BBC Bangla marks 75 years of broadcasting with TV, radio and digital audiences

BBC Bangla marks 75 years of broadcasting with TV, radio and digital audiences

3 October 2016. BBC Bangla will present a series of programmes and events with audiences in Bangladesh and India to mark 75 years of broadcasting. It will engage with audiences via Facebook Lives and radio to discuss the global and national issues that are of special relevance to them. The theme of The BBC and Bangladesh will be discussed at a seminar at Dhaka University, with a panel and students, and will also be the focus of new programmes commissioned to mark the anniversary.

BBC Bangla Editor, Sabir Mustafa, said: “Since the very first transmission on 11 October 1941, the BBC’s broadcasts in Bangla have delivered to its audiences much-needed accurate and impartial news and information. It has earned the trust of Bangla-speakers, wherever they were over the tempestuous decades – and wherever they are today. This anniversary is a great opportunity for us to check how in tune we are with what they expect and need from us.”

Between 7 and 14 October, BBC Bangla will hold broadcast events in Bangladesh – in Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna – and in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal from where a significant proportion of the BBC Bangla digital audiences come. Starting as informal discussions with the BBC Bangla audiences, these events will transform into Facebook Lives on the BBC Bangla Facebook page. The focus of the conversations will be how the BBC can engage with younger audiences and meet their news and information needs.

Throughout October, BBC Bangla journalists will travel to various parts of Bangladesh to debate critical issues with local residents. The following topics will be debated in these locations:

Khulna – the survival of mangrove forests
Sirajganj – the safety of migrants
Rangpur – revival of the rural economy
Sylhet – the role of expatriates in the country’s development
Rajshahi – the plight of rivers
Barisal – the threat of river erosion
Chittagong – how to preserve the country’s ethnic diversity.

The conversations will be broadcast live on radio with simultaneous discussion for those who connect with BBC Bangla on social media.

On 19 October, the conference, The BBC and Bangladesh, co-hosted by BBC Bangla and Dhaka University’s Department for Journalism and Mass Communications, will look at the role of the BBC in covering Bangladesh and the region, asking the panel and the audience of over 100 students how they want to engage with the BBC in the digital age.

To celebrate the anniversary in October, the weekly TV programme, BBC Probaho, will feature audience members looking back at their own special BBC Bangla moments. An event page on Facebook, Hirok Joyonti (Diamond Jubilee), will display archive photos and comments from fans. BBC Live! will showcase contributions from the BBC Bangla teams – past and present – looking back at key moments during their time at the BBC, and will be available for download at bbcbangla.com. BBC Bangla radio will also broadcast selected extracts from some of the key programmes from its archives.

BBC Bangla is part of BBC World Service.

Ends//

For more information please contact:

BBC World Service Group Communications – Lala Najafova lala.najafova@bbc.co.uk

Notes to editors:

BBC Bangla radio programmes – on FM, shortwave and via the website bbcbangla.com – are produced in London and Dhaka. The website bbcbangla.com registers around 1.6 million unique visitors per month (Source: comScore average monthly reach between April and September 2016). The BBC Bangla Facebook page has around 9 million followers (October 2016). BBC Bangla’s weekly current-affairs TV programme, BBC Probaho, is broadcast live by Channel-i in Bangladesh at 9.35 pm local time every Thursday.

BBC World Service delivers news content around the world, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. The BBC World Service Group operates around the world in 30 languages, on radio, TV and digital. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.

KIX Sends Four Southeast Asian Celebrities on The Ultimate BROcation

KIX’s new reality series “The Ultimate BROcation” has just started shooting in Hong Kong. From left: Bjorn Shen, Philip Ng, DJ PK, SonaOne and Billy Crawford.

New Reality Series Follows the Adventure of Four “Bros” in Hong Kong

Hong Kong (October 3, 2016) – KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment in Asia, announced today the cast of its new reality series The Ultimate BROcation. Joining the all-expenses paid vacation tailor-made for “bros” are Filipino-American singer, dancer and actor Billy Crawford; popular Thai TV and radio host DJ PK (Piyawat Kempetch); award-winning Malaysian songwriter, producer and rapper SonaOne; and Singaporean maverick chef and restaurateur Bjorn Shen. Together, this band of “bros” will get to experience Hong Kong as the ultimate guy’s playground and enjoy an exhilarating adventure in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Principal photography on the reality series, produced by Celestial Tiger Entertainment and Endemol Shine Group (MasterChef, Big Brother), has already begun in Hong Kong.

The Ultimate BROcation is a five-episode reality series following the adventures of four male celebrities as they revel in the best experiences in Hong Kong, a vacation of every guy’s fantasy in the city. The show will be filled with exhilarating activities, lip-smacking good food, parties, beautiful new friends, cool gadgets and some solid male-bonding. The four guys may start off as strangers but will end up as “bros” after experiencing the “brocation” of a lifetime. Joining the four bros in a cameo appearance is Hong Kong martial arts star Philip Ng. Most recently seen on the hit TV drama A Fist Within Four Walls and the martial arts epic Once Upon A Time In Shanghai, Philip will show the bros his city and act as a local insider for their “brocation”.

Each of the four “bros” was selected for their distinct personalities and appetite for adventure. Billy Crawford, from the Philippines, is a born entertainer who balances hard work with his charm and great sense of humour. He has released 5 albums and 16 singles across numerous countries, including the UK and France, and has won the “International Male Artist of the Year” Award in France; DJ PK is a two-time winner of the prestigious Mekhala Award for “Best TV Host” and is a recognized face in his home country of Thailand. DJ PK epitomes living “the high life”; he loves fast cars, fine wine, beautiful women, and he brings a dramatic flair to the show with his big personality.

