The satellite industry recognises that it needs to stay relevant

Singapore, 04 July 2018 – Opening the Casbaa Satellite Industry Forum in Singapore last Monday, CEO Louis Boswell set the tone for the day as he told delegates that those in the satellite communications industry need to “see change as a challenge to grow, develop and become stronger to benefit the larger ecosystem”. Furthermore, “Casbaa is uniquely positioned, with video as the common glue, to talk about – and promote – developments, innovations in and the relevance of the satellite ecosystem. Casbaa will continue to represent and satellite will continue to be relevant”.

The conference was designed to bring together a wide range of world-class speakers from the industry to deal with crucial issues, encouraging robust and frank debate. Topics covering innovation, the need for partnerships, better revenue generation methods, the implications of video, connectivity, and 5G were all discussed at the full-day conference for the satellite industry.

The theme of change was supported throughout the day, initially by John-Paul Hemingway, CEO of SES Networks in his opening keynote, who said that “the satellite industry must become part of the mainstream. The industry cannot be limited to innovating in space; we have to be bolder, we cannot be niche”. Mitsutoshi Akao of SKY Perfect JSAT noted that, “we are starting to think how to expand our space business not just in GEO but also in drones, LEO, MEO, etc”. This was further supported by AsiaSat’s Barrie Woolston who reaffirmed to all that opportunities for growth will indeed remain.

Change was also apparent in the approach being taken by major industry players in actively seeking partnerships. Huang Baozhong of APT Satellite advised that “We maintain a good profit margin, but we are looking for partners in other parts of the world”. Jean-François Fenech of Eutelsat Asia added “Our main business in Asia is around mobility and data, and we are looking to grow our video and DTH business in the region” with satellite fleet operator ABS’s Jim Simpson stating that “We have rights to 15 orbital slots, now vacant. We’re looking for partners, including satellite manufacturers, to fill them before they expire”.

The other prominent discussion of the day centred around 5G. “Every single telco customer we have is asking us about our 5G strategy and partaking in 5G trials. It’s going to take a huge amount of time and redesigns before we get there, but we need to already find a way to play in that space”, said SES Network’s JP Hemingway. “5G will require a hybrid network”, said Intelsat’s Terry Bleakley, “and the development cycle offers the satellite sector an opportunity to become a core part of the telecoms solution”. In the closing panel of the day, THAICOM’s Nile Suwansiri stated that, “for satellite to be successful it is not just about cost, but about establishing demand for satellite’s role in 5G”, with other panellists all agreeing on the “we” approach as it will enable newer types of applications, standards and innovation.

Change is in the air for the satellite industry and Casbaa CEO, Louis Boswell, announced that this also applies to Casbaa, with the annual conference event, the Casbaa Convention, not only moving back to Hong Kong, but rebranded as the Asia Video Summit.

The Satellite Industry Forum was supported by APSTAR, AsiaSat, Boeing, Effective Space, Eutelsat, Hughes, International Launch Service (ILS), Integrasys, Marsh, MEASAT, Newtec, NorthTelecom, SES, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, SpaceX and SSL.

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About Casbaa

Casbaa is THE trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. Casbaa leads the fight against video piracy, publishes in-depth reports and hosts conferences and seminars aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media contacts and additional background contact:

(Ms) Kay Bayliss
Manager, Marketing & Communications
kay@casbaa.com
Tel: +852 5741 6559

Leading subscription video-on-demand services across ASEAN, including ASTRO, dimsum, Fox+, HOOQ, iflix, Netflix, tonton, TVB and The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) have come together to announce the creation of a self-regulatory Subscription Video-on-Demand Industry Content Code (hereafter referred to as the “Code”) to safeguard consumer interests.

The Code sets out principles to ensure that content offered on these participating platforms is authentic, free from hate speech, hate crimes, pornography, and other forms of inappropriate content. They also pledge their best efforts to provide consumer control features or other measures to ensure that content delivered is age-appropriate for relevant family members of the users in ASEAN.

Companies participating in the Code said, “We share a mutual objective of putting consumer well-being at the heart of our services. This Code demonstrates our commitment to making sure that the consumer is able to make content viewing choices that are right for them and their families.”

This idea was first discussed at the ASEAN Telecom Regulators Council dialogue, held in Bangkok in September 2017. This forum brought together both regulators as well as industry in dialogue, to create pan-ASEAN solutions. Companies affirmed the value of this type of open dialogue and collaborative efforts towards addressing challenges.

