ASIASAT OFFERS ONE-STOP BROADCAST SERVICE TO FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS
The outsourcing partnership increases FIC’s operational efficiency, allowing FIC to focus on its core competency of launching and marketing first-class channels first in Asia
Hong Kong, 17 August 2011 – Asia’s leading satellite operator, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a contract with FOX International Channels (FIC), Asia’s largest pay-TV network, to provide one-stop broadcast service including compression, uplink, play-out service, monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting for all of the FIC’s top-rated HD and SD channels at AsiaSat’s state-of-the-art earth station in Tai Po, Hong Kong.
A new broadcast centre, staffed by AsiaSat, was established to host FIC’s equipment and to provide 24×7 broadcast operations for the strong FIC channel bouquet available across Asia and the Middle East. The top-rated channels in the FIC network, which feature Asia’s leading Chinese and Hollywood movies, US TV series, documentaries and Asian entertainment, are delivered in both HD and SD formats to 13 markets in these two regions, reaching over 550 million cumulative viewers. The operations were previously handled by FIC out of its Hunghom location.
By outsourcing the broadcast operations to AsiaSat, FIC can focus more on its core business of expanding its channel portfolio across genres, and launching channels and services faster in current and emerging markets in Asia.
“Outsourcing our broadcast operations to a capable service provider like AsiaSat improves FOX International Channels’ operational efficiency, and enables us to focus on our core competency by taking first-to-market advantage to launch and market channels. AsiaSat is our long-term partner in Asia. This agreement further expands our existing collaboration in achieving total reliability and quality control in the broadcast of our services across the regions,” said Mr. Victor Chan, Vice President, Broadcast Technical Operations in FOX International Channels.
AsiaSat Offers One-Stop Broadcast Service to FOX International Channels – P2/2
“We are very pleased to provide this additional valuable service to FOX International Channels, AsiaSat’s long standing customer. We are proud to play an expanding role in FIC’s distribution service in Asia by offering space and ground infrastructure solutions that address their broadcast needs, now and in the future,” said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.
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About FOX International Channels
FOX International Channels (FIC) is News Corporation’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 200+ 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 billion cumulative subscribers worldwide. We also operate a global online advertising unit, .FOX (pronounced “dot-fox”) specialized in online video and display, and four TV production houses. For more information, please visit: www.foxinternationalchannels.com
In Asia, FIC operates 27 channel brands including the FOX, STAR and National Geographic brands in 75 channel feeds across 13 markets, reaching more than 550 million cumulative subscribers in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. We have offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, Middle East and India.
About AsiaSat
AsiaSat, the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world’s population with its three satellites, AsiaSat 3S at 105.5ºE, AsiaSat 4 at 122ºE and AsiaSat 5 at 100.5ºE. The AsiaSat satellite fleet provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 500 television and radio channels are now delivered by the company’s satellites offering access to over 620 million TV households across the Asia-Pacific region. AsiaSat also provides operators and end users telecommunications services such as voice networks, private VSAT networks and broadband multimedia services. AsiaSat is building a new satellite AsiaSat 7, planned for launch in Q4 2011. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1135). For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com
Media inquiries:
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited
Sabrina Cubbon, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Tel : (852) 2500 0899
Mobile : (852) 9097 1210
Email : scubbon@asiasat.com
Winnie Pang, Manager, Corporate Affairs
Tel : (852) 2500 0880
Email : wpang@asiasat.com
FOX International Channels
Rajesh Sheshadri / Vincent Mak
Tel: (852) 2621 8800 / (852) 2621 8861
Email: rsheshadri@startv.com / vincent.mak@startv.com