Hong Kong, 16 October 2008 – “Creative, debative, innovative, entertaining!” That’s the headline for the CASBAA Convention 2008 conference session “The New Media Plan – A Roadmap to 2012″ and part of the The Advertising Experience’ on October 30th in Hong Kong.

Through case studies and dynamic presentations from media owners and the advertising sector’s thought leadership, ‘The Advertising Experience’ at the CASBAA Domes in West Kowloon, Hong Kong highlights the “must haves” for today’s advertising world, and the essential changes for tomorrow’s media through five “Quick Fire” snapshot presentations.

With a curtain raiser by Bill Roedy, Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks International (MTVNI), this will ensure a compelling debate between Linda Kovarik, Regional Creative Director, Coca-Cola Asia Pacific; Jonathan Ellis, SVP Advertising Sales, STAR Group; Nick Burfitt, Global Head of Return Path Data Service, TNS Media Research; Chris Jaques, CEO, M&C Saatchi Asia and Frederick Saurat, the co-founder of European mobile advertising media specialists, The TMSway.

Opening the morning will be Mark Patterson, CEO, GroupM Asia Pacific with insights on pay-TV advertising followed by a case study analyzing the value of a new generation pay-TV advertising tool “interactive advertising” presented by Lindsay Servian, MD, Advertising and Interactive Services, PCCW.

Meanwhile, CASBAA also announced the revamp of its one-stop ‘Power of Pay TV’ portal www.thepowerofpaytv.com, a dedicated website for advertisers, media planners and buyers featuring pay-TV country data covering 15 markets as well as successful case studies of recent pay-TV campaigns. The website also highlights the latest Asian market dynamics as well as related pay-TV analytics.

According to CASBAA, household penetration for pay-TV now stands at almost 300 million households across the Asia-Pacific, or 43% of all TV households. With the unique competitiveness of pay-TV platforms over traditional advertising media such as print and free-to-air TV, more and more marketers and advertisers recognize the benefit of reaching target markets with far greater efficiency.

“Since the launch of the ‘Power of Pay TV’, CASBAA has been working closely with our broadcaster, platform operator and research agency partners to track pay-TV advertising performance,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA.

“Our sector is receiving a growing, positive response from agencies and advertisers who regard pay-TV platforms of all kinds (cable/satellite/IPTV and mobile) as the next generation tools for brand building” added Twiston Davies.

For the full agenda and further information on the CASBAA Convention 2008, please visit www.casbaaconvention.com.

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Patron members include Al Jazeera International, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, ASTRO, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Disney ABC International Television, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, Qualcomm MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific and VOOM HD Networks Asia. To view the full list of CASBAA members, please visit here.

For enquiries, please contact:
CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Marketing Communications
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Emai: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, 6 October 2008 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) will host India’s two most senior officials governing broadcasting and telecommunications policy at the CASBAA Convention 2008 in Hong Kong, October 28th-30th.

The participation in the Convention 2008 of Ms Sushma Singh, India’s Secretary for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and Mr Nripendra Misra, the Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), marks the latest additions to an “exceptionally strong” international conference line-up.

The two Indian officials will separately discuss the development of Indias booming broadcasting and telecoms sectors during intimate “one-to-one” conversations during CASBAA’s Subscribe to the Future – All eyes are on Asia conference on October 29th and 30th.The Association also announced the addition of Norm Johnston, CEO EMEA of Mindshare Interaction as a keynote speaker for the Convention 2008.

Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA, said the presence of Indias administrative leadership further emphasizes CASBAA’s unique role as a meeting point for the regions commercial interests and policy-makers.

“CASBAA and its annual Convention provide a centerpiece for the regional pay-TV industry”, said Mr Fenez. “During this annual meeting of Asia Pacific market makers, strategies are mapped out and key decisions really are taken. This year’s gathering couldnt be more crucial for the future of our industry.”

