The Walt Disney Company is among the lead investors in virtual-reality startup JauntVR’s $66 million Series C round of funding. It’s the latest evidence that Hollywood wants in on VR before the technology is widely available.

Silicon Valley-based Jaunt has developed an end-to-end cinematic virtual-reality content-creation platform that includes a custom camera capable of shooting high-end, professional-quality 360-degree footage, software for stitching the footage together, a distribution system, and a Los Angeles VR production studio. It announced the funding today.

Read more at Fast Company

Three-year deal for airing soccer games from 2016 season may be worth $400 million, say experts
LeTV Sports, the sports arm of China’s biggest online video company LeTV Holdings Co Ltd, has snapped up the Hong Kong rights to the English Premier League soccer games for the next three years starting 2016, as part of its efforts to bring in new technology and securing a number of exclusive television properties.
Though LeTV did not disclose the exact terms of the agreement at a news conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday, industry sources said it could be as high as $400 million-plus for the three years, more than double what the current rights holder PCCW’s Now TV paid for a similar three-year deal.

Beijing-based LeTV is aggressively expanding into the Hong Kong pay TV market, which has been dominated until recently by Now TV and i-Cable.

Cheng Yizhong, the newly appointed CEO of LeTV Sports in Hong Kong, said that LeTV will also webcast some Premier League matches in ultra high-definition quality during the 2016-17 season.

Read more at China Daily

SINGAPORE, September 22, 2015 – Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia is launching a refreshed visual identity for AXN with an impactful original new look that aligns with the channel’s current programming focus. The new branding, including a new logo, graphic elements and marketing campaign, will roll out across AXN’s on-air and online platforms just prior to the premiere of The Voice Season 9 tonight.

“While AXN continues to be the pay TV destination for action, we are also tapping into an audience seeking content filled with intrigue, passion and heroes,” said Hui Keng Ang, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia. “Our new look aligns with that programming sensibility and speaks to today’s viewers, who are connecting with our brand across linear and digital channels, as well as social media.”

AXN’s dynamic new logo features a custom-built avante garde typeface, accentuated by a three-dimensional pyramid, which is a classic shape associated with mystery and the convergence of energy, bathed in striking shades of red.

“Red evokes energy, action, passion and danger. We are harnessing the power of that color in a new campaign that encourages viewers to discover and embrace the sense of fearlessness that permeates AXN’s series,” explains Maurizio Vitale, senior vice president of marketing, Networks for SPT, who oversaw the network’s brand refresh globally.

The network’s new “Redefining Action” campaign, which will roll out simultaneously with the refreshed brand identity, underscores the channel’s focus on programming defined not by a particular genre but by an overall attitude — intense, intriguing, smart and unexpected.

Complementing the bold new look, AXN has a stellar line up of new and returning series to get viewers excited for the Fall TV season. The focus on intense, intriguing, smart and unexpected stories is reflected in the premiere on September 28 of highly anticipated drama Quantico, starring Bollywood icon Priyanka Chopra; a show not short of twists where one of the group of FBI trainees at Quantico is suspected to have plotted a massive terrorist attack. The Blacklist Season 3 is all about redefining action with Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) finding herself on the FBI’s most wanted list and on the run with Raymond Reddington (James Spader). On September 22, reality TV sensation The Voice Season 9 kicks off with mega music stars Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine coaching a new crop of singing wannabes; the sincerity, chemistry and rivalry make it a not-to-be missed competition.
Check out AXN’s new look and programming schedule at www.AXN-Asia.com or join the conversation on Facebook at AXNAsia.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing and distributing programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) boasts a current program slate that includes top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. In addition to its US production business, SPT has 19 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 13 countries and also maintains offices in 31 countries. SPT’s worldwide television networks portfolio includes 148 channel feeds available in 178 countries, reaching more than 1.2 billion cumulative households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages the studio’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns US production company Embassy Row and is a part owner of cable channel Game Show Network (GSN) and national U.S media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premier national advertising sales companies and handles the commercial inventory in SPT’s syndicated series as well as the Rural Media Group and DoctorOz.com.

http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com

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

SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 – SINGAPORE – FOX International Channels (FIC) Asia has named television industry veteran Theresa Ong as Senior Vice President, Affiliate Partnerships for Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

Theresa joins the company on October 12th and will report to Rohit D’Silva, EVP – Commercial and Sports, APAC & Middle East.

