Hong Kong, 6 November 2007 – At a time of unprecedented growth for the regional pay-TV market, subscriptions are increasing at about 12% per year for digital cable, satellite, broadband and mobile TV services. This expansion presents a “huge potential for ad sales upside”, according to participants in the CASBAA Convention 2007 in Hong Kong, 30 October – 2 November.

The four-day CASBAA Convention 2007, organised by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), attracted well over 1,500 participants, with an increase in paid delegates of almost 25% year-on-year and a similar increase in the number of sponsors.

Themed “It’s all about Content!”, the CASBAA Convention 2007 showcased leading Asia Pacific and global speakers such as Joong Soo Nam, President & CEO of KT Corporation; Dan Glickman, CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America; Paul Aiello, CEO of STAR Group; Andy Kaplan, President of International Networks of Sony Pictures Television; Ben Pyne, President, Global Distribution of Disney-ABC Worldwide Television and Disney Media Networks; Bob Zitter, CTO of HBO in the US; Peter Mukerjea, CEO of INX Asia; Tony DaSilva, COO of Sun Direct in India and Jason Krikorian, Co-Founder of Sling Media.

Addressing a core issue for the pay-TV industry, John Tsang, the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Government said, “We have learned from many years of experience that combating piracy requires a public-private partnership. The pirates need to know that we are on their tails and that we are serious about beating them hard.”

Speaking of the prospects for pay-TV and on-line media services in Korea, Joong Soo Nam of KT Corporation said, “Media represents the fastest-growing industry in Korea, expanding at the rate of 10% each year. We are seeing content globalisation, which is happening in Asia, where a common culture is overcoming language barriers.”

Other highlights of the CASBAA Convention 2007 were the CASBAA TV Ad Awards, the ABU/CASBAA/UNICEF Child Rights Award won by Hong Kong broadcaster TVB Jade for its documentary “Children Left Behind” and “In Conversation” sessions with the likes of Paul Aiello of STAR Group and Jason Krikorian, Co-Founder of Sling Media. Mr Krikorian said, “Consumers still like old media and we allow them to bring it to new platforms and extend the content value system. Distributors are thrilled. They are good at going to the living room but not to new media platforms.”

Dan Brody, Strategic Partner Development of Google, explained how YouTube provided opportunities for old media. He said, “Great power comes from media or content owners who interact with their users and brands online.”

The emerging mobile TV market was also another hot topic discussed during the Convention. “In Asia, the mobile phone is often a consumer’s first camera or digital music player, and it may now be their first digital TV,” said Harri Mannisto, Director, Watch New Experiences, Multimedia of Nokia.

According to Jason Rubenstein, Senior Director Entertainment Mobile Devices Business of Motorola, research shows that China is attracting huge interest with 90% of the consumers surveyed expressing their desire for mobile television content.

Meanwhile, the annual Asia Pacific pay-TV piracy survey co-presented by CASBAA and Standard Chartered Bank confirmed that piracy remained a major issue. Losses are conservatively estimated to stand at US$1.54 billion in 2007, as compared to US$1.13 billion in 2006.

At the closing ceremony of the Convention, the CASBAA Chairman’s Award was presented to the CASBAA Executive Office for its long-term contribution to industry growth and development as well as lobbying for regulation over the past 12 months. “This is a tribute to the support of our members,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA.

Wrapping up the Convention was the CASBAA Charity Ball in support of UNICEF and sponsored by Turner Broadcasting, themed “A CASBIAN Sea Odyssey”. During the proceeding hosted by Richard Quest of CNN, more than US$50,000 was raised for UNICEF’s work to help children.

“CASBAA is enthusiastic about the encouraging results of this year’s Convention,” said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of CASBAA. “Despite the plague of pay-TV piracy, we foresee more growth for the industry throughout the region as more innovative and high-quality content is created by operators for emerging broadcasting channels.”

