Tribe expands into Singapore

Tribe is now available in three markets with more than 1 million downloads

9 June 2017, Kuala Lumpur – Tribe, the Astro Malaysia owned online video service provider, available in Indonesia and the Philippines, is pleased to announce its third market, Singapore in partnership with Singtel, Singapore’s largest telecommunications company. Singtel’s OTT video portal app – Cast – will carry Tribe’s on-demand content via the Aneka Plus pack, which features Malay programs from various content providers, including Astro Malaysia.

Tribe’s content strategy is to curate content offerings tailored to each individual market. Tribe, through its standalone app in Indonesia and Philippines offers a range of live and on demand content across live sports, Korean drama, Anime, eSports, and Asian movies. In Singapore, Tribe aims to fulfil the current unmet demand for Malay content in the digital space.

“Our approach to every market is unique and this partnership with Singtel is a landmark first for Tribe as we explore different GTM models,” said Iskandar Samad, Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Limited.

“Singtel is the market leader in mobile with a strong Malay base across prepaid and postpaid segments. Astro, on the other hand, is unrivalled in its production of premium original Malay content. Singtel’s Cast will be an effective channel to connect a strong customer base with relevant quality content. Singapore is a well-developed and exciting Asian market with robust monetisation opportunities and we look forward to leveraging this as a learning opportunity to gain better understanding of market dynamics before we consider launching a standalone OTT product as we have done in other markets.”

In conjunction with the fasting month, Tribe will release several Ramadan specials including ‘Imam Mudaku Romantik’, ‘Tolong Aku Nak Puasa’ and ‘Resepi Memikat Suami’. ‘Hero Seorang Cinderella’ featuring Fattah Amin and Fazura will also be available on Cast. Other highlights include top rated Malay dramas and telemovies such as ‘Suri Hati Mr. Pilot’, ‘Bukan Kerana Aku Tak Cinta’ and ‘Cinta Paling Agung’ featuring popular celebrities Aaron Aziz, Neelofa, Sharnaaz Ahmad, Nelydia Senrose and more. Other genres offered include variety, lifestyle programs and catch up of live programs.

Tribe is available on the Aneka Plus pack via the Cast app for a monthly subscription of SGD7.90 with a 12-month contract. At launch, Singtel is offering three months’ free subscription with the 12-month contract. For more information about Tribe on Cast, visit cast.sg/anekaplus.

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About Tribe

Tribe Limited, a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (Astro) offers an over-the-top (“OTT”) service for ASEAN video consumers. Tribe is all about building a community of fans around the most popular content genres, particularly in the younger demographic. Today’s consumers are highly mobile and socially connected and Tribe intends to build a relevant social connection between users through the content they watch. Tribe will be mobile-first, allowing consumption anytime, anywhere. It will deliver highly tailored content, combining both live and on demand and aims to provide the most compelling content that will resonate with consumers in each target market. Tribe is currently available in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. For more information, go to www.tribenow.tv

Media Contact:
Tammy Toh
Head/Vice President, Communications
Astro
Tel: +603-9543 6688 EXT:2046
Email: tammy_toh@astro.com.my

Azaria Loh
Assistant Vice President, Communications
Astro
Mobile: +6019 668 2278
Email: azaria_loh@astro.com.my

CNN International Commercial transforms insight and AI capabilities through creation of Audiences and Data group

CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) is investing in industry-leading data insight, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities as it evolves the way that advertisers can partner with CNN for pan regional TV and digital campaigns that are fully accountable, regardless of the platform.

These capabilities reflect the way that CNN now works with advertisers on pre-dominantly multiplatform brand solutions in a dynamic pan-regional trading environment. A new Audiences and Data centre of excellence is established within CNNIC, replacing the linear-focused research function which has traditionally relied on industry surveys for audience insight. Headed by data scientist Mark Sear, who joins from EMC Consulting, the Audiences and Data group will harness data to spearhead innovation across all parts of CNN’s international business and deliver cutting-edge evidence-based solutions for CNNIC’s clients.

Areas of focus for the newly-created group include:

Predictive analytics for audience segmentation and engagement
Use of AI to develop dialogue between brands and audiences as part of the digital advertising experience
Advanced partnerships and systems integration between CNNIC and brands, tech companies and universities
Development of advanced audience measurement metrics to complement, and eventually replace, the existing linear-focused survey data

Using data science in this way gives CNN and its clients deeper engagement with vast international audiences across linear, digital, mobile and social platforms. It also enables greater insight beyond traditional pan-regional media measurement surveys to understand audience behaviour and inform strategic, editorial and commercial decision-making. The same approach will develop CNNIC’s commercial data proposition through cutting-edge partnerships with clients and build on the success of CNN Audience Insight Measurement (AIM), which targets commercial content to audience segments, optimises campaigns and provides meaningful business insights to brands.