This initiative has been welcomed and supported by CASBAA, a regional industry association.

The Companies look forward to working with other players in the SVOD space in ASEAN under the principles in the Code which will also serve to distinguish legitimate services from pirate sites. “When a consumer goes to a pirate site for content, not only do they undermine legitimate businesses, but there are no checks on the content which means minors can very easily be exposed to pornography or graphic violence,” said Louis Boswell, CEO of Casbaa.

Nearly one in four Hong Kong consumers use pirated TV boxes, survey finds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Hong Kong, 25 June 2018 – In a newly released Casbaa survey of the content viewing behaviour of Hong Kong consumers, it was revealed that close to one in four consumers (24%) use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content. These TV boxes, also known as Illicit Streaming Devices (ISDs), allow users to access hundreds of thousands of pirated television channels and video-on-demand content, usually with the payment of a one-time fee. TV boxes BossTV (9%), Ubox (7%), EVPad (6%), Lingcod (5%), and Magic Box (4%), which come pre-loaded with applications allowing ‘plug-and-play’ access to pirated content, are among the most popular ISDs amongst Hong Kong consumers. Over 350 ISDs were recently seized in a Hong Kong Customs enforcement operation (Operation Trojan Horse) resulting in the arrest of four shop owners and four salespersons, all of whom were subsequently charged with copyright offences.

The survey, commissioned by Casbaa’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), and conducted by YouGov, also highlights the effects of streaming piracy on legitimate online subscription services. Of the 24% of consumers who purchased an ISD, half (49%) claimed that they had cancelled all or some of their subscriptions to legal pay TV services. More than one in four (26%) claimed that they cancelled their subscription to local pay TV services as a direct consequence of owning an ISD. Nineteen percent (19%) stated that they had cancelled a specific part of their traditional cable TV bundle or packages after purchasing an ISD. International subscription services were also not immune to the prevalent usage of ISDs in Hong Kong – more than one in five (21%) users who had purchased an ISD said that they had cancelled their international subscription service that was available to them in Hong Kong.

Cancelling legitimate subscription services and paying less for access to pirated content is fraught with risks, as Neil Gane, Managing Director for Casbaa’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) comments, “The damage that content theft does to the creative industries is without dispute. However, the damage done to consumers themselves, because of the nexus between content piracy and malware, is only beginning to be recognised. The piracy ecosystem is a hotbed for malware, whether purchasing ISDs from Sham Shui Po’s Golden Arcade or downloading content from infamous torrent sites. Unfortunately the appetite for free or paying cheap subscription rates for stolen content, blinkers some consumers from the real risks of malicious malware infection such as spyware”.

Of those consumers who own an ISD, about half of respondents (49%) claim to have purchased their illicit streaming device from Sham Shui Po, a popular local electronics hotspot. The survey also found that some of the world’s top e-retail stores and social media platforms are preferred destinations where Hong Kong consumers acquire their ISDs and other devices used for pirating video content from.

In addition to the short-term problem of cancelled subscriptions is a longer term problem – namely, many of the people using ISDs are young. The survey found that ISDs are particularly favoured among 25-34 year-olds and high income earners with university degrees.

“The illicit streaming device (ISD) ecosystem is impacting all businesses involved in the production and distribution of legitimate content”, said Louis Boswell, CEO of Casbaa. “ISD piracy is also organised crime, pure and simple, with crime syndicates making substantial illicit revenues from the provision of illegally re-transmitted TV channels and the sale of such ISDs.”

Casbaa’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) includes leading video content creators and distributors in Asia. Members include: beIN Sports, Casbaa, Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Fox Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Premier League, Turner Asia-Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, CANAL+, Cignal, La Liga, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association, PCCW Media, Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, TV5MONDE, and Viacom International Media Networks.

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About Casbaa

Casbaa is THE trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. Casbaa leads the fight against video piracy, publishes in-depth reports and hosts conferences and seminars aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

Contact Casbaa

For media contacts and additional background contact:

(Ms) Kay Bayliss
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Tel: +852 5741 6559
pr@casbaa.com

Eight persons arrested and charged with Copyright offences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Hong Kong, 28 May 2018 – As part of Operation Trojan Horse, Hong Kong Customs recently undertook a series of raids against four retail outlets in Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai. Over a two-day period (25-26 May 2018), Hong Kong Customs raided retail outlets and arrested four (4) shop owners and four (4) salespersons found to be selling pre-loaded TV boxes (also known as Illicit Streaming Devices – “ISDs”) which provide access to pirated movies and TV shows. The arrested persons were all charged with copyright offences. Over 350 ISDs were seized, including brands such as the Ubox, EVPad, BossTV, and Magic Box.

