SINGAPORE (February 2, 2016) – Scripps Network Interactive has named Heng Yee Shan Head of Brand Marketing and Communications, Asia-Pacific. In this newly created position, Shan will report to Derek Chang, Managing Director of Scripps Networks Interactive, Asia-Pacific and will lead the consumer brand marketing strategy for the region’s expanding lifestyle channel portfolio.

“Shan’s extensive background in brands, consumer engagement and integrated marketing will serve to strengthen our business as we position the Scripps Networks’ brands for further growth in the region. With her regional expertise in communications, Shan will be instrumental in developing strategies on our marketing efforts as we invest more in local talent and original productions. We are delighted to welcome Shan to her role and believe she will be a valuable addition to the team,” said Chang.

Shan will be responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy, overseeing the brand, digital engagement, PR and communications, talent marketing and research functions. Scripps Networks distributes four leading lifestyle brands across Asia-Pacific including Asian Food Channel, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel.

Shan brings 20 years of marketing experience to Scripps Networks, having previously served as Director of Network Communications at MTV Networks, where she was responsible for the regional marketing communications strategies for 20 local channels across Asia. She also held executive positions at leading commercial brands as Marketing Director for Sephora Asia, Brand Lead for Nike Southeast Asia, and Marketing Lead at Electrolux Small Appliances, Asia-Pacific.

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1 Feb, 2016 – If listed Star India could easily be India’s largest media company: Edelweiss Securities

A local brokerage house has valued Star India, the Indian subsidiary of 21 Century Fox controlled by American media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, at $14.3 billion (Rs 97011.2 crore at Monday’s exchange rate of 67.84 to one US$) despite the company reporting losses in its spots business.

As per this valuation done by Edelweiss Securities Ltd, Star India, if gets listed on the stock exchanges could turn out to be India’s largest media company.

“As per our calculations (based on publicly available data), if Star gets listed on the bourses, its Enterprise Value (EV) could potentially be $14.3 billion and become India’s largest media company,” Edelweiss Securities Ltd said in a report.

Read more at Hindu

Paris, Baikonur, 30 January 2016 – The EUTELSAT 9B satellite of Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) was successfully launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit today by ILS using a Proton rocket that lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 04.20 (22.20 GMT, 23.20 CET on January 29).

Separation of Eutelsat’s new satellite occurred after a 9 hour 12 minute Proton flight. Partial deployment of the satellite’s solar panels, that represents the first critical post-launch operation, took place two hours later. Following further manoeuvres and in-orbit tests, EUTELSAT 9B will be positioned at 9 degrees East in March to assume broadcasting of over 350 TV channels currently served at this position by EUTELSAT 9A and provide expansion capacity for new services.

EUTELSAT 9B also marks an industry first as the host satellite for the inaugural data relay payload for the European Data Relay System (EDRS) being implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between ESA and Airbus Defence and Space.
Commenting on the launch, Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat Chairman and CEO, said: “Our congratulations to ILS and Krunichev for a flawless launch that sees a new Eutelsat satellite propelled on its way to geostationary orbit. This sophisticated satellite programme reflects outstanding collaboration between Eutelsat, ESA, Airbus Defence and Space, ILS and Krunichev. We look forward to putting EUTELSAT 9B to work for the benefit of our broadcaster clients and to the inauguration of the ground-breaking European Data Relay System that is a powerful illustration of the complementarity of geostationary and low earth satellites for fast transmission of data flows back to earth.”

About EUTELSAT 9B
EUTELSAT 9B is a high-capacity Ku-band satellite for the 9° East position that sits at the crossroads of Europe’s leading video neighbourhoods. Overall Eutelsat capacity will increase to 50 physical transponders (47 equivalent 36Mz transponders), taking this neighbourhood to a new level of performance. The satellite will address high-growth broadcast markets through one pan-European footprint delivering wide coverage and four regional footprints serving Germany, Greece, Italy, and the Nordics with the Baltics and Ukraine. It will replace EUTELSAT 9A that will continue in full commercial service at an alternative orbital position.

About EDRS-A
EDRS-A is the first node of the European Data Relay System (EDRS) for ESA and Airbus Defence and Space. This new SpaceDataHighway will significantly speed up the flow of information between low-orbit satellites and their ground stations, improving reaction time for a wide range of operations such as disaster monitoring and emergency operations. The EDRS-A payload hosted on EUTELSAT 9B comprises a laser communications terminal and a Ka-band inter-satellite link that will retrieve high volumes of data sent from low orbit satellites, airborne platforms and the International Space Station. The data can then be immediately transmitted from geostationary orbit back to EDRS ground stations.

About Eutelsat Communications
Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world’s leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 40 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies.

Eutelsat’s satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user’s location.
Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 37 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.
For more about Eutelsat please visit www.eutelsat.com

Independently-operated Baidu subsidiary iQIYI has boosted considerably its online video slate in China after signing a multi-year film output agreement with 20th Century Fox.