Leading these initiatives is Mark Sear, reporting directly to Rani Raad, President, CNN International Commercial. Sear has an impressive track record, most recently as Chief Technology Officer of Big/Fast Data and Analytics, EMEA, at EMC Consulting. Achievements include building predictive analytic solutions for media companies and integrating dozens of data sources for Havas to impact advertising engagement between brands and consumers.

“For 35 years the pan regional TV sector has relied on recall surveys, the power of the brand and smart commercial solutions to deliver value to clients and generate revenues,” said Rani Raad. “The creation of our Audiences and Data group, led by Mark’s vision, is part of the transformation of our business to put data at the very heart of everything we do across all platforms. For our clients, this means greater insight into the planning, execution and reporting of campaigns to generate deeper engagement with CNN’s audiences and, ultimately, yield better results.”

“Harnessing the explosion of data across pan-regional media is a huge opportunity and a mammoth task for any organisation,” said Mark Sear, Vice President, Audiences and Data, CNN International Commercial. “CNN’s advantage is that we are leaders in content, already have international audiences at scale and are well ahead of the competitive set in understanding behaviour and targeting in a smart way. These investments in artificial intelligence and data science will bring greater understanding and value to CNN’s international business and open up new conversations about how brands can work with us.”

About CNN International Commercial

CNNI Commercial (CNNIC) is responsible for CNN’s intercontinental commercial operations, spanning a diverse multiplatform portfolio across five continents. Its strategy is to grow CNN’s dominance in the pan-regional TV market while accelerating growth through digital and data capabilities. This includes monetising and growing linear and digital news brands such as CNN International, CNN en Español, CNN Arabic, Great Big Story, CNN Style and CNN Money, and a number of other verticals and local properties. CNNI Commercial delivers best-in-class, award-winning cross-platform ad sales, brand and marketing solutions underpinned by advanced digital expertise and data insight. It operates a Content Sales and Licensing business called CNN Access, which offers a suite of consultancy, content and CNN-branded initiatives around the globe as well as establishing strategic partnerships to serve new audiences. The organisation’s branded content studio, Create, has been producing award-winning multiplatform content for clients for over ten years. CNNI Commercial is part of Turner, a Time Warner company. For more information, visit http://commercial.cnn.com

NEW ORIGINAL SERIES ROOM 104 DEBUTS ON JULY 29 EXCLUSIVELY ON CINEMAX SAME TIME AS THE U.S.

The Twelve-Episode Series Will Also Be Streaming On HBO GO.

SINGAPORE, 12 MAY 2017 – HBO’s new original series produced by the Duplass Brothers, ROOM 104, has been set to debut same time as the U.S. on Saturday July 29 at 11.30am (SIN), with a same day primetime encore at 10pm (SIN), exclusively on CINEMAX. The series will also be streaming on HBO GO. The twelve-episode, half-hour anthology series is set in a single room of an average American motel and tells a different story of the assorted characters who pass through it in each episode.

Cast members include Hugo Armstrong, Davie-Blue, Melonie Diaz, Jay Duplass, Veronica Falcon, Adam Foster, Ellen Geer, Keir Gilchrist, Philip Baker Hall, Sarah Hay, Poorna Jagannathan, Orlando Jones, Ethan & Gavin Kent, Amy Landecker, Konstantin Lavysh, Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris, Keta Meggett, Natalie Morgan, Ross Partridge, Karan Soni, Dendrie Taylor, Tony Todd, Will Tranfo, James Van Der Beek, Mae Whitman and Nat Wolff.

Episodes of ROOM 104 are directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, Patrick Brice, Marta Cunningham, Doug Emmett, Megan Griffiths, Dayna Hanson, Chad Hartigan, Ross Partridge, Sarah Adina Smith and So Yong Kim. Series writers include Xan Aranda & Ross Partridge, Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, Mark Duplass, Dayna Hanson, Carson Mell and Ross Partridge.

ROOM 104 is created and executive produced by Mark Duplass and Jay. Joining them are Executive Producer, Xan Aranda, Co-Executive Producer, Ross Partridge and Producer, Sydney Fleischmann.