SonaOne has made history with unprecedented back-to-back wins at Malaysia’s two most prestigious music awards in 2014. This hip-hop artist loves traveling and finds inspiration in everything that he goes through in life, fuelled by his passion for music and graffiti art; Bjorn Shen is a resident chef columnist for Time Out Singapore. he is known as a local pioneer of “dude-food” and creator of #dudestronomy. Named Chef of the Year by SC Global in 2013, Shen believes that new experiences make him a better chef.

The Ultimate BROcation is supported by Hong Kong Tourism Board, and sponsors Cathay Pacific and the Harbour Grand Hong Kong. The show will air first and exclusively on KIX. KIX is now carried on 22 pay TV platforms across Asia.

# # #

Media Contacts:

Pauline Poon

Celestial Tiger Entertainment

Public Relations Manager

T: 852 2239 6131

E: pauline.poon@celestialtiger.com

About Celestial Tiger Entertainment

CELESTIAL TIGER ENTERTAINMENT (CTE) is a leading independent media company dedicated to entertaining audiences in Asia and beyond. The company creates and distributes branded pay television channels and services targeted at Asian consumers.

CTE operates a powerful bouquet of distinct pay television services including: CELESTIAL MOVIES, the premier 24-hour first-run Chinese movie channel in Asia and beyond; CELESTIAL CLASSIC MOVIES, the world’s most-widely distributed Chinese movie channel with an unparalleled array of Chinese movie masterpieces; CELESTIAL MOVIES PINOY, the Chinese movie channel that is programmed, dubbed and promoted specifically to Filipino viewers; cHK, the Chinese entertainment channel offering the latest Hong Kong and other Asian blockbuster movies, alongside highly-anticipated Chinese dramas and series; KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment; KIX 360, the dedicated Over-The-Top (OTT) linear feed for KIX; MIAO MI, the Mandarin “Edutainment” channel created for preschool kids across Asia; THRILL, Asia’s only regional horror, thriller and suspense movie channel; and THRILL 360, the dedicated Over-The-Top (OTT) linear feed for THRILL. All of CTE’s channel brands are available as linear, on-demand and over-the-top services. CTE also produces original production for its bouquet of channels.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, CTE’s majority shareholders are Saban Capital Group, a leading private investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries; Celestial Pictures, a diversified Asian entertainment company owned by Astro Overseas Limited; and Lionsgate, the world’s largest independent filmed entertainment studio.

For more information, please visit www.celestialtiger.com.

About Endemol Shine Group

Endemol Shine Group is a global production powerhouse creating world class content for all platforms. As a producer and distributor, Endemol Shine Group works on a unique local and global axis, comprised of 120 companies across more than 30 markets dedicated to creating content that enthralls and inspires.

In 2015, the company’s travelling formats originated from eleven different countries across the Group with global hits including Masterchef, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, The Money Drop, Your Face Sounds Familiar, The Brain, Hunted and The Island. Endemol Shine Group’s drama portfolio is similarly international and diverse, with acclaimed worldwide hits such as Humans, Bron, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Kingdom, Grantchester, The Fall, Intersection, Spring Tide, Penoza and Broadchurch. The Group’s award-winning digital production and distribution studio Endemol Shine Beyond helps advertisers and brands to engage millennial audiences around the world through popular online content and channels including eSports format Legends of Gaming and lifestyle brand ICON, each with local adaptations in multiple markets.

In 2015, Endemol Shine Group produced a total of 733 productions in over 50 languages airing on 256 channels around the world.

About Hong Kong Tourism Board

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked to market and promote Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide and to enhance visitors’ experience once they arrive. For more information, please visit DiscoverHongKong.com.

Dance Singapore Dance Season 2 to Start October 2 on Zee TV APAC

SINGAPORE, Oct. 02, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Popular reality show Dance Singapore Dance is set to return for its second season on October 2, 2016, to be aired on Zee Television Asia Pacific (Zee TV APAC). A localised version of the popular Dance India Dance (DID) series, Dance Singapore Dance brings together aspiring dancers from different backgrounds and cultures from across Singapore with an open category dance competition that aims to provide a platform for both amateur and experienced dancers to showcase their talent.

Commenting on Zee TV APAC’s decision to renew the show for a second season, Mukund, CEO Middle East and Asia Pacific at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited said, “Following the highly successful debut season, we’re excited to present a bigger, better and more entertaining Season 2 of Dance Singapore Dance. Now that the auditions are complete, the top 12 contestants have been shortlisted and divided into two groups, each of which will train under the guidance of their mentors to win the title of Singapore’s best dancing star. We believe that the show will give a new dimension to the weekend television viewing experience.”

Format of the show

After the audition process, the shortlisted top 12 finalists will compete with one another through various rounds to win the title of “Singapore’s Best Dancing Star”. The winner will take home SGD 15,000 (USD 11,000), while the first and second runners-up will also be awarded cash prizes. In addition, the best performer each week will be awarded the “Performance of the Week” trophy

The 12 contestants will be split into two teams — Shyam’s Supersonics, mentored by Dance India Dance Season 4 and Boogie Woogie winner Shyam Yadav, and Sahil’s Stompers, mentored by famous Indian dancer Sahil Adanaya.

About the judges

In Season 2, Dance Singapore Dance has roped in Mudassar Khan, Bollywood ace choreographer of Dabangg fame, and the popular classical and contemporary dancer Sreedevy Sivarajasingam. They will be joined each week by a guest judge, who will be a renowned personality from Singapore’s lively performing arts scene. Some of the names include Zaini Tahir, Najip Ali, Haslinda Ali and Daisy Irani.

When to tune in

Season 2 will be co-hosted by Emcee KP, who presented Season 1, and Sehar Rida Hashmi, one of the inaugural series’ most popular contestants. The competition is divided into 11 weekly episodes which will be aired from Oct 2 every Sunday at 8pm, with two repeat telecasts on Wednesday at 5pm and Saturday at 8pm on Zee TV APAC.

