The ‘HOME of GRAND SLAM TENNIS’ renews its 16+ years partnership with Tennis Australia; fans to see the Australian Open broadcast in local languages for the very first time from 2015 onwards.

January 14, 2014, Asia – FOX International Channels (FIC) Asia, 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business and Asia’s leading pay-TV network, announced today that they have successfully renewed the multi-year contract for the exclusive rights to broadcast the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific, the Australian Open, across 20* territories in Asia.

The signature tournament, the first of the annual Grand Slam events, has been a part of FOX Sports’ stellar line-up for over 16 years and will continue to be showcased on FOX Sports’ network of channels across multiple platforms including television, broadband, mobile and IPTV. With this multi-year renewal of the Australian Open, FOX Sports will now showcase 3 out of 4 tennis Grand Slams including The Championship, Wimbledon and the French Open, rights of which it acquired earlier this year.

Under this comprehensive new renewal agreement with Tennis Australia, fans will get to see more than 100 hours of LIVE tennis action from the Rod Laver Arena along with special programming, which includes enhanced coverage across multiple platforms and devices. In addition, to help fans enjoy the Australian Open broadcast even more, FOX Sports will continue to showcase the tournament in Mandarin and Cantonese, in addition to English. From 2015 onwards, this multi-language coverage across territories will be expanded to include Thai, Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia, underscoring the sports network’s commitment to making sports more accessible to more sports fans in every market across Asia.

Rohit D’Silva, Senior Vice President, Content & Communications for Sports at FOX International Channels Asia said, “The Australian Open is one of the most celebrated events in the annual sports calendar and we are very pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Tennis Australia with this renewal. We are committed to further expand the audience base for the property by making it more locally relevant, engaging and entertaining for fans across Asia”.

Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said, “I’m delighted to be continuing our strong partnership with FOX International Channels in Asia for the Australian Open. FOX International Channels have demonstrated a commitment to promoting the event and the sport of tennis across the region, and through their enhanced coverage will continue to cement our position as the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific”.

FOX SPORTS’ stellar tennis coverage is complemented by its top quality presentation featuring tennis legend, Vijay Amritraj, who continues to bring the most insightful and engaging presentation to fans in Asia. As with past editions of the Australian Open, Vijay will be presenting from the Rod Laver Arena this year, together with fellow FOX Sports presenter, Alan Wilkins.

*Territories include: Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

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This press release was issued on behalf of FOX International Channels Asia by Tactic Public Relations Limited (Tactic). For further information, please contact:

FOX International Channels

Paul Tan
Assistant Director, Marketing (Sports)
+65 6216 6010
paul.tan@fox.com

Kelly Jang
Director, Regional Trade Marketing & PR
+852 2621 8875
kelly.jang@fox.com

Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG)

Deborah Dayani Nanayakara
+65 6325 8275 / +65 9758 4071
deborah.dayani@sprg.com.sg

Nicole Su
+65 6325 8267 / +65 9297 4611
nicole.su@sprg.com.sg

About FOX International Channels (FIC)
FOX International Channels (FIC) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, factual, sports, movie and lifestyle channels across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, in 48 languages. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high-definition extensions, reach over 1.6 billion cumulative households worldwide.

In Asia, FIC operates or distributes 30+ channel brands, including the FOX, STAR and National Geographic brands, with over 100 feeds across 14 markets. As the leading pay-TV network in the region, we reach more than 550 million cumulative subscribers across Asia Pacific and the Middle East with offices in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Australia, New Zealand and the UAE. For more information, please visit www.foxinternationalchannels.com.

About FOX Sports
FIC Sports networks includes FOX Sports, the channel that delivers some of the most compelling LIVE sport events from around the world, including the flagship sports news show FOX Sports Central; STAR Sports, which features a wide variety of premium sports content; FOX Sports Plus (HD), the high-definition 24-hour sports channel; FOX Sports News the first 24/7 sports news channel; STAR Cricket, the comprehensive cricket channel; STAR Cricket HD, the High Definition comprehensive cricket channel; FOX Sports Play, the broadband network providing LIVE and on-demand sports properties and additional exclusive content; FOX Sports Mobile, the mobile application that allows fans to access on-demand, premium world-class mobile sports content and www.foxsportsasia.com, the online destination for comprehensive sports content, also in local languages in Bahasa Malaysia (www.foxsports.my), Bahasa Indonesia (www.foxsports.co.id) and Mandarin (www.foxsports.com.tw)

(15 January 2014, Vietnam) … BBC Worldwide kicked off the year with the launch of BBC Knowledge on the cable platform branded “HTVC” operated by HTV- TMS, a payTV entity owned by Ho Chi Minh Television, the second biggest state television station in Vietnam.

The channel was officially launched today at a press event in Ho Chi Minh City.

