Bangkok, 19 February 2007 – Thailand’s Supreme Court has sentenced a provincial cable operator in Loei province and its director to a US$2,778 fine and six-month’s imprisonment on parole, respectively, on a charge of infringing the broadcasting copyright of CASBAA-member UBC (“TrueVisions”).

In February 2002, Muang Loei Cable Network Co (MLC) was alleged to have pirated a UBC program and redistributing it to its subscribers without authorisation from UBC.

The defendants were prosecuted at the Thai Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (“IP Court”).

The police team which made a raid on the MLC offices and head-end in Loei province was led by Lt. Pol. Gen. Noppadol Somboonsub, Deputy Commander General of the Royal Thai Police under a search warrant from the IP Court.

The defendants denied the charge, claiming that UBC had no copyright control over the content broadcast by it.

In June 2005, the IP Court rendered a judgment confirming that UBC had broadcasting copyright on the program it broadcast through authorization from the rights owner The first defendant was convicted with a US$2,778 fine and the second defendant was given six months imprisonment on parole of one year. The defendants filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Thai Supreme Court upheld that UBC had the broadcasting copyright on the program broadcast by it even though UBC was not the creator nor a copyright owner of such contents.

With its judgment the Supreme Court set a precedent confirming that the authorized broadcaster has copyright on its broadcast program licensed by the rights owner.

Under the Thailand Copyright Act 1994 copyright infringement is both a civil and a criminal offense. Offenders who committed the copyright infringement for commercial purpose are liable to imprisonment of six months to four years or a fine of Bt 100,000 to 800,000, or both.

“CASBAA welcomes these signs of a greater understanding of pay-TV copyright issues,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA. “But we need to see more deterrent fines and enforced prison sentences if we are have real change within the Thai pay-TV market.”

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ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
CASBAA is an industry-based advocacy groupdedicated to the promotion of multi-channel TV via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. The Association represents some 120 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, Comverse, Discovery Networks Asia, EMC, Granada International / ITV Worldwide, HBO Asia, IBM, Intelsat, Macquarie, 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, Anytime, Asian Food Channel, BBC World, Celestial Movies, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosport, Hallmark Channel, Hong Kong Cable, Irdeto, Lovells, Measat, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Sky News Australia, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
CASBAA
Sharon Galistan/ Katie Wong
Communications
Tel: +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, January 30, 2007 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) will stage the seventh annual CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum in Singapore on Monday June 18th 2007. The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum traditionally acts as a curtain-raiser for the CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia trade shows in Singapore.

Themed “Converging on Satellite”, issues to be addressed during the one day high-profile meeting of global and regional industry leaders include the impact on satellite markets of proposed Wimax deployments, the real story behind the satellite-to-mobile TV opportunity and the demand drivers for HDTV services.

Invited satellite industry leaders include Hamadoun Toure, Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, David McGlade, CEO of the world’s largest satellite system operator, Intelsat in the US and Dan Goldberg, the CEO of innovative North American market leader Telesat.

As always, there will be a sharp focus on satellite market development within Asia, with leading speakers drawn from some of the fastest growing markets in the world – India, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and Malaysia – sharing their insights.

Meanwhile, the regulatory environment underpins our industry and a close examination of that environment will provide new insights on the future of the Asia-Pacific market.

“Given the opportunities provided by the changing Asian landscape and the challenges from new technologies, we are seeing unprecedented development within Asia,” said David Ball, Chairman of the CASBAA Satellite Industry Committee and Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific, for Intelsat.

The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum is the premier forum in Asia for satellite market strategy discussions,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO CASBAA. “This year will be a banner year for Asia Pacific satellite services as their value as primary carriers for video and back up for data services is reinforced.”

– ENDS –

For more information on CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2007 please click here.

ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
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. It represents some 110 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 (Malaysia), Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Intelsat, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC True, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Arianespace, Asian Food Channel, BBC Prime, Boeing Space Systems International, EADS Astrium, ESPN STAR Sports, Eutelsat, HSBC Bank, ILS, Intelsat, JSAT, Lockheed Martin, Loral Skynet, Mabuhay Satellite, MEASAT, National Geographic, NDS, Orbit Satellite TV & Radio Network, Paul Weiss, Satlink Communications, SES Global, Shin Satellite and Starhub.

