Tag: StarHub

StarHub launches IPTV on Fibre service

MUMBAI: Singaporean pay TV operator StarHub TV commercial customers will get to enjoy a new TV viewing experience with the launch of StarHub TV on Fibre on 18 March.

An Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) pay TV service, StarHub TV on Fibre offers businesses access to crystal clear high-definition content and over three times as many TV channels as the existing Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) platform. The service will be initially available only to commercial customers such as offices, restaurants and pubs.

Delivered over the island-wide Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NGNBN), StarHub TV on Fibre will be able to reach current DTTV customers and beyond, effectively covering commercial customers all over Singapore. StarHub TV on Fibre customers will also enjoy prioritised, managed IPTV access as the service utilises discrete ports on the optical network terminal. With IPTV access independent of broadband activity, StarHub TV on Fibre promises a superior viewing experience in terms of picture quality, speed and navigation.

StarHub VP of home solutions Lin Shu Fen said, “While DTTV has served our commercial customers well, we have capitalised on the NGNBN roll-out to provide an even better service to this segment of customers. StarHub TV on Fibre marks an important milestone in our pay TV business. Compared to DTTV, we can offer our commercial customers a significantly improved breadth and depth of content, delivered with the assurance of our trademark reliability.

“We expect the new user interface to provide our customers with a smoother and seamless journey when interacting with the content. In addition, it will bring a new level of interactivity and personalisation to TV viewing with features such as Facebook profile integration and the ability to set unique user accounts. We will have over 100 TV channels at launch and we are constantly working with content providers to bring more channels to the service.”

StarHub TV on Fibre commercial customers will have access to viewing options currently unavailable to DTTV customers. In addition to DTTV mainstays such as BBC World News, Bloomberg Television and CNN, new channels introduced include kids, entertainment, education and sports genres like Cartoon Network, Diva Universal, History and NBA TV; and high-definition options such as Fox HD, Sports HD, Discovery HD World, National Geographic Channel HD and Nat Geo Wild HD.

Making use of IPTV‘s two-way network, StarHub TV on Fibre‘s interactive features include Facebook profile integration, user account log-ins, an aggregated user rating system and informative apps such as the Singapore Exchange, Yahoo! News and Weather which are especially useful to corporate clients.

March 15, 2013
StarHub launches ‘Anytime TV’ service for its broadband customers

MUMBAI: StarHub has said that it will offer a new pay-as-you-watch cable TV plan exclusively to its home broadband customers who presently do not have a StarHub TV subscription.

Called ‘Anytime TV’, this new plan will allow customers to access StarHub TV’s on-demand library of more than 6,500 TV shows and movies as well as 12 complimentary cable TV channels.

“Most of our broadband customers today have our cable TV service. However, we recognise that there is a segment of customers who would prefer a more flexible, pay-as-you-watch cable TV service as they may not want to commit to a monthly subscription,” said Iris Wee, Vice President of Home Solutions & Content, StarHub.

“Our cable TV customers today enjoy access to more than 6,500 on-demand titles. We therefore thought that it would be great to extend our catalogue of on-demand content to this customer segment as well. Anytime TV will offer subscribers the flexibility to pay for what they want to watch at a time convenient to them, from as low as $1.07 per title.”

Anytime TV subscribers can catch the latest movie blockbusters and TVB dramas as early as a month after their DVD release or premiere in Hong Kong respectively. Popular Malay movies can be purchased as early as two weeks after their Malaysia box-office debut.

During this holiday season, Hollywood movie fans can look forward to box-office hits in High Definition (HD), such as The Amazing Spider-Man and The Bourne Legacy.

StarHub is also working with long-time content partner TVB to bring in popular TVB dramas, such as Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles and The Confidant. For added value, StarHub offers Anytime TV subscribers 10 per cent off StarHub TV’s Video-On-Demand titles and KaraOK! Day Pass.

Besides its on-demand video store, Anytime TV subscribers will get complimentary access to StarHub TV’s FreeView service comprising 12 StarHub TV channels, including Bloomberg Television, E City and SuperSports Arena.

By end-2012, StarHub will bring the total number of complimentary channels to 14 with the launch of ESPNews (Channel 207) and China Business Network (Channel 809). This new plan more than doubles the number of TV channels for customers who presently only watch free-to-air TV. StarHub‘s more than half a million cable TV customers are already enjoying this FreeView service.

Starting tomorrow, StarHub’s home broadband customers who wish to enjoy Anytime TV can call 1630 or visit any StarHub Shop or authorised dealer to rent a set-top box. The set-top box rental fee starts from $6.42 per month for the HD Interactive set-top box, to $14.98 per month for customers who wish to record and watch their favourite TV shows on HubStation HD.

