News Corporation will fully own and operate ESS businesses in Asia after transaction closes

New York and Bristol, Conn, June 6, 2012 – News Corporation and ESPN announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which a unit of News Corporation will buy ESPN’s 50 percent equity interest in ESPN STAR Sports (ESS). The transaction will allow News Corporation units to own and operate all of the ESS businesses while providing ESPN more independence and flexibility in future support of The Walt Disney Company’s overall efforts in Asia.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and ESS will continue to be jointly managed by the two companies until the transaction closes.

“News Corporation’s acquisition of the interest of ESS that we did not already own continues the program of simplifying our operating model, consolidating our affiliate ownership structures, and furthers our commitment to delivering incredible sports programming to consumers across the globe, and particularly enhancing our position in sports programming in emerging markets,” said James Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chairman & CEO International, News Corporation.

“After 16 years jointly managing ESS, we have decided to independently pursue future opportunities in Asia,” said John Skipper, President of ESPN and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks. “We are extremely proud of our role in building ESS into what it is today, and now with the growing digital landscape in Asia, we look forward to continuing to serve Asian sports fans through ESPN-branded digital businesses like ESPNCricinfo, the leading digital cricket brand in the world, ESPNFC and ESPN Mobile.”

News Corporation and ESPN also announced that Manu Sawhney, Managing Director of ESS, who has led ESS through significant growth over the last 16 years, will transition his role of Managing Director to Peter Hutton, currently SVP of Sports for FOX International Channels (FIC). Hutton will report to the ESS Board. Sawhney will be staying with the Company until August 31 to work with Hutton on a smooth transition.

Sawhney joined ESS’s marketing department in India in 1996 and went on to head its India business for four years, before shifting to Singapore as Head of Programming, Acquisition and Marketing. He was promoted to Managing Director in 2007. During his career at ESS, he has been responsible for various functions across the Company, including sales, distribution, programming, acquisition, marketing and network presentation.

“In his 16 years with the Company, Manu has been a key architect of ESS’s growth, and his contributions since its inception have helped ESS become a leading sports media Company in Asia, bringing world class events — from the ICC Cricket World Cup to the London 2012 Olympic Games — to fans across the region. He led ESS’s expansion to 24 countries across multiple platforms and networks, including launching STAR Cricket, ESPN HD, STAR Cricket HD, ESPNEWS and ESPN Player. We are very grateful to him for his significant contributions to the Company during his time in India and Singapore,” said Jan Koeppen, COO Europe and Asia, News Corporation and Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International.

They added, “Peter is a very talented sports media executive, and we believe his extensive experience in sports rights and production will serve ESS well as the business enters into a new phase of development.”

Sawhney said, “It has been a privilege to serve News Corporation and ESPN at ESS for 16 exciting years. I have had an opportunity to grow with the Company and work with an amazing group of people during my tenure, expanding our business to 28 networks across television, online, broadband and mobile. As the organization begins a new chapter under new ownership, I have decided to move on after the transition and I am looking forward to the next exciting phase of my career.”

“I am excited to take on this new role,” Hutton said. “I look forward to working with the ESS team to consolidate ESS’s leadership position in sports broadcasting in Asia, and to continue the Company’s record of broadcasting excellence in serving sports fans.”

Hutton joined FOX International Channels Sports in 2011 after 20 years in the international sports television business. He previously worked at Broad Reach Media, a media consultancy firm. Prior to that, Hutton was at Ten Sports in Dubai from 2002-2009, where he eventually served as Chief Operating Officer. From 1993-2002, he ran TWI, the television division of IMG, running their Indian business as well as television production for Asia. He was a radio and television journalist, commentator and presenter from 1982-1993. Hutton earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Cambridge University and will be relocating to Singapore with his family.

About News Corporation

News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of March 31, 2012 of approximately US$61 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$34 billion. News Corporation is a diversified global media company with operations in six industry segments: cable network programming; filmed entertainment; television; direct broadcast satellite television; publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Latin America.

For more information about News Corporation, please visit www.newscorp.com.

About FOX International Channels

FOX International Channels (FIC) is News Corporation¹s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 350+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, factual, sports and movie channels across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, in 37 languages. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high-definition extensions, reach over 1.1 billion households worldwide. We also operate a global online advertising unit, .FOX (pronounced ³dot-fox²) specialized in online video and display, and four TV production houses. In operation since: August 14, 1993.

About ESPN Inc.

