Deals announced at China Showcase in Beijing

Beijing, 22 August 2014… BBC Worldwide yesterday announced the sale of 300 hours of programmes to four key clients in China.

The announcement was made at the fourth annual China Showcase in Beijing. The event saw BBC Worldwide unveil hundreds of new programme offerings from a variety of genres to over 100 industry partners in the country. It also serves as a forum to exchange ideas for future collaborations.
The deals consist predominately of natural history and factual titles including David Beckham: Into the Unknown, the latest documentary from the international icon featuring Beckham and three of his closest friends who travel to Brazil in a once in a lifetime experience; Museum Secrets where viewers are invited on a journey into the innards of the world’s most extraordinary museums to discover dark and strange secrets behind some of the artefacts; and Horizon, the long-running BBC popular science documentary programme.

The deals signed with Shanghai Media Group ICS, CCTV, DOXTV, and Wingsmedia just before China Showcase will see programmes aired on the various broadcasters’ platforms.

“These deals reinforce the relationships with several of our key partners in China. For many years, we have provided them with quality content that their viewers demand. These 300 hours of programmes further cement our relationship with them,” said Pierre Cheung, VP and GM, Greater China, BBC Worldwide.

At this year’s event Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Director of Children’s, and Jonny Keeling, Executive Producer at BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) and BBC NHU Children’s, shared insights into CBeebies and upcoming natural history programmes from the BBC. Senior executives, Paul Dempsey, President Global Markets, David Weiland, EVP Asia, and Pierre Cheung, VP and GM, Greater China were also on hand to share insights about BBC Worldwide as well as its business in Asia and China. And in a China Showcase first, close to 100 fans were treated to a Top Gear fashion show as well as special behind-the-scenes footage from original BBC series, Orphan Black and Sherlock.

“China is an important market for BBC Worldwide and is a key plank in the company’s strategy. Over the years, we have successfully partnered on several natural history co-productions. We’ve also worked with our partners to provide high quality content for their platforms. Over the last year, BBC Worldwide has invested more in original premium content, which is already delivering new series of premium drama and natural history programming like Sherlock and The Hunt. With these new opportunities in the pipeline, we look forward to many more successful partnerships in China, “said David Weiland, EVP Asia.

– Ends –

For more information, please contact:

Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com

Cassandra Wong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5295
Email: Cassandra.Wong@bbc.com

About BBC Worldwide
About BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.
In 2013/14, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £157.4m and headline sales of £1,042.3m and returned £173.8m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

bbcworldwide.com
twitter.com/bbcwpress

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 August 2014 – MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (“MEASAT”) announced today that the company had been recognized by the HR Asia Magazine as one of “Malaysia’s Best Employers, 2014″.

“It’s a great honour for MEASAT to be recognized by the HR Asia Magazine as one of Malaysia’s best employers,” said Paul Brown-Kenyon, Chief Executive Officer, MEASAT. “This award is testament to the continuous efforts made by our employees to inspire each other to live by our core values and jointly create a positive work environment.”

The HR Asia Magazine award is decided by a Selection Committee comprising an independent panel of industry experts based on the HR Asia Employee Input Survey Report and the HR Asia Workplace and Employee Engagement Survey.

About MEASAT

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to leading international broadcasters, Direct-To-Home (DTH) platforms and telecom operators. With capacity across five (5) communication satellites, the company provides satellite services to over 150 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia.

The MEASAT fleet includes the state-of-the-art MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a satellites at 91.5°E supporting Asia’s premium DTH and video distribution neighborhood; MEASAT-2 at 148.0°E; and, MEASAT-5 at 119.5°E. In Africa, the AFRICASAT-1a satellite at 46.0°E provides satellite capacity across the African continent with connectivity to Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. The MEASAT fleet will be further strengthened with the addition of MEASAT-3b in September 2014 and MEASAT-3c in H2 2015.

Leveraging facilities at the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre, and working with a select group of world-class partners, MEASAT also provides a complete range of broadcast and telecommunications solutions. Services include 3D, high definition and standard definition video playout, video turnaround, co-location, uplinking, broadband and IP termination services. For more information, please visit www.measat.com.

Contact
Ilham Bakti Adnan
+60 (3) 8213 2154 / ilham@measat.com

(Aug 21, 2014) According to ABI Research, most manufacturers saw similar sales, with a few notable exceptions. ARRIS came in a clear winner, growing about 60% year-over-year to $711 million (pro-forma based on the combined ARRIS-Motorola from the start of 2013). Cisco, however, was a clear loser, falling 30% to $332 million, while Humax saw substantial revenue growth of 30%.