For more information about the show visit http://apac.zeetv.com/shows/dance-singapore-dance-2/

“With season 2, we continue our commitment to discover Singapore’s best dancing star,” said Tripta Singh, Senior Vice President International Business, Zee TV. “This year is all about #dancetoimpress. Dancers on the show come from different backgrounds and cultures, and showcase different genres, from Bollywood to contemporary to classical dance.”

“We’re also proud to welcome StarHub as the presenting sponsor for Dance Singapore Dance for the second consecutive year, further strengthening our relationship.” she added.

Ms Wang Li-Na, Head, Product & Marketing, StarHub, enthused, “Come October, one of the biggest dance reality shows will once again enliven viewing screens in Singapore. We are thrilled to showcase season 2 of Dance Singapore Dance (DSD) on StarHub TV. As a homegrown company, StarHub has always been supportive of nurturing local talents. Therefore, we are pleased that one of the contestants from the inaugural season has been selected to be the co-host in the upcoming season. That is a huge accomplishment and shows that DSD is a great platform for youths to shine and showcase their other talents, apart from dancing. We look forward to discovering a new batch of fresh talents in season 2!”

About Zee Television Asia Pacific

Launched in June 2004, Zee TV APAC is the Asia Pacific feed of the Flagship channel – Zee TV (India). Now available in 18 countries, Zee TV APAC showcases Indian content with English subtitles and airs all the programs with just one-day lag from India. Being a pioneer in the industry, Zee TV is also the first Indian channel to produce local shows like Dance Singapore Dance and Make It Snappy in Singapore and Dulha Dulhan Destination and Bangkok Buzz in Bangkok. The channel showcases a variety of genres for all audience segments including prime time drama series, comedy, reality shows and children’s programs. http://www.apac.zeetv.com/

Contact:

Mansi Chopra
mansi.chopra@zee.esselgroup.com
+65 81432262

30 September, 2016

Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Sep 30th. Curated by CASBAA, News Views keeps you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!

Brought to you by:

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

Regardless of who you think won the first US Presidential debate this week, TV was certainly a big winner, with a record 84 million Americans tuning in to the political slug-fest. Online viewership rocked it, too, with some 2 million live streamers watching on YouTube.
Of course, even though it’s a domestic affair, there’s always strong global interest in the US elections, and even more so in this particular one, for fairly obvious reasons. Apparently, even the Taliban were watching the debate. One down, two to go….

Kevin Jennings

Vice President, Programme

Meanwhile, none of those online viewers officially came from China, where authorities banned news services from providing live streams of Trump vs. Clinton. Of course, if you watched the debate, you’ll know that China was mentioned frequently; and despite the ban, there are reports that “hundreds of thousands” of Chinese did watch. And officially, the People’s Daily described the election a “lose-lose” battle.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

CASBAA participated in Interpol-sponsored IP Law Enforcement Conference in London last week, where the UK Minister for IP, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, spoke about the problem of illicit streaming set-top boxes and the harm they do to people up and down the value chain in the TV industry. “It’s crucial that we all work together to combat this growing threat, both to stop the criminals involved in IP crime, and to safeguard IP holders and innovators,” she said. Also at the conference (have a look), people were talking about a major raid on a large black-box network in Lancashire a couple of weeks earlier. It seems that when the Police Intellectual Property Crimes Unit (PIPCU) pulled the plug on that one head-end, multiple box networks all over Europe suddenly went dark. The interconnections of that industry, and other criminal enterprises – in Asia and elsewhere – should come in for much greater scrutiny.

Jane Buckthought

Advertising Consultant

The news that Facebook has overestimated average viewing time for video ads on its platform—for two years—has once again highlighted the lack of transparency and third-party verification of metrics provided by the so-called “walled gardens” that companies including Facebook and Google are often described as operating. Both companies keep a tight grip on data, and only allow limited third-party tracking firms to plug into their systems. Keith Weed, chief marketing officer of Unilever, said in an interview last year, tech companies that don’t let third parties
measure their platforms is equivalent to “letting them mark their own homework.” Publicis’ response came in a note which said, “This once again illuminates the absolute need to have 3rd party tagging and verification on Facebook’s platform. Two years of reporting inflated performance numbers is unacceptable.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

Discovery’s CEO, David Zaslav, told investors that Discovery-controlled Eurosport is rolling out a direct-to-consumer streaming service. “We own it all and when we go to the player and charge $8 per subscriber we’re in a whole different game,” he said at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference in Manhattan. “For us, Eurosport direct-to-consumer fills the full circle of where the world is going.”

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

Reports of TV’s demise always make for alarming headlines, but don’t believe everything you read — the reality of the shifting viewing patterns is more complicated than just the headlines. A recent report from
the Video Advertising Bureau highlights the relationship between TV and streaming, concluding that “TV Brands Are Well-Positioned To Keep Themselves At The Center Of The Ever-Evolving, Video Streaming Ecosystem.” Certainly TV execs like NBCU CEO Steve Burke agree with that. In his keynote at the Royal
Television Society, Burke was pretty confident about the industry, while at the same time, acknowledging the challenges: “I’m certainly not claiming our current models are not threatened. I just don’t see them collapsing as quickly as one might believe.”

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

Change is certainly in the air at the US cable industry’s HQ in Washington. Last week, the venerable NCTA announced a rebranding, saying it would become “NCTA – The Internet and Television Association.” And this week, the Association’s board voted to terminate its 65-year tradition of holding a major annual trade show for the cable/internet industry. As many commentators noted,
the mass-market show had declined in importance in recent years, as cable-industry consolidation meant that most decisions were in the hands of a few large MSOs. NCTA said that it didn’t see a future for “large trade show floors dotted with exhibit booths,” but industry journals reported it was considering re-inventing a different sort of event in Washington next year.
Meanwhile, CASBAA has been busily re-inventing our annual Convention (which was never a huge-trade-show-floor type of event), and this year it will showcase the diversity of Asia’s many pay-TV operators. In case you haven’t been paying attention, it’ll be in Macau, November 7-9.

