7 Dec, 2015 – A week after the launch of Discovery’s TV Everywhere app, CEO David Zaslav took the stage on Monday at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York to tout the move into authenticated streaming and offer a word of caution about licensing content to standalone over-the-top platforms.

“We’re unique in that we own all of our content,” said Zaslav. “The best model is that we own it, and we own the relationship with the cable operator or direct-to-consumers. That doesn’t stop us from doing deals with other players, but you should expect that we’ll be rational.”

He added that he does not view all SVOD models as rational deals for Discovery’s business. “They only exist because of our content,” said Zaslav, noting that without licensed content many over-the-top platforms “are dumb pipes.” He continued: “We as an industry are supporting economic models that don’t make sense.”

Read more at the Hollywood Reporter

7 Dec, 2015 – Cartoon Network has launched a TV network built exclusively for a phone or tablet, said to be an innovation that’s never been seen before in Southeast Asia.

Cartoon Network Anything is an app that contains content created for portable mobile platforms, rapidly delivering entertainment “in a unique and fun way.”

The app is free and available for download now on the App Store and Google Play for smartphones and tablets.

Read more at Telecom Asia

7 Dec, 2015 – Feeln, a subscription video streaming service from Hallmark Cards, is now streaming its curated collection of hit Hollywood feature films, the exclusive Hallmark Hall of Fame library and Feeln-originals including their latest series, Breaking Bread with Brooke Burke, to Amazon streaming devices including Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, and select Fire tablets including the new Fire HD 10, Fire HD 8 and Fire. Feeln chose Ooyala, a Telstra subsidiary and a leading innovator in premium video publishing, analytics and monetization, as a key partner to power their experience across devices, seeing impressive growth and viewership on iOS and Android, and now expanding to the Amazon device family.

With Ooyala, Feeln has been able to broaden their reach to an array of new devices that continue to attract a burgeoning digital boomer audience. And, with in-depth analytics and insights empowered by Ooyala IQ, its analytics platform, Feeln is better able to understand how their audience is engaging with content, on what screens, where, what time and more. This allows them to make better business decisions about current distribution strategy as well as future content-licensing or production decisions.

Read more at Advanced Television

(7 December 2015, Singapore) – HISTORY has ordered “Barbarians Rising,” an eight-part docu-drama that reveals the true story of the 700-year struggle to bring down one of strongest empires the world has ever known. “Barbarians Rising” is a global co-production for HISTORY channels produced by October Films. This limited event series is slated to premiere in 2016 across 185+ territories.

“Barbarians Rising” tells the story of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from the perspective of the barbarian rebel leaders. It is a visceral journey into the heart of a wave of rebellions against absolute power. The Roman Empire called them “barbarians” – tribes the Romans viewed beyond the fringe of civilization that lived a brutish and violent existence. However, these were also men and women who launched epic struggles that shaped the world to come.

“Barbarians Rising” features nine of history’s greatest warriors – Hannibal, who vowed a blood oath at the age of nine; Spartacus, the slave-turned-rebel who led a barbarian revolt; Boudica, the Celtic warrior Queen; Arminius, the stolen son of Germany; Attila, scourge of the east; as well as fighting units, the Goths, a fierce people betrayed by the empire; and the Vandals, the wandering raiders who dealt Rome’s final death blow. These monumental tales tell the story of how one of the world’s greatest Empires is undone by their aggressive quest for expansion.

“Barbarians Rising” is a global co-production for HISTORY channels produced by October Films. Executive producers for HISTORY are Kristen Burns, Sally Habbershaw and Russ McCarroll Adam Bullmore is executive producer, Simon George (HISTORY’s “World War II From Space”) is executive director, and Michael Waterhouse (HISTORY’s “The Bible”) is series producer for October Films.

A+E Networks handles worldwide distribution for “Barbarians Rising”.

Disney (NYSE:DIS) and Nintendo (NASDAQOTH:NTDOY) are teaming up to launch a new e-sports special called Clash of Karts: Mario Kart 8 on Disney XD. The show, which will air on Dec. 5, will feature “eight of America’s best young gamers” who will team up with various YouTube stars in a one-hour Mario Kart 8 competition.

Read more at the Motley Fool

5 Dec, 2015 – Zee TV has teamed up with micro-blogging platform Twitter to launch a red carpet app called ‘Twitter Challenger App’ for its annual awards property Zee Rishtey Awards 2015. The app, which has been a rage at the Emmys, Grammy Awards, MTV and the VMA Awards, presents viewers with a quirky, personal avatar of their favourite Zee TV stars, caught candid on the red carpet and captured in their element, sportily taking on fun tasks and questions.

