Hong Kong/Singapore, 1 December 2015 – Letv and Rewind Networks announced the addition of HITS (Letv Channel 21) to Letv’s channel line-up starting 1 December, 2015. HITS will be available to all Letv subscribers in HD and subtitled in Traditional Chinese.

“We loved the HITS proposition as soon as we heard about it! We’re proud to provide a home for the best HITS on TV to Hong Kong viewers. Letv goal is to be the largest and most influential entertainment platform in Asia. HITS’ programming is a natural fit in our growing stable of channels,” says Mr. Tin Mok, CEO for APAC at Letv, “Fans of series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seinfeld, The X-Files, Three’s Company and Diff’rent Strokes are sure to rejoice!”

Mr. Avi Himatsinghani, CEO of Rewind Networks, said, “It’s been such a privilege to be on 10 major platforms just in time for HITS’ second anniversary! Even though our name is Rewind, we like to be forward in our practice and embracing new innovative platforms and consumer experiences such as Letv. We are pleased to be among the first general entertainment channels on Letv. We’ve been blown away by the love that we’ve received from all our affiliate partners and look forward to launching on more platforms in 2016!”

HITS’ selection of multi-award winning series brings the greatest stories and famous characters to a new generation of TV viewers whilst breathing new life into iconic shows. Ratings successes in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and other markets have proven that HITS’ curation of these awesome shows resonate with viewers in the region. The portfolio of HITS’ shows launched the careers of A-list stars including Robin Williams in Mork & Mindy and Jerry Seinfeld from Seinfeld. Other shows such as MacGyver, M*A*S*H and The X-Files reinvented their genres.

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30 November 2015 – Tata Sky is looking to make Tata Sky Everywhere completely free. Deepak Mukut, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Tata Sky, reveals that free is the magical word and the drive behind an increase in terms subscribers. In the following interview given to NexTV India, Mukut exposes Tata Sky’s plan to increase their share of the market…

Read more at NexTV India

30 November 2015 – Amazon and BBC Worldwide are set to co-produce a period fashion drama from UK prodco Lookout Point, marking Amazon’s first foray into UK originals.

The online streaming service has commissioned 8 x 60-minute episodes of The Collection, which was created by Ugly Betty executive producer Oliver Goldstick, in association with BBC Worldwide.

The drama, which has received investment from Pinewood Wales, will be produced in Wales and France from January and will air next year…

Read more at Advanced Television

ATF / SINGAPORE (December 1, 2015) – Turner has commissioned an original production that profiles the world’s first and only tropical botanic gardens to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entitled A World Icon: Singapore Botanic Gardens, the program will premiere on Turner’s recently-launched World Heritage Channel in Asia.

The 60-minute special signals the start of the channel’s commitment to creating original Asian documentary content, and entertaining viewers about the most beautiful, the most interesting and the most important heritage sites across the region. The project is also timed to document this year’s official ceremony that confirms Singapore Botanic Gardens’ successful bid for inclusion on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Produced in 4K and using state-of-the-art drone technology to film awe-inspiring aerial cinematography, A World Icon: Singapore Botanic Gardens will feature epic time-lapses coupled with slow-motion sequences to paint a mesmerizing and unforgettable picture of this botanic masterpiece. Expert historians, botanists and taxonomists will help tell the story of this revered garden – from its historical and cultural heritage to the oldest tree, largest orchid collection in the world, colonial buildings and new scientific breakthroughs, whilst shedding light on what future lies in store for this national treasure.

“The Botanic Gardens of Singapore is not just a green oasis in the heart of one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan metropolis. This is a garden like no other with fascinating stories of history, heritage, culture and science, hidden in each petal, leaf and brick. This documentary will chart in a way like nothing you’ve ever seen before, the phenomenal evolution and transformation of a modest tropical garden into a world icon,” said Ricky Ow, President of Turner Asia Pacific.

He added: “The project is perfect for World Heritage Channel, which is home to some of the most awe-inspiring history, culture, travel and nature programming. And I cannot think of a more exciting start to the first in a series of original productions for our newest brand, World Heritage Channel, as well as a more fitting way to commemorate Singapore’s golden jubilee anniversary.”

Beach House Pictures – producers of the award-winning nature series Kakadu, the Sir David Attenborough-narrated blue-chip wildlife series Wild City, and the epic two-part China from Above – has been commissioned to produce A World Icon: Singapore Botanic Gardens. Filming is scheduled to commence immediately and the documentary is expected to air in late 2015 or early 2016.

