October 18, 2012 – Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has announced three senior executive moves within its distribution business across Asia-Pacific.

Angel Orengo has been promoted to executive vice president, distribution, Asia-Pacific, with oversight of SPT’s sales efforts across the entire region; James Farrell has been promoted to senior vice president, distribution, Japan; and Mark Young has been promoted to senior vice president, distribution, Australia and New Zealand.

Read more at Rapid TV News 

PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION SECURES ADDITIONAL CAPACITY ON ASIASAT 5 FOR ITS GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

LAKE FOREST, CA / HONG KONG, 18 October 2012 – Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC) solutions, and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), Asia’s leading satellite operator today jointly announced that Panasonic secured additional Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 5 to support its Global Communications Service. This new capacity, which significantly enhances the existing coverage and capacity on AsiaSat 5 that Panasonic announced in September of 2011, helps ensure the best possible in-flight connectivity service for aircraft flying routes over the Middle East and India.

“The Middle East and India are two extremely strategic markets for Panasonic and our Global Communications Service, and we are very excited to have secured even more transponder space on AsiaSat 5,” said David Bruner, Vice President of Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s Global Communications Service. “As we continue to equip more and more aircraft that fly routes over these key, very high traffic markets, we will add the capacity and coverage necessary to ensure the industry’s highest bandwidth at the lowest possible price.”

“We are very pleased that Panasonic Avionics Corporation has expanded its use of capacity on AsiaSat 5 for its in-flight broadband services. AsiaSat 5’s high power and wide Ku beam coverage have proved to be highly efficient for supporting not only groundbased fixed and mobile systems but also for sophisticated in-flight communication and entertainment,” said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

Panasonic’s Global Communications Service includes eXConnect, eXPhone and eXTV. eXConnect provides two-way broadband connectivity supporting a wide range of passenger and crew applications, including Internet access, voice, data, and the ability to monitor and transmit airline operational data in real time at speeds of up to 50 Mbps to the aircraft.

eXPhone, offered in collaboration with AeroMobile’s award winning in-flight mobile phone technology means that at 35,000 ft, passengers can stay in touch with loved ones, keep up to date and on top of work just as if they were on the ground. In an increasingly connected world, eXPhone allows passengers to use their mobile, Smartphone or BlackBerry to call, text, email, and browse and use their applications throughout the flight. With nothing for customers to do except turning on their devices, eXPhone mobile data also works with GSM-enabled tablets and laptops.

Panasonic’s eXTV television network delivers high-quality, television programming to passengers during their flight. It provides live, uninterrupted content to aircraft flying all over the world, even over oceans. The service offers several global channels as well as regional channels.

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About Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world’s leading supplier of in-flight entertainment and communication systems. The company’s best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling airlines to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, and lower overall costs.

Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC). Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 2,600 employees and operations in 50 locations worldwide, it serves over 200 customers worldwide and provides IFEC systems on over 3,700 aircraft. For additional information, please visit www.panasonic.aero.

About AsiaSat 5

AsiaSat 5 is a Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 satellite launched in August 2009, operating at the orbital location of 100.5 degrees East. AsiaSat 5 carries 26 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders, and has a design life of 15 years. Its powerful C-band footprint covers over 50 countries and regions spanning from Russia to New Zealand and from Japan to the Middle East and parts of Africa. The Ku-band coverage consists of two high powered fixed beams serving East Asia and South Asia, as well as a steerable beam.

About AsiaSat

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world’s population with its four satellites, AsiaSat 3S at 105.5ºE, AsiaSat 4 at 122ºE, AsiaSat 5 at 100.5ºE and AsiaSat 7. The AsiaSat satellite fleet provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Some 500 television and radio channels are now delivered by the company’s satellites offering access to over 620 million TV households across the Asia-Pacific region. AsiaSat also provides telecommunications operators and end users services such as voice networks, private VSAT networks and broadband multimedia. AsiaSat’s latest satellites, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8, are planned to be launched in the first half of 2014. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1135). For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com.

Media Inquiries:

Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Brian Bardwell
Tel: (1 949) 462 1742
Email: Brian.Bardwell@panasonic.aero

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited
Sabrina Cubbon, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Tel : (852) 2500 0899
Mobile : (852) 9097 1210
Email : scubbon@asiasat.com

Winnie Pang, Manager, Corporate Affairs
Tel : (852) 2500 0880
Email : wpang@asiasat.com

Launching three now TV brand channels on Telekom Malaysia’s HyppTV

PCCW (SEHK:0008) – HONG KONG, October 18, 2012 – now TV, Hong Kong’s largest quad-play pay-TV provider and a leading Chinese-language content producer, has achieved the first milestone in its international business development with an overseas content distribution agreement with Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), Malaysia’s leading integrated information and communications group.

With the collaboration, beginning today, Malaysian viewers will be able to enjoy premium Chinese-language content from now International, now Mango and now HaiRun channels via TM’s IPTV service, HyppTV.