During a press conference today to announce the enforcement action, a Hong Kong Customs spokesperson said “Hong Kong Customs will continue to strengthen its searches at ISD shop hotspots, cracking down on those who sell devices that allow for the stealing of Pay TV channels. Whether the rights-holders are based locally or internationally, both are protected under the Copyright Ordinance. Customs wants to remind salespersons that selling circumvention devices, or providing circumvention services that allow users to watch Pay TV channels for free, is a serious offence”.

The Hong Kong Customs spokesperson went on to say that “Customs wants to urge consumers to watch Pay TV through legal avenues. Users of ISDs will not only face disconnections but also may have their private data stolen by malicious actors”.

Neil Gane, the General Manager of Cabsaa’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) said “We commend the great work of Hong Kong Customs in clamping down on syndicates who profit from the sale of Illicit Streaming Devices. The prevalence of ISDs in Hong Kong and across South East Asia is staggering. The criminals who sell ISDs, as well as those who operate the ISD networks and pirate websites, are profiting from the hard work of talented creators, seriously damaging the legitimate content ecosystem as well as exposing consumers to dangerous malware”. Gane also noted that the unprecedented growth in delivery of legal creative content over global broadband networks is being undermined by a surge in the sale of TV boxes with pre-loaded infringing applications.

Online video and broadband distribution has the potential to be a massive economic growth engine with analysts forecasting market growth of more than 20% over the next five years, benefiting consumers and creators of quality video content within Hong Kong and other Asian countries. But this growth potential is threatened by piracy.

In the past two years there have been many new roll-outs of online content services across the Asia Pacific region, by existing players as well as new ones. Unfortunately, the likelihood of success for legitimate online content suppliers is severely reduced by online access to pirated content via ISDs and streaming websites, resulting in the expectation of some consumers to get ‘something for nothing’.

“The illicit streaming device (ISD) ecosystem is impacting all businesses involved in the production and distribution of legitimate content”, said Louis Boswell, CEO of Casbaa. “That is why content producers, distributors and content platforms are coming together and forming associations such as Casbaa’s Coalition Against Piracy to combat this threat to their industry.”

Casbaa’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) includes leading video content creators and distributors in Asia. Members include: beIN Sports, Casbaa, The Walt Disney Company, Fox Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Premier League, Turner Asia-Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, CANAL+, Cignal, La Liga, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association, PCCW Media, Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, TV5MONDE, and Viacom International Media Networks.

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About Casbaa

Casbaa is THE trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. Casbaa leads the fight against video piracy, publishes in-depth reports and hosts conferences and seminars aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

Contact Casbaa

For media contacts and additional background contact:

(Ms) Kay Bayliss
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Tel: +852 2854 9913
pr@casbaa.com

Singapore, 27 March 2018 – Opening the Casbaa OTT Conference last Wednesday, March 21st, Radha Rahman, Marketing Director, Asia, for Brightcove set the tone for the day from the start as she told delegates “The end game is to win the viewer over and over again. Consumers now have more choice so services need to be different. Viewers are more savvy and viewing habits have changed to include binge watching and increased mobile consumption”.

Topics covering trends in viewership, OTT content strategies, OTT security issues, distribution channels, regulatory practices, business models (both old & new), OTT content measurement, consumer payment options, success factors, and “big data” were also discussed at the full-day OTT Conference; part of the annual two-day OTT Summit.

The conference was designed to take a look at OTT content, business models, regulation and the latest tech. Delegates heard industry experts deliver opinions on issues pertinent to the industry and on how broadcasters, OTT players and telcos are shaping the future of TV.

The theme that viewership and that overall subscription numbers (and retention of said subscribers) is all that counts was supported by Aravind Venugopal, Vice President of Media Partners Asia in his presentation where he stated that “Data consumption, subscriber retention and pricing power have emerged as key drivers in the OTT space with Michael Greco, Vice President, Vindicia later affirming this when he said “Retention should be a key part of your acquisition strategy”. YouGov Managing Director, Stephen Tracy noted that “Lapsed subscribers are more likely to resubscribe when new content becomes available. The most important factors for those considering to subscribe are cost and availability of international content” with Ben Loh, General Manager for tonton having earlier told delegates that “People want to be entertained on their own terms” and that, essentially, “the core business is content /price point and monetisation”. Even Carl Kirchhoff, SportsFix CEO said that “new tech will disrupt existing ecosystems and payment models” before positing whether block chain would be a game changer.