CASBAA says the series of “In conversation” and “one-on-one” segments with Barry Diller of InterActiveCorp, Sushma Singa of MIB, Dr. Abe Peled of NDS, Nriprendra Misra of TRAI and Phil Lines of EPL, will add spice to the formal presentations from Ben Pyne of Disney Media Networks, Darren Childs of BBC Worldwide Channels and Norm Johnston of Mindshare Interaction.

Other highlighted speakers include Roma Khanna of NBC Universal, Peter Iacono of ITV Global Entertainment Ltd and John Tsang, the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Government, reinforced by the presence of Gyu Seok Oh, CEO of C&M, Korea’s largest cable TV operator. Also fresh to the roster for CASBAA Convention 2008 is a newly designated digital cable segment featuring all of Taiwan’s leading MSOs, plus a hand-picked team drawn from battle-hardened emerging markets such as Pakistan, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The CASBAA Convention 2008, staged at the CASBAA Dome in West Kowloon, Hong Kong, also features other hot topics including broadcast technologies like webTV, internet video and digital content which Paul Mitchell, GM, Policy & Standards, Entertainment & Devices of Microsoft and Gautam Ananad, Head of Content Partnerships, AP of Google will analyse how new media tools reform the television industry.

The CASBAA Convention 2008 is presented by InvestHK, supported by Asia Broadcast Satellite, AGB Nielsen Media Research, Al Jazeera International, Arianespace, Arqiva, AsiaSat, Bloomberg, BBC World News, CBIT, Celestial Pictures, CNBC Asia Pacific, Cisco, CSM, Deutsche Welle, Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, Eurosport, Euronews, Eutelsat, Fashion TV, Genesis Networks, GlobeCast, Harmonic, HBO Asia, Intelsat, ITV, Measat, MediaFLO, MGM, now TV, Paul Weiss, PCCW, Playboy, PricewaterhouseCoopers, RAITALIA, RTVE Corporation, Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Russia Today, SAT-GE, Synovate, Tandberg Television, TBN, TNS, Travel Channel, TV5MONDE, Turner, Universal Electronics and Verimatrix.

For the full agenda and further information on the CASBAA Convention 2008, please visit www.casbaaconvention.com.

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To view the release in Traditional Chinese version please click here.

About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Patron members include Al Jazeera International, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, ASTRO, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Disney ABC International Television, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, Qualcomm MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific and VOOM HD Networks Asia. To view the full list of CASBAA members, please visit here.
For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, September 9, 2008 – The roll-call for the CASBAA Convention 2008 in Hong Kong on October 28th-30th, has received a major boost to global headliners Barry Diller (IAC), Bill Roedy (MTVNI), Roma Khanna (NBCU), Dr. Abe Peled (NDS) and Darren Childs (BBC Worldwide Channels), who will now be joined by the Asia Pacific pay-TV’s top leadership of Converged Carriers and Content including:

* Alexander Arena, Group MD, NOW
* Steve Marcopoto, President & MD, Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific
* Terry Clontz, CEO, StarHub, Singapore
* Shyue-Ching Lu, Chairman, Chunghwa, Taiwan
* Todd Miller, EVP & MD, Asia, Sony Pictures Television International
* Rahadi Arsyad, President Director, CEO, Telkomvision
* Jonathan Spink, CEO, HBO Asia
* Mushtaq Malik, Chairman, PEMRA
* Tom Keaveny, EVP & MD, Discovery Asia Pacific
* Rudy Tanoesoedibjo, CEO, Indovision
* Rob Gilby, SVP & MD, Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific)

Asias 280 million subscription television subscribers are served by more than 500 pay-TV networks scrambling to serve almost 100 pay-TV platforms and 3 billion consumers. During the Convention, there is a must attend back-to-basics debate for the Asia Pacific regional industry leaders to deconstruct the building blocks for revenue generating linear pay-TV services, including subscription and advertising.