The multi-year deal will give iQIYI new release digital transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) and exclusive first-run subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) rights to 20th Century Fox’s films in China. The deal will make iQIYI the first online platform in the country to offer TVOD and SVOD access to films such as The Martian and The Revenant and iQIYI customers will also have access to upcoming major releases from 20th Century Fox.

The deal marks a good run for iQIYI. In December 2015, it hit the ten million mark for paid subscribers to its Internet and mobile video services as of 1 December, double its base in June 2015. iQIYI boasts the largest amount of paid subscribers among China’s video streaming platforms, according to the 2015 Report on Development of China’s Internet Audio-Visual Media, written by China Netcasting Services Association, with the support of the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC).

Read more at Rapid TV News

HONG KONG (January 28, 2016) – Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), operator of the largest bouquet of pan-Asian channels dedicated to Asian entertainment, finished 2015 on a high note with stellar ratings for its channels across key markets. Based on the full-year ratings data from 2015, CTE’s flagship Chinese movie channel, Celestial Movies (CM), its classic Chinese movie channel, Celestial Classic Movies (CCM), and its action entertainment channel, KIX, all achieved noteworthy network viewership growth.

In Malaysia, KIX HD continues to be the #1 English general entertainment HD channel. This is the fourth consecutive year KIX HD has held onto the top spot with Astro 4+ audiences [1]. KIX HD also grew a tremendous 42% in average audience in 2015 versus 2014. Moreover, December 2015 was a record-breaking month, with KIX HD hitting its highest viewership since launch and becoming one of the top 20 most-watched pay TV channels on Astro on an individual channel basis [2].

In the Philippines, KIX remains one of the top four regional English general entertainment channels among cable & satellite 2+ viewers [3]. The channel nearly doubled its viewership in 2015 over 2014, while hitting a record-high in December [4].

Meanwhile, CCM, CM and CM HD dominated the Chinese demographic in Malaysia as the top three most-watched regional movie channels in 2015 among Astro Chinese 4+ audience [5]. Together, the three channels achieved an astonishing 76% share of the audience across regional movie channels [6]. Beyond the Chinese demographic, CCM also attracted notable viewership from the Malay audience, ending 2015 as the tenth most-watched pay TV channel with the Astro 4+ audience [7].

In Indonesia, CM was one of the top three regional movie channels among its core 20-49 pay TV audience in 2015 [8]. CM’s audience also grew by 32% in the second half of 2015 versus the first six months of the year. The channel ended the year with its highest average viewership in December.

“I am extremely proud of the Tiger team for achieving such remarkable ratings across our key markets,” said Todd Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Celestial Tiger Entertainment. “It is gratifying to see the fans we have built up over the years continue to enjoy our exceptional programming lineup, and even more exciting to watch our audience grow year after year. This is great momentum for us as we head into 2016 with an even better programming slate and even more investment into first-run and exclusive content.”

 

– END –

 

Source: Nielsen Malaysia

[1] May 2012 – Dec 2015, Astro 4+, ranked by annual average audience, across English GE HD channels on Astro (AXN HD, Diva HD, Fox HD, FX HD, Hits HD, KIX HD, Life Inspired HD & Star World HD). Data availability: KIX HD (from May 2012); Life Inspired HD (from Jan 2013); Diva HD, Fox HD & Hits HD (from Jan 2015)

[2] Dec 2015, Astro 4+, ranked by average audience on an individual channel basis, across all Pay TV channels on Astro

[5] 2015, Astro Chinese 4+, ranked by average audience on an individual channel basis, across regional movie channels on Astro (CCM, CM, CM HD, Cinemax, Fox Action HD, Fox Family HD, FMP, FMP HD, HBO, HBO HD & Sundance HD)

[6] 2015, Astro Chinese 4+, combined relative share (DSHR %) of CCM, CM & CM HD, across regional movie channels on Astro

[7] 2015, Astro 4+, ranked by average audience on an individual channel basis, across all Pay TV channels on Astro

 

Source: Kantar Media (Urban Philippines); Cable & Satellite 2+

[3] 2015, ranked by average audience, across regional English GE channels (Australia Plus TV, AXN, Diva Universal, E!, Fashion TV, Fox, Fox Crime, FX, Hits, KIX, Lifetime, RTL-CBS, Sony, Star World, SYFY, Tru TV, Universal & Warner TV)

[4] Jul 2011 – Dec 2015

 

Source: Nielsen Indonesia Pay TV; Pay TV 20-49

[8] 2015, ranked by average audience, across regional movie channels (AMC, CM, Cinemax, Fox Family Movies, FMP, HBO, HBO Family, HBO Hits & HBO Signature)

 

Media Contact:

Pauline Poon

Celestial Tiger Entertainment

T: 852 2239 6131

E: pauline.poon@celestialtiger.com

 

About Celestial Tiger Entertainment

CELESTIAL TIGER ENTERTAINMENT (CTE) is a leading independent media company dedicated to entertaining audiences in Asia and beyond. The company creates and distributes branded pay television channels and services targeted at Asian consumers.