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

Staying with the NCTA, when John and I went to INTX in Boston earlier this year, I was struck by the contrasts between the NCTA and CASBAA. As an organisation, it serves a single (admittedly huge) and almost fully saturated market, in which the pay TV industry has been consolidating for more than a decade; as opposed to CASBAA’s 18 diverse markets and overall continued industry growth. The NCTA has a broad membership, similar to CASBAA, but the bulk of its work is focused on operators (Comcast, Charter, and Cox dominate its five-member Executive Committee). But most importantly, the industry the NCTA represents could lose up to a billion dollars next year because of cord-cutting; and while disruption is starting to emerge in Asia, the whole cord-cutting trend is quite different.

Kevin Jennings

Vice President, Programme

South Korea’s smallest mobile carrier LG Uplus has said it is looking to buy a cable TV operator to achieve “economies of scale”. The comments have attracted attention in part because LG Uplus’ bigger competitor SK Telecom failed to purchase CJ HelloVision, after opposition from the country’s anti-trust watchdog earlier in the year. U plus Vice Chairman Kwon Young-soo confirmed that once the relevant regulations are
streamlined they will work on acquiring a cable TV operator – likely to be one of the top four brands; CJ HelloVision, D’Live, Hyundai HCN or T-Broad.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

In the US, AT&T is the latest to introduce a streaming product. Later this year it will launch DirectTV Now where subscribers will be able to stream more than 100 channels, without a long-term contract or any hardware like a set-top box, through their phones, tablets and connected TV devices. This type of delivery is fantastic for individual addressability of program offerings and targeted advertising. Though it’s not so good for folks who want satellite delivery as AT&T has set a timeline to phase out satellites and set-top boxes.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

As we noted last week, the newly-named regulators on Taiwan’s NCC are re-visiting previous proposals to revise the telecoms and media legislation there. An article published by the Amcham in Taipei has some interesting takes on what’s going on.

Andrew Lin

Regulatory Assistant

After setbacks in its attempt to buy Paramount, is China’s Wanda is going to buy Sony? Nope, according to CEO Michael Lynton, he doesn’t think so. Wanda is, however, buying a controlling stake in Dick Clark Productions. And it’s worth asking, will CBS buy Viacom? Les Moonves has said no active discussions, but that hasn’t stopped all the speculation, with “informed sources” keeping the story alive. Oh, and will Disney actually buy Twitter? No official denial, but it’s hard to say, and anyway, all those rumours in the marketplace could just be a clever marketing ploy.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

One of the problems with Indonesia’s approach to censorship is that vague guidelines coupled with admonitions to industry that “you have to self-censor, so be careful” combine to produce over-cautious broadcasters. That’s what happened last week when several broadcasters carried footage of a poolside interview with the winner of a national women’s swimming competition, and pixilated out her body. This “excès de zèle” produced a storm of online criticism of the country’s content regulators at KPI, who pointed out that they had not ordered the
blurring, and then helpfully suggested having such interview subjects at swimming competitions wrap up in towels before the cameras are turned on. Unreality TV, anyone?

Member News

Additional News

Cignal to launch Rewind Networks’ Hits

HITS, a celebration of the Best TV series, will be available nationwide in HD for the first time in the Philippines through Cignal TV

Singapore/Manila, 28 September 2016

Cignal and Rewind Networks announced the launch of HITS HD (Cignal Channel 120) on Cignal Postpaid Plan 290 and up, and Cignal Prepaid HD Load 300 and up. HITS will go live at midnight Monday, October 10th, 2016.

“Cignal is committed to providing only the best to our subscribers and HITS HD delivers on that promise,” said Jane J. Basas, President of Cignal. “the Filipino audiences who grew up watching some of their favourite shows, will definitely be excited to watch series like ‘MacGyver’ and ‘The Nanny’ again.”

“This deal signals another awesome and proud milestone for us,” said Mr. Avi Himatsinghani, CEO of Rewind Networks. “HITS is a one of a kind service in the market with its celebration of the very best in TV content ever created, all in one place. We are delighted to expand our footprint in the Philippines with this partnership. Cignal subscribers will have a chance to watch our curation of some of the finest TV content for the first time in HD quality.”

Vitto Lazatin, Cignal VP – Content Acquisition, Management & Strategy, states that, “HITS is unique and will bring back some great viewing experiences where everyone in the family can watch together and laugh along with series such as ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘TAXI’ and ‘The Wonder Years’.”

Ms. Sandie Lee, VP & Channel Head of Rewind Networks commented: “HITS provides familiar faces and really strong storylines in all our multi-award winning series. It’s really the “comfort food of television” for our Asian audience. Our simple schedule makes HITS very easy to watch as fans can catch their favourite shows at the same time every weekday, which is how most local channels are programmed today”.

HITS’ multi-award winning series bring the greatest stories and famous characters back to those who recognize them and introduces a new generation of TV viewers to these iconic shows. Ratings successes in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and other markets have proven that HITS’ curation of awesome shows such as The X-Files, Grey’s Anatomy, Cheers and The Golden Girls resonates with viewers in the region. HITS’ launch on Cignal coincides with the premiere of popular comedy series ‘That ‘70s Show,’ which launched the careers of A-list stars Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace.

Catch these iconic shows on HITS, available in HD on Cignal TV, Channel 120.