“We are extremely pleased to launch BBC Knowledge in Vietnam. This deal reflects our ongoing commitment to the region – delivering to our audiences a wide range of high-quality, award-winning programming – BBC Knowledge showcases high-quality factual entertainment from the world’s foremost producers of non-fiction and documentary programming; and viewers in Vietnam recognise and appreciate quality content. We are confident that BBC Knowledge will appeal to Vietnamese viewers and are very pleased to be working with our distribution agent, Q.net and HTV- TMS to deliver this proposition.” said Mark Whitehead, Senior Vice President and General Manager of South East Asia for BBC Worldwide.

“To affirm our commitment to delivering the quality content to our viewers, we have chosen BBC Knowledge to introduce to our viewers,” said Mr Nguyen Duc Hoa, Chairman of HTV-TMS. “The channel consistently rates highly in the factual entertainment charts in Asia, and we are confident that it will do the same with HTVC viewers.”

BBC Knowledge showcases the very best of British factual and natural history programming. It is also the home of Top Gear, the biggest car show in the world, watched by over 150 million households in more than 100 countries. Other programmes premiering on BBC Knowledge in January include – Supersized Earth – which explores humans’ most ambitious and audacious engineering projects on Earth, Top Gear Top Fails – where Top Gear host, Richard Hammond takes a journey back in time as he reviews all the riotous antics that the Top Gear team has, or tried, to pull off; and Man Eating Tigers of Sumatra in which man-eating Sumatran tigers are let back out in the wild in an attempt to save the species.

BBC Knowledge will be available on HTVC’s basic tier, to the platform’s subscribers, mostly in the Ho Chi Minh area.

The channel is localized in Vietnamese.

-ends-

For more information, please contact:

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

Notes to Editors:

About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this 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 builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.
In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

bbcworldwide.com

twitter.com/bbcwpress

TOKYO, January 15, 2014 — As of the end of November 2013, NHK WORLD TV, NHK’s international television broadcasting service, is available to over 270 million households in approximately 140 countries and regions with an increase of 23 million households since the beginning of 2013.

Read more at Japan Today

A victorious start to awards season for Asia’s leading pay-TV network at one of the most prestigious ceremonies for television and film

Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, 14 January 2014 – FOX International Channels (FIC) triumphed at the 71st Golden Globe Awards, the ceremony that marks the beginning of the high profile awards season. Three of the most coveted awards were given out to shows and movies to which FIC has acquired the pay-TV rights for broadcast on its leading Hollywood movies channel, FOX Movies Premium.

After leading the nominations, historical-epic and awards season favourite, 12 Years a Slave, took away one of the evening’s most coveted accolades, ‘Best Motion Picture – Drama’. The performance of each feature film at the Golden Globe Awards is often seen as an indicator of how well they will perform at the Academy Awards, standing 12 Years a Slave in deservedly good stead for a strong awards season. The enjoyable animated caper, Frozen, was awarded ‘Best Animated Feature Film’.

Ray Donovan, FOX Movies Premium’s gripping crime drama, won the award for ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television’ for Jon Voight’s performance as Mickey Donovan.

Brian Lau, Senior Vice President of Content and Communications at FIC Asia said, “We are thrilled that so many of our shows and movies have been recognised at such a prestigious awards ceremony. A Golden Globe is one of the most respected accolades that anyone in the film and television industry can receive so the fact that three of the series and films broadcast on FIC have been honoured with these awards just goes to show that we are bringing our viewers the very best content on offer.”

Golden Globe Awards for television programmes shown on FIC’s channels (1):

FOX Movies Premium (HK/SEA)
Ray Donovan (1 award)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television – Jon Voight

Golden Globe Awards for films to which FIC has acquired the pay-TV rights (2):

FOX Movies Premium (HK/SEA) and STAR Movies (Taiwan)
12 Years a Slave (1 award)
Best Motion Picture – Drama

Frozen (1 award)
Best Animated Feature Film

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About FOX International Channels (FIC)
FOX International Channels (FIC) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, factual, sports, movie and lifestyle channels across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, in 45 languages. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high-definition extensions, reach over 1.6 billion cumulative households worldwide.

In Asia, FIC operates or distributes 30+ channel brands, including the FOX, STAR and National Geographic brands, with over 100 feeds across 14 markets. As the leading pay-TV network in the region, we reach more than 550 million cumulative subscribers across Asia Pacific and the Middle East with offices in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Australia and the UAE.

For more information, please visit www.foxinternationalchannels.com.

This press release was issued on behalf of FOX International Channels Asia by Tactic Public Relations Limited (Tactic). For further information, please contact:

FOX International Channels Tactic Public Relations Limited (Tactic)
Kelly Jang
Director, Pan Regional Trade Marketing & PR
DID: +852 2621 8875
kelly.jang@fox.com

Kristen Gallagher
Tactic – Hong Kong
DID: +852 2114 4345
FAX: +852 2114 0880
kristen.gallagher@tacticpr.com.hk

Diana Low
Tactic – Singapore
DID: +65 6325 8264
FAX: +65 6325 8262
diana.low@tacticpr.com.sg

(13 Jan, 2014) The NBCUniversal News Group, and NowThis News, the exclusively short-form video news network built specifically for mobile and social, have agreed that the NBCUniversal will take a minority stake and the two companies will co-produce original short-form news videos. Content will be produced by co-located NowThis News and NBCUniversal News Group teams based out of NowThis News’s New York City studio.

