11 August 2015 – Unlike HBO, AMC is taking a cautious approach into creating a standalone streaming service.

In July, AMC’s parent company, AMC Networks, launched Shudder, a subscription video service dedicated to fans of horror films and TV shows. Available for $4.99 per month, it’s the company’s second OTT product after the documentary-focused SundanceNow Doc Club, which charges $6.99 per month. (Both services also offer year-long membership options that shave the monthly price off by a dollar or two.)

Read more at Digiday

(Singapore, 11 August 2015) ̶ BBC Worldwide today announced the appointment of Kelvin Yau as General Manager, Greater China with effect from 17 August 2015.

In his new role, Kelvin will oversee BBC Worldwide’s channel and content distribution, local production, affiliate distribution and brand development activities across Greater China including Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. He will also be responsible for BBC Worldwide’s format and brand licensing in these territories.

Commenting on Kelvin’s appointment, David Weiland, EVP for BBC Worldwide Asia, said: “We are very excited to have someone of Kelvin’s caliber to join BBC Worldwide. He brings with him an excellent track record in business development to the team. Kelvin’s vast experience will also serve as a catalyst for BBC’s continual growth in the highly dynamic Greater China market.”

Kelvin joins BBC Worldwide from The Economist Group where he was Managing Director, China and Taiwan. Prior to The Economist Group, Kelvin held positions at Euromoney Publications and IR-VONline.com.

Kelvin said: “BBC Worldwide has accomplished tremendous success in building the reach and reputation of BBC overseas. As an avid admirer of the British creativity advocated by BBC, I am looking forward to joining BBC Worldwide and helping promote its quality content across Greater China.”

Kelvin will be based in Beijing. He joins Monty Ghai, SVP & GM (Southeast Asia), Myleeta Aga, SVP & GM (India) and Soojin Chung, GM (Northeast Asia), reporting to David Weiland.
-Ends-

For more information, please contact:

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

Gladys Sim
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Gladys.Sim@bbc.com

Notes to editors:

About BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.

In 2014/15, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £138.6m and headline sales of £1,001.8m and returned a record £226.5m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview
bbcworldwide.com twitter.com/bbcwpress

PCCW (SEHK:0008) – HONG KONG, August 11, 2015 – PCCW Media Limited, which operates Hong Kong’s leading pay-TV service now TV, has been awarded exclusive rights to broadcast Liga Nacional de Futbol Profesional (“La Liga”) in Hong Kong for the next three football seasons to 2017/18.

The Spanish La Liga is one of the best and most popular football leagues in the world, currently featuring some of the world’s top players including Barcelona’s strikers Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Luis Suárez, Real Madrid’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, along with several raising stars from Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla FC. La Liga and PCCW Media are finalizing contract formalities for the Hong Kong broadcast rights.

now TV will offer viewers the most comprehensive and exciting La Liga experience by delivering live coverage of matches in every season in both High Definition* (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) formats. Viewers will be able to enjoy matches on-the-go via now Player app or relive their favorite matches using now TV’s Video-on-Demand service.

Ms. Loke Kheng Tham, PCCW’s Executive Vice President of Pay TV, said, “We are proud to have been awarded another three seasons of La Liga to bring to Hong Kong football fans. Being Hong Kong’s home of sports, the award of the La Liga broadcast rights represents our continued commitment to bringing the world’s best sports actions to our customers.”

Mr. Javier Tebas Medrano, President of La Liga, said, “La Liga is delighted to extend our long term partnership with now TV in Hong Kong. We believe that La Liga fans are well taken care of with now TV’s comprehensive coverage and innovative features of its services.”

– # –

*Subscription to now TV’s HD service is required to watch the matches in HD. Other terms and conditions apply.

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 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 offers the widest range of local and international content on its platform in Hong Kong. Its quality self-produced content includes two news channels and a diverse line up of entertainment and infotainment programmes. This is complemented by leading Asian and international content and brands across news, entertainment, information and sports genres including the exclusive Barclays Premier League.

now TV’s premium content can be accessed through linear TV channels, on-demand and via OTT companion apps while on the move. now TV can also be enjoyed on the eye devices provided by HKT, the telecommunications business of PCCW.

To learn more about now TV, please visit http://nowtv.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.

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.

For further information, please contact:

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

Aug 11, 2015 – BBC Worldwide has appointed Kelvin Yau as the company’s new general manager for Greater China, effective August 17.

In his new position, Yau will be responsible for BBC Worldwide’s channel and content distribution, local production, affiliate distribution and brand development activities across Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. He will also handle the company’s format and brand licensing in the Greater China region. He will work out of Beijing under David Weiland, the executive VP for BBC Worldwide Asia.

Read more at World Screen

6 August 2015 – Singtel TV and Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific have struck a carriage deal on IPTV platform. As per the deal, Singtel mio TV will add Eurosport and Eurosport News on its channel catalogue on 11 August. These channels will replace mio Sports 2 and mio Sports 3.

Eurosport owns broadcast rights to UEFA Champions League and Europa League rights in Singapore and to the US Open event. Eurosport features over 60 genres of sports content and it will be available on channel number 112. Eurosport News which can be watched on channel number 113 provides an update on live scores, highlights, breaking news and commentary.

Read more at NexTV Asia

5 August 2015 – Discovery has made a content deal to provide clips of current series on its networks and full-episodes of past seasons to Verizon mobile subscribers.

