HBO ASIA LAUNCHES HBO GO – A NEW BROADBAND STREAMING SERVICE
Hong Kong’s now TV First In Asia To Offer Service

Singapore, February 25, 2013 – HBO Asia, the leader in home entertainment and at the forefront of broadcast technology, has announced the Asia launch of HBO GO to now TV’s HBO subscribers1.

HBO GO, a brand new broadband streaming service, enables subscribers to enjoy over 1,000 hours of popular and critically-acclaimed HBO Original content on multiple devices including PCs, MACs, tablets and mobile devices (iOS, Android and Windows 7) anywhere, anytime. The service includes new episodes of award-winning HBO Original programs such as Game of Thrones, The Newsroom, True Blood, and Veep 12 hours after being shown in the US.

Winner of the Best On-Demand Solution at IBC 2012 in Amsterdam, HBO GO will make its Asian debut in Hong Kong on February 28 2013 exclusively and free to now TV’s HBO subscribers.

“HBO GO is a versatile service enabling subscribers to maximise their HBO entertainment across multiple devices, whether at home or on the move, and Hong Kong subscribers of our long-term exclusive partner, now TV, are the first to enjoy this brand new broadband streaming service,” said Jonathan Spink, Chief Executive Officer, HBO Asia. “With over 1,000 hours of quality HBO Original content to choose from, HBO GO subscribers will be spoilt for choice and can also watch the latest HBO shows 12 hours after US telecast. This helps combat piracy and gives subscribers an opportunity to catch the newest episodes of their favourite shows earlier.”

Janice Lee, PCCW’s Managing Director of TV and New Media, said, “We are excited to be the first in Asia to offer HBO GO and our customers will soon be able to access HBO’s great movies and TV series anytime and anywhere. HBO GO complements our hugely popular now Player and other mobile apps for enjoying on-the-go content. With more than 1.4 million downloads of our app, users are able to enjoy more than 25 live channels and 1,500 hours of on-demand programming comprising around 600 titles of movies, TV dramas, sports, variety shows and news programmes.”

HBO GO subscribers will have unlimited access to current HBO Original series as well as popular past series like Band of Brothers, Sex and the City, The Sopranos and Rome plus HBO movies, documentaries, comedies, family content, entertainment specials and more.

“HBO GO is packed with features all giving maximum choice to the subscriber,” added Spink. “We will continue to update HBO GO with new features, for example, in addition to streaming content on HBO GO, downloading of content will be made available in the third quarter of 2013.”

Download the HBO GO App for free from App Store, Google Play Store or Windows Store in Hong Kong or go to www.hbogoasia.com.

1 now TV HBO SUPER PAK subscribers.

About HBO ASIA

Singapore-based HBO Asia is able to bring the best of Hollywood to Asia first because of its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood studios – Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros., as well as a large number of major independent studios. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO Original programs that are produced exclusively for HBO viewers. HBO Asia offers a bouquet of channels and services including 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels in standard-definition and high-definition – HBO, HBO SIGNATURE, HBO FAMILY and HBO HITS – as well as HBO GO, HBO ON DEMAND, CINEMAX and RED. HBO Asia is the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst and WarnerTV in Asia and a joint venture of HBO (a Time Warner company) and Paramount. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

About now TV

now TV has one of the world’s largest commercial deployments of IPTV and is Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV provider. It is delivered by PCCW Media Limited, the multimedia and entertainment subsidiary of PCCW Limited. PCCW also holds interests in telecommunications, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.

now TV serves Hong Kong with more than 180 channels of local, Asian and international programming, including premium content such as Spanish La Liga, English FA Cup, NBA, French Open, ATP World Tour, BWF Super Series, World Snooker Tour, F1 and PGA Tour. In addition, now TV is both a leading producer of news, sports and infotainment programming and a provider of a wide range of interactive services. now TV can be enjoyed on the eye devices provided by HKT, the telecommunications business of PCCW. Select now TV content and interactive applications can also be accessed via HKT’s 3G mobile network and broadband service. To learn more about now TV, please visit www.now.com.

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HBO, HBO GO and Home Box Office are service marks of Home Box Office, Inc. Used with permission.

For more information, please contact:

Karen Lai (HBO Asia)
Tel: (65) 9111 2655
Email: karen.lai@hboasia.com

Angela Poh (HBO Asia)
Tel: +65 6381 1838
Email: angela.poh@hboasia.com

The Bigfoot Ventures Lands in South Africa with TopTV

Antwerp, Belgium, February 22, 2013 – Fashion One, the international channel for fashion, entertainment and lifestyle television, announces its expansion in Africa with the launch of Fashion One Africa feed on TopTV, a satellite TV network service provider in South Africa. The new feed will be available on TopTV channel 179 nationwide starting March 2013.

The international television network caters to the South African audience with content covering the very latest international fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle news, profiles of A-list celebrities, luxury brands, holiday destinations, and red carpet events. In addition to a strong lineup of original programming including reality shows, documentaries, beauty tips and street styling, Fashion One will start covering more major African cultural events from art, music, dance and food, and gives special spotlight on the best of local fashion designers, creative talents and innovative design within the region.

