SINGAPORE, 5 AUGUST 2015 – Since 11 January, 1999, Jon Stewart has been host of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning The Daily Show. He will be leaving the show after 17 years and over 2,600 episodes. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart concludes with an extended episode on Comedy Central in Asia on Monday, 10 August at 10.35pm (TH/WIB), 11.35pm (HK/PH/SG/TW), and Tuesday, 11 August at 12.35am (MY).

Guests scheduled to appear this week include Amy Schumer promoting her new film “Trainwreck” (5 August); Denis Leary who makes his 17th guest appearance and is promoting his new series “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll” (6 August); legendary stand-up comedian Louis C.K. (7 August); and for the final show, well, fans will need to tune in.

Jon Stewart, Steve Bodow, Jen Flanz, Tim Greenberg, Jill Katz and Adam Lowitt are the Executive Producers of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart with Hillary Kun as Co-Executive Producer. Pam DePace, Justin Melkmann and Stuart Miller are Supervising Producers. The series’ Head Writer is Elliott Kalan and it is directed by Chuck O’Neil.

Comedy Central, the world’s biggest comedy network, has been making audiences laugh since it first launched in the United States in 1991. Renowned for featuring a stable of exclusive and tailor-made local and international comedy, the brand has become the ultimate destination for all kinds of humour, from traditional to satire to sketches to popular sitcoms. Outside of the United States, Comedy Central, seen in over 70 territories via more than 12 locally programmed and operated TV channels, is part of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information about Comedy Central in Asia, visit www.comedycentralasia.com.

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, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel and more. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 3.2 billion households in approximately 170 territories and 37 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. Keep up with VIMN Asia news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMNAsia_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.

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Media Contact:
Loh Bi Feng
Viacom International Media Networks
Senior Executive, Communications, Asia
t: +65 6420 7154 m: +65 9002 9607
e: loh.bifeng@vimn.com
Twitter: @VIMNAsia_PR

SINGAPORE, August 4, 2015 – HBO Asia (@HBOAsia) today revealed the first production stills from the new HBO Asia Original series, HALFWORLDS (#HALFWORLDS), an eight episode dark thriller series premiering exclusively on HBO networks at the end of this year.

Starring an ensemble cast of leading Asian actors and directed by Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar (Kala; Ritual) and created by HBO Asia, HALFWORLDS reveals a hidden universe in the alleys and backstreets of present day Jakarta where an underground society of demons known as the Demits have lived among us for centuries. As the series unfolds, this delicate balance is disrupted and will bring mortals and demits hurtling towards their destiny.

HALFWORLDS stars Indonesians Salvita Decorte in her breakout role, Arifin Putra (The Raid 2; Macabre), Reza Rahadian (Habibie & Ainun; Guru Bangsa: Tjokroaminoto), Aimee Saras (Musical Onrop), Adinia Wirasti (Tentang Dia; Laura & Marsha), Hannah Al-Rashid (Ritual; V/H/S/2); Tara Basro (Catatan (Harian) Si Boy; Pendekar Tongkat Emas), Alex Abbad (The Raid 2), Ario Bayu (Soekarno; HBO Asia’s Serangoon Road), and Verdi Solaiman (The Raid; Java Heat); as well as Singaporean Nathan Hartono (Musical Spring Awakening) and Malaysian Bront Palarae (Terbaik Dari Langit; Psiko: Si Pencuri Hati). Guest starring 8-year old Malaysian Puteri Balqis (Balqis), best actress winner of the 2014 Asian Television Awards.

HALFWORLDS is HBO Asia’s fourth Original production after DEAD MINE (2012), SERANGOON ROAD (2013) and GRACE (2014).

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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 that are produced exclusively for HBO viewers. Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia and offers a bouquet of channels and services including 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels in standard-definition and high-definition – HBO, HBO SIGNATURE, HBO FAMILY, HBO HITS, CINEMAX and RED – as well as HBO GO and HBO ON DEMAND. HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst in Asia. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

(31 July 2015, Singapore) – MasterChef Asia makes its debut on Lifetime across South East Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau on 3 September, Thursdays at 9pm (SIN/HK). Proudly representing their home countries, 15 amateur cooks hailing from all over Asia will showcase their diverse culinary abilities and skills.