# # #

About HBO ASIA

Singapore-based HBO Asia brings the best of Hollywood to Asia first through its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood and independent studios, including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO and HBO Asia Original programmes produced exclusively for HBO viewers. Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia with six 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels: HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax, as well as Red by HBO, internet streaming platform, HBO GO, subscription video on demand service, HBO On Demand, and in China, 鼎级剧场 (ding ji ju chang). HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst and the DreamWorks channel in the region. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

For more information, please contact HBO Asia:

Karen Lai
Senior Director, Communications
Tel: (65) 6381 1796
Email: karen.lai@hboasia.com

Cheryl Foong
Manager, Communications
Tel: (65) 6381 1838
Email: cheryl.foong@hboasia.com

Chan Zi Ning
Executive, Communications
Tel: (65) 6381 1746
Email: zining.chan@hboasia.com

BBC Giant Screen Films to Premiere on Small Screens in China

BBC Worldwide today announced a deal with Youku that will see five of BBC Earth’s award-winning Giant Screen films available on TV channels and mobile devices in China.

Broadcast in HD, Earthflight, Incredible Predators, Tiny Giants, Walking with Dinosaurs, and Wild Africa will be available on Youku’s digital platforms. The deal also allows Youku to distribute the 4K versions to linear channels with the capacity to transmit in the format.

Youku’s 500 million monthly active users in China will now be able to access the following five BBC Earth films:

Earthflight – The BAFTA-nominated film is shot with revolutionary aerial techniques and takes viewers on a breath taking flight on the wings of birds across six continents. Experience some of the world’s greatest natural spectacles from a bird’s-eye view.

Incredible Predators – far from a film about the kill, Incredible Predators delves into the interactions between predators and their prey, revealing some of the most dramatic events in nature.

Tiny Giants – this multi award-winning film tells the story of a day in the life of two little heroes – a scorpion mouse and a chipmunk, both trying to survive in a sometimes hostile world.

Walking with Dinosaurs – a 2013 family film from the iconic Walking with Dinosaurs series set in the Late Cretaceous period, 70 million years ago. The production features computer-animated dinosaurs in live-action settings with actors John Leguizamo, Justin Long, Tiya Sircar, and Skyler Stone providing voiceovers for the main characters.

Wild Africa – narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, the award-winning Wild Africa transports audiences on a thrilling journey through Africa to discover how water shapes all life.

Kelvin Yau, General Manager, Greater China, BBC Worldwide commented, “With our BBC Earth Giant Screen films available in 3D, HD and 4K formats, viewers will have even more opportunities to get up close and personal with some of nature’s most awe-inspiring events.”

Incredible Predators premiered at the China Science and Technology Museum Film Festival in Beijing earlier this year. Other BBC Earth films are available in over 20 science and technology museums in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Hefei, and Hong Kong.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:

Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com

Jessie Lim
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5295
Email: Jessie.Lim@bbc.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.

In 2015/16 BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £133.8m and headline sales of £1,029.4m and returned £222.2m to the BBC.

For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review webpage: bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/.

bbcworldwide.com
twitter.com/bbcwpress

Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia Names Tiff Wang as Director & Business Head, Taiwan

SINGAPORE (June 6, 2017) Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia announced today the appointment of Tiff Wang as Director & Business Head, Taiwan.

Based in Taipei and reporting to Ang Hui Keng, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Ms. Wang will oversee the business and channel management for AXN and Animax channels in Taiwan.

“Taiwan remains a strategically important market for our Asia business and as the pay-TV industry moves towards a fully digitized model, Tiff’s depth of digital experience will ensure AXN and Animax continue to thrive, delivering premium entertainment to our viewers, as well as high impact integrated solutions for our advertisers,” said Mr. Ang.

Ms. Wang has over 20 years’ experience in the media and entertainment industry with her professional experience spanning business development, channel management, content production and integrated, digital marketing.

Prior to joining SPT Networks, Asia, Ms. Wang served as Senior Assistant Vice President at Eastern Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), one of the largest television networks in Taiwan. Before EBC, Ms. Wang held the role as Digital Director at Universal Music where she managed the digital and mobile music business including sales and marketing with global new media partners. During her stint at Yahoo Inc., she led the Asia media team and channels, covering Asia sports, finance, and entertainment product management and planning across Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Ms. Wang holds both a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California where she majored in Marketing.

-Ends-

About Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks, Asia is a leading operator of ad-supported channels including English general entertainment powerhouses AXN and Sony Channel; and Asian content giants Animax, GEM and ONE. SPT Networks’ portfolio collectively features the biggest and best titles from Korea, Japan and the U.S that are first run, exclusive and aired close to the original telecast. Taking the content beyond the screen, SPT Networks immerses viewers in its premium entertainment via large-scale festivals, celebrity fan meets and social platform conversations. In Asia, SPT Networks’ portfolio is available across 20 territories and in over 45 million homes.