-end

About Cignal

Cignal TV was launched in 2009 and is currently the Philippines’ leading Pay TV provider. It transmits 115 channels including free-to-air, SD and HD channels to 1.48M household and commercial venues nationwide. Cignal is owned by Cignal TV, a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, the media partner of PLDT Group.

To know more about Cignal, log on to www.cignal.tv, or check its social media pages:

Facebook.com/cignaltv

Twitter.com/cignaltv

Instagram.com/cignal.tv

About Rewind Networks

Rewind Networks Pte. Ltd., Incorporated and Headquartered in Singapore, is a Multimedia Branded Entertainment Company dedicated to providing the Best in Class content to audiences across the Asia Pacific region.

HITS is Rewind Networks’ maiden venture launched as a linear 24×7 pan-regional Pay-TV channel service that debuted in Singapore on StarHub at the end of 2013. In the following year, HITS launched in the Philippines (SKYcable), Indonesia (Indovision) and Malaysia (Astro) followed by further expansions in 2015 including Singtel in Singapore, nowTV and LeEco in Hong Kong, CTH in Thailand, CNS and dmg in Taiwan. In 2016 the channel launched on KRISTAL Astro in Brunei and now expands its footprint in the Philippines with the launch on Cignal. HITS distribution is now over 8 million homes and will continue to have progressive roll-outs in other South East Asia markets as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

HITS’ award-winning line-up of shows is the result of exclusive multi-year licensing deals with some of the leading studios including Disney Media Distribution, CBS Studios International, NBC Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television, 20th Century Fox Television Distribution Fremantle Media and Carsey-Werner. HITS Replay and the HITS app are the ancillary catch up on demand services for authenticated subscribers. The HITS app is available for iOS and Android devices.

HITS is broadcast as a single regional feed from Encompass Digital Asia facilities in Singapore and is available as an encrypted service on Intelsat 19. To get HITS contact your local pay tv operator. To know more log on to www.hitstv.com

For media-related enquiries, please contact:

Sasha Mukerjea

Marketing Executive

Rewind Networks

e: sasha@rewindnetworks.com

t: +65 6635 3988

Ian Francis A. Velasco

Content Marketing

Cignal

e: IAVelasco@cignaltv.com.ph

t: +63 26893100

Zee Entertainment announces its foray into Radio

Acquires UAE’s first and leading Radio Station, Hum 106.2 FM

Mr. Mukund Cairae, CEO-MENA & APAC, ZEEL with His Excellency Ali Jasim A...

Dubai, UAE / Mumbai, India, September 29, 2016: India’s leading content conglomerate, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) today reached another major milestone by announcing its foray into Radio with the acquisition of UAE’s first and leading Radio station, Hum 106.2 FM. ZEE now becomes the only entertainment network in the region to provide an extensive media solution to its partners through Television, Radio and Digital.

After being a pioneer with the launch of India’s first Hindi Satellite channel, Zee TV in 1992, Zee Entertainment was the first to launch a Bollywood TV channel, Zee Aflam in 2008 for the Arab audience as well introduce the Arab world to Hindi programs dubbed in Arabic with Zee Alwan in 2012.

Speaking on this significant acquisition, Amit Goenka, CEO – International Broadcast Business, ZEEL said, “In our journey of over two decades, ZEE has always led the industry in its evolution and transformation. At ZEE, we are always looking at strategic acquisitions across the globe to increase our footprint and market share in the entertainment industry. Radio has been an area of interest for ZEE for quite some time and after extensive planning and studying of the brand values, ratings and revenue generated by various stations, we felt that an investment in Hum FM was the best option. Hum FM has a legacy of almost two decades and with a current market share of 26%, it is the top Hindi radio station in the UAE. ZEE is confident that it can leverage its very strong South-Asian brand connect onto Radio, and offer a synergy of Television, Radio and Digital that could revolutionize the entertainment industry in the UAE.”

“We are excited about our new business ventures. Radio comes immediately after our foray into film production and distribution where movies like ‘Rustom’ and ‘The Flying Jatt’ have done extremely well globally and specifically in the UAE and Middle East markets. The acquisition of Hum FM in UAE is a step in that direction and we are upbeat about its prospect in the coming years;” Amit further added.

Commenting on ZEE’s plans for the region, Mukund Cairae, CEO – MENA and APAC, ZEEL said, “This move is a diversification to our entertainment business portfolio, adding to the numero uno position we possess in Television among South Asians in the Middle East. This investment also shows our commitment to the region and its business landscape. Now we can offer media across Television, Radio and Digital platforms, leading to a great synergy between content and mediums. With an extensive library of music content that includes singing reality shows like ‘The Voice India’, ‘SaReGaMaPa’, ‘Antakshari’ and ‘Asia’s Singing Superstar’ which have produced great singers in Bollywood, an on-going relationship with the big names in the industry and with one of the biggest music labels in Bollywood, Zee Music Company as a part of its portfolio, the new venture has all the ingredients needed to redefine the Radio industry in this market.”

His Excellency Ali Jasim Ahmed, General Manager of Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN) said, “We are proud to partner with Zee Entertainment, the leading global company in the media industry with a strong presence in the UAE and across the Middle East. Zee Entertainment will provide new content and concepts in the world of entertainment and marketing, and will provide the station the required media expertise of a highly effective and competitive value. Further, we will give all the facilities and backing for ZEE to achieve its strategic station goals and we will work together to support the qualitative superiority of the programs in order to meet the wishes and aspirations of the esteemed listeners.”

106.2 Hum FM was previously owned and operated by Shamal Media Services. The station is a frequency originating from the emirate of Umm Al Quwain and forms a part of Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN). The frequency was one of the first Hindi and Urdu language frequencies to hit the UAE airwaves in the 1990’s. It redefined drive time and boasted of many celebrity Radio Jockeys. It also went on to popularize live cricket commentary on radio and has a lot of pioneering firsts in the radio business.