The home cooks participating in the competition include one contestant each from China, India, Taiwan and Vietnam; two from Indonesia; and three from Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

The first MasterChef Asia winner will receive their very own cookbook, a USD$50,000 cash prize, USD$10,000 worth of unique leisure experiences in Singapore, USD$15,000 of Panasonic home appliances, a paid internship at one of Carlton Hotel Singapore’s restaurants and a one week stay at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

Each contestant brings to the show a plethora of culinary interests and unique cooking styles, ranging from traditional Asian, fusion, traditional and contemporary European as well as molecular cuisines.

“MasterChef Asia is the biggest original production we’ve ever undertaken on Lifetime Asia. Producing one of world’s most successful formats is testament to Lifetime being a leading entertainment destination in Asia. The series is coming together really well; there is a wonderful range of culinary creations made by these amateur home cooks and moments I was on the edge of my seat. With the passion for food we have in Asia, we believe audiences will love the show and will no doubt be rooting for their favourite contestants,” said Michele Schofield, Senior Vice President, Programming & Production, A+E Networks Asia.

MasterChef Asia Season One is presented by the Singapore Tourism Board and Knorr, in association with Panasonic, Changi Airport Group, Carlton Hotel Singapore and Air Asia. The series premieres on 3 September, Thursdays at 9pm (SIN/HK) on Lifetime. For more information, please visit the official website at msn.com/masterchefasia.

MasterChef is represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group. The show was originally revived as MasterChef Goes Large in 2005 by Shine TV in the UK and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam.

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About Lifetime®
Lifetime is a premier female-focused entertainment destination dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning scripted series, non-fiction series and movies. As a result of the network’s aggressive programming strategy that has doubled the hours of its original programming, in 2014 the network reached its strongest ranking among the key Women 18-49 demo in six years and its youngest median age in 18 years. Lifetime Television®, LMN®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.

About A+E Networks®
A+E Networks® is one of the world’s leading media companies and America’s second largest cable television network. A+E Networks’ channels are watched all over the world, reaching more than 330 million subscribers in over 200 territories. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation. Its networks and divisions include A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, LMN®, bio.®, H2™, HISTORY en Español™, LRW®, Crime + Investigation™, Military HISTORY®, A&E IndieFilms®, A+E Networks International®, A+E Networks Digital®, and A+E Networks Consumer Products®.

About Endemol Shine Group
Endemol Shine Group is the new joint venture bringing together Endemol, Shine and CORE Media, to create a global content creator, producer and distributor with a portfolio of international hits including American Idol, Big Brother, Black Mirror, Broadchurch, Bron/Broen, Deal or No Deal, Grantchester, Man vs. Food, MasterChef, Mr. Bean, One Born Every Minute, Peaky Blinders, So You Think You Can Dance, The Biggest Loser, The Fall, The Money Drop, Wipeout, and many more.

21st Century Fox and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC jointly manage Endemol Shine Group, with each owning 50 per cent. CORE Media continues to retain its own capital structure within the new joint venture.

Endemol Shine Group’s businesses have creative operations in over 30 markets, with a diverse portfolio of over 600 revenue generating formats across scripted and non-scripted genres; coupled with digital, gaming, and distribution operations.

About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is a leading economic development agency in tourism, one of Singapore’s key service sectors. Known for partnership, innovation and excellence, STB champions tourism, making it a key economic driver for Singapore. We aim to differentiate and market Singapore as a must-visit destination offering a concentration of user-centric and enriching experiences through the “YourSingapore” brand. For more information, please visit www.stb.gov.sg or www.yoursingapore.com.

About Knorr
In 1838, Carl Heinrich Knorr moved to the German city of Heilbronn where he opened a factory and experimented with food drying techniques in order to preserve and guarantee quality, flavour and freshness.