December 10, 2012
StarHub in multi-platform deal with ESS

MUMBAI: Singapore telecom operator StarHub has signed a multi-platform deal with ESPN Star Sports (ESS) to carry its portfolio of multi-media assets including television, broadband, and mobile services on a non-exclusive basis.

StarHub is a full-fledged telecommunications company providing a range of services over mobile, internet and fixed platforms in Singapore.

The deal comprises six ESPN Star Sports channels, which brings the number of dedicated sports channels on StarHub TV to 22; the broadband video player ESPN Player; and the live streaming mobile service, Mobile ESPN.

The channels and ESPN Player will be launched on StarHub TV on 14 December while Mobile ESPN will be introduced on StarHub’s Mobile platform later in December.

Sports fans can look forward to a comprehensive line-up of sports coverage on ESPN, Star Sports, the high-definition 24-hour sports channel ESPN HD, the 24-7 sports news channel ESPNews and premium cricket channels in Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD.

Customers will also be able to access ESPN Player via StarHub’s Internet TV service, TV Anywhere. Mobile ESPN apps for iPad, iPhone and Android devices will be launched soon, allowing Singapore sports fans Anywhere, Anytime access to their favourite sports.

“We are excited to welcome ESPN Star Sports back to our sports content line-up. Combined with our current spread of sports channels, viewers can now look forward to the widest range of sports programming, including all the tennis and golf majors, on our trusted network. Customers can also take advantage of our TV Anywhere service to savour exciting ‘live’ sports coverage on their personal devices on their personal devices. By delivering a comprehensive range of sports content across multiple platforms, we are confident that customers will have the finest sports viewing experience possible,” said StarHub Head of Marketing & Products Chan Kin Hung.

ESS features sports content that includes exciting football properties (the Spanish La Liga BBVA, Asian Football Confederation events); motor-racing (Formula One, SBK, MotoGP, Nascar, Dakar Rally); Grand Slam tennis (Wimbledon, Australian Open); events from the WTA Tour and ATP World and the Hopman Cup, the Golf Majors (The Masters, US Open and The Open Championship) as well as the PGA Grand Slam of Golf; popular American sports (Major League Baseball, NCAA College Football and Basketball), premier Asian sports (Asean Basketball League, OneAsia golf tournaments, HSBC Asian Five Nations); and top cricket properties (ICC events, Champions League Twenty20, international and domestic cricket from the BCCI, Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board).

“We‘re very happy to be able to offer the full range of our programming to the widest possible audience in Singapore and to return back to StarHub after two-and-a-half years away with a new long term agreement,” said ESS MD Peter Hutton.

ESPNEWS will be a complimentary channel available to all StarHub TV customers at no additional cost. With the addition of ESPN, Star Sports and ESPN HD to the Sports Group, the subscription to the Sports Group will be revised to $19.26 per month (with GST), effective from 15 January.

The Sports Group subscription includes access to ESPN Player and other sports channels such as Racquet Channel, Football Channel, SuperSports, SuperSports Arena and Setanta Sports via TV Anywhere. Currently available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, Mobile ESPN will be added to StarHub’s Gee! portal later this month. Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD will be available on the Cricket Group, which is unchanged at $32.10 per month (with GST).

December 3, 2012
[V] to be largest pay-TV music service provider in S’pore

MUMBAI: Channel [V] is set to expand its music offering in Singapore with the addition of two Chinese music services – Channel [V] Taiwan and Channel [V] Mainland China – on StarHub Digital Cable on 1 February.

With this, [V] will become Singapore’s largest pay-TV music service provider with three music channels: Channel [V] Taiwan, Channel [V] Mainland China and Channel [V] International, which was launched on StarHub last November.

Catering to the increasing demand for quality Chinese music, youth and lifestyle programmes in the Singapore market, Channel [V] Taiwan and Channel [V] Mainland China will be available on StarHub Digital Cable’s Chinese Plus II package.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with StarHub by launching Channel [V] Taiwan and Channel [V] Mainland China on the platform,” said Star executive vice president content, Ross Crowley. “It underscores our commitment to bringing more exciting entertainment choice for viewers across the region. Starting from tomorrow, Singapore viewers will be able to tune in to the hottest Chinese music events and most talked-about youth and lifestyle programmes that have been thrilling audiences in Taiwan and mainland China.”

