International pay-TV industry welcomes Taiwan market

Hong Kong, Taipei, June 12, 2006 — The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today welcomed steps by Taiwans new pay-TV regulator, the National Communications Commission (NCC), to relax regulations impeding further development of the pay-TV market. On May 30th, the NCC announced its 2006 policy agenda including measures to liberalise pay-TV services within Taiwan. The international industry warmly welcomes the NCCs clear intention to assume its responsibilities and to effectively regulate Taiwans important television market, said CASBAA Chairman Marcel Fenez. After years of regulatory stagnation and political controversy the NCC has demonstrated a firm intention to take on some difficult but vital issues. The NCC “Executive Plans” for 2006 include the relaxation of tight regulation of cable bouquets and associated price constraints, the encouragement of competition among industry players and stimulating digitisation. In many respects the Plans are in line with positions outlined by CASBAA and other international business organisations during a February conference in Taipei held as the NCC was being established. It is encouraging that the NCC is taking notice of international trends in this industry. Taiwan has suffered for too long from limited consumer choice and slow technological development, said Mr Fenez. CASBAA believes that technology-neutral, internationally compatible, open, competitive, and market-driven regulatory regimes are needed to stimulate strong growth and better services for consumers. This is especially true of Taiwan and the islands 5.5 million pay-TV subscribers. John Medeiros, CASBAAs VP for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs added that growth in Taiwan has been held back because of over-regulation and that it now had the opportunity to benefit from a new regulatory approach. ### ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel TV via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include ABC Asia Pacific, ABN AMRO, AETN International (History Channel), AsiaSat, Astro, Bloomberg Television, China Entertainment Television, Comverse, Discovery Networks Asia, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now Broadband TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC, Walt Disney Television International, Zone Vision, Asian Food Channel, BBC World, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosport, Hallmark Channel, Hong Kong Cable Television, HSBC Bank, Mindshare, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Starhub, Synovate, TimeWarner. Contact: Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong Communications CASBAA Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2854 9913 Fax: (852) 2854 9530 Email: pr@casbaa.com