Over time, Knorr has built on Carl Heinrich Knorr’s innovation legacy from the advent of the stock cube in 1910, to stock pots and bake-in-bags over the 21st century. Today, Knorr still defines itself by those same high standards of quality, flavour and freshness. Knorr is one of the world’s largest food brands, sold in more than 87 countries around the world. Based in Heilbronn, Germany, Knorr is Unilever’s largest brand, with a yearly sales value of 4 billion Euros.

At Knorr, we are dedicated to delivering great tasting products. Iconic bouillon cubes and soups are at the heart of the brand. Knorr chefs are culinary experts and creators of Knorr products. Knorr employs over 300 chefs representing over 48 nationalities and is one of the biggest employers of professional chefs worldwide. We are committed to a sustainable future through sourcing agricultural ingredients responsibly and building sustainable practices. As part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, Knorr has committed to source 100% of their agricultural ingredients sustainably by 2020.

For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit www.unilever.com.

About Panasonic Asia Pacific
Panasonic Asia Pacific provides the whole range of the brand’s products and solutions across the South East Asia and Pacific (APAC) region. The company focuses on promoting its Business-to-Business portfolio, such as in the field of energy solutions, whilst maintaining solid Business-to-Consumer growth, in line with the group’s global direction.

The region has 45 manufacturing sites, which hold as a key hub for Panasonic’s global production activities supporting the consumer, solutions and components and devices business. Based in Singapore, Panasonic Asia Pacific regional headquarter encourages locally-initiated energy solutions partnerships and businesses. In this fiscal year, the headquarters will also strengthen the company’s foothold in emerging markets. Panasonic Asia Pacific will continue to promote green innovation and reduce its regional carbon dioxide emissions footprint in support of Panasonic’s global eco initiatives.

About Changi Airport Group
Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) (www.changiairportgroup.com) was formed on 16 June 2009 and the corporatisation of Singapore Changi Airport (IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS) followed on 1 July 2009. As the company managing Changi Airport, CAG undertakes key functions focusing on airport operations and management, air hub development, commercial activities and airport emergency services. CAG also manages Seletar Airport (IATA: XSP, ICAO: WSSL) and through its subsidiary Changi Airports International, invests in and manages foreign airports.

Changi Airport is the world’s sixth busiest airport for international traffic. It served a record 54.1 million passengers from around the globe in 2014. More than 350 retail stores and 160 F&B outlets are situated across three terminals to cater to passengers and visitors. With over 100 airlines providing connectivity to 300 cities worldwide, Changi Airport handles about 6,600 flights every week, or about one every 90 seconds.

About Carlton Hotel Singapore
Carlton Hotel Singapore is the largest independent hotel in Singapore that combines international standards with exceptional service and local charm. Carlton Hotel offers 940 well-appointed rooms with 13 function rooms, award-winning Wah Lok Cantonese restaurant, all-day dining Café Mosaic, Tuxedo Cafe & Pâtisserie, Gravity Bar, a gym and swimming pool. Every part of the hotel experience is crafted to celebrate modern Singapore and dedicated to the comfort of our guests.

Visit www.carltonhotel.sg for more information. Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/CarltonHotelSG

About Air Asia
AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, servicing the most extensive network with over 100 destinations. Within 14 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 260 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 170. The airline is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and India, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries and beyond. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards for seven consecutive years from 2009 – 2015. AirAsia is the first airline globally to collaborate with INTERPOL to implement the I-Checkit system to screen the passports of all its prospective passengers against information contained in the world police body’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.

 

31 July 2015 – Viacom Inc, which received approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to acquire 50 per cent equity stake in Prism TV for Rs 9.4 billion (approximately $153 million) earlier this month, has completed the transaction.

The transaction was completed today (31 July) between Nickelodeon Asia Holdings Pte Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., and Shinano Retail Private Limited, a company effectively 100 per cent owned by Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.

Read more at Indian Television

1 August 2015 – Disney Channel’s junior-villians telepic “Descendants” cast a spell on 6.6 million viewers Friday night, according to preliminary Nielsen estimates.

The big audience for the musical, which chronicles how the children of four classic Disney villains came to choose good over evil, puts it ahead of the network’s “Teen Beach Movie” sequel from June and makes it the year’s most-watched cable TV movie. “Descendants” also ranks No. 1 among all 2015 cable telecasts in kids 2-11 (3 million) and tweens 9-14 (2.3 million).