The problems of piracy also surfaced again with stark comments being made by Goh Seow Eng, Managing Director, Home for Singtel, about the need for more united action to combat piracy. Goh warned that content owners who didn’t join the efforts would face negative consequences in contract renewal conversations with the platforms.

The OTT Conference was supported by Presenting Sponsor, Brightcove and sponsors Accedo, APT Satellite, BBC Player, Eros International, Irdeto, Massive, MPP Global, TV5MONDE, Viaccess-Orca and Vindicia.

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About Casbaa

Established in 1991, Casbaa is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. Casbaa is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy, publishes in depth reports and hosts conferences and seminars aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media contacts and additional background contact:

(Ms) Kay Bayliss
Manager, Marketing & Communications
kay@casbaa.com
Tel: +852 3929 1724

Singapore, 22 March 2018 – Asian video industry association, Casbaa, held its annual OTT Summit, Asia’s OTT industry marquee event, on 20 & 21 March. New to the event this year, which has been expanded to two days, was the OTT Anti-Piracy Seminar on March 20th; sponsored by 21st Century Fox.

The Anti-Piracy Seminar was designed to broaden the understanding of the problems piracy creates for the industry, to look at what is currently being done to combat the growing threat to legitimate businesses and to explore what else might be done. As the industry’s association, Casbaa is doing more and more to help lead the fight against piracy.

“Piracy is a critical problem, and is particularly acute in Asia”, said Casbaa CEO, Louis Boswell, at the well-attended afternoon event. “This seminar provides a forum for conversation and debate leading to ever more effective solutions to the problem. As an industry we have to put our best foot forward and make sure the leaders of legitimate video companies all get involved.”

The seminar looked at the problems of piracy from all angles; from the regulatory loopholes that allow it to flourish, to the increasing enforcement actions that can – and are – being deployed, through the role technology can play in defeating piracy, and finally how the legitimate industry is responding to the threat and making content more available than ever before through a multitude of legal services.

The OTT Anti-Piracy Seminar was preceded by the OTT Tech Showcase where presentations were made throughout the morning by Accedo, Brightcove, Viaccess-Orca and Vindicia.

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About Casbaa

Established in 1991, Casbaa is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. Casbaa is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy, publishes in depth reports and hosts conferences and seminars aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media contacts and additional background contact:

(Ms) Kay Bayliss
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Tel: +852 3929 1724
kay@casbaa.com

Promoters of illegal TV Boxes convicted of copyright and conspiracy to defraud offences; given jail sentences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Hong Kong, 28 December 2017 – Following Hong Kong Customs’ successful raid on suppliers of an illegal TV box service, one box reseller from Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po was convicted of copyright and conspiracy to defraud offences and given a jail sentence of 21 months. Two persons, found to be re-transmitting illegal broadcasts of popular TV channels, were also convicted of copyright and conspiracy to defraud offences and given jail sentences of 21 and 27 months respectively.

TV boxes which facilitate access to illegal content streams are known as illicit streaming devices (ISDs). This case stemmed from action in 2014 by Hong Kong Customs authorities, who raided four residential premises, a warehouse and a commercial electronics retail outlet, arresting nine people and seizing 38 ISD boxes. The defendants were subsequently charged with violating the anti-circumvention provisions of the Copyright Ordinance (s273C(1)) as well as common law offences of conspiracy to defraud.

The ISDs, branded as the Maige TV Box, were being sold to consumers for $2,200 (including first 12 months subscription) and provided illegal access to hundreds of live TV channels and movies, including channels belonging to PCCW, TVB, BBC, HBO, NBA and many other international channels.

“We congratulate Customs and the Hong Kong Police on the successful outcome of this enforcement action”, said John Medeiros, CASBAA Chief Policy Officer. “They uncovered a criminal fact pattern and acted upon it decisively. This type of crime heaps huge illicit profits into the pockets of criminal syndicates behind the manufacture and sale of ISDs, as well as

the retransmission of the unauthorised content. Live sports channels, TV series and other premium broadcasting content is being stripped of value by the inundation of ISD boxes which provide illegal access to television programming. We are happy that Customs and the Police are helping to stem that tide.”