The Convention panelists will also examine the new generation of Asian pay-TV platforms such as IPTV in terms of costing, pricing models and government regulation.

“The CASBAA Convention 2008 programme couldn’t be stronger,” said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of CASBAA. “Our industry’s Annual Meeting is leveraging Asia’s central role as the global growth powerhouse for the worldwide media and telecoms industry. CASBAA 2008 has already broken all its previous records for speakers, sponsors and delegate registration set over a 15 year period. This year’s show will blow you away.”

Meanwhile, CASBAA is pleased to announce CNBC as the sponsor of CASBAA Golf Masters at Discovery Bay’s Golf Course on October 27th, the day prior to the Convention.

For more information about the CASBAA Convention 2008 please visit www.casbaaconvention.com.

The CASBAA Convention 2008 will be held at an innovative venue – The CASBAA Dome at the POP TV Arena in West Kowloon, Hong Kong

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Patron members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, ASTRO, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Disney ABC International Television, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific and VOOM HD Networks Asia. To view the full list of CASBAA members, please visit here.

For enquiries, please contact:
CASBAA
Helen Shek/ Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, September 5, 2008 – Recent reports in Seoul that pay-TV regulator the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) is considering de-regulation of the TV advertising monopoly of the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corp (Kobaco) has been welcomed by CASBAA. Cross-media ownership restrictions are also on the block, although foreign investment caps appear set to remain in place.

Beginning in December 2009, the KCC will permit private agencies to sell advertising time in order “to end the monopoly of a state-sponsored company in the advertising sales market”.

In an official report to newly installed President Lee Myung-bak, Commission officials said they expected the 267.6 trillion won (US$236.2 billion) media market of 2007 to rise to 383.8 trillion won by 2012.

The first step to deregulation should have been taken this month with the licensing of four IPTV operators, including KT and Hanarotelecom.

Hong Kong, September 3, 2008 – Reports of critical interference with TV broadcasts by broadband wireless systems in the satellite C-band frequency are on the rise.

The most recent example, in Bahrain in the Middle East, tells a tale of hundreds of consumers – largely expatriates watching Indian-originated satellite TV via large C-band receiver dishes – finding their service cut off as wireless operators power up newly-licensed Wimax systems.

Bahrain ignored repeated protests from broadcasters and satellite service suppliers at last year’s ITU World Radio Conference, who forecast that unrestricted Wimax systems operating in C-band would result in millions of disaffected consumers.

Bahraini officials admitted that the domestic TV signals had been disrupted because local telecom operators are broadcasting broadband wireless Internet services over the same frequency as TV channels.

“Wherever the telephone company installs a tower, people living a couple of hundred metres in its vicinity will experience interference with their broadcast,” said an industry insider quoted in the Gulf Daily News. (The full story can be found here)

For more than two years the global satellite industry has urged regulators to license alternative frequencies to C-band for Wimax, particularly recommending the lower-frequency and more efficient “S-band”.

While many Asian countries heeded the warnings, others, including Pakistan, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Fiji, have licensed inappropriate frequencies, and interference reports are rising sharply as licensed and unlicensed telecom operators fire-up Wimax systems.

“Bahrain and other markets such as Pakistan, where broadcasts have been disrupted by unrestricted Wimax deployment, are the equivalent of the canary down the mine shaft, said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA). He added, “This is already a big problem and will grow much larger unless industry and consumers can make their voices heard.”

“Action needs to be taken now, when licensing is still at an early stage and the situation can be saved”, he said. “By the time the consumers lose their TV signals, it’s too late.”

“Few satellite dishes in Asia are directly licensed,” said John Medeiros, CASBAA’s Deputy CEO. “The fact is that the regulating agencies take insufficient account of the consumers served by large domestic dishes and the need for technically perfect reception by cable operators.”

According to CASBAA and other professional bodies, the implications of disrupted C-band distribution of TV signals are massive since C-band transmissions reach not only individual homes – such as those in Bahrain – but also deliver wholesale television to cable systems serving hundreds of millions of customers.

