Animax and Sony Entertainment Television Gain Carriage on Me Television in Thailand
Singapore / Bangkok, 1 March 2013 – Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia has inked a deal with Thailand’s Me Television Co., Ltd. for the carriage of Animax and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on its Internet protocol television (IPTV) pay-TV platform, MeTV.
Starting from today, Animax and SET are placed in the newly launched “Choice L” MeTV basic tier, reaching a wide base of subscribers, on channels 415 and 335 respectively. MeTV is a joint venture between ITV Media (HK) Limited and Telecom Of Thailand (TOT) currently available to over 40 per cent of broadband Internet connections in Thailand, or more than 1 million subscribers.
“A progressive economy and a rapidly growing middle class offer great potential for pay-TV penetration to grow significantly in Thailand. We are excited to bring our channels to an even wider audience in this vibrant market, and look forward to working with MeTV to make Animax and SET must-have content offerings for their customers,” said Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, SPT.
Thinakorn Thianprathum, the newly appointed General Manager of MeTV in Bangkok commented, “We are honoured and excited to establish our relationship with Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which will provide our subscribers with exceptional value, initially through two of the most prestigious television channels in Southeast Asia, from one of the world’s leading producers and distributors of entertainment programming.
“SET will provide high quality general entertainment to our young adult subscribers who appreciate fashion, lifestyle, design, food, romance and celebrity gossip; while Animax will excite our younger subscribers with anime across the genres of action, romance, horror, supernatural, comedy, and slice-of-life. MeTV looks forward to expanding our relationship with SPT Networks in Asia, through the acquisition of additional television programming in the coming months to bring new world class television entertainment to our subscribers at MeTV”.
Animax is currently available to 44 million homes in 17 markets offering anime programming for everyone including some of the most popular new series that are simulcast with Japan.
SET is broadcasting in 12 territories serving up a ‘wickedly, juicy’ brand of female skewing, English entertainment including drama, lifestyle-reality, and celebrity-driven variety shows.
In the month of March 2013, Me TV subscribers can enjoy first and exclusively:
On Animax (Ch 415)
Fairy Tail Season 3, the latest returning season of one of the world’s most popular action fantasy anime series continues the adventures of wizards Lucy, Natsu, Happy, Gray and Erza of the rambunctious Fairy Tail guild into the annual wizards promotions trial. Premieres on 13 March, airing from Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm (BKK).
Fairy Tail The Movie: The Phoenix Priestess sees Lucy and her fellow Fairy Tail wizards get caught up in the intrigue surrounding the mysterious girl Eclair, who has lost all her memories except that she has to deliver the powerful ‘Phoenix Stones’ in her possession somewhere. Premieres on 23 March, Saturday at 1.30pm and repeats at 11pm (BKK).
City Hunter Season 3 brings back ladies’ man, troubleshooter and expert marksman Ryo Saeba Tokyo’s ‘City Hunter’, private detective who works to rid the city of crime, with his sidekick Kaori Makimura. Premieres on 20 March, airing from Mondays and Fridays at 10pm (BKK).
On SET (Ch 335)
New reality culinary competition series Cupcake Wars sees four of America’s top cupcake bakers face off in elimination challenges each week until one remains for the prize of US$10,000, and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at the winning gig. Candace Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes and Florian Bellanger, of online macaroon company MadMac are judges with a third guest judge, and Justin Willman hosts. Premieres 12 on March, airing on Tuesdays at 8.55pm (BKK).
Kim Kardashian takes centre stage on SET this Women’s Day with recaps of the episodes of Drop Dead Diva Season 4 and The Rachel Zoe Project Season 4 featuring the mum-to-be Hollywood star in a programming special. Airs on 8 March, Friday from 7.15pm.
-Ends-
About Animax Asia
Launched on 1 January 2004, Animax is Asia’s first channel brand specializing in Japanese animation – anime. Animax offers a wide variety of anime programs from across the most popular genres including action, romance, horror, supernatural, comedy to slice-of-life.
Animax Asia aims to offer anime for everyone. Currently reaching 44 million homes in 17 markets across the region, Animax Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and is managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia which also operates AXN, beTV, Sony Entertainment Television and ONE.
About Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is the one-stop destination for wickedly juicy TV – appealing to discerning viewers regardless of gender, who like their entertainment sassy and fun, with a pinch of mischief.
SET provides stylish entertainment – sexy, chic and witty shows – centered on fashion, lifestyle, design, food, romance, and celebrity gossip. Comprising first-run hits from the U.S., the tantalizing program line-up features a variety of genres that will strike a chord with all audiences – fun and engaging drama series, trendy lifestyle-related reality shows and celebrity-driven variety shows.
Sony Entertainment Television is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates AXN, beTV, Animax and ONE.
About Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, based in Singapore, was established in 1997 as the Asia headquarters for Sony Pictures Television Networks. It operates five ad-supported 24/7 channel brands in the region which are wholly-owned by Sony Pictures.
AXN is the home of thrilling entertainment; beTV is the place to be for the best of light, engaging and easy-viewing entertainment; Sony Entertainment Television is a female-skewing channel offering ‘wickedly juicy’ shows; Animax offers anime programming for all; and ONE, the gem of Asian general entertainment, is powered by prime and current Korean content.
About Me Television Co Ltd., Bangkok
ME Television Co Ltd. serves as both the exclusive provider of video programming services to TOT, as well as the retail consumer video programming platform, for all TOT subscribers. The programming platform licenses and acquires, approximately 200 television programming channels, including local, regional and foreign Free-To-Air (“FTA”) channels, domestic and international third party linear channels, original movie & sports channels, and diversified interactive video programming services.
The ME Television retail consumer video programming services platform comprises approximately 75 FTA channels, 125 third-party linear domestic and international channels, Pay-Per-View (“PPV”) channels, Video-On-Demand (“VOD”) channels, and Time Shift TV channels, IP Signage and LED Screens, all presented to the retail consumer, through six individual marketing channel tiers and retail subscription pricing plans.
Not only does The Me TV TOT IPTV platform function with practically every electronic device, including TV sets, computers, iPad’s, iPod’s, and iPhone’s, but the Me TV IPTV platform also offers unsurpassed entertainment experiences, utilizing HD technology.
Media Contacts:
Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Calvin Wong
+65 6622 4203
calvin_wong@spe.sony.com
Me Television Co Ltd., Bangkok
Chacree La-ongmani
+66 2 568 1905 #12
chacree@metv.co.th