events typically occur every 2-4 years and can either inflate or adversely impact sports economics on a year on year basis and (2) Global sporting events in 2020 (i.e. the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and UEFA Euro 2020) are a key driver of value in Asia Pacific markets but are subject to risk given the global spread of the coronavirus.

    Commenting on the key findings, MPA Senior Analyst Srivathsan AR said, “The market for premium sports remains relatively healthy in Asia Pacific, in spite of uneven structural dynamics and the corrosive impact of piracy. Sports rights investments in China, India, Australia and Japan are driven by a strong domestic sports ecosystem, supported by premium international rights for football, basketball and baseball. Rights costs in China are driven by growing appetite for domestic and international football as well as basketball. Growth momentum, strong between 2016-19, will stabilise post 2021-22. Cricket continues to drive more 85 per cent of India’s costs. Rationalising of pay-TV spends on domestic rights in Australia will affect the overall market in the future while domestic baseball and football will drive growth in Japan’s sports rights market. Greater Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, is dependent on growth in international football and basketball. Local football in markets such as Thailand, Indonesia and basketball in Philippines will continue to deliver additional growth.”

    MPA Executive Director Vivek Couto added: “A number of themes are emerging across the region. Investment in premium sports rights is often proving scalable and sustainable, when driven by: (1) Large scale internet players with pole position in a vast digital ecosystem, which helps subsidize investment in premium content (i.e. Tencent in China) or integrated pure play entertainment and sports OTTs with AVOD and SVOD business models (i.e. Hotstar in India and iQiyi in China); (2) Pay-TV operators investing to retain high-ARPU customers and grow a new OTT segment, anchored to product innovation with premium sports at the forefront (i.e. Foxtel, Sky Network TV, Astro and PCCW’s Now TV); and (3) Local & regional TV broadcasters that have a combination of mass reach and premium segmentation with branded sports networks (i.e. Star and Sony in India; select free TV players in Southeast Asia and regional pay network beIN Sports).”

    In 2019, football led the sports rights market across the 11 APAC territories with the Premier League topping the list of individual properties. The Premier League rights value is expected to moderate after 2022, particularly in China. Cricket is growing fast as Indian sports broadcasters continue to pay a premium for the IPL, the ICC and the India international (BCCI) rights. The IPL is the most valued domestic league in APAC currently. Cricket is growing its pie in Australia & New Zealand markets as well. Basketball is growing in demand regionally. Rugby World Cup 2019 drove Rugby’s share.

    China, India, Australia and Japan will contribute on average ~85 per cent to sports rights fees & sports media revenues over 2019-24. Greater Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, will average ~15 per cent over the 2019-24 period. In terms of sports revenues across TV & online video, Japan led in 2019 with a 27 per cent contribution; by 2024, China will lead with a 33 per cent contribution.

  • Synamedia makes CES debut, offering pay-TV providers frictionless cloud migration strategies, new revenue opportunities

    Synamedia makes CES debut, offering pay-TV providers frictionless cloud migration strategies, new revenue opportunities

    LONDON : Synamedia, the largest independent video software provider, will bring its newest solutions to CES® 2019, illustrating how pay-TV providers can migrate to the cloud at their own pace, and seamlessly.  The company also unveiled new security software that combats the rapid rise in account sharing between friends and families, turning it instead into a new revenue-generating opportunity for operators.

    Synamedia is bringing to market effective solutions built to support customers wherever they are on their journey to deliver a blended broadcast and OTT multi-screen experience. Now an independent business, the company is committed to providing the world’s most complete, secure and advanced end-to-end open video delivery solutions.  Synamedia was formerly Cisco’s (NASDAQ: CSCO) Service Provider Video Software Solutions business. Its enviable portfolio of over 200 pay-TV and media customers includes Astro, Bharti Airtel, China DTH, Foxtel, Oi and Tata Sky.

    At the core of the Synamedia offerings is Foundation (formerly known as Evo), the pay-TV industry’s most widely deployed platform across cable, satellite and IPTV. Additionally, Infinite allows blended broadcast-OTT services to be delivered from a cloud-based infrastructure. With a clearly defined migration roadmap, pay-TV customers using the Foundation hybrid broadcast platform can now deploy Infinite to embark on a smooth and measured transition to the cloud.

    At CES 2019, Synamedia will showcase its leading technologies and latest offerings, including:

    •        Credentials Sharing Insight is a new offering within the video security portfolio. It uses AI, machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify, monitor and analyze credentials sharing activity across consumer accounts. It allows operators to turn casual sharing into incremental revenue, as well as detect and apply enforcement procedures on fraudulent, for-profit credentials sharing accounts.

    •        Video Processing features Synamedia’s patented low-latency ABR and Smart Rate Control that optimize IP video processing to match traditional broadcast quality, reliability and cost – currently major challenges for IP video streaming. Synamedia’s ABR solution uses patented technology to optimize the perceived quality of live streams. It includes machine learning techniques to further adapt the encoding quality target to match content characteristics.   

    •        Foundation which manages and monetizes in-home experiences on a broad range of broadcast and hybrid-IP set top boxes (STBs) and media gateways including Android TV. Deployed by 40+ pay-TV operators, it offers a smooth migration path to Infinite and the cloud.  A prime example of the power of Foundation is a first-of-a-kind integration of the Netflix application on the OSN Network. This integration enables:

    o   Consumers to gain convenient access to OTT content via a single application;
    o   The OTT provider obtains access to the pay-TV service provider market and the existing billing/payment relationship between the customer and pay-TV provider;
    o   The pay-TV operator continues to bring value to consumers via a familiar application, and can generate additional revenues when new subscribers sign up for OTT via their platform.