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Patron members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, ASTRO, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Disney-ABC International Television, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific and VOOM HD Networks Asia. To view the full list of CASBAA members, please visit here.

For enquiries, please contact:
CASBAA
Helen Shek/ Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

“All eyes really are on Asia” – Diller and Beeb head roster for CASBAA Convention 2008

Hong Kong, August 4, 2008 – With Asia Pacific pay-TV revenues set to top US$40 billion in 2008, the CASBAA Convention 2008 is attracting more global media leaders than ever to the Hong Kong show on October 28 th-30th.

The dynamic three-day programme will be keynoted by Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO, InterActiveCorp, along with Darren Childs, MD, BBC Worldwide Channels and Abe Peled, Chairman of content protection specialist, NDS.

Other leading speakers at the Convention 2008 have been drawn from a far-reaching roster that includes Microsoft, PCCW, Sony Pictures, Cisco, StarHub, ITV Worldwide, Google, Zee TV, MediaFLO and Turner Broadcasting.

The confirmed speakers include:

Barry Diller – Chairman and CEO, InterActiveCorp

Darren Childs – MD, BBC Worldwide Channels

Dr. Abe Peled – Chairman, NDS

Rob Norman – CEO, GroupM Interaction Worldwide

Peter Iacono – President & MD, ITV Worldwide

John Edwards – President and CEO, Move Networks

Steve Marcopoto – President and MD, Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific

Roma Khanna – President, Global Networks & Digital Initiatives, NBC Universal International

Paul Mitchell – GM, Policy & Standards, Entertainment & Devices Division, Microsoft

Todd Miller – EVP & MD, Asia, Sony Pictures Television International

The three-day CASBAA Convention 2008 will be staged at the innovative CASBAA Dome at the POP TV Arena in West Kowloon, Hong Kong accommodating an increase of 30% in delegate seats and a 200% increase in exhibition space.

“The overwhelming response to this year’s Convention is that ‘All Eyes’ really are on Asia as a global growth engine for the converged media and telecoms industries,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA.

“Starting with the mid-June CASBAA Convention 2008 launch in Singapore, take-up has been unprecedented this year, both for conference and the party schedule, which is topped off by the CASBAA Charity Ball in support of UNICEF, which we are staging as a wild ‘last night’ of the show.”

Given such a strong speaker line-up and the positive demand for sponsorship and exhibition space, “this is a reflection that the entire pay-TV industry is confident in the enormous growth opportunities across the Asia Pacific”, said Twiston Davies. “Once more, Asia is the place to be.”

The CASBAA Convention 2008 is presented by InvestHK, supported by sponsors including Asia Broadcast Satellite, Al Jazeera International, Arianespace, Arqiva, AsiaSat, Celestial Pictures, Cisco, Discovery Networks Asia, Eurosport, Eutelsat, Fashion TV, Genesis Networks, GlobeCast, Harmonic, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Irdeto, ITV, Measat, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, Nagravision, Nielsen, Nokia, now TV, Paul Weiss, PCCW, Playboy, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Russia Today, SAT-GE, Synovate, Tandberg Television, TRACE, TV5MONDE, TVE Internacional, Turner International Asia Pacific, Universal Electronics, Walt Disney Television International and ZEE Television.

Register before September 3 and delegates can enjoy a saving of up to US$380

For more information about the CASBAA Convention 2008 please visit www.casbaaconvention.com.

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To view the release in Simplified Chinese version please click here.

About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Patron members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, ASTRO, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, VOOM HD Networks Asia and Walt Disney Television International. To view the full list of CASBAA members, please visit here.

For enquiries, please contact:
CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Philippines, June 26, 2008 – The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines has served its first ever temporary restraining order (TRO) against a pirate cable operator – Turtle Cable, a company in Baao, Camarines Sur province – for copyright infringement. This latest move by the IPO has been applauded by the international pay-TV industry.