Shahid Jamal, Founder & MD, Shamal Media Services said, “Hum FM pioneered FM Radio in UAE and over the years, we have made it the No. 1 Radio Station. It is now a great opportunity for us to hand over our successful radio legacy to a media network that has been a pioneer of South Asian entertainment globally and in the region. Zee Entertainment, who themselves have had a great legacy in the media business will only take the success of Hum FM to the next level.”

New and strategic investments in media and related businesses have always been at the forefront of ZEE’s business strategy. The addition of UAE’s first Hindi Radio station to its bouquet of TV channels makes Zee Entertainment one of the strongest players in the UAE’s entertainment space. More announcements are expected in the coming weeks on the future channel programming and its positioning.

——————————————ENDS——————————————

Notes to Editors:

About Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL)

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world, with an extensive library housing over 222,000 hours of television content. With rights to more than 3,818 movie titles from foremost studios and of iconic film stars, ZEE houses the world’s largest Hindi film library. Through its strong presence worldwide, ZEE entertains over 1 billion viewers across 171 countries.

Pioneer of the television entertainment industry in India, ZEE’s well-known brands include Zee TV, &tv, Zee Cinema, Zee Action, Zee Classic, &pictures, Zee Anmol, Zee Anmol Cinema, Zee Cafe, Zee Studio, Zee Salaam, Zing, Z ETC Bollywood, Zee Q, Zindagi, Ten 1, Ten 2 and Ten 3. The company also has a strong offering in the regional language domain with channels such as Zee Marathi, Zee Talkies, Zee Yuva, Zee Bangla, Zee Bangla Cinema, Zee Telugu, Zee Cinemalu, Zee Kannada, Zee Tamil and Sarthak TV. The company’s HD offerings include Zee TV HD, Zee Cinema HD, &tv HD, Zee Studio HD, Zee Café HD, &pictures HD, Ten 1 HD and Ten Golf HD.

ZEE and its affiliate companies have leading presence across the media value chain including television broadcasting, cable distribution, direct-to-home satellite services, digital media and print media amongst others. ZEEL also operates multiple digital offerings like dittoTV, OZEE, and india.com. More information about ZEE and its businesses is available on www.zeetelevision.com

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Media Contact:

Jayshree Kumar / Arantxa Gonsalves

Corporate Brand – Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL)

Mobile: +91-9769286661 / +91 9820336890

Landline: +91-22-7106 1367 / 7108 5464

Email: jayshree.kumar@zee.esselgroup.com / arantxa.gonsalves@zee.esselgroup.com

New drama series Westworld Premieres same time as the U.S. debuts on Monday, Oct 3, at 9am (8am Thai/Jkt), with same day primetime encore at 9pm (8pm Thai/Jkt), exclusively on HBO

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SINGAPORE, September 26, 2016 – The brand-new one-hour drama series WESTWORLD and starring an ensemble cast including Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood and James Marsden, kicks off its ten-episode season premiere on Monday, Oct 3, at 9am (8am Thai/Jkt), exclusively on HBO, with same day primetime encore at 9pm (8pm Thai/Jkt). New episodes premiere on subsequent Mondays at the same time. WESTWORLD will also be available on HBO On Demand and HBO GO.

WESTWORLD is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin, exploring a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. Created for television by Jonathan Nolan (“Interstellar,” “The Dark Knight,” “Person of Interest”) and Lisa Joy (“Pushing Daisies,” “Burn Notice”), both of whom are executive producing and writing, with Nolan also directing, the series was inspired by the 1973 motion picture “Westworld,” written and directed by Michael Crichton.

Co-creator Nolan explains, “Building on the incredibly evocative concept of the original film, we wanted to pose the question: If you could be completely immersed in a fantasy, one in which you could do whatever you wanted, would you discover things about yourself that you didn’t want to know?”

Co-creator Joy adds, “We also wanted to explore what it means to be human from the outside in – through the eyes of the ‘hosts’: the lifelike AI characters that are the main attractions of the park. It’s a meditation on consciousness – the blessing and the burden of it – beautifully portrayed by our remarkable cast.”

WESTWORLD’S exceptional ensemble of cast members

WESTWORLD stars Anthony Hopkins (Academy Award® winner for “The Silence of the Lambs”; Academy Award® nominee for “Remains of the Day,” “Nixon,” “Amistad”), Ed Harris (Golden Globe winner and Emmy® nominee for HBO’s “Game Change”; Academy Award® nominee for “Pollock,” “Apollo 13”), Evan Rachel Wood (Golden Globe nominee for “Thirteen”; Emmy® and Golden Globe nominee for HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”), James Marsden (the “X-Men” films), Thandie Newton (“Mission: Impossible II”) and Jeffrey Wright (HBO’s “Confirmation”; Emmy® and Golden Globe winner for HBO’s “Angels in America”).

The series also stars Tessa Thompson (“Creed”), Sidse Babett Knudsen (“Borgen”), Jimmi Simpson (HBO’s “The Newsroom”), Rodrigo Santoro (“Focus,” “The 33”), Shannon Woodward (“Raising Hope”), Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (“Chernobyl Diaries”), Ben Barnes (“The Chronicles of Narnia” films), Simon Quarterman (“The Devil Inside”), Angela Sarafyan (“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”), Luke Hemsworth (“Infini”) and Clifton Collins, Jr. (“Star Trek”).

In the WESTWORLD universe

Among WESTWORLD’s main players are: Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), the brilliant, taciturn and complicated creative director, chief programmer and founder of Westworld, who has an uncompromising creative vision for the park. The Man in Black (Ed Harris) is the distillation of pure villainy into one man. Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) is a provincial, beautiful and kind rancher’s daughter, who begins to discover that her entire idyllic existence is an elaborately constructed lie.