The agreement was announced by Discovery CEO David Zaslav during the company’s second-quarter earnings conference call Wednesday.

Zaslav says the deal helps Discovery move beyond its traditional subscriber base. It comes at a time when pay TV subscribers are declining and more are relying on streaming to consume video programming.

Read more at Broadcasting Cable

Singapore, August 3, 2015: As part of its continuous endeavor to provide TV viewers globally with their favorite Indian TV soaps and serials, Sony Entertainment Television Asia, is pleased to announce the launch of the leading Indian television channels: Sony Entertainment Television Asia, SET Max and SAB, will now be available on Yupp TV in Singapore, known to have one of the largest overseas Indian populations.

One of India’s leading entertainment channels, Sony Entertainment Television Aisa (SET) continues to create exceptionally popular shows since its inception in 1995 with remarkable characters that have remained etched in the minds of the viewers. SET has always been ahead in sensing the pulse of audiences and offers a bouquet of shows that caters to all age groups.

From the very popular Reality shows such as Indian Idol and Kaun Banega Crorepati to Thrillers such as CID and Crime Patrol to top of the line fiction shows such as Ekta Kapoors’ Itna karo Na Mujhe Pyaar, Goldie Behl’s Reporters, futuristic fiction 2025 Aage kya hoga (to be launched soon) to Historical such as Mahanana Prathap to Mythology- Mahabali Hanumaan to Suryaputra Karna, SET keeps venturing in unchartered territories to entertain the audiences always.
Sony MAX, India’s premium Bollywood movies and special events channel boasting of over 1000 titles ranging from latest releases to timeless classics with key banners like Yash Chopra studios, Vishesh Films and Film Kraft.

Sony SAB, a “one of its kind” linear comedy channels focusing on entertaining, with a line-up of 24×7 comedy programs Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma, Chidiyaghar, Yum Hai Hum, Bade Door Se Aaayein Hain etc.

Mr. Neeraj Arora, EVP and International Business Head, said, “With an aim to offer the finest entertainment to viewers in markets across the world, we are excited to extend our partnership with YuppTV to offer SET Asia, Sony MAX and Sony SAB to subscribers in Singapore. We trust that viewers of South Asian content will enjoy the channels’ wide variety of offerings, innovative programs and light-hearted content dedicated to promoting an enjoyable ‘family-viewing’ experience.”

With this move, YuppTV’s offering has become stronger in the Singapore region. As one of the largest internet TV providers of South Asian Content, YuppTV delivers 200+ Indian TV channels worldwide in 13 Indian languages, as Live TV, and 10 days of revolutionary Catch-up TV, along with Movies from various production houses. Languages in Singapore region include Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Gujarati, Sinhala and Kannada.

“Meeting the high demand for Indian television offerings, we are pleased to take three of India’s most popular channels to the TV viewers in Singapore. We are confident that the Indian Diaspora will be delighted to watch their favourite shows on Sony Entertainment Television, SET Max and SAB. The Premium content that YuppTV is offering to the viewers across the world continues to grow and expand its scope as we add leading channels to our catalogue. This launch we trust will be the source of much pleasure to viewers across Singapore,” said Mr. Uday Reddy, CEO of YuppTV.

About Sony MSM Network
Sony MSM Network, one of the leading Hindi Entertainment networks has won over 400 million viewers worldwide, which includes countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East , Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives etc.

About YuppTV
YuppTV is one of the largest internet TV providers of South Asian Content. YuppTV delivers more than 200 live Indian TV channels in 13+ Indian languages, worldwide. Users can watch live TV, 10 days of Catch-up TV and enjoy Indian movies anytime anywhere. Users can access YuppTV via 25+ internet enabled devices: Smart TVs, Internet STBs, Blu-ray players, PCs, Gaming consoles, Smart Phones and Tablets. Visit us at: www.yupptv.com

For further information please contact:
Anjanaa Wyyuru
Marketing Executive
MSM Asia Limited
Singapore 529482
Tel: (65) 66329471

3 Aug 2015 – Infotainment broadcaster Discovery celebrates its completion of 20 years in India on the same day as India’s commemorates 69th year of independence. The channel will air a special programme on the occasion. Titled ‘India Emerges: A Visual History’, the special is a three-part series that will bring alive pages from history books, placing viewers at the epicentre of the story of contemporary India. The programme will unfold rare archival and never-seen-before footage to narrate the story of the birth of independent India. Discovery will air this exclusive programme every evening at 8 pm from 14 to 16 August.

Read more at Television Post

4 August 2015 – Scripps Networks Interactive, which restructured last year, reported a big jump in earnings despite a small gain in advertising revenue.

Net income rose 26% to $193.7 million, or $1.49 a share, from $153.8 million, or $1.07 per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 3.4% to $732.1 million. Ad revenue rose 1.2% to $502.9 million, and affiliate fee revenue was up 8.7% to $215.2 million.

Read more at Multichannel

5 August 2015 – Time Warner reported higher earnings as cost cuts at Turner Broadcasting boosted operating income. Profits were lower at HBO as it spent on marketing and technology launching HBO Now.

Second-quarter net income rose 14% to $971 million, or $1.16 a share, from $850 million, or 95 cents a share, a year ago.

Read more at Broadcastng Cable