February 1, 2007
StarHub, Visiware to bring triple play gaming to Asia

MUMBAI: Singapore based pay-TV operator StarHub and French company Visiware, provider of interactive TV games channels, announced the launch of Playin’TV Triple Play -the first triple-play gaming offer in Asia that will be made available to customers of StarHub from 1 February 2007.

Games like Sudoku or Carrot Mania on Ice are some of the interactive games that customers can subscribe to through StarHub’s mobile platform and the Internet for free due to Visiware’s Playin’Code technology.

This means that they will be able to enjoy the games anytime, anywhere, on any of StarHub’s media platforms -TV, mobile and online. They can pick up from where they ended a game, without having to start from scratch. The company is also exploring ways to enhance the Playin’TV service by incorporating contests, real-time leaderboards and multiplayer games that will allow gamers to pit their skills against other players.

StarHub vice president Cable TV services Patrick Lim said, “StarHub’s advantage as a fully integrated information, communications and entertainment provider is its ability to offer customers access to a converged suite of services across different product lines. We have consistently worked to incorporate new technologies that allow us to present our customers more breadth and depth in content applications, and Playin’TV Triple Play is an example of the fruit of such efforts. Customers can certainly expect more of such innovations from StarHub.”

“We are delighted that Playin’TV Triple Play is now making its entry into the Asian market. StarHub’s efficient and advanced network provides us with the opportunity to effectively deploy true triple-play content, to allow fans of Playin’TV to enjoy the games even when they’re on-the-go,” said Visiware executive chairman Laurant Weill.

Playin’TV, a 24-hour interactive games channel, was launched on StarHub Digital Cable in August last year.

January 25, 2007
StarHub launches HDTV in Singapore

MUMBAI: Singapore, through pay TV platform StarHub, is the first country in Southeast Asia to launch High Definition Television (HDTV).

This launch follows StarHub’s successful HDTV trial that kicked off with the 2006 Fifa World Cup on 10 June 2006 and ended at the close of the year. During this trial, 1000 StarHub Digital Cable customers enjoyed all 64 World Cup matches as well as quality programmes from Discovery and National Geographic Channel in full high-definition (HD) splendour.

With HDTV, StarHub says that viewers can expect up to four times greater picture clarity. The 16:9 screen ratio will also provide a panoramic view that can be up to 33 per cent more than what they can enjoy on the standard 4:3 TV screen. As many HD programmes contain Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, viewers with a Dolby Digital Home Theatre system can also be treated to superior audio quality, not unlike the quality available at the cinemas.

In addition to an enhanced audio and visual experience, customers using the HD set-top box will also enjoy all innovative features that users of StarHub’s digital set-top box currently have access to. These include the Onscreen TV Guide, Programme Alert, Auto-Tune, Video Mosaic, Info Bar, Quick Surf, Chat, access to Demand TV and complimentary FunZone games.

StarHub president and CEO Terry Clontz says, “We are very excited about our HDTV launch, and are proud that we are the first operator in Southeast Asia to introduce the service.

“StarHub is constantly enhancing its customers’ TV viewing experience. Our introductions of Digital Cable in 2004, Demand TV in 2005 and Smart TV in 2006 are examples of how we give customers more control over what they watch, and when they watch their favourite programmes. And who knows, maybe someday we can even give customers choice on where they can view their favourite programmes too. ”

With StarHub’s launch of its HDTV service, a new content group named “HD Plus” will be introduced. HD Plus, with a subscription fee of $15 comprises two new HD channels – Discovery HD and National Geographic Channel (NGC) HD.

Clontz adds, “Discovery and National Geographic Channel are longtime content partners of StarHub, and both are very well-known for their production of high-quality programmes. We know that our customers will be delighted with the quality of the content, and with the superior viewing experience that HDTV brings.”

Discovery HD Channel showcases on the channel include science, world culture, natural history, wildlife, engineering, travel and lifestyle.

Discovery Asia MD, executive VP Tom Keaveny says, “Discovery is once again happy to be pioneering HD. We were the first international HD channel to launch in Japan in 2005, and with this launch in Singapore, Discovery HD is now available in 15 international markets and over nine million households. Discovery is committed to providing our viewers with the highest quality content available and Discovery HD will deliver an audio and visual experience that is richer, deeper and more expansive than ever before”.

NGC HD takes viewers into the heart of the action from science, the modern world and investigations to lost cultures and natural history, National Geographic Channel in high definition will bring viewers unique insights, groundbreaking new findings and unforgettable television experience.

NGC International executive VP, group MD– Asia PacificWard Platt said, “Today is a heartwarming moment as we witness the launch of the brand new National Geographic Channel HD in Singapore. We congratulate Singapore and StarHub for being the most innovative country and the first operator in Southeast Asia to launch a commercial high-definition television service. Singapore viewers can now truly enjoy National Geographic Channel’s unsurpassed quality programming and compelling stories in stunning visuals and cinematic surround sound.”