“We are pleased to be able to announce the launch of Fashion One Africa with TopTV in South Africa and excited to be part of the country’s growing global importance. In addition to bringing the latest fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle programmes from around the world to our audience in South Africa, Fashion One will also showcase African talent with our increasing investment in local productions and, at the same time, provide regular worldwide exposure to the designers and labels in the region through our worldwide network,” says Ashley Jordan, CEO, Fashion One.

“Fashion One focuses on fashion in its widest sense, with many facets from the catwalks of the world to our own vibrant, dynamic fashion scene here in South Africa. It is also the first international fashion channel globally to cover major African fashion events, Afro-Centric designs, flavor and style. From Morocco to Cape Town, including Johannesburg and more and more African fashion weeks will be covered,” says Ian Woodrow, VP, Channels of TopTV

“TopTV is very excited to add this glamorous channel with a focus on local fashion and content to our current offering and are sure that it will soon gather a large following among fashion devotees, creatives, retailers and stylistas,” says Woodrow.

The channel will debut with Fashion Frontline, and African Fashion International 2012. Fashion Frontline is a fashion news series delivering the most current and relevant news related to fashion. Fashion One will also give viewers the exclusive, front row pass to African designers and runway access in African Fashion International 2012. Viewers will also enjoy Eco Fashion, an on-going documentary series and Yoga, Health and Well-being, a lifestyle series.

The daily schedule of programming on Fashion One (Channel 179) will be available on the TopTV website (www.toptv.co.za) and for further information please see www.fashionone.com.

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About Fashion One

FASHION ONE is a global lifestyle and entertainment TV network for women focused on glamorous and inspirational fashion in all aspect of life. With the latest updates and in-depth interviews with designers and celebrities, female audiences will be entertained with Fashion One’s original programmes including reality shows, documentary, travelogue, entertainment news and lifestyle magazine. The Fashion One Network is a subsidiary of Bigfoot Entertainment launched in 2010. For more information, visit www.fashionone.com.

About TopTV

TopTV is an affordable, satellite pay-TV network, proudly bringing digital TV into more homes across the country. TopTV offers its subscribers seven different pricing options ranging from R99 to R269 per month. TopTV Prepaid vouchers are now available from retail outlets countrywide, and as a prepaid option on FNB cellphone banking. With more than 50 channels on offer, these include ten channels created and packaged specifically by TopTV, and include: Top Movies, Top Movies +2, Top Movies +24, Top One, Top Gospel, Top Junior, Top Explore, Top History, Top Crime and Top Learn, as well as a range of highly sought-after international channels from third-party suppliers. The ten locally-developed channels offer audiences a mix of local and international flavours across all genres of programming platforms for an unlimited pay-TV entertainment experience. Also available to subscribers for an additional R69 per month is Top Star, TopTV’s Indian bouquet, which includes Star Plus, Star Gold, Vijay and Star Life OK.

www.toptv.co.za

For media queries, please contact:

Fashion One
Gorden Li
gorden@fashionone.com
+32-3-808-06-01

Janet de Kretser, Amplified Communication
Cell: 083 973 3531
e-mail: janet.dekretser@i-d.co.za

On behalf of:

On Digital Media / TopTV
Contact: Heather Kennedy, VP: Marketing
Cell: 083 252 3250 / e-mail: hkennedy@toptv.co.za

23-02-2013: Euronews is now available on cable in Taiwan through Shin-Hsin Cable TV and Kuo-Shen Cable TV. The channel is available to all subscribers in the basic offer in English.

Already broadcasting through IPTV, Euronews now reaches 735,500 TV households in Taiwan.

Read more at Rapid TV News 

Delivering on demands for pay-TV operators and Telcos positioning for future growth through secure content revenues and delivery

Oslo, February 21st, 2013: Conax, global provider of future-oriented solutions for securing multi-device and digital content for broadcasters, content providers and Telcos, today reported strong growth in 2012. In a highly competitive global market, Conax won contracts with 26 new pay-TV operators and Telcos and entered 4 new countries, extending the content security provider’s global reach to 85 countries. Norway-based Conax also enjoyed its highest shipped volume on record, closing 2012 with a 20% increase on volume over 2011. Q4 revenues also grew substantially, up by 9% from the same quarter in 2011.

“In 2012, Conax launched a new corporate strategy and brand, new products, new solutions and a new partnering strategy for securing our position in the value chain, confirmed President and CEO, Morten Solbakken. We are very pleased these efforts have also materialized in an increased customer base and record volume.”

“I am also pleased to introduce Tor Eirik Knutsen, new CFO, to the Conax executive team from February 1st. Tor Eirik has extensive experience within the challenges and opportunities of a global marketplace. His immediate focus will be capitalizing on the new Conax brand and organization for further driving growth and Conax’ future market position.

A technology specialist, Conax core development is focused on content security solutions, flexibility and smooth integration with complementary technologies. Concentrated R&D is a cost benefit for Conax customers. Leveraging its global network of strategic partners enables Conax to deliver best-of-breed total solutions for securing pay-content revenues over broadcast and broadband.