The 150-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens was inscribed in July 2015 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Germany, Bonn. It is the first and only tropical botanic garden on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and is the first in Asia and only the third inscribed botanic gardens anywhere. The 74-hectare gardens holds a unique and significant place in the history of Singapore and the region.

The launch of World Heritage Channel was announced in March 2015.

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Mumbai, Dec 1 : Home grown media and entertainment group TV-18, now a part of the Reliance Industries stable, on Tuesday said it has renewed its pact with Turner Broadcasting System to offer viewers news, views and debates with a global perspective on the CNN-IBN platform.

“Both parties embark on this new chapter with a determination to refresh CNN-IBN and provide a credible, non-partisan service that will deliver the latest news about local affairs and an Indian perspective to international developments,” a company statement said.

Read more at Newkerala

Doha, Paris, 30 November 2015 – Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL), one of the world’s leading satellite operators, today announced a distribution agreement between its Eutelsat Broadband subsidiary and Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading communications company, to deliver an enhanced VSAT service for businesses called “VSAT Internet”.

The new service will be based on the high-performance KA-SAT satellite dedicated to broadband services. By selecting the KA-SAT infrastructure, Ooredoo has chosen the fastest and highest-quality satellite broadband service in the Middle East. Ooredoo’s “VSAT Internet” will deliver a reliable and competitively-priced solution that compares to terrestrial broadband, with download speeds up to 22 Mbps and upload speeds up to 6 Mbps. Through this service, Ooredoo aims to deliver communications support for a wide range of applications such as point-of-sale transactions, data processing, reservation systems and high-speed Internet access, ensuring business continuity.

Ooredoo’s new service is particularly useful for businesses in remote locations operating notably in desert and coastal waters. It provides immediate access and the benefits of a flexible connectivity model with on-demand volume booster, and a secure system with a 24/7 command control centre (CCC) for constant monitoring. It is designed to deliver tailored communication for businesses operating in sectors such as construction, hospitality, manufacturing, tourism and agriculture as well as government agencies and news agencies.

Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Operating Officer of Ooredoo Qatar, said: “We’ve launched this new VSAT service to ensure that Qatar’s businesses have the best connections available 24/7 anywhere in the country. We are confident that this solution, powered by Eutelsat’s innovative KA-SAT satellite, will help us to better match service to the specific requirements of our enterprise customers.”

Patrice Segura, Head of Sales France & MENA, Eutelsat Broadband, added: “This distribution agreement marks a first for Eutelsat Broadband in the Middle East, leveraging on Eutelsat’s broad experience in broadcasting in the region. We are convinced that the performance of satellite broadband through KA-SAT will be ideally suited for answering business needs in the Gulf States and coastal waters.”

“VSAT Internet” is available from QR 3,000 per month (774€). Data Packs are also available to boost volume after consuming the 200 GB monthly data quota. Customers benefit from one fixed public IP address per link.

For full details of all plans, pricing and offers available for business customers please visit http://www.ooredoo.qa/en/vsat-internet.

Singapore, 30 November 2015 – Discovery is embarking on its newest global social activation effort – a comprehensive worldwide initiative and campaign focused on species conservation tied to Discovery Channel’s 2 December global television premiere of RACING EXTINCTION, a landmark film by Academy Award®-winning director Louis Psihoyos. Discovery continues its legacy of exploring and celebrating the wonders of our planet with the groundbreaking film, and extends past it with this global campaign that empowers viewers to make a positive impact on the world.

The RACING EXTINCTION campaign will launch with new content, a dedicated digital platform, an education curriculum and calls to action that encourage consumers to pledge their commitment to do “1Thing” to save the planet and its creatures. The mission of the campaign is long-term reduction of both carbon emissions and consumer demand for endangered species.

Discovery’s hosts Buddy Valastro, Jock Zonfrillo, Janet Hsieh, Erwan Heussaff, Nadya Hutagalung and Henry Golding are joining the call to action. Actress, host and radio DJ Melody Chen; actor and host Randall Tan; actor, host and FLY Entertainment Artiste Suhaimi Yusof; and actress and FLY Entertainment Artiste Tan Kheng Hua; together with many local personalities and influencers from across the region are also lending their support and pledging their “1Thing”. The personalities are featured in a series of spots which are airing on Discovery Channel and TLC, and on Discovery Channel’s online platforms.

