VIACOM International Media Networks Asia brings 24-hour world class music back to Thailand with the return of MTV

THAILAND, 19 April 2013 – Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Asia, a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB) today announced an exclusive licensing agreement with AppleTool Co. Ltd, a local general entertainment content provider and a subsidiary of VR1 Media Group, to bring MTV Thailand back for fans and viewers to enjoy the 24-hour world class youth entertainment channel. VR1 Media Group operates 2 radio stations, a marketing event unit as well as a local general entertainment channel in Thailand. The channel will officially launch on May 1st on Ku-band satellite, which provides access to True Visions customers on Channel 59 on its free view pack, and on C-band satellite, which will reach over 10 million households. The channel’s test signal went live yesterday.

“We have always seen Thailand as an important market for us, so getting ourselves back in this market is in line with our on-going strategy to extend the coverage of MTV across Asia. It was vital for us to find the right partner who is not only a strong local content producer, but shares the same synergy as we continue to promote and reflect local and cultural tastes and music talents across the region,” said VIMN Asia’s executive vice president and managing director, Indra Suharjono. “This move also demonstrates our commitment to strengthen local programming and cater to the specific viewing preferences of Thai millennials.”

AppleTool is a content provider, who produces local general entertainment channel and has a local block time on Channel 9 through its subsidiary O Noi Ogg.

“VR1 Media Group is very excited to collaborate with VIMN on this multi-year deal, to launch such an iconic youth entertainment brand like MTV by leveraging our strengths in local production and our strong relationships with agencies and advertisers,” said Byrd Kulpong Bunnag, chief executive officer, VR1 Media Group. “We are confident that our extended distribution both on free-to-air C band and the True Visions platform will give the channel the ability to grow a strong base of core viewers across the whole of Thailand.”

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About MTV
MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. Outside of the United States, MTV is part of Viacom International Media Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For information about MTV in Southeast Asia, visit www.mtvasia.com.

About Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Game One and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 600 million households in 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. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom’s blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.

About VR1 Media Group
VR1 Media Group has been influential in teens music movement in Thailand through its Fat Radio station and Fat Festival event. The Group also operates 101 FM, a leading news radio station in Bangkok. VR1 has recently launched Apple One, a satellite TV station, offering a variety of unique and entertaining programs.

Media Contacts:
Viacom International Media Networks
Adeline Ong, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Asia
t: (65) 6420 7240 m: (65) 9366 7323
e: adeline.ong@vimn.com
Twitter: @VIMNAsia_PR

Loh Bi Feng, Executive, Corporate Communications, Asia
t: (65) 6420 7154 m: (65) 9002 9607
e: loh.bifeng@vimn.com

VR1 Media Group
Watson Homsangpradit
m: (66) 81 901 7228
e: watsonhomeboy@gmail.com

(Hong Kong, 17 April, 2013) – Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), one of Asia’s largest vertically integrated independent entertainment companies, announced today that Todd Miller has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. Miller joined CTE as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) when the company was formed in January 2012 through a merger of Celestial Pictures’ channels business with Tiger Gate Entertainment. Miller will continue to report to the Board of Directors of CTE.

“Celestial Tiger Entertainment has established a strong foundation in the past year,” said Adam Chesnoff, President and Chief Operating Officer of Saban Capital Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors of CTE. “Todd has shown great leadership in integrating two companies into a highly efficient organization with a powerful bouquet of channels and a flourishing licensing business. As CEO, we look forward to Todd continuing Celestial Tiger’s momentum by expanding its channel bouquet, building brand equity, propelling the licensing business and building strategic partnerships.”

“It’s been an incredibly exciting first year for Celestial Tiger. We have united a company, launched new linear channels and on-demand services, invested significantly in content and marketing, expanded our channel distribution footprint, and grown the licensing business. I am proud to work with such a dedicated and capable team as we deliver great entertainment and distinctive channels to viewers across the region,” said Miller.

Under Miller’s leadership, CTE has nearly doubled the number of network affiliates with 27 new carriage deals and 10 new on demand and over-the-top (OTT) service launches across 16 platforms in Asia. The channel launches include KIX HD and Celestial Movies HD (CMHD) on ASTRO, the leading pay TV platform in Malaysia. KIX HD became the #1 English HD channel* and CM HD became the #1 Chinese HD channel** among ASTRO subscribers last year since their respective launches.