Consumers must subscribe to a minimum of three Basic Groups and HD Plus, and own StarHub’s HD set-top box and a HD-ready TV set in order to enjoy StarHub’s new HDTV service.

January 20, 2007
BBC Entertainment enters Malaysia on Astro

MUMBAI: India may still remain a significant absentee but Malaysia has just been added to the list of countries beaming BBC Entertainment.

An official communique announced the launch of BBC Entertainment on Malaysia’s dominant Astro direct-to-home (DTH) platform. The BBC-branded general entertainment channel reportedly started beaming on Astro (Channel 26) as of 28 December, 2006.

BBC Entertainment’s line up of British shows include Doctor Who, Footballers’ Wives, Waking the Dead and comedies like Extras, Suburban Shootout and My Family.

BBC Global Channels Asia, the part of BBC Worldwide that handles the roll-out of the Corporation’s recently relaunched package of international channels, first launched BBC Entertainment in Asia, replacing BBC Prime on StarHub in Singapore, UBC in Thailand, Skylife in South Korea and Now TV in Hong Kong on 8 October, 2006.

“We are delighted to be part of the Astro platform and to be reaching new viewers in Malaysia,” Christine Leo-McKerrow, BBC’s SVP of global channels for Asia has been quoted as saying. “BBC Entertainment has had a great reception from both critics and viewers around the region, and we are sure viewers in Malaysia will respond in the same way.”

The launches are part of a global rollout of four new TV channels that will include preschoolers’ channel CBeebies and BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle. The plan is that all four channels will be broadcast across all media: linear TV, VoD, mobile and online.

NO WORD STILL OF INDIA LAUNCH TIMELINES
In India meanwhile, there is no official word yet on the launch status of BBC Entertainment, as too CBeebies, which according to the announcement made in early September, are the two channels that will be making their entry in the country in the first phase.

Present indications though are that the BBC is looking at an April-May launch window. The man in charge of operations here is creative head content and production India Saul Nasse.

The BBC is looking at further rollouts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East in the course of the year, replacing BBC Prime in these markets.

January 9, 2007
BBC Entertainment enters Malaysia on DTH platform Astro

MUMBAI: BBC Global Channels Asia has announced that Astro, Malaysia’s direct-to-home (DTH) satellite TV platform will add BBC Entertainment to its pay-TV line-up.

Astro will now be home to BBC Entertainment’s line up of drama, comedy and entertainment programming from the UK. These will include Doctor Who, Footballers’ Wives, Waking the Dead and comedies including Extras, Suburban Shootout and My Family.

The channel will replace BBC Prime that was aired on several Asian platforms, BBC Entertainment was launched last October in Hong Kong (via NOW), Thailand (UBC), Korea (Skylife) and Singapore (StarHub).

January 9, 2007
EPL rights for India territory expected to be decided Tuesday; ESS loses ground in Asia

MUMBAI: The rights for a key sports property English Premier League (EPL) are in the process of being decided.

While the decision for India is expected tomorrow, the rights for some other key Asian countries have been announced. With a new entrant coming in this year (Nimbus’ channel Neo Sports Plus) and Zee Sports pushing soccer through its tie-up with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), one can expect the process to be competitive for India.

Nimbus Sport, Ten Sports and Zee Sports have all made bids for the Indian subcontinent. Geo TV has bid for Pakistan. ESPN Star Sports (ESS) had made a pan Asian bid. Yes TV which is owned by Malysian firm Astro, had also made a pan Asian bid.

Meanwhile, ESS which is the incumbent in India, is having a difficult time of it as far as Asia is concerned. Singapore pay TV operator Starhub has announced that it has won the exclusive rights to air EPL matches in the state.

Arch rival Singtel had also bid for the rights. Earlier it had been announced that Hong Kong’s PCCW had won the EPL rights for that city. The matches will air on PCCW’s internet and pay-television unit Now Broadband, which outbid i-Cable Communications to get the rights.

Information available with Indiantelevision.com indicates in addition to Singapore, ESS has also not managed to retain the rights for China and Thailand. They had to raise their bid quite a bit to retain the rights for Malaysia and Indonesia. An industry source believes that ESS will particularly feel the loss in Thailand but Singapore, with its substantial expat population that keenly follows soccer might also hurt.