CONTACTS:
Media
Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
CASBAA Communications
Tel : +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Forum Information
Kevin Jennings
Event Director
CASBAA
Tel : +852 2854 9916
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: kevin@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, January 22, 2007 – With the onset of 2007, the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has announced a new Patron Member and four new Corporate Members of the Association.

The new CASBAA Patron Member is newly-launched pay-TV content aggregator Asia Broadcast Networks, along with new CASBAA Corporate Members children’s content specialist HiT Entertainment, Singapore-based satellite services provider Globecast, conditional access supplier Viaccess and New Zealand-based broadcaster Television New Zealand. Meanwhile, global satellite capacity supplier Intelsat has upgraded its CASBAA membership to Patron status.

“The breadth of the new memberships highlights the dynamic environment for Asia’s pay-TV market,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CASBAA CEO. “The response to CASBAA’s year-end 2006 activities, including the CASBAA Convention in Hong Kong and the release of our year-end industry data clearly illustrates the value of the Association.”

The CASBAA members program for 2007 — which includes training schemes (the CASBAA Media College), CASBAA Market Reports (Indonesia and Taiwan, among others), IPR seminars and networking events, as well as the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum (June 18th), the CASBAA China Forum (late August) and the CASBAA Convention 2007 (Oct 30th – Nov 2nd) – will provide new value to CASBAA members and the industry at large, said Mr Twiston Davies.

“CASBAA looks forward to working with our new members in particular throughout 2007,” said Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA. “With this type of sectoral and geographic support our effectiveness as a voice for the industry and as a networking organisation continues to grow.”

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ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
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. The Association represents some 120 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 (Malaysia), Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Intelsat, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC True, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosport, Hallmark Channel, Indovision, Irdeto, Kabelvision, Harmonic, Lovells, Mabuhay, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Seagate, Shin Satellite, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
CASBAA Communications
Tel : +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, January 8, 2007 – ‘It’s all about Content!’ – That’s the theme for the CASBAA Convention 2007 to be staged October 30th to November 2nd at Hong Kong’s Academy for Performing Arts.

Focusing on the most vital market driver for pay-TV services, video content, the Convention 2007 will highlight how “the relationship between content, carriage, customers and revenue is indivisible,” said Marcel Fenez, the chairman of CASBAA. “There is now a deeper industry-wide recognition that whether the platform is cable, satellite, broadband, mobile or any other delivery mode consumers ultimately pay for the images on screen.”

According to CASBAA, with the need to maximise viewership and revenues in a world of proliferating channels, the delineation of quality niche products is gaining ever greater relevance. Meanwhile, a more sophisticated understanding of consumer behaviour and the development of related marketing campaigns all flow back to the core product: compelling content.

The ever-changing technology landscape will also feature strongly during the CASBAA Convention 2007, as will the mega-markets of China and India and the still green-field markets of Indonesia and Vietnam.

The annual CASBAA Convention brings together broadcast executives and technology specialists from Asia and around the world to exchange views and information during high-powered interactive debates.

“This is where Asia’s pay-TV decision-makers meet market dynamics head on,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA. “First comes carriage, but then you need Content!”

The 2006 event attracted global executives to Hong Kong to hear the likes of Michael Fries, President and CEO of Liberty Global; Remi Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja TM; Louise Sams, President of Turner Broadcasting System International; Irwin Gottlieb, Global CEO of Group M and Carlyle Group MD, John Kwun.

See it first in Hong Kong, October 30th – November 2nd, 2007!

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ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
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 110 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 (Malaysia), Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Intelsat, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC True, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosports, Hallmark Channel, Indovision, Irdeto, Kabelvision, Harmonic, Lovells, Mabuhay, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Seagate, Shin Satellite, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
Media
Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
CASBAA Communications
Tel : +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Convention Information
Kevin Jennings
Event Director
CASBAA
Tel : +852 2854 9916
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: kevin@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, December 13, 2006 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today announced its strategic direction for 2007, as well as the results of 2006 Annual General Meeting elections to the CASBAA Council of Governors and Board of Directors.

According to Marcel Fenez, CASBAA Chairman, in 2007 the Association is to focus on the increasing impact of Mobile technology, also noting a clear signal from the Council of Governors to step up initiatives in India and China. CASBAA will continue to engage the regulatory authorities in multiple markets and promote industry development in Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan among others. In addition, CASBAA will strive to demonstrate the effectiveness of pay-TV as an advertising medium and thus challenge other traditional media for advertising revenues.

Marcel Fenez noted that in the past 12 months CASBAA had been consistently consulted by government, media and the community at large on market structure and regulatory issues.