Read more at Television Post

SINGAPORE (December 4, 2015) – AXN Asia scored a major win with Asia’s Got Talent at the 20th Asian Television Awards last night, taking home the Best Adaptation of an Existing Format this year.

The global hit ‘Got Talent’ format, which is co-owned by FremantleMedia and Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, premiered on AXN in early 2015 across 20 territories in Asia; and was the first pan-regional edition of the format. During the season from March to May, Asia’s Got Talent set new ratings records for the English general entertainment genre taking AXN to the number one spot in its timeslot among all regional pay-TV channels collectively across Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

“The success of Asia’s Got Talent has been phenomenal and we are thankful for the recognition of this award, which reflects the hard work of our production, programming and marketing teams,” said Ang Hui Keng, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia. “We sincerely thank Fremantlemedia Asia for producing such a world class show, our partners: Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex, Jetstar, GrabTaxi and Great Eastern Life; the amazing contestants, our outstanding judges: Anggun, David Foster, Melanie C and Van Ness Wu; and especially the AXN viewers for their fantastic support.”

Billed as the biggest talent competition in the world, an impressive 63 versions of the international ratings phenomenon have now been commissioned worldwide across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle-East.

“We are thrilled with this win,” said Glenn Sims, Director, Creative Content, FremantleMedia Asia. “The Asian version of ‘Got Talent’ featured some of the most incredible performing artists ever on the show and AXN stayed true to the essence of the formula that has seen this format continue to dominate all talent competitions.”

Now in its 20th year, the Asian Television Awards recognizes and rewards programming and production excellence in the Asian television industry. The Awards draws about 1,400 entries each year from a wide range of broadcasters, including free-to-air TV stations and pay-TV platforms as well as many independent production houses in Asia.

Asian Television Award 2015: Best Adaptation of an Existing Format
AXN for Asia’s Got Talent
FremantleMedia, Syco Entertainment & Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia

About Asia’s Got Talent

Filipino shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra of Tanauan, Batangas, was crowned the first ever grand champion of Asia’s Got Talent during the results show held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. As grand winner, El Gamma brought home a cash prize of $100,000.

Celebrity judges included multiple Grammy-winning musician David Foster, UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl Melanie C, Indonesian rock icon Anggun and Taiwanese-American pop idol Van Ness Wu. The show was hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez and co-hosted by Singaporean Youtuber and Power98FM DJ’s Dee Kosh who provided sneak previews, highlights and behind-the-scenes commentary on social platforms.

In the Philippines, the season finale was the highest rated pay-TV program in the country since 2009, and commanded a 96 percent share among 22 English GE channels.

Based on data shared by Facebook, tremendous buzz was generated for Asia’s Got Talent online as interactions peaked when new episodes of Asia’s Got Talent aired every Thursday on AXN. A total of 6.56 million people contributed to Asia’s Got Talent social conversations and engagement; 17.7 million Asia’s Got Talent-related posts, comments, likes and shares were made – of which 4.7 million interactions took place after the final results show on 14 May. Exclusive premieres and behind-the-scenes Asia’s Got Talent video content garnered a total reach of 37.4 million.

Asia’s Got Talent was executive produced by Derek Wong (Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia); and Paul O’Hanlon (Fremantlemedia Asia).

Asia’s Got Talent was presented by Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex, Jetstar, GrabTaxi and Great Eastern Life.

About AXN

AXN is Asia’s leading general entertainment channel featuring exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, reality programs and groundbreaking original productions. Notable original series include four seasons of the international Emmy-nominated ‘The Amazing Race Asia’; the Asian Television Award-winning ‘Cash Cab Asia’; ‘The Apprentice Asia’; ‘Cyril: Rio Magic’; ‘Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition’; and the Asian Television Award-nominated ‘Cyril: Simply Magic’.

The channel appeals to a discerning audience seeking content that is smart, intriguing and unexpected, and all delivered close to U.S telecasts. From The Blacklist and Quantico, to The Voice and The Amazing Race Asia, AXN is defined not by a genre, but by an attitude that truly redefines action.
Launched first in Asia in 1997, AXN is a global channel brand with a presence in Latin America, Africa and Europe. In Asia, the channel is enjoyed in 85 million households across 20 territories.
AXN Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates leading channels including Animax, Sony Channel, ONE and GEM.
www.AXN-Asia.com

For further information, please contact:
Jennifer Doig
Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Jennifer_Doig@spe.sony.com
+65 6622 4278