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 128 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES New Skies, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Chello Zone, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, Hallmark Channel, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable TV, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity Partners, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TV5MONDE, Viaccess and Zee TV.

For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA

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

Hong Kong, November 5, 2007 – Hong Kong broadcaster TVB Jade has won the ABU/CASBAA/UNICEF Child Rights Award 2007 for the documentary “Children Left Behind”.

“Children Left Behind”, a 30-minute documentary, chronicles the lonely lives of “home-alone” children in rural villages in China, a problem acutely felt in Hunan, Szechuan and Chongqing provinces. With parents migrating to urban centers in search of work, large numbers of children – over 22 million – are left on their own or under the care of elderly relatives.

The Asia Pacific Child Rights Award, established in 2001, is jointly organised by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF). The award is presented each year to the best television programming on child rights issues produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognizes the efforts of broadcasters in pursuing both the production of top-quality programming related to children and outstanding news coverage of children’s issues.

At the Awards presentation ceremony on November 2, held during the annual CASBAA Convention 2007, Catherine Lee Yuk San, the TVB documentary producer was praised for her powerful portrayal of children living without parental care in some of the poorest parts of China.

Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA said, “We are delighted to once again partner with the ABU and UNICEF on this project. Speaking on behalf of the industry, we will continue to make use of our collective broadcasting platforms to promote child rights and the healthy development of children’s lives.”

Madeline Eisner, UNICEF Regional Communication Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific said: “This year’s award coincides with an important milestone for children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world, turns 18. By seeking to share children’s stories, uncovering violations of their rights and fostering an understanding of our responsibility towards them, the media plays a critical role in creating a better world for children.”

David Astley, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union said, “The Child Rights Award continues to provide an important platform for broadcasters in the Asia- Pacific to share their quality programming on children’s issues. The ABU congratulates TVB Jade for winning the Award this year. Their winning entry “Children Left Behind” is a poignant documentary on issues facing children and we look forward to seeing more and more quality programming on children’s rights by Asian broadcasters in the future.”

More than 60 entries to the competition were received from Australia, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong SAR of China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Laos PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

The winning entry was selected by a panel of jurors made up of distinguished television producers and industry representatives including: Wang Yan, Producer, Children’s Channel, China Central Television (CCTV); Amar Keshar Simha, CEO & Senior Producer, Himalaya Films P.Ltd.; Francis Smith, Executive Producer, Infocus Asia; Ariunjargal Luvsantseren, TV Director, Children’s Programme, Mongolian Radio and Television; Francis Donovan Castillo-Mohlman, Vice President, Program Strategy & Development, STAR TV and Bonny Yu, Vice President, Programming, Walt Disney Television International, Asia Pacific.

The top ten finalists in 2007 are:

WINNER

Children Left Behind (Hong Kong)

Producer: Catherine Lee Yuk San

Production Company: Television Broadcast Limited, (TVB) Jade Channel

This documentary, broadcast as part of the Sunday report series, chronicles the lives of children who are “left behind” in the villages of rural China, when their parents migrate to urban areas in search of work. As part of China’s economic boom, it is estimated that over 120 million rural migrants have moved to urban areas to work in factories and construction. A new phenomenon in China, the number of children “left behind” is now estimated to be over 22 million.

FINALISTS

Children in Rural Bhutan (Bhutan)

Producer: Kinley Penjor

Production Company: Juthrul Gharkhen Communication

Children in remote places teach us that education is not only in the classroom but in life itself. Balancing challenges in their home environment with their other responsibilities is not hardship if approached with understanding, a sense of purpose, peace of mind, and the joy of being oneself.

Daughters on Sale (India)

Producer: M. Venkatesh & P. Revathi

Production Company: CNN – IBN

If the test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children, there is hardly any evidence left to say that these are still ethics left after this special investigation – “Daughters on Sale”. For a mere Rs15,000, RS12,000 or even a couple of thousand less than that, parents in Rajahamundry are ready to turn their daughters into sex slaves. This special investigation uncovered the racket wherein girls of about 11 years old in this historic town of Andhra Pradesh are being pushed into the sex trade.