Read more at Rapid TV News

Season 3 of The Paranormal Zone will begin filming in early 2015

Singapore, 21 August 2014 – Syfy, the destination for imagination-based entertainment; and Kechara Media & Publications Sdn. Bhd, a Malaysian production and publication house, have announced a thrilling co-production deal for The Paranormal Zone, Season 3. Having attained huge success in Malaysia, the reality-based documentary series is Syfy’s first-ever Asian co-production, and will begin filming in early 2015.

Hosted by Phng Li Kim, The Paranormal Zone brings a whole new insight – both mythical and scientific perspectives – to the unexplained phenomena lurking within Asia. The series venture beyond the usual spirits and haunted places such as, trances and curses; tarot card readers and spiritual healers; local myths and practiced rituals, all of which, bear the eccentricities and influences of the East.

“Syfy is all about science fiction, supernatural entertainment – it appeals to audiences here because there is no other channel focused on this fan base”, said Christine Fellowes, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, NBCUniversal Channels. “The Paranormal Zone is a perfect fit for our channel’s audience and we are committed to further expand this genre with local stories.”

Syfy continues to dominate the imagination-based genre, having recorded significant growth in viewership with strong overall performance in South East Asia during the first half of 2014. Earlier this month, the primetime encore of Sharknado 2: The Second One boosted the channel’s ranking to Number One out of 19 English GE/lifestyle channels in Singapore among Men 16+. It also ranked Number Two in the category among total viewers and Adults 16+.

The Paranormal Zone Season One premieres on Syfy Asia on 29 September at 10.25pm on Mondays. Seasons Two and Three will air on Syfy, sequentially.

-end-

About Universal Networks International

Universal Networks International, the international channels division of NBCUniversal, is one of the world’s premier entertainment portfolios, delivering quality content and compelling brands to over 176 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The brands in the portfolio include Universal Channel, Syfy, 13th Street, Studio Universal, E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network, DIVA Universal, Telemundo and Golf Channel. These unique brands deliver a full range of entertainment experiences to local audiences across the globe.

Universal Networks International also operates Movies 24. Further, NBCUniversal News Group, one of the most influential and respected portfolios of on-air and digital news properties in the world, operate CNBC and NBC News internationally.

Universal Networks International is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Syfy

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)

FOR PRESS ENQURIES, PLEASE CONTACT

SPRG (on behalf of UNI)
Yvonne Phoo, Account Manager, Singapore
T: (+65) 6325 8376 / (+65) 9101 1583
E: yvonne.phoo@sprg.com.sg

Universal Networks International
Haikal Jamari, Marketing & PR, South East Asia
T: (+65) 6326 1891 / (+65) 8338 3719
E: haikal.jamari@nbcuni.com

Ivan Lau, Associate, Singapore
T: (+65) 6325 8278 / (+65) 9343 0768
E: ivan.lau@sprg.com.sg

(Aug 20, 2014) Fox Sports, Fox International Channels’ (FIC) sports network, has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for the UEFA Europa League in Hong Kong for 3 seasons, starting with the 2015-16 season. This is the first time Fox Sports has acquired the rights to the UEFA Europa League in Asia.

Read more at Advanced Television

(Aug 20, 2014) Japanese public broadcaster NHK’s newly-launched Video Bank, which embraces all of NHK’s HD news, features, documentaries, drama and animation, is being distributed by Getty Images.

The deal between Getty and NHK echoes a similar relationship between the BBC and Getty for the BBC’s Motion Gallery content and programming.

Read more at Advanced Television

Michael Bay and Eric Dane team up to save the world against a deadly virus

**The Race to Save the World begins on Tuesday, September 2, at 9pm SIN / 8pm JKT only on WarnerTV **

HONG KONG (August 20, 2014) – This September, audiences will be able to experience The Last Ship, the top summer drama from the US, first and exclusively on WarnerTV. Premiering on Tuesday, September 2 at 8pm, the series features epic-scale and visceral storytelling, based on William Brinkley’s popular novel.

The action-packed drama stars Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) and is executive-produced by blockbuster filmmaker Michael Bay (Transformers). The Last Ship opens with a global catastrophe that nearly decimates the world’s population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer USS Nathan James avoids falling victim to the devastating tragedy. But now, Captain Tom Chandler (Dane) and his crew must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors.