    •    Infinite is a fully integrated cloud service platform for pay-TV operators to process, secure, distribute and monetize premium video experiences on all devices including those available via Foundation.  Infinite enables operators to take advantage of the cloud economy and re-capture subscriber share of wallet by offering products, such as Cloud DVR, that leverage new business models and OTT partnerships. It is designed to help operators attract new customers, reconnect cord cutters, and increase the life-time value of a subscriber base.  At CES, Synamedia will showcase a joint demo with Amazon Web Services (NASDAQ: AMZN), using Alexa technology integrated into Infinite in order to provide consumers with voice activated recommendations and content information.

    “More and more of the consumer’s share of the video wallet expands beyond traditional pay-TV, pointing operators to the enormous OTT opportunity. To protect and grow new revenue streams and boost their brand value, operators need to broaden and deepen existing subscriber engagement, and entice new audiences. To do so, the sometimes difficult first steps for many are to add integrated OTT services and avail offerings across all consumer devices, which can seem overwhelming. Our roadmap takes a step-by-step approach that makes it easy to extend operators’ existing offerings and avoid any disruption to subscribers,” said Yves Padrines, CEO of Synamedia.

    Synamedia will be in Chambertin 1 on the ground floor of the Wynn hotel.

    Synamedia’s voice recommendation technology will also be shown in the Amazon booth, Venetian Ballrooms C-D.  

  • Hooq appoints OTT veteran for Singapore business

    Hooq appoints OTT veteran for Singapore business

    MUMBAI: Soon after its successful launch in Singapore on 24 November with a catalogue of 20,000 shows and movies, video on demand streaming service Hooq is completely focused on strengthening its footprints. It has appointed a country manager for Singapore, OTT industry veteran Michael D’Oliveiro.

    D’Oliveiro will be responsible for managing the market and will focus on expansion through customer acquisition, retention, and key partnerships.

    Hooq CEO Peter Bithos is delighted about the new appointment and strongly believes that D’Oliveiro, with over 18 years of diverse experience in the broadcast and telecommunications industry, will uncover new business opportunities in Singapore.

    Singapore-born D’Oliveiro developed, launched and managed Telstra’s first business-to-business portfolio of online video products for use outside of Australia. He held global profit-and-loss responsibilities working with customers from the UK to Australia and Singapore.

    D’Oliveiro was also a part of the core consumer product management team at Malaysian pay-TV company Astro, where he helped develop and manage its early OTT products.

  • Hooq appoints OTT veteran for Singapore business

    Hooq appoints OTT veteran for Singapore business

    MUMBAI: Soon after its successful launch in Singapore on 24 November with a catalogue of 20,000 shows and movies, video on demand streaming service Hooq is completely focused on strengthening its footprints. It has appointed a country manager for Singapore, OTT industry veteran Michael D’Oliveiro.

    D’Oliveiro will be responsible for managing the market and will focus on expansion through customer acquisition, retention, and key partnerships.

    Hooq CEO Peter Bithos is delighted about the new appointment and strongly believes that D’Oliveiro, with over 18 years of diverse experience in the broadcast and telecommunications industry, will uncover new business opportunities in Singapore.

    Singapore-born D’Oliveiro developed, launched and managed Telstra’s first business-to-business portfolio of online video products for use outside of Australia. He held global profit-and-loss responsibilities working with customers from the UK to Australia and Singapore.

    D’Oliveiro was also a part of the core consumer product management team at Malaysian pay-TV company Astro, where he helped develop and manage its early OTT products.

  • India’s active DTH subscriber base to reach 75 million by 2023: MPA

    India’s active DTH subscriber base to reach 75 million by 2023: MPA

    MUMBAI: Even as India continues to remain the most important market for DTH pay-TV in Asia Pacific, active direct to home (DTH) subscribers in the country are projected to touch 75 million by 2023 from 41 million in 2014.

     

    The increase in contribution from high-ARPU (average revenue per user) HD subscribers, upselling of SD subscribers to high-value packs, and a higher uptake of VAS, will bolster industry economics in India, as per a report by Media Partners Asia (MPA).

     

    Additionally, total Asia Pacific DTH pay-TV subscribers grew nine per cent in 2014 to more than 61 million in 2014 while industry revenue grew five per cent to top $9 billion, according to the MPA research.

     

    While India, Malaysia and the Philippines continue to remain strong DTH markets, Indonesia, Korea and Japan are coming under increased pressure.

     

    MPA projections indicate that total Asia Pacific DTH industry pay-TV revenue will grow at seven per cent CAGR to $12.5 billion by 2019 and thereafter grow to reach $15 billion by 2023, with significant upside coming from HD and VoD-driven value added services (VAS).

     

    DTH’s share of total pay-TV subscribers in Asia Pacific will grow from 12 per cent to 22 per cent over the next 10 years. In recent years, DTH has experienced a significant phase of growth in Asia, driven by the expansion of DTH pay-TV in India, Southeast Asia and Korea. However, the growth of broadband, IPTV and OTT is placing a natural limit on future growth while macro concerns and aggressive competition are also challenging.

     

    The Philippines has also emerged as a strong market for DTH growth in recent years, driven by Cignal and Gsat. Total DTH pay-TV subs reached 1.06 million in 2014 and will rise 3x over the next decade with future upside coming from significant HD growth and package upselling, which will help boost ARPUs.

     

    DTH will also play an important role in the growth of pay-TV in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam but its growth remains capped in markets such as Indonesia and Thailand. However, in Indonesia there could be significantly more upside if leading operators convert the existing free satellite market to pay-TV (starting with a low cost offer) and programme more premium local pay channels.

     

    In Malaysia, DTH will retain a dominant chunk of the pay-TV market, driven by Astro through HD and DVR services as well as VoD and the emergence of premium vernacular and Asian content, exclusive to the Astro DTH platform.