On the Abandoned Track (Indonesia)

Producer: M. Abdoeh Aziz

Production Company: Pt. Media Televisi Indonesia – Metro TV

Wahyudi, Ropik and Ade dan Wanto live their days as baggage carriers. This documentary explores how these children struggle to make ends meet by using their carts to transport goods and people around a village, north of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta.

Fields of Fire: Seeds of Hope (Australia)

Producer: Melissa Hunt

Production Company: Sky News

Two years after neighbourhood riots that tore apart the Sydney suburb of Macquarie Fields, this programme looks at how the community is rebuilding, and how young people are turning their lives around to become leaders of their generation.

The Kobe “A” Case – 10 years for both the victims and assailant (Japan)

Producer: Masako Horikawa/Mutsumi Wakayama

Production Company: Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation

It’s been a decade since serial attacks on children in the Suma Ward of Kobe in Japan, where two were killed, took place. This documentary explores the pain for the parents as they seek justice for their children’s deaths and explores the complexity of the juvenile justice laws in the country.

Let Me Win – Children of the Special Olympics in China (China)

Producer: Huang Hai-Bo

Production Company: Phoenix Satellite Television Co.,Ltd.

This programme captures the excitement in the 4th Special Olympics China National Games in Harbin, China. It reveals the touching stories of the intellectually disabled athletes and their families.

Reporter’s Notebook: Discrimination (Philippines)

Producer: Ma. Juzzara Simbulan

Production Company: GMA Network

School is often considered a child’s second home, a haven where students are free to grow, learn and play. As this documentary explores, school is not always an equally friendly place for all students. For some, it is a place where they can first experience how cruel the world can be.

To Wherever the Wheelchair takes me (Japan)

Producer: Chieko Kakeshita

Production Company: TV Asahi Corporation

This documentary tells the story of a 16 year old boy who, physically challenged and bound to a wheelchair, is determind to pursue his education. But as his wheelchair hampers his mobility, he finds out there are very few universities that accept physically challenged students.

Children of Lapindo Mudflow (Indonesia)

Producer: Dicky Martiyaz

Production Company: News Feature Department, RCTI

The programme tells the story of children in a village which was swept away by a mudflow explosion in East Java.

Note to the Editors:

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a non-profit, non-government, professional association of broadcasting organisations, formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to organize co-operative activities amongst its members. It currently has over 170 members in 55 countries, with its broadcaster members reaching a potential audience of about 3 billion people. It organizes many activities and projects to promote excellence in broadcasting, and to improve the programmes, skills and technologies of its members, including the ABU Children’s TV Programme Item Exchange. www.abu.org.my

Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA)

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 128 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. www.casbaa.com

UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. www.unicef.org/eapro

For further information, please contact:

Francyne Harrigan: ABU (Kuala Lumpur), +603 2282 3592, francyne@abu.org.my

Carmen Mak CASBAA, + 852 2854 9940, carmen@casbaa.com

Helen Shek: CASBAA, +852 2854 9943, helen@casbaa.com

Madeline Eisner: UNICEF Bangkok, +66 2 356 9406, meisner@unicef.org

Shantha Bloemen: UNICEF Bangkok, +66 2 356 9407, sbloemen@unicef.org

Hong Kong, 2 November 2007 – In the latest survey of revenue leakage over the last 12 months to the regional pay-TV industry, conducted by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) and Standard Chartered Bank, the losses are conservatively estimated to stand at US$1.54 billion, as compared to US$1.13 billion in 2006.

While the China market remains uncharted territory for the annual estimates, this year the newly developing pay-TV market in Pakistan has been added to the calculations, with losses that stand at US$110 million. Estimates for Pakistan’s unauthorised market show 4.6 million pirated cable-TV subscriptions in a market with some 345,000 legitimate subscriptions to pay-TV services.