“On an almost daily basis CASBAA is engaging with decision-makers across the region regarding regulatory and intellectual property rights issues while maintaining a steady output of studies on markets and the benefits of effective regulation and the cost of pay-TV piracy,” said Marcel Fenez.

CASBAA also announced that the following were newly elected to the CASBAA Council of Governors, the Association’s leading advisory body: Craig Zimbulis, President and COO of Anytime; Garie Pimentel, President and CEO of Mabuhay Satellite; Ian Barnard, President of MIH Asia; Juno Henares Chuidian, Head of Programmes Acquisition of SkyVision Corporation (Sky Cable); Malcolm Spry, CEO of AGB Nielsen Media Research and Susan Ho, Head of Creative, Media and Tech Industries, Client Relations of Standard Chartered Bank. Re-elected to the Council were: Christine Fellowes, MD of E! Entertainment HK; Hugh Stephens, SVP International relations & Strategic Policy, Asia-Pacific of Time Warner; Jeanette Chan, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Jeremy Pink, CEO/GM of CNBC Asia; Nic van Zwanenberg, Regional Director, Distribution and Business Development of BBC World; Nigel Francis (Individual); PJ Wong, Founder, Chairman and CEO of iMediaHouse; Thierry Raymaekers, GM, Sales and Marketing of Irdeto; and William Pfeiffer, CEO of Celestial Pictures.

The results of Elections to the CASBAA Board of Directors were as follows: Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia; Peter Jackson, CEO of AsiaSat; Sompan Charumilinda, EVP-Chairman, United Broadcasting Corporation; Nic van Zwanenberg, Regional Director, Distribution and Business Development of BBC World and William Pfeiffer, CEO of Celestial Pictures, were re-elected.

Retaining seats on the CASBAA Board of Directors 2006 for the second year of two-year terms are Ian Carroll, SVP and GM, Turner International Asia Pacific; James Ross, Regional Director, Granada International/ITV Worldwide; Marcel Fenez, Asia-Pacific Leader, Entertainment and Media Practice PricewaterhouseCoopers and Michelle Guthrie, CEO of STAR Group.

Stepping down from the CASBAA Council of Governors was Jeanne Marie Gescher, President of Claydon Gescher Associates and Karl Rossiter, CTO of Zieland Productions.

“CASBAA would like to thank Jeanne-Marie and Karl and for their outstanding commitment and contributions to the Association and to the industry” said Mr. Fenez, adding that industry-wide representation continues to be a strong feature of the CASBAA Council of Governors.

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To view the full list of the 2007 CASBAA Council of Governors, please go to http://www.casbaa.com/cog.htm.

ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia 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 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include ABN AMRO, AETN International (History Channel), Asia Broadcast Networks, Asia Broadcast Satellite, AsiaSat, Astro (Malaysia), Australia Network, Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC True, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosports, Hallmark Channel, Indovision, Intelsat, Irdeto, Kabelvision, Harmonic, Lovells, Mabuhay, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Seagate, Shin Satellite, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
CASBAA
Tel : +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Bangkok, 15 November, 2006 – The ASEAN Secretariat and US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with the support and assistance of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), today launched a high-level, two-day seminar focusing on best practices in anti-piracy enforcement and intellectual property (IP) rights in broadcasting.

The seminar marked the first time the ASEAN Secretariat, CASBAA and the USPTO have combined resources, bringing together government officials with pay-TV industry executives, local and international cable operators, content creators, regional regulators and IPR experts.

Robert L. Stoll, Director, Office of Enforcement (USPTO) said, “A robust regulatory framework is crucial for protecting and promoting the flow of creative work of all of the individuals and companies in the broadcast business.”

Rohazar Wati Zuallcobley, Deputy Director General, Malaysian Intellectual Property Office speaking on behalf of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation said, “The television industry has enormous potential for growth in many ASEAN economies. However, we must act with urgency to strengthen the protection and enforcement of IP rights to fully realise that potential.”

“We are pleased to support the USPTO and the ASEAN Secretariat in this joint initiative,” said Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA. “Cooperation between government and the private sector plays a significant role in reducing piracy and driving the pay-TV sector’s contribution to economic progress within ASEAN countries.”

CASBAA recently released estimates showing that annual losses from illegal pay-TV connections will reach US$1.13 billion in 2006.