CTE’s content licensing business also grew significantly during this time. The company closed licensing deals in Southeast Asia and Greater China for over 1700 hours of Lionsgate’s (NYSE: LGF) television series and feature films. In addition, CTE now represents Lionsgate content for television and digital rights distribution in Japan and South Korea.

Prior to joining CTE, Miller spent 17 years at Sony Pictures Television, where he last served as Executive Vice President, Networks, Asia-Pacific, overseeing and managing over 25 television networks and channel investments in the region.

*Source: Nielsen Media Research Malaysia, 01/05/2012-31/12/2012. Ranking performance based on average audience among all ASTRO HD channels.

**Source: Nielsen Media Research Malaysia, 01/05/2012-31/12/2012, Astro 4+; ranking based on average audience among all Chinese HD channels on ASTRO.

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Media Contact:
Pauline Poon
Celestial Tiger Entertainment
T: 852 2239 6131
E: pauline.poon@celestialtiger.com

About Celestial Tiger Entertainment

CELESTIAL TIGER ENTERTAINMENT (CTE) is a diversified media company dedicated to entertaining audiences in Asia and beyond. The company focuses on the operation of branded pay television channels, content creation and content distribution targeted at Asian consumers.

CTE operates a powerful bouquet of distinct pay television channels including: CELESTIAL MOVIES, the most broadly distributed 24-hour Chinese and Asian movies channel in the world; CELESTIAL CLASSIC MOVIES, the gateway to an unparalleled array of Chinese movie masterpieces; CELESTIAL MOVIES HD, the latest Chinese movies in high definition; KIX, the ultimate in action entertainment; Thrill, Asia’s only horror and suspense movie channel; and KIX HD, featuring the best of action with a late-night dose of thrillers in high definition.

As one of Asia’s largest vertically integrated independent entertainment companies, CTE produces original content which complements its channels business. CTE is also the exclusive sales agent for Hollywood studio Lionsgate in Greater China and Southeast Asia, and represents Lionsgate’s television content and vast feature film library in Japan and Korea as well.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, CTE is a joint venture among Saban Capital Group, a leading private investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries; Astro, the owner and operator of the leading DTH platform in Malaysia; and Lionsgate, the world’s largest independent filmed entertainment studio.

(4/18/2013) Sundance Channel also picked up British dramas “Mr Selfridge” and “Secret State” for its Asian channels.

AMC Networks international division, AMC/Sundance Channel Global, has unveiled its new team for the Asian Pacific markets.

Courtney Williams will take up the newly-created position of managing director of business development and strategy, Asian Pacific; Donovan Castillo-Mohlman is the region’s new head of programming and scheduling for the group and Lorraine Ou has been appointed marketing manager, Asian Pacific. Bruce Tuchman, President of AMC/Sundance Channel Global, announced the new appointments today ahead of next week’s Asian Pacific Pay-TV operators summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Read more at The Hollywood Reporter

Singapore, Tokyo, 17 April 2013 – CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, increases its business and financial news content in Japan on Nikkei-CNBC from April 2013. The network’s live English language programming will increase from 7.5 hours to 12.5 hours and will include simultaneous Japanese translation.

The addition of CNBC’s live content comes in conjunction with the unveiling of Nikkei-CNBC’s new programming schedule this month. The new schedule brings together Nikkei-CNBC’s local content coupled with more of CNBC’s live international content – offering viewers a wider range of business news coverage from around the globe.

Michael Kearns, Head of News and Programming, CNBC Asia Pacific said, “We’re pleased to be able to offer additional hours of CNBC’s live English language programming, translated into Japanese, on Nikkei-CNBC. The additional hours enable us to provide a more thorough and complete picture of the global economy to our Japanese viewers in their own language.”

The new schedule will focus on enhancing Nikkei-CNBC’s global financial and business news content in Japan while continuing to provide coverage of the locally relevant news affecting the Japanese market – creating a seamless experience for viewers who want access to the stories that are impacting their own market and those that are making waves globally.