Neil Gane, the General Manager of the recently launched CASBAA Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), said “ISDs with preloaded applications are readily available in many electronic outlets in Hong Kong with sales teams implying to consumers that the TV channels and movies available on the TV boxes are legal and the ‘very cheap’ service they sell will last indefinitely. Today’s judicial outcome has provided clarification for those who buy and sell ISDs – TV boxes with applications allowing access to illicit TV channels and movies are illegal”.

TVB and PCCW, local operators whose content was among those illegally transmitted on the Maige boxes, also saluted the outcome. “The TV industry in Hong Kong has suffered a huge loss of revenue due to ISD piracy for many years”, said Desmond Chan, Deputy General Manager (Legal & International Operations) for Television Broadcasts Limited. “This is the first successful case on ISDs in Hong Kong. It should send a deterrent message to those engaged in the illicit ISD business. The TV industry will continue to support the Government’s law enforcement actions. We believe that Customs will soon step up their efforts in sweeping the local market and work more closely with overseas law enforcement agencies to crack down on ISD activities”.

TVB and PCCW are both members of the CASBAA Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), which also includes other leading video content creators and distributors in Asia including: beIN Asia Pacific, CASBAA, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, FOX Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Premier League, Turner Asia Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, Cignal, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association (NBA), Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, True Visions, TV5MONDE, and Viacom International Media Networks.

CASBAA urges consumers to acquire their TV content from legal sources, and notes that purchasing and using some TV boxes could engage the consumer in illegal acts, depending on the internal workings of the box. The best guarantee of legality is subscribing to authorised TV services that provide high-quality program signals.

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About CASBAA

Established in 1991, CASBAA is the association for digital multichannel TV, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across a variety of geographic markets throughout the Asia Pacific. CASBAA’s members reach over 500 million connections within a regional footprint ranging from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan. For more information, visit www.casbaa.com.

Media Contact

For additional background contact:

Kay Bayliss
CASBAA Member Relations & Marketing
Tel: +852 3929 1724
Email: kay@casbaa.com

Chinese Version Click Here

Hong Kong & Singapore, 30 November 2017 — Louis Boswell, senior media and digital business leader in Asia, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, CASBAA, the Association said today. Boswell will begin his tenure on 1 January 2018, succeeding outgoing CEO Christopher Slaughter.

As CEO for CASBAA, Boswell will serve as the content distribution industry’s leading advocate with industry leaders and policymakers throughout Asia-Pacific. In addition to driving the programs and initiatives of the Association, Boswell will work with business heads of the member organisations to shape positively the increasingly rapid evolution of the industry in the region.

Boswell’s background in Asia includes senior positions at Discovery, ESPN Star Sports, BBC, AETN All Asia Networks and, most recently, as the General Manager, Asia for Da Vinci. His experience includes leading businesses in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and all of the major markets in southeast Asia.

“Louis is one of the most well respected senior commercial executives in the content distribution industry in Asia. We are proud to have him leading our Association. Louis’s track record of leadership and insight make him an ideal fit to work strategically with in-country business and government leaders to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as the industry continues to invest, innovate and evolve at an unprecedented pace”, said Joe Welch, Chair of the CASBAA Board of Directors and Senior Vice President, 21st Century Fox.

“I am thrilled to be joining CASBAA”, Boswell commented. “The industry is changing and it is paramount that its representative body keeps up and is reflective of those changes. I believe the need for CASBAA is greater now than it ever has been and I look forward to making sure that we lead the industry from the front as we confront those changes.”

“Louis is a true professional, able to listen, rationalise differing viewpoints and then drive execution”, said Henry Tan of ASTRO who worked closely with Boswell on the AETN All Asia Networks joint venture. “He will make an excellent head of the Association.”

Boswell is an Oxford University graduate and speaks Mandarin and is proficient in Cantonese and Japanese.

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About CASBAA

Established in 1991, CASBAA, with a staff of more than ten, is the principal trade association for digital multichannel TV, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across a variety of geographic markets throughout the Asia Pacific. CASBAA’s members reach over 500 million connections within a regional footprint ranging from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan. For more information, visit www.casbaa.com.

Media Contacts

For media contacts and additional background contact:

Tel: +852 2854 9913
pr@casbaa.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Melbourne, Australia, 28 November 2017 – Following a joint investigation in Australia by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) and CASBAA’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) a large supplier of IPTV set-top boxes, pre-loaded to play pirated movies, television shows, sports programming, and other content has had these operations closed down in Australia.