With a continual commitment to product and development, over 35% of Conax’ human capital is dedicated to R & D. During 2013 and 2014, Conax global strategy includes additional R&D staff and l sales and technical resources to support advanced solutions in mature markets and continued growth and expansion in Asia and the Americas.

Conax press contact

Leslie Johnsen, Head-Public Relations
Email: leslie.johnsen@conax.com
Phone: +47 41 45 80 43

Telenor Broadcast press contact

Jørgen Thaule, Communications Director
Email. Jorgen.thaule@telenor.com
Phone: +47 91 55 96 07

About Conax (www.conax.com)

Conax provides the future-oriented security solutions and expertise that empower multi-screen digital TV content providers around the globe to deliver premium content over the combined Over-The-Top scenario of broadcast, broadband and connected devices securely and eliminate potential revenue threats. Conax Contego™ portfolio of solutions furnish content providers, cable, satellite, IP, mobile and terrestrial operators with solutions that offer a competitive advantage – reduced hardware costs, easy deployment and upgrade, including the new Conax Xtend Multiscreen™ together with partners. Conax flagship, Conax Contego™, bundles 25 years of pioneering experience into one unique solution to guide operators in navigating and realizing new business models. Through its benchmark policy for security-evaluated client devices and strategic partner network, Conax technology secures content for operators representing 125 million pay TV consumers in 85 countries around the globe.

ISO 9001 & 27001 certified, Conax is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and represented in Russia, Germany, Brazil, USA, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, China, Singapore, with 24/7 Global Support operations in India. Conax is part of Telenor Group who has operations in 11 markets, 33.000 employees, 150 million mobile subscriptions and is among the world’s largest mobile operators. Corporate responsibility. Follow Conax on Twitter

February 13, 2013: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific and the India Today Group have entered into a partnership to launch the Discovery Channel magazine in India.

The magazine would cover a wide spectrum of topics including nature, adventure, marvels, sci-tech, history, the universe, forensics, seekers, survival, info-tech, psychology and the environment, mirroring the different genres featured on the Discovery Channel.

The magazine will have a contemporary design and feel and will stay true to the DNA of the Discovery brand.

Read more at Media Mughals

February 20, 2013: Cisco won significant standard definition set-top box business in India in the quarter ending January 26th 2013. Cisco shipped 1.3 million boxes in the fourth quarter compared with 850K in the third quarter, with a large portion of the increase coming from India. Cisco CEO John Chambers remarked that the company has “been more selective in the business we are taking in terms of set-top boxes and the lowest margin set-top box business in particular.”

Read more at Advanced Television

Singapore is first country outside Japan to welcome new Japanese entertainment channel
Hello! Japan will be offered free-of-charge to all StarHub TV customers

Singapore, 20 February 2013 – On 25 February, StarHub will be the first pay TV operator to bring in Hello! Japan, an all-Japanese entertainment and lifestyle channel, out of Japan. The channel which will be offered free-of-charge to all customers on StarHub TV Channel 149, will offer viewers a robust line-up that ranges from documentaries and dramas to movies and variety shows produced by top Japanese TV stations such as NTV, TBS, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo.

Hello! Japan, owned by leading Japanese broadcaster, J Food & Culture TV, will allow viewers to eat, live and breathe Japan through its round-the-clock broadcast on StarHub TV. All programmes on the channel will be aired in its original language with English subtitles. Hello! Japan adds to StarHub TV’s stable of Japanese content which comprises Animax (Channel 532), a channel dedicated to anime and youth lifestyle programmes, NHK World Premium (Channel 147), a 24-hour entertainment and lifestyle channel, NHK World TV (Channel 148), a news and lifestyle channel, as well as E City (Channel 111/825), a general entertainment channel that showcases popular Japanese titles.

Some key titles viewers can look forward to on Hello! Japan are Athletic Fire, an award-winning variety show that invites famous athletes and celebrities to compete against one another, Hungry Hoppers, which features a trio from Hokkaido travelling around Japan in search of delectable gourmet, and Music Station, a programme which focuses on the Japanese music scene and features top J-Pop artistes performing “live” in the recording studios.

Ms Lee Soo Hui, Vice President of Media Business Unit StarHub, expressed, “We are pleased to be the world’s first to bring in such premium content that has never been seen outside of Japan, to our local audience. The addition of Hello! Japan will strengthen StarHub TV’s offerings of Japanese line-up, reinforcing its leadership in Asian content. As part of our commitment to provide the best value for our customers, we will be offering Hello! Japan as a complimentary channel.”

“We are confident that Hello! Japan will be welcomed by Singaporeans as many of them hail Japan as one of their favourite travel destinations. With a 100% Japanese programming that showcases the rich Japanese culture, our customers can now also enjoy a slice of Japan right in their own living rooms,” Ms Lee added.

Hello! Japan will be offered as a FreeView channel on StarHub TV, making it available to all customers at no additional cost. It will also be made available on Anytime TV, a new pay-as-you-watch cable TV plan exclusively for its home broadband customers who do not have a StarHub TV subscription.

For more information on StarHub TV, visit www.starhub.com/tv.