Other personalities from Southeast Asia who are participating in the campaign:
• Aishah Sinclair – Radio Announcer and Television Personality (Malaysia)
• Ean Nasrun – Radio Announcer and Television Personality (Malaysia)
• Elvira Arul – Vocalist and Performer (Malaysia)
• Harith Iskander – Stand-up Comedian, Actor and Director (Malaysia)
• Marina Mahathir – Writer and Social Activist (Malaysia)
• Natalie Kniese – Radio Announcer, Emcee and Host (Malaysia)
• Russell Curtis – Recording Artiste (Malaysia)
• Anna Cabrera – Executive Director of PAWS Animal Welfare Society (Philippines)
• Brian McLelland – Founder of Bambika (Philippines)
• Marc Nelson – WWF Ambassador (Philippines)
• Pia Cayetano – Senator (Philippines)
• Daniel Mananta – Television Personality, Host (Indonesia)
• JFlow – Musician (Indonesia)
• Mike Lewis – Actor, Model, Television Host (Indonesia)
• Riyanni Djangkaru – Marine Environmentalist (Indonesia)

In Singapore, a screening was held last week at the historic Capitol Theatre, with a talk by tropical rainforest ecologist and President of the Nature Society Singapore (NSS), Dr Shawn Lum. Discovery is also partnering with the NSS to organise various activities for the public, such as the Horseshoe Crab rescue and research programme, a coastal clean-up at Mandai mudflats, and a forest clean-up at Pulau Ubin. In Malaysia, Discovery has partnered with the Malaysia Nature Society to host screenings for students of Universiti Putra Malaysia in Selangor and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Johor. A screening was also held in Jakarta.

Discovery is supporting the theatrical screening of RACING EXTINCTION at the Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival in Hong Kong through its social media platforms and press engagement, and in Taiwan the campaign is fronted by singer-songwriter Cheer Chen. In India, there is a nationwide outreach to press, social media, and schools, and a mobile marketing campaign.

In addition, combining the immersive power of virtual reality with Discovery’s 30-year history of engaging and exceptional content, DISCOVERY VR – the company’s virtual reality product – will debut six original experiences focused on some of the world’s most majestic animals in VR comprising species of endangered or vulnerable elephants, rhinos, lions, whale sharks, manta rays, and giraffes. This virtual reality content will be showcased at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris from 30 November to 11 December, 2015. The new endangered species experiences are available for iOS and Android, as well as at DiscoveryVR.com. Additional VR content from Discovery can be enjoyed on network YouTube channels and on Facebook.

RACING EXTINCTION and #StartWith1Thing: Together, We Can Make Our World a Better Place

RACING EXTINCTION will be the catalyst for a larger, ongoing campaign utilizing the hashtag #StartWith1Thing to serve as Discovery’s call to action to create a global movement behind the television event. #StartWith1Thing seeks to unite the world by pledging simple lifestyle changes that can add up to big benefits for endangered species, the environment and humanity itself. Discovery will leverage its global premiere and additional platforms, including custom branded content, digital, social media and virtual reality, along with its partners to ignite curiosity and global actions people can take in four areas: fighting wildlife trafficking, reducing carbon emissions through use of green energy/transport, supporting green causes, and eating less meat.

The campaign will aggregate individual actions to demonstrate the impact that occurs when people unite as a global community. Consumers are encouraged to find inspiration for their “1Thing” by visiting the “#StartWith1Thing” section on www.racingextinction.com. Consumers can choose a variety of things to do daily, weekly and monthly, and track progress along with the world via social media.

For more information on RACING EXTINCTION and about #StartWith1Thing, visit www.discoverychannelasia.com/shows/racing-extinction.

In Singapore, RACING EXTINCTION encores on Thursday, 3 December at 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5 December at 2:20 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 6 December at 10:40 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Discovery Channel (StarHub channel 422).

The RACING EXTINCTION campaign is in partnership with Vulcan Productions and the Oceanic Preservation Society.

Click here for programme images or to view the Racing Extinction trailer and personality clips.

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LUXEMBOURG/BURKINA FASO, 27 November 2015 – SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), a world leading satellite operator, and Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI), the official electoral body of Burkina Faso, today announced that they have partnered to enable secure digital transmission of the electoral results of the Burkinabe Presidential Election on 29 November from 368 locations across the country.

Electoral district offices across Burkina Faso will be connected to the central CENI office in the capital Ouagadougou utilising SES Techcom Services’ Astra Connect VSAT terminals. SES Techcom Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES. The communications platform will use ASTRA 2G capacity at 28.2 degrees East, being managed and monitored by SES Techcom Services. In addition, Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone communication will be provided at each deployed site to enable constant contact and coordination with the headquarters in the capital.