Excluding Pakistan, the regional figure stands at US$1.43 billion, up US$300million, representing a 26% increase in lost revenues compared to 2006.

The cost of pay-TV piracy in Hong Kong for 2007 has decreased by 15% to US$27.4 million (HK$213.72 million), although the number of hacked connections remained unchanged. “The fall in the ‘lost revenue’ number is attributed to the reduced cost of a pay-TV subscription in Hong Kong thanks to increased competition in the market,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CEO of CASBAA.

Meanwhile, a large part of the rise in total revenue losses for 2007 can be attributed to a 20% US dollar re-alignment against the Indian rupee. “Nevertheless, the India pay-TV market is the most distorted in Asia thanks to what can only be characterised as structurally-based revenue leakage,” said Twiston Davies.

According to CASBAA, India is a market with 73 million pay-TV connections, yet it suffers from heavy-handed government regulation which, in turn, has created a debilitating lack of investment in infrastructure. India’s pay-TV revenue leakage reached a massive US$985 million in net losses in 2007, an increase of 44% over 2006.

While the rest of the world is benefiting from digital roll-outs, Indian consumers have no opportunity to enjoy these fruits. “The systemic shortfall in analogue revenues from local cable operators is a major part of the problem,” said Twiston Davies.

The most positive news in the survey, conducted by CASBAA in collaboration with the Creative Industries Division of Standard Chartered bank, is a dramatic fall in the number of illegal connections to pay-TV channels in Vietnam, where the value of industry losses has fallen from US$38 million in 2006 to US$10 million this year.

“The improvement is almost exclusively thanks to the removal of pirated international channels from the line-up offered by Vietnamese operator VTC,” said Lee Beasley, Head of Media and Entertainment of Standard Chartered Bank. “The Government of Vietnam is clearly moving to fulfill its international trade commitments and listening to its own legitimate industry. This is great news, and we hope attention to this issue continues.”

The 2007 survey of pay-TV piracy in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Macau and this year’s addition, Pakistan highlights the impact of pay-TV signal theft and unlicensed pay-TV operators on regional economies amid new and challenging technological developments.

“The pay-TV piracy situation in most of the big markets in the region needs to be seriously addressed, not just by the industry but also by government,” said Beasley. “Nonetheless, the fact that legitimate paid subscriptions are seeing an average 10% growth is a positive sign of the vast potential for the Asia Pacific pay-TV industry.”

The report also highlights that at least US$213 million is being lost in unpaid tax revenues across the region this year.

Meanwhile, in 2007, CASBAA has continued to lobby governments and has extended legal actions against commercial distributors of unauthorised signals in public venues in Hong Kong and against pirate operators in the Philippines. The Hong Kong actions have been successfully concluded while the issues in the Philippines remain in court.

With 1.32 million unauthorised connections, Thailand continues to suffer annual piracy losses in the range of US$180 million, the second largest dollar loss in the region.

CASBAA notes that, despite a slight improvement in the approach to intellectual property rights by some cable operators in the Thai provinces, there has been a disturbing growth of an emerging and important phenomenon, that of illegal Internet-based card-sharing (via remote servers) for Direct to Home (DTH) services.

“This is a relatively new and sophisticated technical hack that boosts the vulnerability of DTH services to piracy. This needs to be watched carefully and highlights the need for industry vigilance and continued investment in technical protection supported by stringent legal sanctions,” said Twiston Davies.

###

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 128 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES New Skies, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Chello Zone, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, Hallmark Channel, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable TV, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity Partners, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TV5MONDE, Viaccess and Zee TV.

Standard Chartered – Leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

The history of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the SAR’s three note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1 July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered PLC.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and is consistently ranked in the top 25 among FTSE-100 companies by market capitalisation.