Nikkei CNBC’s new programming schedule includes:
Across the Market (14:05-14:45 weekdays) – A live programme covering global market trends of the day and delivering up-to-the-minute news on each market in Asia, Europe and the U.S.

NEWS CORE (21:00-22:00 weekdays) – A one-hour programme that analyses market trends and news of the day providing a macro and micro view of what to look for tomorrow. Daily special offers include executive interviews such as Nikkei- CNBC’s “The Leaders” and CNBC’s “Managing Asia.”

BS News Nikkei Plus 10 (23:40-24:00 weekday) BS Japan and NIKKEI Inc, Japan’s leading business news media, co-produce this new daily news programme, which focuses on the business and economic highlights of the day.

Goro Sakai, President of Nikkei-CNBC said, “This new schedule is the biggest change in Nikkei-CNBC’s history. CNBC is an internationally renowned network known for its high caliber content and journalistic integrity. The increased addition of their live content translated into Japanese will help strengthen the range of coverage on other markets outside Japan and provide a more rounded experience to our viewers in Japan.”

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For further information, please contact:
Valerie Martinez, Manager of Communications, Asia Pacific
valerie.martinez@cnbcasia.com
Tel: +65 6326 1123

About CNBC Asia Pacific:
CNBC is the world leader in business news providing fast, actionable, accurate and unbiased business and financial news to over 390 million households worldwide. Headquartered in Singapore, the network provides seven hours of live Asia-produced programming, which is complemented with coverage of live market action from Europe and the US. CNBC Asia Pacific’s channels, which include CNBC Asia, CNBC-TV18 (India), CNBC Pakistan, Nikkei-CNBC (Japan) and SBS-CNBC (South Korea) are available in more than 21 countries across the Asia Pacific region. CNBC Asia Pacific also has a collaboration with China Central Television (CCTV). In China, CNBC reaches 400 million homes via CCTV’s Business Channel programme, Global Connection Show. The channels are distributed via satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast networks, as well as through digital platforms. More information is available at www.cnbc.com

About Nikkei-CNBC:
Nikkei-CNBC is the only communication satellite (CS) television channel in Japan specialized in business news, providing real-time financial market coverage and business information. Business Day programming is produced at Nikkei Studio, Otemachi, Tokyo and broadcast to over 7.5 million household nationwide.

Nikkei-CNBC is committed to providing comprehensive coverage on Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia, taking advantages of Nikkei Inc., network and CNBC network. Being the only business specialized television media, Nikkei-CNBC programming attracts wide range of people such as business executives, financial professionals, and individual investors.

Region’s top, food-focused network added to growing international portfolio

April 15, 2013, KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE: SNI), which has made international expansion a top strategic priority, is strengthening its competitive position in Asia with the acquisition today of the Asian Food Channel (AFC), the region’s leading food-focused pay television network.

The Asian Food Channel, which is based in Singapore, reaches about 8 million subscribers in 11 markets. With the addition of the Asian Food Channel, Scripps Networks Interactive now has three lifestyle television brands that it is marketing in the region. Food Network and Travel Channel also are distributed in Asia.

“Asia and the rapid growth in pay television households throughout the region hold great promise for Scripps Networks Interactive and its international ambitions,” said Kenneth W. Lowe, the company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Acquiring the Asian Food Channel significantly expands our presence in key growth markets and provides us with a solid foundation on which to build a growing lifestyle media business in the region. The channel aligns perfectly with our lifestyle programming focus.”

The Asian Food Channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and leverages a substantial library of acquired Asian and international video content as well as a growing number of originally-produced programs. The network generates revenues through regional and local advertising sales as well as fees from pay television operators.

“We have built AFC from scratch over eight years to become a well-recognized brand in the region with a top management team that will help Scripps expand its presence across the Southeast Asia region,” said Maria Brown, co-founder and chief executive officer of the Asian Food Channel. “As an entrepreneur, I am enormously proud to see our company take this next step in its evolution. I look forward to seeing the Asian Food Channel continue to grow as part of the Scripps Networks Interactive family and as one of their leading lifestyle brands.”

Derek Chang, who was appointed recently as managing director of the Asia Pacific region for Scripps Networks Interactive, will oversee the management and integration of the Asian Food Channel. He also will oversee operations of Scripps Networks Interactive’s existing networks in the region.