Teddy Flood (James Marsden), a new arrival to a small frontier town, quickly proves both his charm and talent with a revolver. Beautiful, razor-sharp madam Maeve Millay (Thandie Newton) has a genius for reading people and a knack for survival, but her seen-it-all-before worldview is about to be challenged. Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) is the brilliant and quixotic head of the park’s Programming Division, whose keen observation of human nature provides him with boundless inspiration for his life’s work: creating artificial people.

Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) is a mysterious and savvy provocateur with a unique perspective on Westworld. Theresa Cullen (Sidse Babett Knudsen), Westworld’s head of Quality Assurance, is responsible for keeping the park from sliding into unscripted chaos. A first-time visitor, William (Jimmi Simpson) is initially wary of the park’s more lascivious attractions, but slowly uncovers a deeper meaning.

Hector Escaton (Rodrigo Santoro), Westworld’s perennial “most wanted” bandit, subscribes to the theory that the West is a wild place, and the only way to survive is to embrace the role of predator. Elsie Hughes (Shannon Woodward), a sardonic rising star in the Behaviour Department, is charged with diagnosing the odd quirks of behaviour in the park’s hosts. Armistice (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) is a savage fighter and brutal bandit, whose ruthlessness is surpassed only by her abiding loyalty to her fellow outlaws.

Logan (Ben Barnes) is a veteran guest whose hedonistic romp through the park is equally motivated by self-indulgence and a desire to help his friend, William. Lee Sizemore (Simon Quarterman) is the head of Narrative, whose storylines tantalise the guests, while his temperament grates on his colleagues. Clementine Pennyfeather (Angela Sarafyan), one of Westworld’s most popular attractions, is perfectly beguiling, by design.

Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) is the no-nonsense head of Security, charged with monitoring host and human interactions and ensuring the safety of the guests. Lawrence (Clifton Collins, Jr.), a charming but lethal outlaw, has a knack for manoeuvring and negotiating the various criminal elements of Westworld.

WESTWORLD cast and crew video interviews

In addition, six video interviews with the cast and crew of WESTWORLD are also available for your viewing and use. Below are the links:

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About HBO ASIA

Singapore-based HBO Asia brings the best of Hollywood to Asia first through its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood and independent studios, including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO and HBO Asia Original programmes produced exclusively for HBO viewers. Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia with six 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels: HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits, Cinemax and Red by HBO, internet streaming platform, HBO GO, subscription video on demand service, HBO On Demand, and in China, 鼎级剧场 (ding ji ju chang). HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst and the DreamWorks channel in the region. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

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

For more information, please contact HBO Asia:

Karen Lai

Director, Communications

Tel: (65) 6381 1796

Email: karen.lai@hboasia.com

Shermaine Wong

Manager, Communications

Tel: (65) 6381 1838

Email: Shermaine.Wong@hboasia.com

Chan Zi Ning

Executive, Communications

Tel: (65) 6381 1746

Email: zining.chan@hboasia.com

This e-mail is intended only for the use of the addressees. Any copying, forwarding, printing or other use of this e-mail by persons other than the addressees is not authorized. This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us immediately by return e-mail (including the original message in your reply) and then delete and discard all copies of the e-mail.

Seven finalists selected for the Inaugural Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award

26 SEPTEMBER 2016 [Hong Kong] – Telstra today announced seven finalists for the inaugural Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award, recognising outstanding business leaders from Hong Kong, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Cynthia Whelan, Telstra’s Group Executive of International and New Businesses, said Telstra was thrilled at the interest the Award had generated among successful business women across Asia and was proud to be shining a light on a group of inspiring leaders.

“Introducing the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in Asia is an opportunity for us to celebrate women living and working in Asia who have succeeded in their own businesses or led their industries. This is an important part of overcoming the fact women continue to be under-represented on Boards and executive teams in Asia and around the world,” said Ms Whelan.

“Our finalists are successful business women who possess impressive entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, integrity and a commitment to the community. Among the finalists we have leaders from a variety of different backgrounds and cultures, from developed and developing countries, and from established companies like Thomson Reuters and Linfox to new technology businesses like Bubu in Indonesia and iGene in Malaysia.”

Finalists for the 2016 Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award are:

Name	Company	Location
Anu Sheela Themudu	iGene Sdn. Bhd.	Malaysia
Beth Lui	APEC Schools	The Philippines
Gabrielle Costigan	Linfox International Group Pty Ltd	Thailand
Kimberley Cole	Thomson Reuters	Hong Kong
Marion Fromm	Cambodian Harvest Dried Fruit Co., Ltd	Cambodia
Rituparna Chakraborty	TeamLease Services Ltd	India
Shinta Witoyo Dhanuwardoyo	Bubu.com	Indonesia

The finalists for the Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award will join the 2016 Australian State/Territory winners in Melbourne for judging on Tuesday 15 November, followed by the National Workshop on Wednesday 16 November and a Gala Dinner on the same night.

For more information on the Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award and to nominate brilliant business women for the 2017 Awards, visit https://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/

ENDS

Media contact: Gladys Kwok/ +852 2837 4730

Email: gladys.kwok@edelman.com

About Telstra

Telstra is a leading telecommunications and information services company. We offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets in Australia, operating the largest mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Globally, we provide end-to-end solutions including managed network services, global connectivity, cloud, voice, colocation, conferencing and satellite solutions. We have licenses in Asia, Europe and the United States and offer access to more than 2,000 points of presence across the globe. For more information visit www.telstra.com.

Viacom International Media Networks announces executive appointments in Asia Pacific

Paras Sharma Appointed as Southeast Asia’s Senior Vice President & General Manager

MTV Australia & New Zealand’s Simon Bates to Lead MTV Asia Pacific

Kirsty Bloore assumes regional leadership of research

SINGAPORE/ SYDNEY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2016 – Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) today announced executive appointments within the company’s management team in Asia Pacific, which will be effective 1 October 2016.