In her new role, Theresa will be responsible for enhancing partnerships with FIC’s affiliates in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam, across the company’s entire channel portfolio covering all content genres including factual, entertainment (Hollywood and Chinese) and sports. She will also be tasked with developing new revenue streams in both the linear and non-linear space.

Theresa joins FIC from Discovery Networks International where she was SVP & General Manager for Southeast Asia.

Commenting on the appointment Rohit D’Silva said, “With factual, entertainment and sports brands in our portfolio, FIC Asia has grown rapidly into a multi-faceted media and content business. Hong Kong and Southeast Asia is a key region for us and it is imperative that we have a top-notch senior executive driving and upping the level of collaboration we have with our partners. Theresa brings with her unrivalled experienced and together with our local country GMs, will further strengthen our relationships, share best practices across markets and unlock value for us and our partners in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.”

Theresa adds, “I am thrilled to be joining FIC’s incredibly dynamic team. FIC is Asia’s #1 network with the widest distribution and scale, and the breadth of their content and genres are second to none. Taking up this role at a time when they are experiencing tremendous momentum, with the ability to offer a compelling and varied slate of strong globally recognized brands, and have such vast prospects for growth and new opportunities is very exciting.

-END-

About FOX International Channels
FOX International Channels (FIC) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, sports, factual and movie channels in 45 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FIC’s core channel brands include FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Life, FOX+ and National Geographic Channel. FIC’s movie channels include FOX Movies, FOX Movies Premium and SCM (formerly Star Chinese Movies). Our non-linear brands include FOX Play, FOX Play+ and Nat Geo Play. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high- definition extensions, reach over 1.8 billion cumulative households worldwide. In addition, FIC owns and operates two production studios and produces thousands of local programming hours for its wholly owned channels and third parties. In operation since: August 14, 1993.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Kelly Jang | Director, Marketing & Communications
FOX International Channels Asia | Email: kelly.jang@fox.com

LUXEMBOURG, 21 September 2015 — SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), the world-leading satellite operator, today announced the launch of this year’s annual training for the Andean Community as part of the company’s strategy to provide worldwide training, bringing together broadcast communities and growing the future digital ecosystem.

SES-10, the new Ku-band satellite, is expected to launch next year and will use the 67 degrees West orbital slot to provide coverage to Latin America and the Caribbean, including member countries of the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru).

The specifically designed beam of SES-10, combined with its optimum elevation angle, represents a unique proposition for the Andean Community’s telecommunications operators, broadcasters and service providers. A total of 15 delegates from the Community, representing each Member State, and the General Secretariat of the Andean Community, arrived at the SES headquarters in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, today for the five-day training session.

“The training will enable member countries of the Andean Community to optimise SES-10’s coverage,” said Gerhard Bethscheider, Managing Director at SES Techcom Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES which is in charge of the training. “By interacting directly with our experts, the delegates will develop their knowledge and gain a deep insight into the workings of a satellite. These sessions will also open the doors for potential future partnerships between the Andean Community and SES in areas like disaster response communications and e-health.”

As with the first training held last September, the new group of participants will start with an introductory overview of the satellite communications industry and then be taken through a series of sessions that cover the lifecycle of a satellite.

Technical, operational, business and regulatory matters will all be covered. Participants will conclude the training with a hands-on exercise, where they will apply their newly-acquired knowledge to design a value proposition and business model for a satellite network.

“We pride ourselves on going beyond the technical provision of satellite capacity to enable our customers and their end-users to utilize our technology, bringing social and economic benefits to both the Andean Community and Latin America,” added Bethscheider. “This is one of a number of sessions we plan to host in the near future to bring together broadcast communities in different corners of the world and help grow our ecosystem.”

For more information please visit http://www.ses.com

For further information please contact:
Markus Payer
Corporate Communications
Tel. +352 710 725 500
Markus.Payer@ses.com

Follow us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SES.YourSatelliteCompany
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SESVideoChannel
Blog: http://en.ses.com/4243715/blog
SES Pictures are available under http://www.ses.com/21472913/Our_Pictures
SES White papers are available under http://www.ses.com/18681915/white-papers

About SES
SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) is the world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the satellite industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES holds a participation in O3b Networks, a next generation satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fibre.

Further information available at: www.ses.com.