CTE operates a powerful bouquet of distinct pay television services including: CELESTIAL MOVIES, the premier 24-hour first-run Chinese movie channel in Asia and beyond; CELESTIAL CLASSIC MOVIES, the world’s most-widely distributed Chinese movie channel with an unparalleled array of Chinese movie masterpieces; cHK, a general entertainment channel offering cool, chic, and contemporary celebrity-powered Hong Kong entertainment; KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment; MIAO MI, the Mandarin “Edutainment” channel created for preschool kids across Asia; and THRILL, Asia’s only regional horror, thriller and suspense movie channel.  All of CTE’s channel brands are available as linear, on-demand and over-the-top services. CTE also produces original production for its bouquet of channels.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, CTE’s majority shareholders are Saban Capital Group, a leading private investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries; Celestial Pictures, a diversified Asian entertainment company owned by Astro Overseas Limited; and Lionsgate, the world’s largest independent filmed entertainmentstudio.

For more information, please visit www.celestialtiger.com.

28 Jan, 2016 – Satellite services provider Intelsat S.A. has launched the first of the Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellites – Intelsat 29e successfully from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle.

The Intelsat 29e satellite separated from the rocket’s upper stage 38 minutes after launch and signal acquisition has been confirmed.

Manufactured by Boeing and equipped with the most advanced digital payload on a commercial spacecraft, Intelsat 29e will bring high throughput capacity in both C- and Ku-band to North and Latin America and the North Atlantic region. Intelsat 29e will be placed into service at 310° East, where it replaces Intelsat 1R.

Read more at Indian Television

28 Jan, 2016 – Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has opposed allowing ‘selective’ zero rating or differential rating plans wherein one streaming website is offered at zero cost, while other streaming websites that offer similar streaming are charged.

In its submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) consultation paper on differential pricing, the broadcaster pointed out that while zero-rated plans are permitted by some regulators specifically in developed countries, these are in fact not favoured in developing countries. However, selective zero rating is not permitted anywhere.

The company cited the example of T-Mobile in the US that offers zero-rated access to 24 streaming providers, and any other providers can join at zero cost. Hence, it was held not violating net neutrality by the US communications regulatory FCC.

Read more at the Television Post

Bermuda, 27th January 2016 – ABS and Bluesky Pacific Group (Bluesky) have signed a multi-transponder contract on ABS-6. The multi-year capacity deal will offer expanded satellite connectivity services across the Samoan islands and the Pacific.

Under the agreement, Bluesky will use the On C-band (OCB) platform for internet, telephony and video content delivery services to Samoa and American Samoa. This will enable Bluesky to readily extend current high speed internet connectivity to meet increasing customer demands as required. Bluesky will also provide essential bandwidth to outlying islands where little or no internet access is currently available. The OCB service is an extremely affordable high-speed Internet access platform delivered by ABS at pricing levels unheard of in the Pacific Region. It targets to provide 99.9% uptime service that will not be affected by rain degradation.

Bluesky is a leading Pacific regional telecommunications operator providing mobile, broadband, IPTV and landline services in American Samoa, Samoa and Cook Islands and mobile services in New Zealand. The OCB platform will enhance satellite connectivity to the Pacific where frequent typhoons and cyclones are common and C-Band communications are crucial for survival and for the wellbeing of the people. With this extension of internet platforms, Bluesky customers can be assured of greater availability of internet services and coverage in more locations.

“ABS strives always to bring the best value for its customers. OCB is an example of our commitment of combining high quality and cost effective satellite services to a market that has not been well served by the incumbents, who have managed to keep prices high in the region that could least afford it. ABS aims to reset both the quality and affordability expectations in the Pacific region for the betterment of all the customers who we aim to serve,” said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS. “We are working closely with Bluesky to provide network access to support their constituents with emerging technologies to connect the Pacific.”

“The need for communications is very important to our economies and Pacific people. We are committed to ensuring that all the Island’s communication needs are constantly available, provide the best value and the most reliable services to all our customers”, commented Adolfo Montenegro, CEO of Bluesky Pacific Group.
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26 Jan, 2016 – Sony Entertainment revealed that a revamp version of its OTT service Sony Liv with a new look and a new feel will be re-launched. The announcement was made by NP Singh, the CEO of SPN during an interview with Financial Express.

“We are re-launching Liv by refurbishing the app and giving it a new look and feel”, declared NP Singh.

Singh further revealed that following the joint venture with BBC last year to bring in Sony BBC Earth, BBC Earth content will be available on the OTT platform. The CEO pf SPN also disclosed that the company is acquiring the right for Hollywood movies and English shows.

Read more at NexTV India

26 Jan, 2016 – To provide the business intelligence in an era where video is competing for viewers’ attention from traditional linear TV to both professional and user-generated content media players, Ericsson has launched a data analysis toolkit that enables the media industry to aggregate, analyse and interpret large amounts of data.

Supported by a comprehensive end-to-end framework, the toolkit meets the need for big-data processing that spans all operational, commercial, and customer care aspects of the media business.

Using Integrated Video Insights, media players can improve their content commercialization strategy, identify the investments required to increase average revenue per user, and ensure their content is consumed under optimal conditions.

Read more at Vanguard