Thailand had at least five bidders with UBC winning, ESS had to outbid eight parties to retain the rights for Malaysia. In Japan, Yes TV won. In China Guangdong Soccer channel won and there were reportedly six bids, Sources indicate that ESS has managed to get the rights for smaller territories like Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei.

Meanwhile, media reports indicate that sports fans are hoping for better programming and moderate price increases from StarHub. It has EPL rights for the next three seasons starting from next year. This will help StarHub maintain its vice like grip on the pay TV market in Singapore.

In a statement, StarHub says that it also has the rights to distribute EPL through broadband Internet and cellphone networks in Singapore. StarHub is now looking at delivering a more enhanced experience for socer fans.

November 27, 2006
StarHub spices up as Fashion TV hits the runway

MUMBAI: Singaporean pay-TV operator, StarHub will launch Fashion TV – the international channel dedicated to fashion, beauty and style – on StarHub Digital Cable. The channel will make its debut on 13 November 2006.

The info-communication company had recently launched a slew of new channels on its digital platform, including Star Chinese Channel, Vihay TV, Sky News, Channel [V] International, Foxcrime, Boomerang and National Geographic Wild.

Fashion TV will be made available on the Digital-only Add-on Tier, and customers with a digital or DVR set-top box will be able to enjoy Fashion TV for a monthly subscription of $8 ($8.40 with GST), which includes the complimentary use of their first digital set-top box.

StarHub VP cable TV services Patrick Lim says, “The customers we serve have a diverse spectrum of interests, and we aim to meet the needs and desires of all of them by offering a more comprehensive range of channels. This is certainly something local consumers can continue to expect from us.

“While there are many excellent fashion publications available in Singapore, we believe that a market exists for a global fashion channel that combines music and stunning visuals to offer viewers the ultimate fashion experience. Fashion TV brings the ritz, glamour and excitement of fashion shows ‘live’ to audiences.”

Fashion TV CEO and president Michel Adam Lisowski says, “As the definitive fashion channel, Fashion TV has been very well received in Asia, and we are confident that the refreshing, uniquely sophisticated content on the channel will not only win over keen fashion buffs, but also the general Singapore audience who appreciates beauty and style.”

Fashion TV is the fashionista’s ticket to all the hottest fashion events around the globe. From the catwalks of New York, Paris, Milan and London, to glamourous red carpet events – Fashion TV is there on the front lines, poised to present up-to-the-minute news on every aspect of the fashion industry.

Shows like Fashion Week and Fashion Event deliver the world of international fashion home to viewers, while Midnight Hot – one of the most popular segments on Fashion TV, serves up a visual feast for viewers at midnight, as the world’s top supermodels parade in the season’s trendiest lingerie and bikini outfits.

Fashion TV also celebrates the personalities who make it all happen in the cutting-edge world of fashion. The designers and photographers featurettes give viewers an in-depth look at the creative process behind the work of designers, stylists and photographers who inspire the latest trends, while “First Face” and “F People” give the low down on the lifestyles of models and celebrities who dictate what’s in and what’s not in the fickle fashion scene.

Fashion TV also has the latest tips and fashion finds – all that the fashion and beauty fan needs to hit the streets. Viewers will receive expert tips to revamp their wardrobe and makeup via programmes like Hair and Make-up, Now in Stores and Tendances. Hair and Make-up reveals the beauty secrets behind the most dazzling hairstyles and makeup; Now in Stores highlight one’s shopping spree must-haves; while Tendances showcases the season’s most coveted accessories.

The channel’s Fashion and Film and Fashion and Music programmes take viewers behind-the-scenes of the latest films and music videos, and give them an exclusive glimpse of the elaborate makeup, styling and costume designing that takes place on the set of upcoming movies and music videos.

This month Fashion TV profiles acclaimed designer, Roberto Cavalli, who started with humble beginnings in the late 60’s when he created his own fashion line inspired by art made from patchwork of different fabrics. He had his first taste of fame in the mid-90’s when his new line of clothing drew a celebrity clientele that included Madonna and Kate Moss. Cavalli was chosen as the favorite menswear label in Florence in 2002, and Cavalli was picked by Fashion Group International as Designer of the Year. Check out Cavalli’s latest inspirations on Fashion TV this November.

Come December, Fashion TV will present the latest spring/summer 2007 fashion looks ‘live’ from shows in all the fashion capitals around the world. Book a spot next to the catwalk by tuning in to Fashion TV!

Viewers can refer to the On-screen TV Guide or StarHub’s Online Programme Guide at www.starhub.com/cabletv for the schedule of the programmes on Fashion TV, and customers can call 1630 or 1633 to subscribe to the channel from 13 November 2006 onwards.

November 8, 2006