Read more at Variety

Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) today announces it is becoming a partner of Starburst Accelerator, a start-up accelerator that stimulates innovation in the aerospace industry.

Starburst Accelerator was set up in 2013 to propel innovation in the aerospace sector by closing the gap separating new ventures from established companies, public organisations and venture capital firms. It provides young start-ups with a set of services enabling them to fast-track their growth, including support for business plans, interface with investors and industrial groups, office space and participation in regular workshops. It has also initiated partnerships with university labs in Europe and is expanding this network in the USA.

As the first corporate partner with an operator profile to support Starburst Accelerator, Eutelsat will strengthen the incubator’s interest in start-ups developing services, applications and downstream technologies and will be part of the selection committee, joining innovation experts from partners that include Airbus, Thales, Hutchinson, Panasonic, Liebherr, Safran and Air France-KLM.

Jean-Hubert Lenotte, Director of Strategy of Eutelsat, said: “Becoming a partner of Starburst Accelerator is one more step in our active policy of open innovation, following on from our investment in Sigfox, the fast-growing connectivity provider dedicated to the Internet of Things. In domains where disruptive changes are taking place, teaming with start-ups fosters joint exploring of new approaches and spurs innovation. As a corporate partner of Starburst Accelerator we want to support young ventures in the aerospace sector and help them successfully innovate and grow.”

Francois Chopard, Founder of Starburst Accelerator, added: “We are very excited to have Eutelsat on board, one of the leading operators of communications satellites. As connectivity is becoming a major subject in terms of new services, a growing number of start-ups are entering this field. It is important for us to be able to connect them with one of our partners. We are now closing the loop of the aerospace supply chain.”

For more information about Starburst Accelerator:
www.starburstaccelerator.com

About Eutelsat Communications
Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world’s leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 37 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies.
Eutelsat’s satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user’s location.

Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 32 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.

For more about Eutelsat please visit www.eutelsat.com

SAN JOSE, CA, Jul 28, 2015 (Marketwired via COMTEX) — Harmonic HLIT, +1.69% the worldwide leader in video delivery infrastructure, today announced that Japanese cable TV operator EHIME CATV has deployed Harmonic’s Electra(TM) X3 advanced media processor to support a trial of the country’s first live, full-frame 4K Ultra HD (UHD) channel. Utilizing the highly flexible and scalable Electra X3 media processor to encode UHD content using the HEVC Main 10 codec, EHIME CATV can deliver real-time 2160p60 video to subscribers’ set-top boxes (STBs) at low bit rates, while maintaining video quality targets. The Electra X3 media processor’s advanced compression technology provides EHIME CATV with superior video quality while offering low total cost of ownership (TCO), transforming the live entertainment experience for EHIME CATV viewers.

Read more at Harmonic

30 July 2015 – DreamWorks Animation has teamed up with HBO Asia to launch a dedicated linear TV channel in Thailand – a world first for the company.

The channel will launch in English on Saturday 1 August via local pay-TV operator CTH, featuring content such as DreamWorks original series All Hail King Julien (a spin-off from the Madagascar films), The Adventures of Puss in Boots (featuring the character from Shrek), Casper’s Scare School and Dinotrux.

Read more at Rapid TV News

27 July 2015 – Discovery Communications and Comcast have renewed a carriage agreement, finalizing a contract that had been watched closely by executives in the media industry.

The new deal comes after Discovery’s chief executive, David Zaslav, took issue with the cable giant’s proposed pact to acquire Time Warner Cable earlier in the year, voicing concern in various investor forums. Discovery said it had “critical issues” with the size of a combined Comcast-TW Cable distribution pipeline. Comcast dropped its $45 billion bid to merge with TW Cable in April.

Read more at Variety

28 July 2015 – Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports has acquired the Middle East and North Africa broadcast rights for the Olympic games between 2018 and 2024.

The pay-TV network reportedly paid over US$150 million to secure the coverage of four Games in total from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Read more at Rapid TV News