Key issues addressed at the forum included how to the structure regulatory regimes to successfully protect IP in broadcasting, the latest developments in anti-piracy technology and the challenges posed by new delivery platforms such as mobile TV and web casting.

###

ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia 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 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, Australia Network, ABN AMRO, Asia Broadcast Network, AETN International (History Channel), AsiaSat, Astro (Malaysia), Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC True, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosport, Hallmark Channel, Indovision, Intelsat, Irdeto, Kabelvision, Harmonic, Lovells, Mabuhay, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Seagate, Shin Satellite, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
Ho Hwei-An / Rebecca Kennedy
CASBAA
Telephone: +65 9616 7918 / +852 2854 9913
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, 14 November 2006 – The four-day CASBAA Convention 2006, tagged “From Bandwidth to Brandwidth”, drew more than 1,500 attendees from over 30 countries. Held from 24 to 27 October, the CASBAA Convention is the most important annual gathering in the region for the pay-TV industry, providing debate on major issues such as the monetization of newly-available communications bandwidth, the way to attract new investment to communications infrastructure and the provision of video value to customers.

Keynote speaker Michael Fries, President and CEO of US media conglomerate, Liberty Global, stressed that the future of pay-TV revenues and delivery is “all about capacity” and listed “Seven Basic Truths” for the pay-TV industry:

1) The pay-TV market is not moving as fast among consumers as many media professionals believe; 2) Technology remains ahead of consumer demand; 3) As service providers push network speed as a selling point, applications must catch up; 4) Managed services will prevail with a “flight to quality”; 5) Interoperability will become the equivalent of McDonalds’ “secret sauce”; 6) The power of bundling remains, allowing customers to navigate in an increasingly complex market; and 7) “Consumers need help” and no-one should be left behind in the rush in to new technology.

On investment, CASBAA delegates heard from Gabby Lopez, the chairman and CEO of ABS-CBN Broadcasting, the largest broadcaster in the Philippines, Beyond Cable, Remi Hinduja, the chairman of Indian communications conglomerate Hinduja TMT and John Kwun, the managing director of the Carlyle Group, which recently invested US$1.5 billion in Taiwan cable operator EMC.

“It’s simple,” said Mr Kwun. “We invest in telecoms and media companies because of the steadiness of the cash flow, the defensibility of the market positions that the companies are in and the exciting growth prospects with new technologies and services that are being introduced.”

Later in the conference program, numerous experts gave their insights on the delivery of content via mobile TV. While debate throughout the Convention flowed back and forth on the viability of mobile video, Casey Harwood, Senior Vice President, Digital Media at Turner Europe, was firmly bullish: “There is a demand for small screen TV – people just don’t know it yet,” he said.

The other dominant technology topic was IPTV, which nevertheless, remains a video delivery platform that has yet to mature in many markets. During the session titled “IPTV: no more than a bandwidth beast?” the panel agreed that technical issues such as the bandwidth required for optimum quality video delivery via the Internet will be resolved, triggering a projected ten-fold increase in subscribers in the next three years.

The survey of pay-TV piracy in the Asia Pacific co-presented by CASBAA and Standard Chartered Bank confirmed that signal theft remains a huge problem. The study estimated that pay-TV piracy cost the industry US$1.13 billion this year, compared to US$1.06 billion in 2005, a rise of over 6%, with illegal connections reaching 5.2 million.

Other highlights of the Convention included the CASBAA Technology Showcase 2006, The Sun Mobile Forum, CASBAA China Forum, CASBAA India Forum and Targeting Japan, with additional keynote addresses and “in Conversations” with Louise Sams, President, Turner Broadcasting System International; Kip Meek, Chief Policy Partner of Ofcom & President of the European Regulators Group (2006); Zhou Xiaoning, VP New Media, Hunan TV and Irwin Gotlieb, the Global CEO of GroupM.

During the Convention, CASBAA also announced the winner of the prestigious CASBAA Chairman’s Award 2006 for “the outstanding contribution to the Asia Pacific multi-channel cable, satellite and broadband pay-TV industries in the previous 12 months.” The accolade was presented to Peter Jackson, CEO of satellite system operator AsiaSat.

The winners of the TV Advertising Awards in association with Media magazine were also unveiled. Coca Cola’s campaign “Coke: A Light Affair” scooped both the “Most Creative Use of TV” and the John Doherty “Campaign of the Year” trophies. CASBAA received more than 160 entries for the nine categories this year.