The Melbourne-based company that had been selling these piracy devices in Asia for a number of years has ceased selling the boxes, which contained pre-loaded apps enabling easy access to creative content belonging to ACE and CASBAA/CAP member companies. The company owners also agreed to take necessary steps to prevent customers who had already purchased these piracy devices from accessing ACE and CASBAA/CAP member company movies, TV shows, and sports programming in the future. As part of a settlement agreement, the name of the company and owner were not released.

The devices were sold on average for AUS $400, which included a year’s unauthorised subscription to pirated versions of video-on-demand movies, as well as live sports channels, and premium TV channels from Europe, India, the United States, and South East Asia.

Zoe Thorogood, a spokesperson for ACE, said: “The film and television industry has made significant investments to provide audiences with access to creative content how, where, and when they want it. ACE and CAP members initiated this investigation as part of a comprehensive global approach to protect the legal marketplace for creative content, reduce online piracy, and bolster a creative economy that supports millions of workers. This latest action was part of a series of global actions to address the growth of illegal and unsafe piracy devices and apps.”

Neil Gane, General Manager of the CASBAA Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), said: “These little black boxes are now beginning to dominate the piracy ecosystem, causing significant damage to all sectors of the content industry, from producers to telecommunication platforms. They also pose a risk to consumers who face a well-documented increase in exposure to malware. The surge in availability of these illicit streaming devices is an international issue that requires a coordinated effort between industry and government. This will be the first of many disruption and enforcement initiatives on which CAP, ACE, and other industry associations will be collaborating together.”

The recently launched Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) includes leading video content creators and distributors in Asia including: beIN Asia Pacific, CASBAA, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Fox Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Premier League, Turner Asia-Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, Cignal TV, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association, PCCW Media, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, True Visions, TV5MONDE, TVB, and Viacom International Media Networks.

The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) is a global coalition dedicated to protecting the dynamic legal market and reducing online piracy. The worldwide members of ACE are Amazon, AMC Networks, BBC Worldwide, Bell Canada and Bell Media, Canal+ Group, CBS Corporation, Constantin Film, Foxtel, Grupo Globo, HBO, Hulu, Lionsgate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Millennium Media, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, SF Studios, Sky, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Star India, Studio Babelsberg, STX Entertainment, Telemundo, Televisa, Twentieth Century Fox, Univision Communications Inc., Village Roadshow, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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About CASBAA

Established in 1991, CASBAA is the association for digital multichannel TV, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across a variety of geographic markets throughout the Asia Pacific. CASBAA’s members reach over 500 million connections within a regional footprint ranging from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan. For more information, visit www.casbaa.com.

Media Contacts

For media contacts and additional background contact:

CASBAA/CAP
Kay Bayliss
+852 3929 1724
kay@casbaa.com

ACE
Zoe Thorogood
UK: +44 7855 828 391
US: +1 202 659 7902
zoe@alliance4creativity.com

Hong Kong, 13 November 2017 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – CASBAA, Asia’s largest non-profit media association serving the multi-channel audio-visual content creation and distribution industry, today announced the election of several new Directors to its Board, and the return of a number of long-serving Directors.

Following its AGM on 08 November, first-time Directors elected were James Ross (Lightning International), Belinda Lui (Time Warner), and Desmond Chan (TVB). Also re-elected to the Board were previous Directors Joe Welch (21st Century Fox), Andrew Jordan (AsiaSat), Ricky Ow (Turner Asia Pacific), and Amit Malhotra (The Walt Disney Company).

They join existing Directors Todd Miller (Celestial Tiger Entertainment), Andrew Stott (CMS Asia), Marcel Fenez (Fenez Media), Rohit D’Silva (FOX Networks Group Asia), and Alexandre Muller (TV5MONDE) to form the 2017-18 CASBAA Board of Directors.

“CASBAA is fortunate to have such an excellent group of subscription TV industry executives willing to serve on the Association’s Board”, said Board Chairman Joe Welch. “We are deeply appreciative of the long and committed service of our out-going Directors, and thank them tremendously. At the same time, we offer a heartfelt welcome to our new Directors, and look forward to working together with them to lead the Association for the benefit of CASBAA’s members and the industry as a whole”.

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About CASBAA

Established in 1991, CASBAA is the association for digital multichannel TV, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across a variety of geographic markets throughout the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA’s members reach over 500 million connections within a regional footprint ranging from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan. For more information, visit www.casbaa.com.

Contact CASBAA

For media contacts and additional background contact:

Ms Kay Bayliss
CASBAA Member Relations & Marketing
Tel: +852 3929 1724
kay@casbaa.com