AXN and beTV Expand Reach in the Philippines On Sky Cable Corporation’s Destiny Cable

Singapore / Manila, 16 November 2012 – Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia has signed an agreement with Sky Cable Corporation to expand carriage of AXN and beTV to the Destiny Cable pay-TV platform in the Philippines.

Both channels are located on Destiny Cable’s basic tier of channels, which are available to its widest base of subscribers. Destiny Cable customers can now enjoy AXN and beTV on channels 61 and 62 respectively.

“The Philippines is a key market where we continue to invest and hope to entertain even greater audiences by expanding AXN and beTV’s reach to the country’s second most subscribed to pay-TV platform, Destiny Cable. Our expanded partnership with Sky Cable Corporation provides even more viewers with access to our high-quality programming,” said Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

“We are excited about this new agreement with SPT Networks, one of the producers of top-quality shows in the world. Our relationship with them has truly grown even further through the years. Our growing client base in the Philippines will surely be elated as well since they would be the beneficiaries of these exciting entertainment packages. Subscribers are assured of up-to-date viewing of popular shows that are currently being aired in the United States,” said Jon Arayata, General Manager of Destiny Cable.

With the launch of AXN and beTV on Destiny Cable, SPT Networks, Asia channels are now available on every pay-TV platform in Metro Manila and on all major systems in the country.

Delivering first run, exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster movies, adventure and competitive reality programs from around the world, as well as localized original productions, AXN remains the No.1 rated English GE channel in the Philippines .

beTV is Asia’s new entertainment hangout for the best of TV. With first and exclusive, award-winning new and returning hit drama, comedy, mystery and lifestyle shows, beTV is a broad GE channel which is female skewing, with a core audience of 18 – 34 years old.

Programming highlights in the month of November include:

On AXN

Premiering 16 November is the second season of Falling Skies, the gripping post apocalyptic alien invasion drama series starring Noah Wyle (E.R.), and co-created by Robert Rodat and Steve Spielberg.

Three weekend special marathons are scheduled to introduce new Destiny Cable viewers to the best AXN shows:

• 17 – 18 November – AXN Power Voices: 17-hour catch-up marathon of The Voice Season 3
• 24 – 25 November – AXN Star Power: selected episodes of the most popular drama series including the CSI franchise, Leverage season 4, Blue Bloods season 2, Falling Skies season 2, Hawaii Five-0 season 2 and NCIS: Los Angeles season 3.
• 1 – 2 December – AXN Nuclear Power: Get up to speed on thriller drama series Last Resort in a 6-hour marathon.

On beTV

Premiering 15 November, telecast in the same week as the US, is the new hour-long comedy, The Wedding Band starring Brian Austin Green (Desperate Housewives) and his buddies as Seattle’s top wedding and events band.

Debuting on 29 November is the fifth and final season of legal drama Damages, starring Glenn Close (The Shield) and Rose Byrne (Insidious) as mentor and protégé lawyers facing off in court.

Three weekend special marathon broadcasts have also been lined-up for new Destiny Cable viewers to sample beTV’s best-loved programs

• Saturdays 17, 24 November and 1 December – Best Characters: selected episodes of the most popular drama series including Supernatural, Teen Wolf, Chuck, House and Necessary Roughness.
• Sundays 18, 25 November and 2 December – Best Laughs: selected episodes of top comedies including The Wedding Band, Men at Work, Rob, How to be a Gentleman and Drop Dead Diva, along with lifestyle reality shows I Get That a Lot, Top Chef, Millionaire Matchmaker and The Rachel Zoe Project.

-Ends-

About AXN Asia

AXN offers viewers a thrilling ride with an exciting slate of programs designed to exhilarate and help them escape the humdrum of daily routine. The leading English general entertainment destination among upscale, affluent adults aged 18-39, the channel delivers first run, exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, adventure and competitive reality programs from around the world, as well as made-in-Asia original productions.

Launched first in Asia in 1997, AXN has become an international channel brand that is now seen across 60 countries globally including Latin America and Europe. In Asia, the channel is now watched by 154 million viewers in more than 104 million homes across 21 countries, including close to 50 million households on a time-block basis in China.

AXN has also been available in high-definition (HD) since March 2009.

AXN ASIA is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television’s Networks, Asia, which also operates pay-TV channels beTV, Animax, Sony Entertainment Television and ONE. See www.axn-asia.com for more.

About beTV

Serving up the best of TV, beTV is Asia’s latest entertainment hangout for the very best in drama, comedy, mystery and lifestyle programs. With first run and exclusive content including multi-award winning brand new shows and returning hits, beTV is broad general entertainment channel which is female skewing and a core audience of 18 -34 years.

Currently available in 15 markets across Asia, beTV is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates AXN, Animax, Sony Entertainment Television and ONE.

For more about beTV, see www.betvasia.com.

About Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia

Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, based in Singapore, was established in 1997 as the Asia headquarters for Sony Pictures Television Networks. It operates five ad-supported 24/7 channel brands in the region which are wholly-owned by Sony Pictures.

AXN is the home of thrilling entertainment; beTV is the place to be for the best of light, engaging and easy-viewing entertainment; Sony Entertainment Television is a female-skewing channel offering ‘wickedly juicy’ shows; Animax offers anime programming for all; and ONE, the gem of Asian general entertainment, is powered by prime and current Korean content.