Paras Sharma, previously Senior Vice President of MTV, Comedy Central & Paramount Channel brands, and Digital Media for Asia, will take on the position of Senior Vice President & General Manager for Southeast Asia (SEA), and will continue to report directly to Mark Whitehead, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, VIMN Asia Pacific.

Simon Bates, Vice President of MTV, Comedy Central & Spike brands for Australia and New Zealand, is appointed Vice President, Head of MTV Asia Pacific, and Comedy Central and Spike for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Bates will dual report to Whitehead for his MTV regional role and to Ben Richardson, Senior Vice President and General Manager in ANZ for his local brand leadership over MTV, Comedy Central and Spike.

Kirsty Bloore, Research Director for ANZ, is promoted to Senior Director, Research for Asia Pacific. Bloore will report to Amit Arora, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Asia Pacific and to Richardson for ANZ research support.

“I am delighted to announce leadership changes that further strengthen our existing leadership team in the region. Their appointments demonstrate how we’re combining the best talent and assets as we maximize operational and creative expertise in the company,” said Mark Whitehead, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific.

About Paras Sharma

With a new focused leadership for the SEA team, Sharma will oversee the management and operations of the SEA business, identify new growth opportunities and develop VIMN’s strategic plan in SEA. He will remain as the Asia lead for VIMN’s digital and multiplatform business.

Over the last two years in Asia, Sharma has delivered a strong track record with high ratings growth for MTV and Comedy Central, introduced Paramount Channel, led the premiere of Nickelodeon Play in Singapore with Singtel, launched Comedy Central’s first Asia original production with Comedy Central Stand-Up Asia! and worked closely with VIMN Japan to launch the first Linear OTT channel MTV Hits in Japan.

About Simon Bates

Bates will lead the brand teams across Asia Pacific to grow the MTV brand and drive synergies across the different lines of businesses and platforms to support revenue growth across Asia Pacific. He will also maintain brand leadership for Comedy Central and Spike in ANZ.

Bates led MTV to its best year ever in Australia this year with record TV ratings and online engagement. He oversaw a busy year of portfolio expansion with the launch of Comedy Central online, and the premieres of Comedy Central and Spike on Fetch TV. He was credited with the development of hit social-series #MTVItGirls and the localization of UK-developed franchises Club MTV and MTV Brand New. Recently, Bates and his Sydney-based team took home two ASTRA Industry Excellence Award wins.

About Kirsty Bloore

With more than two decades of media and research experience, Bloore will provide the businesses with regional consumer and commercial insights, brands’ performance reporting and forecasting.

Bloore has been instrumental in building recognition of the ANZ business as a leader in consumer insights by sharing key studies with the market.

Click HERE to download hi res images of Paras Sharma, Simon Bates and Kirsty Bloore.

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About Viacom International Media Networks

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, MTV LIVE HD, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, Paramount Channel, and more. Viacom brands reach more than 3.4 billion cumulative subscribers in 180+ countries and territories via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties, in 40 languages. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com, blog.viacom.com and the Viacom Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.

Contact:

Viacom International Media Networks

Adeline Ong, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Asia

t: (65) 6420 7240 m: (65) 9366 7323 e: adeline.ong@vimn.com

Irdeto Promotes Bengt Jonsson to Senior Vice President of Global Sales

Following a Successful IBC 2016 and a Series of New Customer and Partner Wins, Irdeto is Poised for Continued Growth Under Jonsson’s Leadership

AMSTERDAM – 26 September 2016 – Irdeto, the world leader in digital platform security, today announced the appointment of Bengt Jonsson as Senior Vice President of Global Sales. A member of Irdeto’s leadership team since 2008, Jonsson will now lead Irdeto’s sales and account management teams worldwide. He is responsible for developing key accounts, fueling new business acquisition and offering Irdeto’s full breadth of 360 security solutions and services to current customers.

Irdeto recently concluded another successful IBC show, which saw new partnerships announced with MStar and Scenarist, as well as new deals with MEDIA BROADCAST and Austrian Broadcasting Services (ORS). The company is well positioned to continue this momentum under Jonsson’s leadership.

“At Irdeto, we believe that a holistic approach is essential for pay media operators and content owners to prosper in today’s evolving pay media landscape,” said Doug Lowther, CEO, Irdeto. “Bengt has a strong track record of growing Irdeto’s business by offering innovative, valuable solutions to operators and content owners. He has proven his ability to build strong relationships with customers and partners through collaboration and open communication. Our customers see immense value in this approach.”

Jonsson joined Irdeto as Vice President Sales, Asia Pacific in July 2008. He was responsible for sales in six regions, including China, Japan, North Asia, South Asia, South East Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

Prior to joining Irdeto, Bengt was CEO of LyngBox Media AB, a Swedish hybrid set-top box start-up, and has also held senior management positions with Thomson’s Client Device business unit in Asia and with Nokia’s multimedia business units in Asia and Europe. Jonsson is based out of the company’s global headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands.

About Irdeto – Irdeto. Building a Secure Future.™

Irdeto is the world leader digital platform security, protecting platforms and applications across multiple industries, such as media & entertainment, payments and automotive. Our solutions and services enable customers to protect their revenue, create new offerings and fight cybercrime. With nearly 50 years of expertise in security, Irdeto’s software security technology and cyber services protect over 2 billion devices for some of the world’s best known brands. Our unique heritage as a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers (JSE: NPN) means that we are a well-established and reliable partner to help build a more secure future. Please visit Irdeto at www.irdeto.com.

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For further information, please contact:

Katie Walsh

Director, Corporate Communications, Irdeto

Mobile: +1-603-738-9599

Email: katherine.walsh@irdeto.com

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