Chandler is a career Navy man who is authoritative and decisive, but also fair and courageous. A born leader and a loving father and husband, Chandler is respected and loved by the men and women under his command. Also on board is Rachel Scott (Rhona Mitra, Strike Back), a strong-willed, intelligent and fearless paleomicrobiologist assigned to the Nathan James to investigate the cause of billions of deaths worldwide.

Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) is Slattery, the ship’s second-in-command who worries deeply about his family and occasionally clashes with Dane’s Captain Chandler over the best course of action. The series also stars Travis Van Winkle (Heart of Dixie), Charles Parnell (Pariah), Christina Elmore (Fruitvale Station), Sam Spruell (Snow White and The Huntsman) and Marissa Neitling (Leverage).

In the US, The Last Ship has been a blockbuster hit in its first season, not only among total viewers but also among key adult demos. The series ranks as basic cable’s No. 1 new series of the year-to-date with total viewers and the top new scripted series for the year-to-date with adults 25-54.

-Ends-

About WarnerTV
WarnerTV offers viewers in Asia Pacific an unprecedented mix of hit TV series and blockbuster movies. Its line-up boasts the world’s biggest franchises, first-run exclusives for the region and fan favorites across a wide range of genres from action, adventure, comedy to crime, sci-fi and drama. WarnerTV is also home to feature films from the legendary studios of Warner Bros. Entertainment. The channel is available across Asia Pacific including distribution in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Palau, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. In Asia Pacific, WarnerTV is owned and operated by Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc., a Time Warner company. Visit WarnerTVAsia.com and Facebook.com/WarnerTVAsia for more information.

About Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific
Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. creates and distributes award-winning brands throughout the Asia Pacific region and beyond. A leader in the television and media business, it runs pay- and free-TV channels, as well as Internet-based services, including 46 channels in 13 languages in 38 countries throughout Asia Pacific. Turner’s leading brands in the region include CNN International, CNNj, CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, Boomerang, POGO, Toonami, WarnerTV, TCM Turner Classic Movies, truTV, WB, MondoTV and TABI Channel. In addition, Turner is also the exclusive distributor of HBO, HBO Hits HD and HBO Defined HD in South Asia. Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. is a Time Warner company.

For media enquiries, contact:
James Moore,
Turner International Asia Pacific (in Hong Kong)
James.Moore@turner.com
(+852) 3128-3720

Taipei, 20 August 2014 – BBC Worldwide today announced the official launch of BBC Knowledge HD across four cable platform operators in Taiwan – KBRO, TFM, Cable Giant and Ping Nan. The platforms will be the first in Taiwan to offer BBC Knowledge’s premium factual and natural history programmes in high definition.

“We have seen consistent positive growth in the demand for BBC Worldwide’s content across Taiwan. As part of our strategy to continually exceed our customers’ ever-increasing expectations for quality programming, I am very pleased that more viewers in Taiwan will now be able to enjoy an even clearer and more compelling television experience,” said Pierre Cheung, Vice President & General Manager Greater China. “KBRO, TFM, Cable Giant and Ping Nan have been great partners of BBC Worldwide, with BBC Entertainment and BBC Lifestyle already available on their platforms; we are very excited to extend our working relationship with them.”

“As a leader in the HD space in Taiwan, we are proud to once again set new benchmarks for our factual channels. We are very happy to bring BBC Knowledge HD to our platforms in Taiwan,” said Steve Wang, President of KBRO.

Following the launch, viewers on KBRO, TFM, Cable Giant and Ping Nan will be privy to programmes such as Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan, which premieres in Asia on 11 September 2014, 9.55pm, and Operation Snow Tiger, which premieres on 11 September 2014, 10.50pm. A BBC AMERICA original series which was shot in true HD, Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan follows actor (Lord of the Rings, Lost, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and wildlife enthusiast, Dominic Monaghan, as he confronts giant spitting cobras that can kill 20 men with one bite, massive six-ton charging elephants and vipers with two-inch fangs. Operation Snow Tiger is on a mission to track the Siberian tiger – one of Earth’s rarest and most elusive animals, with as few as 300 remaining. It is so rare that more scientists have been to space than have seen one in the wild. In this series, Liz Bonnin, a former tiger biologist, travels to the frozen forests of the Russian Far East to help a team of scientists studying these big cats.

BBC Knowledge HD will be available via the HD 99 Package across all four platforms in Taiwan.

– Ends –

For more information, please contact:

Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com

Cassandra Wong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5295
Email: Cassandra.Wong@bbc.com

About BBC Worldwide

About BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.
In 2013/14, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £157.4m and headline sales of £1,042.3m and returned £173.8m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

bbcworldwide.com
twitter.com/bbcwpress