Media Contact

Madison Communications Ltd. on behalf of Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Peter Ip
+852 6275 7043
peter@madison.asia

SPT Networks, Asia Unveils Brand New Original Production – The Apprentice Asia

Singapore, 15 November 2012 – Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia has set its sight on its next original production – The Apprentice Asia – to be presented by Expedia, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and AirAsia.

The Apprentice Asia will premiere on AXN across 21 countries in Asia in the first half of 2013. The Asian adaptation of the mega hit reality series will be hosted by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes; with the production helmed by FremantleMedia Asia, a leading global entertainment production company. The elimination competition format will pit Asia-based business executives against each other for the lucrative opportunity to work for one of business magnate Fernandes’ businesses.

Mr. Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television says, “AXN is the perfect platform for The Apprentice Asia. The competitive nature and entrepreneurial spirit of the format combined with Tony’s dynamic personality, is sure to entertain Asian audiences. We are proud to partner with Mark Burnett, FremantleMedia, and Tony Fernandes and look forward to the debut of this enthralling and dramatic new pan-Asian original production on AXN.”

One of Asia´s youngest and most celebrated business leaders, Fernandes is the force behind Malaysian entertainment and leisure group Tune Group Sdn. Bhd., the parent company of leading low-cost airline AirAsia and the Caterham Formula One team. The ultimate dreamer, he also recently fulfilled his childhood dreams by acquiring English Premier League team Queens Park Rangers Football Club and British sports car manufacturer Caterham. In 2010, Fernandes was also named ‘Asia’s Businessman of the Year’ by Forbes Asia, with an estimated worth of US$700 million. Driven by unsurpassed passion and imagination, Fernandes will be a huge inspiration for contestants and viewers alike, and also bring to the show a look and feel that is as different as the man himself.

Mr. Tony Fernandes, star of The Apprentice Asia adds, “I’m excited to see how the UK and US versions of The Apprentice have inspired many entrepreneurs. With the diverse pool of talent in Asia, I hope to find one who dares to follow his dreams, and work for me.”

The Apprentice was created by reality TV guru Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor), with multi-billionaire Donald Trump as host and co-executive producer. The series has been a worldwide runaway success since its debut in the US in 2004.

“We’ve been waiting for just the right time to launch The Apprentice Asia. Now that Tony Fernandes is on board, we are looking forward to a great show. AXN is the one and only place I’ve wanted to have The Apprentice Asia; their market dominance means that the maximum amount of people possible will be able to watch this series,” says C. Scot Cru, Senior Vice President of International Distribution & Production at Mark Burnett Productions.

Call for participation for The Apprentice Asia will begin from 15 November 2012. For more details, please visit www.axn-asia.com/TheApprenticeAsia and follow AXN Asia on Facebook and Twitter (@AXNAsia) for the latest updates.

###

For more information, please contact:

Madison Communications for Sony Pictures Television’s networks, Asia
David Chau
2881 1787
david@madison.asia

Peter Ip
2881 8790
peter@madison.asia

About AXN & AXN HD

AXN offers viewers a thrilling ride with an exciting slate of programs designed to exhilarate and help them escape the humdrum of daily routine. The leading English general entertainment destination among upscale, affluent adults aged 18-39, the channel delivers first run, exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, adventure and competitive reality programs from around the world, as well as made-in-Asia original productions.

Launched first in Asia in 1997, AXN has become an international channel brand that is now seen across 60 countries globally including Latin America and Europe. In Asia, the channel is now watched by 154 million viewers in more than 104 million homes across 21 countries, including close to 50 million households on a time-block basis in China.

AXN has also been available in high-definition (HD) since March 2009.

AXN ASIA is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television’s networks, Asia, which also operates pay-TV channels beTV, ANIMAX, SONY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION and ONE.

APPENDIX

About Expedia

Expedia is the world’s leading online travel site. In Asia, Expedia operates full-service localised sites in India, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, helping travellers plan and book their travel by providing a personalised service, the latest technology, as well as a wide selection of over 150,000 hotels and 400 airlines of holiday packages, flights and hotel bookings to suit their travelling needs. In addition, Expedia also has hotel-only sites operating in Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. For the third year in a row, Expedia has once again been awarded the ‘Best Online Travel Agent’ in 2012 by TTG, Asia-Pacific’s leading travel trade publication.

About the AirAsia Group

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 85 destinations. Within 10 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 152 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to approximately 106. The airline today is proud to be a truly ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines servicing a network stretching across all ASEAN countries, China, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for four consecutive years in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

About AirAsia X

AirAsia X is the low-cost, long-haul affiliate carrier of the AirAsia Group that currently flies to destinations in China, Australia, Taiwan¸ Korea, Japan and Nepal. The airline currently flies to 12 destinations across 6 countries and operates a fleet of 9 Airbus A330-300s, each with a seat configuration of 12 Premium Flatbeds and 365 Economy seats. The airline has carried over 7 million guests since it commenced long-haul in 2007. Our vision is to further solidify our position as the global leader in low-cost, long-haul aviation and create the first global multi-hub low-cost carrier network along with other carriers of the AirAsia Group.

November 14, 2012 – Intelsat, the provider of satellite services, has announced a multi-year agreement with Time Warner Cable Sports for a turnkey solution that combines the IntelsatOneSM terrestrial network with capacity on Galaxy 17 for the distribution of two new sports-themed channels.

Read more at Advanced Television