Standard Chartered has a history of over 150 years in banking and is in many of the world’s fastest-growing markets with an extensive global network of over 1,200 branches (including subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures) in over 50 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom and the Americas.

As one of the world’s most international banks, Standard Chartered employs almost 50,000 people, representing over 90 nationalities, worldwide. This diversity lies at the heart of the Bank’s values and supports the Bank’s growth as the world increasingly becomes one market.

For more information on Standard Chartered, please log on to www.standardchartered.com.

For further information, please contact:

CASBAA

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

Astro wins the John Doherty Award and Nike “JUMP” sweeps three awards

Hong Kong, 1 November 2007 – The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has announced the winners of the CASBAA TV Advertising Awards 2007. The awards, now in their fourth year, recognise and promote the outstanding achievements of advertising creative excellence in multi-channel TV in Asia Pacific.

The awards were presented on 1 November during the CASBAA Convention 2007 in Hong Kong at a special cocktail event at the Academy for Performing Arts.

Astro’s Astro on Demand “Tai Chor La” campaign won the “John Doherty Trophy for Campaign of the Year” and “Best TVC Southeast Asia”.

With its “JUMP” campaign for Nike, Wieden and Kennedy Shanghai swept three awards, including “Best TVC Greater China”, “Best TVC Youth” and “Best TVC Sports and Leisure”, featuring Liu Xiang, China’s most accomplished athlete inspiring youngsters to get more involved in more kinds of sports in light of the China Olympic fervour.

The CASBAA TV Advertising Awards 2007 received a record of 170 entries. A new category “Best Integrated Campaign by a Pay TV Channel” was introduced for the first time and received the most entries of any category. This category was won by SAMSUNG for their SAMSUNG HD “Redefining the Beauty of the World” campaign on National Geographic Channel.

The “Best TVC India and South Asia” was won by FCB Ulka for Naukri’s “Name Calling”; and the “Best TVC Business / Corporate” was won by Quadrant Communications for Turner India’s “Kirloskar Water Pumps”. Other winners included P&G’s “Pantene Shining Journey”, which won the “Best Use of Sponsorship” and Veta’s “Let’s Speak Fluent English” for the “Most Creative Use of TV”.

“We were delighted to see a record number of award entries this year. With pay-TV in Asia experiencing its highest ever viewership and an even greater increase in the number of brands using the pay-TV medium, it is encouraging to see our industry going from strength to strength,” said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of CASBAA.

“In the meantime, CASBAA has further enhanced its commitment to agencies and advertisers with the launch of our dedicated one-stop portal www.thepowerofpaytv.com to promote and highlight the strength of pay-TV as effective advertising media environment.”

Winners this year were selected by a panel of judges with a wealth of knowledge, experience and objectivity. The judges were: Charles Edwards, Co-Founder & Executive Producer, the Media Village; Vikram Gaikwad, Partner, Executive Creative Director, Creativeland Asia; Anand Halve, Co-founder Chlorophyll Brand & Communication Consultancy, Mumbai; Chris Kyme, Managing Partner, Creative – Eight Partnership; Maia Katrak, Vice Chairman & Executive Creative Director, The Republic; Jamie Lord, Marketing & Business Development Director, MindShare Asia Pacific; Priti Nair, Executive Creative Director, Lowe India; Liza Newnham, Senior Vice President & General Manager, English Language Channels, STAR; Chris Skinner, Managing Partner, Initiative Hong Kong; Desmond So, Chief Executive Officer, JWT Hong Kong; and Praveen Tripathi, Chief Executive, Hansa Consulting.

For the organization and marketing of this year’s TV awards, CASBAA partnered with media services company, Media E2E. Julie Petersen, CEO Greater China & SE Asia of Media E2E said, “We are pleased to have partnered with CASBAA this year for the TV advertising awards. The creative work produced by the agencies and broadcasters is impressive. It is exciting to see that more clients and agencies are including pay-TV as an integral part of their marketing and advertising campaigns.”