ESPN, Inc., is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of eight 24-hour domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D and the regionally focused Longhorn Network) and five HD simulcast services (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes). Other businesses include ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (48 networks, syndication, radio, websites, mobile, apps), ESPN Audio (broadcast, satellite, online and apps, a growing category led by ScoreCenter), ESPN.com (plus a variety of sport-, college-, and market-specific sites), ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPNHS and espnW. Multi-screen offerings include WatchESPN (access to several ESPN networks online and via an app) and ESPN3 (live multi-screen network available online, on the go and via Xbox LIVE). Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

About ESPN International

ESPN International is a division of ESPN, Inc., and operates robust multi-media businesses in Brazil; Spanish-speaking Latin America (spanning 18 countries and territories); the UK and Ireland; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (reaching more than 35 countries in the EMEA region); Canada; the Caribbean; Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and more.

About ESPN in Asia Pacific

ESPN currently owns a variety of businesses in Asia and the Pacific Rim including the leading cricket website in the world, ESPNCricinfo.com, ESPNFC, ESPNScrum.com, ESPNfootytips.com, multiple ESPN Mobile businesses and holds an interest in JSB ESPN in Japan. ESPN is also an investor in NBA China. ESPN also continues to operate its wholly-owned multi-platform media business in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The Walt Disney Company owns and operates the Disney Channel in 20 countries, in addition to Disney Junior and Disney XD across the region. Additionally, Disney recently announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in UTV, one of India’s premier media and entertainment companies.

About ESPN STAR Sports

ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and News Corporation Limited ((NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV), delivering a diverse array of international and regional sports to viewers.

ESPN STAR Sports features a comprehensive portfolio of multimedia assets including its television networks (ESPN, STAR Sports, STAR Cricket, ESPNEWS, ESPN HD, STAR Cricket HD), broadband network (ESPN Player), digital content services (espnstar.com, mobileESPN), and its on-ground Event Management Group with the aim to engage and entertain sports fans anytime, anyplace.

ESPN STAR Sports showcases an unparalleled variety of premier sports from around the globe featuring some of the most iconic sports events to viewers across 24 countries in Asia through its 28 networks, each localized to deliver differentiated programming to meet diverse needs of Asian sports fans.

Contact:

News Corporation
Jannie Poon: +852 2621 8619 / jpoon@newscorp.com
Dan Berger: +1 310 369 1274 / dberger@newscorp.com

ESPN
Katina Arnold: +1 860 839 1764 / Katina.arnold@espn.com
Chris LaPlaca: +1 860 766 2239 / Chris.laplaca@espn.com

Manila, June 4, 2012–At the 45th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank’s Board of Governors in Manila last month, the mood of the 4,000 delegates from 48 Asian countries was upbeat, mixed with a sense of pride. Amid the recession in Europe and the tepid economic growth in North America was the revelation that the combined national wealth of India, China and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could exceed that of the U.S. and European countries put together in the next 18 years, according to an ADB study.

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda predicted a healthy GDP of 6.9 percent for developing Asia and the Pacific this year, which is expected to climb to 7.3 per cent in 2013. “These three region and countries (India, China and ASEAN) are on a path to significantly improve the quality of life of their citizens–in aggregate approaching half of the world’s population by 2030,” he said.

For the satellite industry, the ADB disclosure only confirms a growth trend that had been going on in Asia for some time. It also assures the satellite industry of continued development to serve 4 billion people in 51 countries of Asia, 60 percent of the world’s population, and provide 30% of the earth’s landmass with services already enjoyed by the developed countries of the world.

Read the full article at http://www.satellitemarkets.com/news-analysis/strong-demand-driving-asia-pacific-satellite-market

Blocking pirate sites might not be a permanent solution to illegal downloading in Asia.
But there’s every indication that it’s a very fine place to start.

In the U.K., Sky Broadband just became the latest platform to block user access to file sharingsite, The Pirate Bay. Others– including BT – are expected to follow the U.K. High Court ruling that found the Swedish site facilitated copyright infringement.

Announcing its decision at the end of May, Sky said it had invested billions of pounds “in high-quality entertainment…because we know how much our customers value it. It’s therefore important that companies like ours do what they can, alongside the government and the rest of the media and technology industries, to help protect their copyright”.

Asia has a scary share ofcountries punching well above their weight in global illegal download rankings… and the pressure is mounting all round to block sites that infringe copyright.

The idea is a multi-pronged push that includes ISPs big and small, pay-TV providers and regulators, among others. Even if some of them are dragged into it kicking and screaming, regulators have to be involved to ensure all ISPs apply site-blocking measures equally, and not only those with content interests.

Meanwhile, the stats remain staggering.

Eleven of the top 50 countries in the world – 22% – for infringing English-language TV shows by volume are in Asia.

China tops the global list, with Australia in fourth spot, Philippines in 10th, India at 11th, Malaysia at 19th and South Korea at 23rd. Singapore, a country of 1.1 million homes, is 24th in the world (and Asia’s top culprit on a per capita basis). Hong Kong is at 38th spot, with Indonesia in 45th place and Japan coming in at 48th.