• now International (Ch. 155) offers an array of high quality cooking, lifestyle, travel programs, along with a wide selection of popular variety shows and entertainment news programs of now TV. Produced in HD quality, these programs are tailored for middle-income group viewers who appreciate higher quality of life. Some of the most popular productions include One Life One Earth, 18/22, Chef Corner, Station 102 and You are the Queen.
• now Mango (Ch. 156), a joint venture between now TV and Hunan Broadcasting System, is not to be missed by anyone looking for a close encounter of the A-list artistes from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan – Zhang Ziyi, Aaron Kwok, Faye Wong and Shu Qi are just some of the stars appearing in the interview talk shows of Happy Camp and World of Women. The channel also carries top-rated Chinese entertainment and variety programs with pop stars and celebrities from the region.
• now HaiRun (Ch. 157) is a drama series channel broadcasting high-quality productions of Hairun Media which feature renowned artistes from mainland China and Hong Kong. Series including The Era of Late Marriage and Special Citizen are just some examples of its attractive lineup.

As part of the collaboration, now TV also grants multi-platforms rights to TM, so that HyppTV customers may watch premium content anytime, anywhere via Internet and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets within Malaysia.

Ms. Janice Lee, PCCW’s Managing Director of TV & New Media, said, “International expansion is one of our key strategies to further grow our business. Malaysia has one of the largest overseas Chinese populations in Southeast Asia and we are excited to have TM as our first international content distribution partner. TM is a leading triple-play operator in Malaysia with compelling and unique content for its IPTV customers. This partnership demonstrates our strength in producing and managing premium content across multi-platforms. We will work closely to provide the very best of Chinese programs to the viewers in Malaysia. This project marks an important first step of our international expansion plan and we look forward to announcing our other new achievements very soon.”

Mr. Jeremy Kung, Executive Vice President of New Media, Telekom Malaysia, said, “We are delighted to be working with Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV operator, now TV, in bringing the three exciting new channels exclusively to our subscribers for the first time. To date, HyppTV offers its customers 105 channels with 28 channels in High Definition (HD) – consisting of 19 free channels, 45 premium channels, 22 Video-On-Demand (VOD) genres and 19 interactive channels. This is a big milestone and a significant growth for us after starting out just two years ago with only 22 channels.”

“Partnering with now TV, we not only have among the best in Asian entertainment and lifestyle content on our platform, but also one of the biggest collection of Chinese drama ever assembled on HyppTV. With these efforts, we hope to satisfy the demands of our every growing HyppTV subscribers by having more channels for them to choose from,” added Mr. Kung.

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About now TV

now TV is one of the world’s largest commercial deployments of IPTV and Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV provider. It is delivered by PCCW Media, 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, US 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.

About PCCW Limited

PCCW Limited (SEHK: 0008) is a Hong Kong-based company which holds interests in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.

The Company holds a majority interest in HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider. HKT meets the needs of the Hong Kong public and local and international businesses with a wide range of services including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses such as customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting, and contact centers.

cont’d …

PCCW also owns a fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong, which includes a highly successful IPTV operation, now TV. As the provider of Hong Kong’s first quadruple-play experience, PCCW offers a range of innovative media content and services across four delivery platforms – fixed-line, broadband Internet access, TV and mobile.

Also wholly-owned by the Group, PCCW Solutions is a leading information technology outsourcing and business process outsourcing provider in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In addition, PCCW holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, and overseas investments including the wholly-owned UK Broadband Limited. To learn more about PCCW, please visit www.pccw.com.

About TM

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), Malaysia’s broadband champion and leading integrated information and communications group, offers a comprehensive range of communication services and solutions in broadband, data and fixed-line. As a market leader, TM is driven by stakeholder value creation in a highly competitive environment. The Group places emphasis on delivering an enhanced customer experience via continuous customer service quality improvements and innovations, whilst focusing on increased operational efficiency and productivity.

Leveraging on our extensive global connectivity, network infrastructure and collective expertise, TM is well positioned to propel Malaysia as a regional Internet hub and digital gateway for South-East Asia. TM remains steadfast in its transformation into a new generation communications provider to deliver an enhanced and integrated digital lifestyle to all Malaysians, and opening up possibilities through connection, communication and collaboration, towards our shared vision of elevating the nation into a high-income economy.

As a model corporate citizen committed to good governance and transparency, TM continues its pledge to ensure the integrity of our processes, people and reputation as well as the sustainability of our operations. Our Corporate Responsibility (CR) ethos reinforces responsible behaviour in the four main domains of the marketplace, workplace, the community and the environment. With a focus on ICT, the Group further promotes 3 major platforms i.e. education, community/nation-building and environment, through our Reaching Out programmes.

TM is also a multiple corporate awards winner, having been recognised consistently for our high standards in Corporate Governance as well as the Anugerah CSR Perdana Menteri for Best Workplace Practices two years consecutively, in 2009 and 2010. TM was honoured with 5 National Annual Corporate Report Awards (NACRA) 2010, notably the Platinum Award for CSR. TM also won Service Provider of the Year award at the 2012 Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards, including 3 other awards – Broadband Service Provider of the Year, Data Communications Service Provider of the Year, Managed Service Provider of the Year for its subsidiary, VADS Berhad. TM was also named the Fixed Broadband Provider of the Year award at 2012 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards.