“This year’s event proved that the pay-TV players continue to work to deliver content via the most suitable media while making every effort to maximise the value of available bandwidth,” said CASBAA Chairman Marcel Fenez. “We remain convinced that Asian subscribers will gain yet more access to the highest-quality content delivered through the most effective channels.”

About CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia 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 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, Australia Network, Asia Broadcast Network, ABN AMRO, AETN International (History Channel), AsiaSat, Astro (Malaysia), Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC (Thailand), Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, Celestial Movies, CSM TNS, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosport, Hallmark Channel, Hong Kong Cable, Intelsat, Irdeto, Harmonic, Lovells, MEASAT, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, Seagate, Sky News Australia, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

For further information, please contact:
Liza Ng / Sovanna Fung
iPR communications
Tel: +852 3178 9010 / 2131 8962
Fax: +852 2131 8955
Email: lizang@iprcomm.com.hk
sovannafung@iprcomm.com.hk

Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
Communications, CASBAA
Tel: +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Hong Kong, November 9, 2006 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today congratulated the Royal Thai Police for recent high-profile raids on three Bangkok-based cable TV operators found distributing unlicensed movies and other pay-TV content.

The 30-strong anti-piracy Task Force made arrests and seized broadcasting equipment, shutting down pirated pay-TV channels distributed without authorisation by Thai Soon Cable TV, Golden Channel Cable TV and Sunshine Entertainment Cable TV.

The October 31st raids in metropolitan Bangkok resulted in charges of “unauthorised broadcasting of copyrightable content” with further arrests expected.

“The recent raids on pirate cable TV operators in Thailand reaffirm the determination of the global video content industry to tackle pay-TV signal theft head-on,” said Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA. “We applaud the Thai authorities and the Motion Picture Association (which helped to coordinate the Bangkok raids) for taking such a firm stand.”

This year’s CASBAA study on the impact of pay-TV piracy across the Asia Pacific, which was undertaken in association with the Standard Chartered Bank, estimates that signal theft in Thailand will cost content owners and legitimate pay-TV operators an estimated US$160 million in 2006.

“In an economy such as Thailand’s this kind of revenue leakage is seriously affecting the ability of the local creative industries to grow,” said Mr Fenez. “This is about the development of a thriving domestic pay-TV industry and promoting Thailand as a media centre.”

A further indication of the global industry’s concerns with regards to pay-TV piracy in Thailand is CASBAA’s support for a two-day ASEAN workshop in Bangkok next week on “intellectual property rights in broadcasting” to be attended by officials of nine governments.

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ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia 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 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, Australia Network, ABN AMRO, Asia Broadcast Network, AETN International (History Channel), AsiaSat, Astro (Malaysia), Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC True, Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosports, Hallmark Channel, Indovision, Intelsat, Irdeto, Kabelvision, Harmonic, Lovells, Mabuhay, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Seagate, Shin Satellite, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
CASBAA
Tel : +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com

Beijing, November 7, 2006 – Kansai Telecasting Corporation of Japan was named today the winner of the ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award 2006 for its documentary entitled “Conquering the Darkness – The Fight Against Memories of Abuse.”

At a presentation ceremony held during the ABU General Assembly, Shinichi Sugimoto, the producer of the documentary, was praised for the film’s powerful, engaging and sensitive treatment of an issue often hidden from the public eye. The documentary follows Aya, a 33-year-old mother, who suffered abuse as a child and subsequently abused her own children. It is the tale of a parent’s personal struggle to end the cycle of child abuse in the family.

“We are often quick to point the finger at parents who abuse their children, but patterns of abuse so often begin in childhood, creating a chain that can continue over generations,” said Sugimoto. “I am greatly honoured that our documentary has been selected for the Child Right’s Award. I also would like to urge the media to help us realize our quest for a society free of abuse, prejudice and persecution.”

The Child Rights Award, established in 2001, is given each year in recognition of the best television programming on a child rights issue produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognizes the efforts of broadcasters in pursuing both the production of top quality children’s programmes and better news coverage of children’s issues. This year, the Child Rights Award received a total of 40 entries from countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Singapore.

David Astley, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, said, “The Child Rights Award is a significant platform that allows broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific to demonstrate their ability to produce quality programming on children’s issues. The ABU wants to encourage broadcasters to continue to invest in such programmes in the future.”