About SES Techcom Services:

SES Techcom Services is a 100% owned affiliate of SES, the world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of over 50 geostationary satellites, providing integrated end-to-end satellite solutions and operational services tailored to customers’ needs worldwide. Services offered by SES Techcom Services, which is ISO 9001 certified, include the design and delivery of ground infrastructure and operational services, VSAT networks, broadband connectivity and turnkey teleport solutions. It also develops innovative solutions for e-government, e-health and e-education, as well as applications for worldwide emergency satellite communications, such as emergency.lu, which provides connectivity within 48 hours in times of humanitarian crisis http://www.ses.com/techcom

SINGAPORE, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 – HBO dominates the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards with 43 wins, the most of any network for the 14th year in a row, announced today in Los Angeles. GAME OF THRONES swept the most awards with 12 Emmys®, including Outstanding Drama Series. OLIVE KITTERIDGE followed closely with 8 wins including Outstanding Limited Series, and VEEP won 5 Emmys® including Outstanding Comedy Series. Cinemax won 1 award for THE KNICK.

HBO’s complete list of Emmy® wins this year:

• 12 wins for GAME OF THRONES:
Outstanding Drama Series,
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (David Nutter),
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage),
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss),
Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series,
Outstanding Special Visual Effects,
Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic),
Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Or Fantasy Program (One Hour Or More), Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series,
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series,
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour),
Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Drama Series, Limited Series Or Movie,

Watch the latest season of GAME OF THRONES, Mondays at 11pm and Wednesdays at 10pm on HBO Signature (StarHub TV Ch 603); or all five seasons anytime anywhere on HBO GO / HBO On Demand on StarHub Go.

• 8 wins for OLIVE KITTERIDGE:
Outstanding Limited Series,
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie (Frances McDormand),
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or A Movie (Richard Jenkins),
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or A Movie (Bill Murray),
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Dramatic Special (Lisa Cholodenko),
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Dramatic Special (Jane Anderson),
Outstanding Casting For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Special,
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or A Movie

All four parts of OLIVE KITTERIDGE will air on Mondays at 9pm on HBO Signature (StarHub TV Ch 603) from September 28.

• 5 wins for VEEP:
Outstanding Comedy Series,
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Julia Louis-Dreyfus),
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Tony Hale),
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche),
Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

VEEP airs tonight at 9pm on HBO Signature (StarHub TV Ch 603); or watch all four seasons anytime anywhere on HBO GO / HBO On Demand on StarHub Go.

• 4 wins for BESSIE:
Outstanding Television Movie,
Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series Or Movie,
Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Special (Original Dramatic Score),
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Series Or A Movie

BESSIE airs September 27 at 10pm on HBO Signature (StarHub TV Ch 603), or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO / HBO On Demand on StarHub Go.

• 2 wins for THE JINX: THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF ROBERT DURST:
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series,
Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming

All six parts of THE JINX: THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF ROBERT DURST will air back to back, October 3 from 12 noon on HBO Signature (StarHub TV Ch 603).

• 2 wins for BOARDWALK EMPIRE:
Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series,
Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Period Program (One Hour Or More)

The final season of BOARDWALK EMPIRE airs Thursdays at 9pm on HBO Signature (StarHub TV Ch 603); or watch all five seasons of BOARDWALK EMPIRE anytime anywhere on HBO GO / HBO On Demand on StarHub Go.

• 2 wins for SILICON VALLEY:
Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour Or Less),
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series

Other HBO wins include:

3 Emmys® for GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF – Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Writing For Nonfiction Programming (Alex Gibney), Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming (Alex Gibney)

2 Emmys® for FOO FIGHTERS: SONIC HIGHWAYS SEATTLE – Outstanding Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera), Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)

1 Emmy® for CITIZENFOUR – Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking

1 Emmy® for LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER – Outstanding Interactive Program

1 Emmy® for ALAN ALDA AND THE ACTOR WITHIN YOU: A YOUNGARTS MASTERCLASS – Outstanding Children’s Program

In addition, CINEMAX received 1 Emmy® award for THE KNICK, for Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Period Program (One Hour Or More).

The brand new season of THE KNICK premieres October 17 at 10pm on Cinemax (StarHub TV Ch 611). Catch up on the first season anytime anywhere on HBO GO / HBO On Demand on StarHub Go.

# # #

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 and the DreamWorks channel in Asia. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

BEIJING—Warner Bros., which makes movies ranging from “American Sniper” to the recent Batman films, will soon be shooting in Chinese.

The Time Warner Inc.-owned studio said Sunday that it struck a deal with private-equity firm China Media Capital to make Chinese-language films for the fast-growing market. Warner Bros. will own 49% of the venture, called Flagship Entertainment Group Ltd. It will be based in Hong Kong.