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) welcomed the decision.

“This is the first time we have brought a cable piracy case to the IPO, and we are pleased that the IPO administrative judge has recognized the validity of the TV industry’s concerns about protecting our intellectual property,” said Simon Twiston Davies, Chief Executive Officer of CASBAA.

The order enjoins Turtle Cable from re-distributing international cable channels for which it does not have a distribution contract. It is the result of a series of complaints filed by CASBAA on behalf of the broadcasters who own their copyrighted programs.

After preliminary hearings and arguments from both sides, the IPO issued the restraining order. Further arguments on the case will be heard in June and July before a final injunction will be considered.

“This is an important test case,” said Twiston Davies. At the end of the process, if the IPO issues an injunction and the cable company persists, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will be asked to revoke Turtle Cable’s operating license. This procedure was spelled out in rules finalized last year under an inter-agency Memorandum of Agreement between the IPO and the NTC.

“Cable piracy remains rampant in the Philippines, and the government is beginning to recognize how damaging this is for the entire legitimate industry,” said Timothy Bautista, Cable Boss Chief Operating Officer. We are pleased to see this first sign of concrete action.”

Last year CASBAA estimated that for every Philippine home wired for legitimate cable TV, at least one – and probably more — viewed pirated programs. The Association believes this cost the industry US$85 million dollars in annual revenue. It also deprived the Philippine government of US$38 million in tax payments that could have contributed to its development programs, said Twiston Davies.

Meanwhile, CASBAA continues to urge the Philippine courts to move forward with the pending criminal cases against well-known Cotabato City cable operator Maguindanao Skycable and its officers, including its President Mrs. Estrellita Juliano-Tamano. The Department of Justice recently reaffirmed its determination finding probable cause for filing charges against Maguindanao Skycable, and ordered the state prosecutor to proceed with charges for copyright violation. The cases against Maguindanao Skycable stem from a series of complaints by TV channel owners that the company pirated their signals and distributed them to customers without authorization and without paying the required copyright licensing fees. The defendant company had asked the Department of Justice to reconsider its decision, but the Department responded that its decision to proceed with the cases was final and said no further motion for reconsideration shall be entertained.” CASBAA expressed the hope that the complaints would now be rapidly considered by the courts.

CASBAA represents 130 organisations in the pay-TV business across 15 Asian markets. Philippine members of the Association include GMA and ABS-CBN, both of which market Filipino content overseas, as well as Sky Cable and an affiliation with the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA).

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, VOOM HD Networks Asia, Walt Disney Television International, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Arqiva, Asian Food Channel, AVIT, BEE MediaSoft, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, BigBand Networks, Celestial Movies, CONAX, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, EuroNews, Eurosport, GroupM, Hong Kong Cable TV, IMCL (Incablenet and Indigital), iMediaHouse, INX Network, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Kbro, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, NBC Universal Global Networks Asia Pacific, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity, PT Direct Vision, Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, SAT-GE, Sky Cable, Spectrum Value Partners, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Telkomvision, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TRACE, TV5MONDE, Universal Electronics, Viaccess and Zee TV.
For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, June 20, 2008 – Satellite spectrum management, market consolidation, government and military technology developments, capacity provision and Asia’s seemingly unflagging demand for satellite services were just a few of the issues covered during the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2008 in Singapore on Monday June 16th.

Almost 300 top-level executives from the world of satellite and government participated in the CASBAA Forum to discuss the future for satellite systems as well as the latest challenges in Asia.

The Forum was keynoted by global operators David McGlade, CEO of Intelsat, and Dan Goldberg, CEO of Telesat, providing both political and technical context for the market accelerators and the ways in which people consume content.

With an emphasis on the need for Asian markets to further open up, McGlade highlighted growth in China and India and the huge potential for Asian satellite services which will only be partially served by the six new satellites to be launched in the region in the second half of this year.