For further information on TM, visit www.tm.com.my.

About HyppTV

HyppTV, Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s (TM) IPTV service, is powered by UniFi and is available to viewers come rain or shine through its residential UniFi packages, called VIP package, a triple-play offering that combines voice, video and data. TM UniFi is currently being offered via three (3) residential packages. The residential triple-play packages are VIP5 at RM149 a month, VIP10 at RM199 a month, and VIP20 at RM249 a month.

HyppTV is currently offering a promotional package called the ‘HyppTV Platinum Pack’ in which HyppTV viewers will be able to enjoy 30 amazing channels at a low price of only RM30 per month. The channels offered in the promo pack include exclusive channels available only on HyppTV such as top rated content sourced locally in Malaysia and internationally from U.S, UK, Asia and many more. Not only that, 10 channels out of the 30 channels on offer are High Definition (HD) channels with stunning crisp, clear visuals making viewing experience of these channels more pleasurable.

For more info, log on to www.tm.com.my/hypptv and visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hyppworld.

For further information, please contact:

Ivan Ho
Corporate Communications
PCCW Group
Tel: +852 2883 8747
Email: ivan.wy.ho@pccw.com

Shabina Shah
New Media
Telekom Malaysia (HyppTV)
Tel: (03) 2240 1986
Email: shahbina.shah@tm.com.my

Awangku Huzriuden
New Media
Telekom Malaysia (HyppTV)
Tel: (03) 2241 1889
Email: huzriuden@tm.com.my

Video processing solutions from Elemental support unified ad delivery and content monetization

Portland, Oregon – October 17, 2012 – Elemental Technologies, the leading supplier of video solutions for multiscreen content delivery, today announced it will demonstrate video processing and packaging of content adhering to the ESAM dynamic ad insertion standard at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in Orlando, October 17-19. With support for traditional as well as multiscreen ad insertion, solutions from Elemental are feature-ready for cable operators using ESAM to monetize content directed at new media devices.

Support for Event Signaling and Management (ESAM) helps unleash the powerful video processing required to support infinite combinations of cross-platform, hyper-localized and targeted advertising, measurement and monetization. The standard ensures interoperability between signal acquisition, encoding, packaging and manifest proxy providers for the delivery and monetization of live and linear adaptive bit rate IP streams to multiple screens.

“Elemental debuted its support for next generation ad insertion at the September 2012 CableLabs® Linear and IP Ad Interoperability event in Louisville, Colorado,” said Keith Wymbs, VP marketing at Elemental. “At the event, Elemental deployed its products within a linear broadcast architecture and in workflows designed to support dynamic ad insertion for new media.”

At the Interop, Elemental Live provided the MPEG-2 broadcast source content with SCTE-35 ad insertion, enabling participants to work with a high-quality video stream conforming to SCTE standards. Another Elemental Live system was used to communicate with ESAM ad servers and to create both conditioned transports streams with SCTE-35 ad markers and packaged adaptive bit rate output with ad insertion annotations ready for delivery to new media display devices.

The company also showcased Elemental® Stream with ESAM support to package adaptive bit rate streams. Elemental Stream is a video processing system designed to segment, package and secure live and on-demand content for multiscreen delivery. It allows for customization of video at the optimal point in the IP video delivery infrastructure. The system can be positioned at the central encoding location or as an integral part of the content delivery infrastructure, making it well-suited for Pay TV operators, Content Delivery Networks (CDN), broadcasters and content owners.

Elemental will exhibit at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in booth 614. Attendees interested in scheduling a meeting with Elemental can contact the Elemental team directly.

About Elemental

Elemental Technologies is the leading supplier of video solutions for multiscreen content delivery. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the company pioneered the use of graphics processors to power adaptive video streaming over IP networks. Providing unmatched solutions for top media and entertainment companies worldwide, including the BBC, Comcast, Eurosport, HBO and Terra, Elemental helps content programmers and service providers bring video to any screen, anytime – all at once. The company has offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brazil. To learn more, please visit www.elementaltechnologies.com and follow @elementaltech on Twitter.

Press Contact

Lisa Epstein
Elemental Technologies, Inc.
lisae@elementaltechnologies.com
503.953.4743

(October 16, 2012) – ALi Corporation, a provider of STB system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, has revealed that its new AVS+DTMB standard definition STB solution, M3381T, will be shipped to MSO in mass production quantity in October, 2012. The M3381T has gained approval from MSO, signifying recognition on ALi’s achievement in developing AVS+DTMB STBsolutions.

Read more at Advanced Television

(October 16, 2012) TAIPEI/NEW YORK: Sundance Channel and WE tv have secured expanded carriage in Taiwan with CNS, building out the networks’ Asian footprints.

CNS launched both channels in HD, with Mandarin subtitles, on October 10. AMC/Sundance Channel Global has added Keith Mak to the team to oversee affiliate distribution and marketing for Sundance Channel and WE tv in Asia. Mak will report to Ed Palluth, the executive VP of global distribution at AMC/Sundance Channel Global. Mak will be based in Hong Kong.

Read more at World Screen