###

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 128 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES New Skies, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Chello Zone, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, Hallmark Channel, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable TV, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity Partners, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, TV5MONDE, Viaccess and Zee TV.

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

—————————————————————————————————————-
Appendix 1

Winners list of CASBAA TV Advertising Awards 2007

Best TVC India and South Asia
Agency: FCB Ulka
Client: Naukri
Commercial: Hari Sadu

Best TVC Business / Corporate
Agency: Quadrant Communications
Client: Turner India
Commercial: Kirloskar Water Pumps

Best TVC Greater China
Best TVC Youth (Targeted under 18)
Best TVC Sports and Leisure
Agency: Wieden and Kennedy Shanghai
Client: Nike
Commercial: JUMP

Best Use of Sponsorship
Agency: Mediacom
Client: Proctor and Gamble
Commercial: Pantene Shining Journey

Best Integrated Campaign by a Pay TV Channel
Agency: Cheil Communications
Client: Samsung
Commercial: Samsung HD – Redefining the Beauty of the World
Pay TV Channel: National Geographic Channel

Most Creative Use of TV
Agency: Mindshare, Group M
Client: Veta
Commercial: Let’s Speak Fluent English

The John Doherty Trophy for Campaign of the Year
Best TVC South East Asia
Agency: Young and Rubicam SDN BVD
Client: Astro
Commercial: Astro on Demand “Tai Chor La”

Hong Kong, October 25, 2007 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today announced four new Corporate Members of the Association, along with one up-graded membership from Corporate to Patron status.

The four organisations signed as Corporate Members include US-based software, services and IT solutions provider Microsoft Corporation; European broadcaster Deutsche Welle; global private equity firm Providence Equity Partners and US-based religious television network TBN. The newly up-graded Patron Member is Netherlands-based satellite communication services provider SES New Skies.

“We are delighted to see the continuous growth of the CASBAA membership base,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CEO of CASBAA. “The new memberships further demonstrate the depth of commitment to developing the traditional pay-TV industry and new digital video distribution networks.”

CASBAA now represents the interests of some 128 member companies from across 15 Asia Pacific markets, covering multiple sectors including cable, satellite, broadband and mobile TV content suppliers and platforms, as well as digital services and equipment vendors.

# # #

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 128 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie Group, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES New Skies, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Chello Zone, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, Hallmark Channel, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable TV, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, Providence Equity Partners, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, TBN, Ten Sports, TFN Media, TimeWarner, Viaccess and Zee TV.

For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA

Helen Shek/ Carmen Mak
Marketing Communications

Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, October 18, 2007 – Regional industry body the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today commended a Department of Justice (DoJ) decision in a copyright case filed against Cotabato City cable TV operator Maguindanao Skycable CATV, Inc.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) issued its “Resolution” upholding broadcasters’ copyright over their “original works and programming” on October 10th.

In the new Resolution the DoJ found Maguindanao Skycable had “distributed TV programs, program promotions and other audiovisual works without the consent of the copyright holders in violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines”.

The copyright holders in the on-going case include pay-TV channel providers AXN, CNN, Discovery Channel, ESPN Star Sports, HBO Asia, MTV Asia, National Geographic Channels International, STAR Group, Turner Entertainment and Walt Disney Television.

The DoJ confirmed that content providers hold the exclusive right to make their content available to the public and any act of distributing such content, including distribution via cable, without authorization amounts to copyright infringement.

“This decision demonstrates the DoJ’s commitment to upholding Intellectual Property Rights, and the business community welcomes it warmly. It will be good for the country’s investment climate,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CASBAA CEO. “This should help build new confidence in the Philippines pay-TV market and boost the economic prospects of the Philippines.”

Law firm Villaraza & Angangco, who represented the broadcasting organizations, also lauded the DoJ, saying the “Resolution” sends a strong signal that the Philippines adheres to its commitment to protect intellectual property rights.