Even so, while the good news flow is dominant ‘over-capacity could easily happen again’ — as it did in the late 1990’s — was emphasized by Dan Goldberg, CEO of Telesat, who urged delegates to consider the threat of terrestrial competition and the need to be more aggressive with national operators.

Goldberg also added a global spin, saying there is ‘not enough competitive choice in terms of launch vehicles’ and stressed the need for new launch service providers to be encouraged.

The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum program covered other aspects of including an examination of customer needs from the satellite operators with cost as a recurring theme.

Laureen Ong, COO of News Corp’s STAR Group said satellite services are our single largest infrastructural cost and stressed that prohibitive prices could prevent the launch of new channels via satellite.

Further sessions included lively dialogue on items such as the exponential growth in demand for satellite services from the government and military sectors with panelists reporting that services that cater for the military need do not take a great length of time to acquire. This recent migration to commercial applications has opened important doors for the industry.

The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum was concluded by a “CEO Wrap”, during which C-level executives were put on the spot on the way forward.

The CEOs of Intelsat, SAT-GE, SES NEW SKIES, AsiaSat, Asia Broadcast Satellite, Telesat and ACES International agreed that demand is up for satellite services in Asia, bringing enormous opportunities to pay-TV and DTH platforms. In the meantime, the demand for mobile voice remains phenomenal and there is no expected slow-down in growth.

Nevertheless, coordination problems — ITU endorsed agreements to ensure that newly launched Asia Pacific satellites do not interfere with existing vehicles — will be critical for ensuring that investment capital is not driven out of the market .

It was stressed that the satellite operators must be flexible in their approach so as to adapt to the changing markets and applications. New ways and means must be found to grow businesses in spite of spectrum constraints and the industry must be more pro-active protecting spectrum from terrestrial operators.

Today’s debate on the future of satellite only highlighted that there are countless unknowns Ahead of the Curve, said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA. The Asia Pacific satellite industry needs to be vigilant when protecting its assets and imaginative when cooperating with customers. Business is looking good as far as we can see, but the real world will always impinge on shiny business plans.

The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forums pictures are available for download here.

Keynote – The Globalization of Content

David McGlade, CEO, Intelsat

Lunch – The Tempo of Success (800kb)
Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO, Arianespace

Session 4: Regulating Ahead of The Curve
Introductory Remarks – A World Beyond Wimax
Philip Spector, Executive Vice President, Business Development & General Counsel

WiMAX Wars – Presentation / Handout
Jorn Christensen, President, J Christensen Consultants

Main Event Sponsor

Supported by

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, VOOM HD Networks Asia, Walt Disney Television International, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Arqiva, Asian Food Channel, AVIT, BEE MediaSoft, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, BigBand Networks, Celestial Movies, CONAX, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, EuroNews, Eurosport, GroupM, Hong Kong Cable TV, IMCL (Incablenet and Indigital), INX Network, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Kbro, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, NBC Universal Global Networks Asia Pacific, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity, PT Direct Vision, Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, SAT-GE, Sky Cable, Spectrum Value Partners, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Telkomvision, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TRACE, TV5MONDE, Universal Electronics, Viaccess and Zee TV.

For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, June 17, 2008 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has announced the keynote speakers and other details of the upcoming CASBAA Convention 2008 in Hong Kong during October 28th – 30th.

The speakers were announced during the CASBAA Convention 2008 & TRACE TV Launch Party in Singapore yesterday. The CASBAA Dome at the POP TV Arena in West Kowloon, Hong Kong will be a new and innovative venue for the CASBAA Convention.

The Convention 2008 will be keynoted by Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC Television Group. Additional headline speakers include Darren Childs, Managing Director of BBC Global Channels and Abe Peled, Chairman of NDS.

“We are delighted that such distinguished global media leaders have agreed to headline this year’s convention. The event will be hosted in a state-of-the-art venue, providing an unprecedented experience for our participants and an ideal annual meeting place for our industry in the Asia Pacific,” said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of CASBAA.