Scripps Networks Interactive has been expanding its international operations starting in 2009 with the launch of the Food Network in the United Kingdom and other markets in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. In 2012, the company acquired the London-based international operations of the Travel Channel. Food Network and Travel Channel are distributed in selected markets in Asia. Scripps Networks Interactive is in partnership with BBC Worldwide through its 50-percent ownership of UKTV, which operates a suite of 10 general entertainment and lifestyle channels in the U.K. The company also is in partnership with Shaw Communications, which operates HGTV, Food Network and DIY Network in Canada.

About Scripps Networks Interactive

Scripps Networks Interactive is one of the world’s leading developers of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, generating more than 2,000 hours a year of original on-air programming. The company’s television programming can be seen in 170 countries across all seven continents. Its media portfolio includes popular lifestyle and Internet brands HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and country music network Great American Country.

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Contact:

Mark Kroeger, Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., 865-560-5007
E-mail: mark.kroeger@scrippsnetworks.com

(13-04-2013) BBC Worldwide Australasia has licensed a package of more than 220 hours of premiere content to Foxtel’s LifeStyle Channels Group, for transmission on The LifeStyle Channel, LifeStyle YOU, LifeStyle HOME and LifeStyle FOOD channels.

Premiering on The LifeStyle Channel, Phil Spencer: Double Agent Down Under follows property expert Phil Spencer as he heads down under to help Brits make the permanent move to Australia.

Read more at Rapid TV News 

Singapore, 15 April 2013 – Dr. Hannibal Lecter made his highly anticipated TV debut last week and Southeast Asian audiences were hungry for every minute. Premiering on 9 April 2013 on Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia’s flagship channel, AXN, Hannibal was the No. 1 programme in its timeslot among ad-supported channels in Southeast Asia, leading the nearest competitor by 28%.

The highly stylised thriller did especially well in its key markets, Singapore and Malaysia. In Singapore, Hannibal’s premiere led its timeslot among international General Entertainment (GE) channels, garnering more than twice the ratings of the next GE channel. The premiere in Malaysia also topped its timeslot among international GE channels, with ratings that were 70% ahead of the closest competitor.

The ratings success reinforces AXN, Asia’s home of thrilling entertainment, as the clear English GE channel of choice among audiences across Southeast Asia. “Hannibal is off to a solid start and we are especially proud given that this is only our second scripted original production since The Firm. Everyone loves a good thriller, and this one has all the best ingredients – a meld of creative minds and a solid cast including Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actor of 2012, Mads Mikkelsen, who portrays Lecter with the perfect touch of cunning and sophistication,” said Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Sony Pictures Television.

Helmed by artistic visionaries Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Heroes) and David Slade (The Twilight Sage: Eclipse, 30 Days of Night), Hannibal explores the early relationship of Thomas Harris’ famous characters – psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen, The Hunt, Casino Royale) and his patient, gifted FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy, King Arthur, Hysteria). The series also stars Laurence Fishburne (CSI, The Matrix) and boasts a star-studded guest star roll which includes Gillian Anderson (The X Files) and Lance Henriksen (Aliens). Hannibal airs at 10pm on Mondays in the Philippines and on Tuesdays in East Asia.

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Source: Kantar Media Singapore / Philippines, AGBNMR Malaysia

For more information, please contact:
Madison Communications for Sony Pictures Television’s networks, Asia
David Chau
+852 2881 1787/ 9388 4997
david@madison.asia

About AXN & AXN HD
AXN offers viewers a thrilling ride with an exciting slate of programs designed to exhilarate and help them escape the humdrum of daily routine. The leading English general entertainment destination among upscale, affluent adults aged 18-39, the channel delivers first run, exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, adventure and competitive reality programs from around the world, as well as made-in-Asia original productions.

Launched first in Asia in 1997, AXN has become an international channel brand that is now seen across 60 countries globally including Latin America and Europe. In Asia, the channel is now watched by over 145 million viewers in more than 123 million homes across 20 countries, including close to 50 million households on a time-block basis in China.

AXN has also been available in high-definition (HD) since March 2009.

AXN ASIA is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television’s Networks, Asia, which also operates pay-TV channels beTV, ANIMAX, SONY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION and ONE.