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.