Themed “Subscribe to the Future – All Eyes are on Asia”, the three-day CASBAA Convention 2008 has invited more C-level executives as expert speakers to share their insights on the fast-changing pay-TV business.

Meanwhile, the Convention this year offers panel discussions and presentations covering the industry’s hottest topics such as the pay-TV strategies in post-Olympic China, the new media generation, the future of mobile TV, digital media solutions, content development, the pay-TV regulation in the region and the examining of the pay-TV markets in India and Korea.

Besides, a brand-new programme will be added this year – “The Future of Pay-TV Advertising Workshop”. It will be a highly-interactive forum for the decision-making executives to analyse how the pay-TV industry has impacted the advertising business.

“The CASBAA Convention remains a significant annual event for our industry in Asia, thanks to the continuous support from our sponsors, partners and members,” added Fenez.

The CASBAA Convention 2008 will be presented by InvestHK and supported by sponsors including Asia Broadcast Satellite, Arianespace, Arqiva, Asiasat, BBC, Discovery Networks Asia, Disney ABC Television Group, Eurosport, Eutelsat, Globecast, Harmonic, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Irdeto, Measat, Motorola, Nagravision, now TV, Paul Weiss, Playboy, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAT-GE, Synovate, Tandberg Television, TRACE, Turner International Asia Pacific, TV5MONDE and Universal Electronics.

For more information about the CASBAA Convention 2008 and its venue please visit www.casbaaconvention.com.

A picture from the Launch Party on June 16th is available for download here

About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, VOOM HD Networks Asia, Walt Disney Television International, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Arqiva, Asian Food Channel, AVIT, BEE MediaSoft, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, BigBand Networks, Celestial Movies, CONAX, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, EuroNews, Eurosport, GroupM, Hong Kong Cable TV, IMCL, INX Network, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Kbro, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, NBC Universal Global Networks Asia Pacific, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity, PT Direct Vision, Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, SAT-GE, Sky Cable, Spectrum Value Partners, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Telkomvision, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TRACE, TV5MONDE, Universal Electronics, Viaccess and Zee TV.
For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, June 17, 2008 – With the onset of the CommunicAsia trade show in Singapore, the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has added four new members, including two Patron and two Corporate members.

The new Patron members of CASBAA are the leading Singapore-based communications solutions provider SingTel and the next generation filmed entertainment studio in the US, Lionsgate.

Meanwhile, two new Corporate members are the US-based broadband services provider BigBand Networks and China-focused DVB products and systems provider Shenzhen Advanced Video Info-Tech Co., Ltd (AVIT).

“The participation of SingTel is especially notable, as its IPTV and mobile TV services represent a milestone for the pay-TV business, which are also creating a new revenue source for the advertising sector. In the meantime, Lionsgate has demonstrated its leadership in the content production and distribution business such as video-on-demand and digitally delivered content, which further adds the diversity of CASBAA membership,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA.

“With the emerging technologies and applications, the process of pay-TV digitalisation has been a great catalyst for change across the Asia Pacific,” added Twiston Davies.

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About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) 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 130 member organisations in the pay-TV business, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Lionsgate, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, NDS, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES NEW SKIES, SingTel, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, VOOM HD Networks Asia, Walt Disney Television International, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Arqiva, Asian Food Channel, AVIT, BEE MediaSoft, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, BigBand Networks, Celestial Movies, CONAX, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, EuroNews, Eurosport, GroupM, Hong Kong Cable TV, IMCL, INX Network, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Kbro, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, NBC Universal Global Networks Asia Pacific, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity, PT Direct Vision, Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, SAT-GE, Sky Cable, Spectrum Value Partners, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Telkomvision, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TRACE, TV5MONDE, Universal Electronics, Viaccess and Zee TV.

For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Carmen Mak
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com