The winning entry was selected by a panel of jurors made up of distinguished television producers and industry representatives including: Amar Keshar Simha, an independent producer from Pakistan; Wang Yan, a producer with China Central Television (CCTV); Ariunjargal Luvsantseren, Director of Children’s Programme for Mongolian Radio and Television; Francis Smith, Executive Producer of Infocus Asia; Ian Carroll, Chief Executive of Australia Network; and James Gibbons, Vice President of Programming, Discovery Networks Asia.

Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) said: “The continued participation of regional broadcasters in the Child Rights Award is welcome and clearly underlines their resolve towards producing educational and entertaining programmes for and about children.”

Madeline Eisner, UNICEF Regional Communication Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific Office said: “This year’s entries continue to illustrate the great influence television wields to command the attention of viewers regarding issues affecting children and comes at a timely moment with the just released UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children.”

The top ten finalists in 2006 are:

WINNER
Conquering the Darkness – The Fight Against Memories of Abuse (Japan)
Producer: Shinichi Sugimoto
Production Company: Kansai Telecasting Corporation
In Japan, every three days a child dies from abuse. It is estimated that up to 80% of parents who abuse their children were themselves abused in childhood. These parents have been psychologically damaged by the trauma they have experienced. The documentary takes a close look at Aya, a 33-year-old mother who was abused as a child and who subsequently abused her own children. This documentary is the result of a year-long reportage on the struggle by Aya and her three sons to overcome the cycle of child abuse.

FINALISTS
Dark Street Kids (Malaysia)
Producer: Nawar Hani Kamaruddin
Production Company: Radio Television Malaysia
This documentary tells the story of children who are born and live in dark alleys or brothels of Malaysia. It chronicles the hardship, as well as the stigma and discrimination, they face being the children of commercial sex workers.

Korean Children – I am All Alone (Korea)
Producer: Kim Kyung Eun
Production company: Production Purume
Minho is an 11-year-old boy neglected by his parents. His only friend is a TV set. He lives on frozen yoghurt. He is also addicted to computer games. A stark portrayal of how a child is deeply affected by the problems and negligence of his parents.

Tuesday Report: Pocket Money (Hong Kong)
Producer: Wong Yuk Kuen
Production company: Television Broadcasts Limited
Although Hong Kong is regarded as rich city, nearly 30% of children live below the poverty line. This programme documents the life of three children who live in cramped flats and have to sell scrap paper and scrap metal for their pocket money.

Young People on Wheels (Bhutan)
Producer: Dechen Roder
Production company: Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)
The documentary follows a group of unemployed youths who are creating awareness of a campaign on HIV and AIDS in Bhutan.

The Orphans, Childless & Predators (Singapore)
Producer: Ong Hee Yah
Production company: MediaCorp News Pte Ltd
On a single day in December 2004, tens of thousands of children lost their parents when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck. The documentary looks at on how orphaned children coped with the devastating experience. It also features a child trafficker who agreed to tell his side of story and tries to justify his actions.

Get Real Child Sex Tourism – Sold for Sex (Singapore)
Producer: Sharon Hun
Production company: MediaCorp News Pte Ltd
The programme investigates the plight of child sex workers on the Indonesian Island of Batam. It explores how it is driven by demand from predominantly Singaporeans men, who head for the island every weekend.

Emergency – Junior Boxer (Philippines)
Producer: Sherilyn Bruan
Production company: GMA Network Inc.
Residents of General Santos City (Philippines) are very fond of boxing. Even children, some as young as three years old, undergo intensive training to become professional boxers. As part of their training, the frail bodies of these children are exposed to regular beatings and many sustain grave injuries that sometimes even result in death.

We Shall Overcome (Bangladesh)
Producer: Kazi Roksana Parvin Ruma
Production company: Boishakhi Media Limited
This documentary chronicles the life of an eight-year-old girl who is deaf and mute. It tells the story of how with tremendous courage she confronts many problems and continues to believe she can succeed in her dream to become a fine arts teacher.

School of the Highlands (Philippines)
Producer: ACPC Sikat
Production company: Asian Council for People¡¯s Culture (ACPC) and Schools of Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions (SIKAT)
The importance placed on education by indigenous communities in the Philippines is recounted in this documentary which looks at the challenges families face in schooling their children and promoting their rights.