With the deal, Warner Bros. will “gain additional insight into the Chinese film industry,” said Kevin Tsujihara, Warner Bros. chairman and CEO, in a statement. The two didn’t release financial details.

Read more at Wall Street Journal

Harnessing the power of television to advocate for and raise awareness of social issues is a tricky business.

A+E Networks cablers have embraced a range of causes for more than 30 years, from supporting veterans to breast cancer awareness to the treatment of drug addiction. In recognition of the company’s commitment to public service and advocacy efforts, A+E Networks will be feted on Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards with the Television Academy’s Governors Award.

A+E Networks president-CEO Nancy Dubuc spoke with Variety about the company’s approach to tackling social issues, the criteria they use to measure success and what it’s like to hear from people whose lives have been changed by programs such as A&E’s “Intervention.”

Read more at Variety

China and Hong Kong, September 17, 2015 — Celestial congratulates its partner, Tencent, for establishing Tencent Film Group and the successful manifestation of a transmedia entertainment content strategy to develop super intellectual property (IP).

As the owner of the Shaw Film Library, one of the world’s largest Chinese film libraries containing a treasure-trove of high-quality IP materials spanning a wealth of topics in numerous genres, we are delighted to partner with Asian web giant Tencent to kick off our mutual vision to tell the stories of our legendary films via transmedia, multiplatform means to bring such IP materials to life, such as our library’s superb 1976 martial arts film, THE MAGIC BLADE (also known as THE MOONLIGHT BLADE (天涯明月刀)).

To create a submersive and enthralling story ecosystem that is new, engaging and malleable, this super IP was adapted by Tencent into the successful online game, THE MAGIC BLADE, and we now shall partner in a magnificent motion picture incarnation of the classic film IP to build out the storyworld, inspiring young fans to continue enjoying and passing on the legend.

Kristen Tong, COO, said that “Celestial has been active in developing transmedia storyworlds built upon our library’s super IPs to bring extraordinary entertainment experiences to the global and Asian markets. It is very exciting for us to find a partner of like-minds to jointly enhance and develop the original film IP by extending into a larger picture and understanding of the screenplay and its characters. We are confident that with this joint force, THE MAGIC BLADE will open a new era of high quality, multi-platform and multi-end-user media ecosystems.”

Images to download: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9r4qaSchcOXWjFmekJiZDhhRHM&usp=sharing
###

Media Enquiries
Stella Li
Madison Communications
(852) 2562 -3631
stella@madison.asia
Josephine Ng
Celestial Pictures
(852) 2212 – 6985
josephine.ng@celestialpictures.com

ABOUT CELESTIAL PICTURES

Celestial Pictures Limited (Celestial Pictures) is a diversified entertainment company bringing the best in Asian entertainment to the world. The company focuses on film and television content origination, aggregation and worldwide distribution.

Celestial Pictures owns the Shaw Brothers library, the world’s largest Chinese film collection, with over 760 feature films originally released over a fifty year period. The library has inspired countless filmmakers with its vast pool of classics including THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS, HEX, THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN, KING BOXER, THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, LET’S MAKE LAUGH and LOVE WITH THE PERFECT STRANGER. These award-winning films have been digitally restored frame-by-frame for global distribution. The company has also been active in producing new film content, both originals and remakes based on the Shaw Brothers library films. Recent releases include PERHAPS LOVE, MY KINGDOM and CONTROL.

Celestial Pictures has a substantial investment in Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), a venture with Saban Capital Group and Lionsgate. It operates branded pay television channels and produces and distributes content for Asian audiences. CTE’s channel bouquet includes CELESTIAL MOVIES, CELESTIAL CLASSIC MOVIES, CELESTIAL MOVIES HD, cHK, KIX, KIX HD and THRILL, with a footprint that spans Asia and Australia.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Celestial Pictures is owned by ASTRO Holdings Sdn Bhd (ASTRO), a leading integrated consumer media entertainment group in Malaysia and South East Asia. ASTRO owns a portfolio of international and regional investments in Pay TV, Radio, Publications and Digital Media. ASTRO’s Malaysian domestic Pay TV business has a customer base of over 3.5 million residential customers (approximately 52% penetration of Malaysian TV households), and offers 170 TV channels, including 37 HD channels, delivered via Direct-To-Home satellite TV, IPTV and OTT platforms.