Read more at Advanced Television

(8 Jan, 2014) Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that Man Jit Singh has been named President of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE), reporting to Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment, Inc., and Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Man Jit, who was previously Chief Executive Officer, Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd. (MSM), the operating company that manages Sony Pictures Television’s TV networks in India, will continue as Non-Executive Chairman at MSM while transitioning from his role in the Television division to his new role in Home Entertainment. At SPHE, Man Jit will continue the studio’s focus on reducing overhead costs, while growing high-margin businesses.

Read more at OnScreen Asia

(Hong Kong, 14th January 2014) ITV Studios Global Entertainment has announced Nic van Zwanenberg has been appointed Channel Director, ITV Choice.

Reporting to SVP, ITVS Global Entertainment, Asia Pacific, Augustus Dulgaro, van Zwanenberg will be based in Hong Kong and takes up his post immediately.

He will lead the existing team and drive the development of the international channel business.

Nic van Zwanenberg has previously held a number of senior positions in the industry including Senior Director, Affiliate and Multimedia Sales at ESPN STAR Sports then Fox Sports for four years from 2009; Commercial Manger and Director at BBC and BBC Worldwide for 15 years up until 2009; Sales Executive at Granada LWT International and Head of Acquisitions at Spafax Airline Network between 1987 and 1992.

Augustus Dulgaro said: “I am delighted we have attracted such an exceptional candidate to the post. Nic is a proven leader, a focused strategist with an impeccable track record and I’m sure he will continue to grow and enhance our international channel business.”

In addition, Nic has held a number of other freelance consultancy roles and has been a Board member of CASBAA and an active contributor to the Association’s development over the past 10 years. He gained his B.Sc in Business Administration, International Marketing at the University of Bath in the UK.

Nic said: “This is a very exciting time be joining ITVS Global Entertainment. The team has achieved remarkable success in the last few years and there is now a real opportunity to consolidate and grow these achievements – I’m greatly looking forward to getting started.

About ITV Choice

Part of ITV, the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster, ITV Choice is the heart of new British Drama and Entertainment in the Middle East and Asia reaching over 8 million households across 40 countries. ITV Choice shows a wide variety of award winning drama, top entertainment, cool comedy, and soaps, fresh from the UK, broadcast in high definition.

ITV Choice is available in Cambodia – PPCTV 44, India – Hathaway, Indonesia –TelkomVision 503, Malaysia – Astro 735, Maldives – MediaNet 815, Malta – Go Cable 305 & Melita Cable 309 & 332, Middle East – OSN 217, Mongolia – Sky C&C 502, Oman – Omantel, Papua New Guinea – HiTRON 113, South Korea – CJ TVing, Taiwan – MOD TV 78, and Thailand – MeTV TOT IPTV 331 and Banglamung Cable 42.

About ITVS GE

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is one of the world’s leading international TV distribution, home entertainment, publishing, merchandising and licensing businesses. ITVS GE distributes celebrated content across all genres from both its in-house production business, ITV Studios, and in collaboration with leading producers from around the world.

Part of ITV PLC, which includes the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster, ITV Studios Global Entertainment has offices in London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Sydney.

www.itv-choice.com
www.itvstudios.com
www.facebook.com/ITVChoice
www.twitter.com/ITVChoice

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For further information:
Jennifer Tattersall
Marketing & PR Manager
jennifer.tattersall@itv.com

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer: Shinji Takada; “SKY Perfect JSAT” below) has concluded a contract for a launch service for its JCSAT-14 communications satellite with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) (HQ: the United States of America; Gwynne Shotwell , President and COO ). JCSAT-14 will replace JCSAT-2A in geostationary orbit at 154degree East Longitude. The contract for the construction of the satellite was concluded on June 12, 2013. The launch is scheduled for the second half of 2015. （http://www.sptvjsat.com/wp-content/uploads/130612_J14-News-Release_final-2.pdf）SKY Perfect JSAT will continue to work to provide high-quality satellite communications services in Japan as well as Asia-Pacific region.

JCSAT-14 at a Glance

Target Launch Date: H2 2015

Orbital Location: 154 degree East Longitude

Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral

Spacecraft Type: SSL 1300

Frequency Bands: C- and Ku-band

Transponders: 26 C-band and 18 Ku-band

Coverage Area: Japan, Asia, Russia, Oceania, Pacific Islands, Hawaii

Service Life: 15 Years or more

(9 Jan, 2014) After launching a successful video viewing app in June 2013, MTV now unveiled a fully optimised TV Everywhere/ authenticated viewing experience on mobile web. Available immediately fans can watch full episodes and seasons of hit MTV series such as Teen Wolf and Girl Code, from all iOS and most Android devices. In the coming months, similar experiences will be launched for MTV’s sister brands VH1, CMT and Logo TV.

Read more at Advanced Television