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 160 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 is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel television via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than 3 billion people.
www.casbaa.com

UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world¡¯s leader for children, working on the ground in 155 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

For further information, please contact:

Craig Hobbs: ABU (Kuala Lumpur), +603 2282 3592, craig.h@abu.org.my
Ho Hwei-An CASBAA + 65 9616 7918 hweian@casbaa.com
Rebecca Kennedy: CASBAA, +852 2854 9913, pr@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, October 27, 2006 – The winner of the prestigious CASBAA Chairman’s Award 2006 for “the outstanding contribution to the Asia Pacific multi-channel cable, satellite and broadband pay-TV industries in the previous 12 months.” was made today to Peter Jackson, CEO of satellite system operator AsiaSat.

Mr. Jackson has been a member of CASBAA for almost all of the Association¡¯s 15-year history and a Member of the Board of Directors for seven years.

The CASBAA Chairman’s Award 2006 was presented at the conclusion of the CASBAA TV Advertising Awards held on the final day of the CASBAA Convention 2006 in Hong Kong.

Marcel Fenez, the Chairman of CASBAA, said: “For more than a decade Peter Jackson has been an outstanding executive in one of our industry’s most commercially and technically challenging sectors, satellite services. With his pan-regional responsibilities and a background in telecommunications, Peter has developed an almost unique understanding of media and telecoms issues which has hugely benefited our industry and the Association.”

The formal citation for Mr Jackson’s Award reads: “In recognition of Peter Jackson’s unparalleled professionalism and integrity in one of the most competitive sectors within our industry and his on-going commitment to the Association.”

“Beyond that, Peter’s contribution’s to the Association as a Board Member and the leading representative of the satellite sector has helped enormously to create the credible industry voice that we are today,” said Mr Fenez. “Peter is greatly respected by his peers, by government officials and by a client base drawn from around the world.”

Mr. Jackson said, “I am honoured to receive this award. But the honour is as much for the team at AsiaSat as it is for me. I also think the Award is an endorsement of the general achievements of CASBAA itself in the years that I have been involved. ”

Prior to joining the listed AsiaSat as CEO in 1993, Mr Jackson was the Regional Director, Asia Pacific of Cable & Wireless, which he joined in 1970 with responsibilities for several satellite telecom ventures around the region. He has also worked in the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates and China.

The other nominees for the 2006 CASBAA Chairman’s Award were:

HBO
For the launch (and marketing) of the new HBO multiplexes which maintain programming quality whilst adding to customer choice and ease of proposition understanding.

Nokia
For the promotion of the DVB-supported DVB-H standard and its efforts to generate a greater understating of the mobile TV opportunity to both mobile platform operators and content providers.

PCCW-NOW TV
In the past 12 months Now TV has evangelized the broadband TV model, energizing the entire sector. And for the continued expansion of its subscriber base and the pro-active marketing of a secure and advanced pay-TV platform with a growing interactive capability.

STAR TV
For establishing a broad range of tailored channels, often at a country level, to cater to specific needs (such as South India programming). The network has also demonstrated a deep understanding of the industry’s future, both on-air and into platforms such as mobile. And STAR TV has been a leader in branded content.

Starhub
For aggressively expanded its channel line-up and invested in enhancing and marketing its services. The total number of channels has increased to 94. Starhub recently introduced a digital video recorder set-top box; launched pay per view service, FlexiWatch; engaged in an HD trial; and, launched a new brand campaign ‘For the life that I love, I am a hub’ to drive subscription.

Marketing Magazine (Singapore)
In recognition of its excellent work in promoting the delivery of key demographics by cable and satellite channels to advertisers.
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ABOUT CASBAA – www.casbaa.com
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia 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 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people. Members include Asia Broadcast Satellite, Australia Network, ABN AMRO, AETN International (History Channel), AsiaSat, Astro (Malaysia), Bloomberg Television, Comverse, Chunghwa Telecom, Discovery Networks Asia, Granada, EMC, HBO Asia, IBM, Macquarie Bank, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC (Thailand), Walt Disney Television International, Zonemedia, Anytime, BBC Global Channels, BBC World, Celestial Movies, CSM TNS, ESPN STAR Sports, Eurosports, Hallmark Channel, Hong Kong Cable, Intelsat, Irdeto, Harmonic, Lovells, MEASAT, Motorola, National Geographic, Paul Weiss, Playboy TV, Seagate, Sky News Australia, Standard Chartered Bank, Synovate and TimeWarner.

CONTACTS:
Rebecca Kennedy / Katie Wong
CASBAA
Tel : +852 2854 9913
Fax: +852 2854 9530
Email: pr@casbaa.com