“This is a positive development in the battle against cable piracy since it affirms not only the exclusive rights of broadcasting organizations to their own broadcasts but also their copyright over their original audiovisual works and programming, which is a right separate and distinct from their broadcasting rights,” said Villaraza.

CASBAA stressed that the industry will continue its long-term campaign to defend pay-TV copyright and that Philippine cable TV operators who have been refusing to pay legitimate fees for content will have to “go legitimate'”.

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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 125 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SES New Skies, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, Hallmark Channel, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, Fu Yang Media, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable TV, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, Ten Sports, TimeWarner, Viaccess and Zee TV.
For enquiries, please contact:
CASBAA

Helen Shek / Katie Wong
Marketing Communications

Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Showcasing content as the key driver for the growth of the digital pay-TV industry

Hong Kong, 12 October 2007 – Themed “It’s all about Content!”, the CASBAA Convention 2007 is poised to shed light on how content is the key driver behind audience and revenue growth in the digital media environment of the pay-TV industry.

The Convention 2007, organised by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) from 30 October to 2 November at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, will showcase how content, technology and changing consumer demand are shaping the growth of creative content development and content delivery resulting in possible new revenue streams.

“Quality content and the media convergence present enormous opportunities as well as challenges never seen before in the pay-TV industry,” said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of CASBAA. “With the emergence of IPTV, mobile TV, Internet video and HD as well as the traditional cable and satellite technologies, the industry faces new challenges in terms of content delivery, targeting viewers for uptake and maximising revenues.”

As Asia’s foremost broadcast industry event of the year, the CASBAA Convention 2007 kicks off on 30 October with the CASBAA Technology Showcase, focusing on first-mover advantage for pay-TV operators and content creators, providing CTOs with a snapshot of tomorrow’s technologies.

During the official opening day of the Convention 2007 on 31 October, the CASBAA Pay-TV Piracy estimates for 2007 will be unveiled. This fifth annual study conducted by CASBAA in collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank will reveal pay-TV piracy data for 2007, along with a summary of the regional regulatory environment.

Featured keynote speakers at the Convention 2007 include: Joong Soo Nam, President & CEO, KT Corporation; Andy Kaplan, President, International Networks, Sony Pictures Television International; Roma Khanna, President Global Networks & Digital Initiatives, NBC Universal and Paul Aiello, CEO, STAR Group.

The Convention 2007 will also cover the real market for the Asian TV Content Tigers, Asia Pacific mobile TV, product placement in Asia and pay-TV advertising, with special sessions on the China market and the Indian broadcast explosion.

“The Convention 2007 is sure to be yet another impactful, dynamic and insightful event packed with great content and expert speakers of enormous interest to our industry,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CASBAA CEO.

The CASBAA Convention 2007 is presented by InvestHK, with official partners CNBC, SAT-GE, HBO Asia, Intelsat and Universal Channel; and supported by BBC Global Channels Asia Pacific, Bloomberg Television, Discovery Networks Asia, MediaFLO, Motorola, National Geographic, Nokia, now TV, TimeWarner, TV5, Turner International Asia Pacific and Walt Disney Television International amongst others.

For the full agenda and further information on the CASBAA Convention 2007, please visit http://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 125 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, Deutsche Welle, ESPN STAR Sports, Hallmark Channel, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, Fu Yang Media, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable TV, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, Ten Sports, TimeWarner, Viaccess and Zee TV.

Hong Kong, September 19, 2007 – Regional advertising agencies and clients today gained access to www.thepowerofpaytv.com, a dedicated website for the client and agency community highlighting the vast marketing opportunities to reach customers from the Asia Pacific pay-TV industry.

The site, launched by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), houses industry research along with TV network data, client case studies and the latest industry news. “The idea is to deliver a ‘one-stop’ pay-TV advertising information resource for media planners across the region,” said Paul Corrigan, the CASBAA Consultant who coordinated development of the site.