Managing Director of SES Techcom Services Gerhard Bethscheider said, “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with CENI for the Burkinabe Presidential Election, and to see that rollout is well under way. Utilising our Astra Connect solution, voters’ choices, even from isolated or remote regions, can be collated and transferred across the country, ensuring all voters’ voices are heard.”

Between the electoral district offices and CENI headquarters in Ouagadougou, satellite capacity will enable transportation of electoral data, allowing CENI to disseminate election results within a week of the voting date.

“SES Techcom Services’ satellite broadband solution ensures a high degree of reliability in collecting voters’ choices,” said President of CENI Barthélemy Kéré. “Through greater transparency and improved collation of results, we are able to achieve greater political stability and further develop democracy in Burkina Faso.”

(27 November 2015, Singapore) – HISTORY Asia premieres Terror: Seven Days In Paris, a quick turnaround documentary on the recent Paris attacks, on 3 December, Thursday at 11pm.

Produced by NBC Peacock Productions, the hour-long special follows two camera teams in the week following the violence that shook Paris on November 13. The special will provide exclusive footage of the dawn siege by police in the Parisian quarter of St. Denis, as well as interviews with witnesses to the killings, medical personnel, the owner of the Bataclan concert hall, and Paris-based international terrorism experts.

The documentary will also touch upon other major recent acts of terrorism that have held significant global impact, including the September 11 attacks; the Madrid bombings in 2004; 7/7 in London in 2005; the Charlie Hebdo killings in January; the Russian plane bombing in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula; and the strikes in Beirut, which took place the day before the Paris attacks.

Terror: Seven Days in Paris premieres 3 December, Thursday at 11pm on HISTORY, StarHub TV Ch 401, with repeat airings on 4 December, Friday at 7pm and 5 December, Saturday at 9pm.

LUXEMBOURG, 27 November 2015 — SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announced today the inauguration of its new Antenna Field Technical Facility (ATF) building – that hosts the Satellite Operations Centre (SOC) – in the presence of HRH the Grand Duke Henri and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Vice Prime Minister Etienne Schneider.The new ATF is a result of the significant growth of the SES fleet controlled from the Betzdorf SOC.

The 450 square metres SOC overlooks the new antenna field and displays state-of-the-art features, as well as the highest level of redundancy for infrastructure including power, cooling, network, security and computer systems.
From this SOC, a team of highly-skilled satellite controllers provides 24/7 monitoring and management of 33 SES satellites, as they deliver a range of services including broadcasting high quality television channels; corporate networks for major global companies; high-speed connectivity for airlines and the maritime industry; and supporting multiple Government activities around the world. The SOC is sized to control up to 100 satellites and is organised in consoles, with one controller managing six to nine satellites from a single console.

The remaining satellites from the SES fleet are operated from Gibraltar and Princeton (US).
The ATF designed by Christian Bauer Associés fits into the high-tech context of the overall Betzdorf site. It displays metal and glass facades to its exterior and perforated metal textures within exterior surfaces.

Divided into four levels, the ATF enhances technical support for the new antenna field and helps improve engineers’ working conditions, while a central stairwell with zenithal lighting via multiple domes provides access to the different levels and various functional areas. The main roof is “extensively green” with rain water funneled from the top of the roof to all rain water reservoirs throughout the entire facility and then further supplied to nature.

“With a constant eye on operational excellence, resiliency, customer success and security, SES has positioned its three primary satellite operations centers in widely diverse regions of the world,” noted Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer for SES. “Our new Luxembourg-based SOC features the latest control technologies and capabilities that will allow SES to meet ever-evolving customer demands and an ever-changing satellite fleet for decades to come,” Halliwell said. “Whether it’s electric propulsion satellites or an expanding fleet, SES has the expertise and the advanced satellite control stations to deliver on the future.”

The ATF building meets the requirements of the “New Energy Passport” for business-industrial and office buildings while certification as a Class C building is targeted. This is achieved through the implementation of powerful technology as well as other architectural measures, which meet energy requirements. For instance, a new energy-efficient cooling, free-chilling system, substantially lowers the costs of cold production and improves heat exchange. In addition, the amount of energy required to produce heat has been kept to an extreme minimum and is sourced from waste heat from the refrigeration compressors which are operated as heat pumps.