So far, regulators in Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Korea have sanctioned pirate-site blocking. This month, Korea implemented a cyberlocker registration rule.

Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan haven’t – yet – and are in the anti-piracy lobby’s cross-hairs.

Insiders say Singapore is an easy one, with no changes to the law required and major ISPs already behind the move to block pirate sites and protect their subscription revenues.

One of Singapore’s major providers, StarHub says it is concerned by the growth in online piracy. StarHub has 440,000 broadband subscribers and 544,000 pay-TV subscribers.

“We believe that site-blocking (as has been implemented in Malaysia and in several other countries) could help to address this problem,” says Iris Wee, StarHub’s Vice President of Home Solutions & Content.

But, she adds, “we believe that it is necessary for all ISPs to block the pirate sites, and that this could be implemented via a government obligation to block”.

Singapore’s other leading broadband provider, SingTel, is yet to tell us about its stand on site blocking, but insiders say the telco, which also has a major interest in pay-TV content, is all for it.

The Singapore government itself is absolutely 100% committed to IP protection and is in the midst of expanding Singapore’s role as an IP hub for Asia.

Earlier this year, the Minister for Law spoke candidly in Parliament about the country’s worst ranking in online piracy, saying too that six of the top 100 sites visited from Singapore were rogue overseas sites.

So what’s the hold up? That bit is not really clear. Or not to us at least.

One of the arguments that is being made everywhere is that site blocking doesn’t work for longer than the minutes it takes pirate sites to change their names and redirect their traffic.

At the same time, there is ample evidence from digital measurement and research agencies that shows site blocking – whatever the debate over its long-term effectiveness – makes a difference. At least in the short term.

A surprisingly small number of sites are responsible for the bulk of illegal downloads. The site-blocking lobby is using this to make the case that blocking just a few sites could bring down illegal downloads by up to 80%.

Last year, Mark Monitor’s “Traffic Report: Online Piracy and Counterfeiting,” said there were more than 53 billion visits per year to just 43 digital piracy sites. Just three sites at that time (rapidshare, megaupload and megavideo) were responsible for about 40% of that traffic.

In Singapore, 16 sites contribute to the bulk of the problem with illegal downloads, including thepiratebay, which is 82nd on Singapore’s list of top 100 sites. According to Amazon’s Alexa Rankings, thepiratebay ranks higher than Golden Village movie theatre site (at 90th place) and pay-TV provider StarHub (at 92).

If just these 16 were blocked, a significant percentage of the country’s problems with illegal downloading could disappear in the near term, say those in the know.

The problem is by no means confined to Singapore – and it in no way will be eradicated totally by site blocking. But, in the great big overwhelming and never-ending battle being fought, it’s a good place to start.

Article reprinted courtesy of ContentAsia

June 1, 2012 – With a range of television options that run the gamut from OTT to DTH, the main video markets are now offering a wealth of different dynamics and opportunities. As with natural geography, the Asian video landscape varies widely, depending on where you are.

Across the board, there seem to be a few hard and fast “truths” to what is happening in Asia’s video sector. Parts of the region are on the verge of explosive growth. Content consumption is on the rise and in demand from a strong demographic. Satellite will remain an important part of every facet of the video market because of its unmatched ability to distribute content to people located in remote or less populated areas.

Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA, says that Asia has the advantage of continued economic growth. “With an average of about 8 percent across the region, with some fluctuation depending on the country, Asia has an increasingly informed media market with positive demographics coming through. People under the age of 30 are driving consumption for increased media services and options and satellite technology provides the ultimate backhaul for it. Video is gradually migrating from analog to digital format and migration from SD to HD content is becoming more standard, which is driving usage of satellite capacity and demand.”

Read the full story at http://www.satellitetoday.com/broadband/applications/11/The-Asian-Video-Landscape-DTH-Market-Share-Trending-Up_38819.html

NEW DELHI (May 30, 2012): All applications for operating television channels or teleports have been given only 30 days from 25 May to furnish performance bank guarantee (PBG) and the permission fee as applicable.

An additional 15 days could be given only under exceptional circumstances, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said.

It has clarified that no extension or correspondence will be entertained thereafter and those who fail to submit the PBG would not be given permission by the Ministry.

Earlier at the time of issuing the new Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines on 5 December last year, the Ministry had said applications that are at various stages of processing for permission to operate television channels or teleports will be given a period of three months to ‘ensure conformity’ to the new Guidelines.

This followed a Delhi High Court order which had said time should be given till 23 March 2012 for those who had applied before 5 December 2011.

Read the full story at http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k12/may/may256.php