“It’s time for the pay-TV industry to further demonstrate to marketers how much has changed in the advertising environment. Most markets with a viable pay-TV advertising medium now have reliable measurement making the industry more accountable than ever to clients”.

Thepowerofpaytv.com has been created in recognition of the changing shape of the broadcasting market and the fact that both clients and agency planners have far more choice as to where to invest their advertising budgets than a few years ago.

Based on the latest facts and figures, the evidence demonstrates that pay-TV should be an integral part of all major marketing campaigns.

“The power of pay-TV continues to gather pace across the region with more than a quarter of a billion Asia Pacific homes now taking the multichannel option,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CEO of CASBAA. “The new initiative marks an unprecedented collaboration between traditionally fiercely competitive regional pay-TV networks as well as cooperation with local platform operators”.

With increasing pressure on media planners as they consider the host of options beyond ‘traditional’ media, CASBAA has taken the initiative to design an online tool aimed at streamlining decision-making. Thepowerofpaytv.com website details the merits of using pay-TV as part of a fully integrated marketing solution.

“The niche targeting opportunities offered by multichannel TV offer an attractive and cost effective solution for marketers. For those who fail to recognise the growth of pay-TV there is a risk that they are failing to build a relationship with an increasingly large proportion of their customer base,” said Corrigan.

According to CASBAA, pay-TV continues to take audience share from the free-to-air channels while regional research shows that pay-TV demonstrably out-performs regional print in terms of audience reach.

For more research data, information and news about the pay-TV industry in Asia, get connected with www.thepowerofpaytv.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 125 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, ESPN STAR Sports, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, Fu Yang Media, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, Ten Sports, TimeWarner, Viaccess and Zee TV.

For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Katie Wong
CASBAA Communications
Tel: +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, September 14, 2007 – Industry body the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has applauded a call by regional political leaders at the recent APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Council) meeting for governments to “effectively address” the issue of satellite and cable TV signal theft.

“The new priority given by the APEC ministers to this problem is great news,” said Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA. “With estimated pay-TV piracy in Asia topping US$1.1 billion — and still rising — governments must sit up and take notice.”

The APEC statement noted that TV signal piracy does great harm to copyright owners, legitimate pay-TV operators and broadcasters.

“The big change is that Asian governments now see the damage that piracy of all kinds to does to their domestic economies,” said Mr. Fenez. “With more and more Asian content entering the global media market, it is not only the legitimate distributors, but increasingly Asian content owners who bear the brunt of signal theft.”

The Ministerial statement followed a recommendation by the APEC Business Advisory Council last autumn which called on governments to revoke operating licenses from pay-TV operators who distribute content without authorization from copyright holders.

“APEC governments have every reason to be concerned,” said Mr. Fenez. “Piracy undermines the creative industries, delays digital development, and saps tax revenues that could be used for national goals.”

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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 125 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro, Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Genesis Networks, Granada International/ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, Intelsat, Macquarie, MediaFLO Technologies, Motorola, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, TrueVisions, Turner International Asia Pacific, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Al Jazeera, Amarchand Mangaldas, Asian Food Channel, BBC Global Channels Asia-Pacific, Celestial Movies, ESPN STAR Sports, GMA Network Inc., GroupM, Fu Yang Media, HiT Entertainment, Hong Kong Cable, Irdeto, KDB Skylife, Lovells, Measat, MGM Networks, Minter Ellison, National Geographic, Network18, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, ProtoStar, PT Direct Vision, SAT-GE, Tandberg Television, Tata Sky, Ten Sports, TimeWarner, Viaccess and Zee TV.

For enquiries, please contact:

CASBAA
Helen Shek / Katie Wong
CASBAA Communications
Tel: +852 2854 9943
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

CASBAA calls for sports bar operators to license authorised local sports channels.