About Sony Pictures Television Networks

Sony Pictures Television Networks operates branded entertainment channels reaching over one billion households around the world. Based in Culver City, Amsterdam, Budapest, London, Madrid, Miami, Milan, Moscow, Mumbai, Munich, Singapore and Tokyo, Sony’s linear and digital networks offer high quality film and television content from Sony Pictures and third-parties, as well as original content commissioned globally and locally. Sony Pictures Television Networks is a division of Sony Pictures Television Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.www.SonyPicturesTelevision.com

www.SonyPicturesTelevision.com

Media Contact
Jennifer Doig / Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Jennifer_doig@spe.sony.com / +65 6622 4278

Consumers Lose Big From Buying Illicit Streaming Services

Hong Kong, June 5, 2017 Tens of thousands of consumers of illegal TV services in Asia have lost their connections in recent weeks, as enforcement action against networks operating through illicit streaming devices (ISDs) picks up speed. Asian regional pay-TV association CASBAA applauded recent police actions in Thailand and Malaysia, which resulted in takedowns and arrests of operators of ISD networks.

“The criminal syndicates selling ISDs have defrauded many consumers into believing their services were legitimate,” said CASBAA Chief Policy Officer John Medeiros. “They are not. And anyone buying an illicit IPTV box takes the risk of losing their money without warning when the network is taken down.”

After the Thai raids, an estimated 50,000 consumers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia and other places all lost service, despite having pre-paid substantial amounts for “Expat.tv” services. The enforcement action that shut down the service led to the arrest of two British nationals and one Thai citizen, as well as the seizure of a considerable amount of equipment.

In Malaysia, police estimated that 30,000 consumers were receiving service from a syndicate illegally retransmitting programming from Astro channels. Six men were arrested in raids in Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter said the TV industry — including creators of all genres of TV content as well as leading distribution companies like Astro, PCCW, and True Visions – are determined to keep up enforcement actions against ISD networks. “It’s important for consumers to understand that if a bouquet of TV programming offered on a box seems “too good to be true”, then it probably is not legitimate,” he said. “Money invested in an ISD is at risk of loss at any time.”

Consumers also risked infection with malware when they attach ISDs, with their dodgy apps, to home networks, warned Medeiros. “Researchers in the UK have found ISD boxes importing viruses that could allow hackers access to all devices on home networks. This could result in the theft of personal data, credit card fraud or even being held to ransom. It’s only a matter of time before this problem hits consumers in Asia, too.”

“Legitimate, licensed TV services are a far more reliable and more secure way to obtain programming.”

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About CASBAA:
CASBAA is the Asia Pacific region’s largest non-profit media association, serving the multi-channel audio-visual content creation and distribution industry. Established in 1991, CASBAA has grown with the industry to include digital multichannel television, content, platforms, advertising, and video delivery. Encompassing some 500 million connections within a footprint across the region, CASBAA works to be the authoritative voice for multichannel TV; promoting even-handed and market-friendly regulation, IP protection and revenue growth for subscription and advertising, while promoting global best practices. For more information, visit www.casbaa.com

For media contacts and additional background contact:

Cynthia Wong
Director of Member Relations & Marketing
Email: cynthia@casbaa.com

May 2017

CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017

The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017 in Singapore on 22nd May attracted more than 200 delegates and experts joining one of the biggest CASBAA events of the year. The Satellite Industry Forum ended with Cocktails for delegates and CASBAA members. You can revisit the forum by photo here. Don’t want to miss out other CASBAA events? Mark your schedule for Taiwan in View on 22nd June.

The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017 also appreciates the generous support of the sponsors for this year’s event: ABS, APSTAR, Arianespace, AsiaSat, Boeing Satellite Systems, COMSYS, Effective Space, Eutelsat, Gogo, Intergrasys, International Launch Services (ILS), Marsh, MEASAT, Newtec, NorthTelecom, SES, SKY Perfect JSAT, SpaceX and SSL. Some Quotable Quotes:

There are 600 million households out there without TV. The opportunity for satellite remains enormous

– Tom Choi, ABS

When the millennials start families they are like the rest of US. They slump back on their settees

– Andrew Jordan, AsiaSat

If we don’t play in the 5G space other technologies will take over for sure

– Deepak Mathur , SES

Consolidation is coming, but it must be at the operator level

– Deepakajit Singh, Encompass Media

Our objective is to relaunch the rocket after one hour

– Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX

They say there will be 24,000 LEO launches in the next while. What about space junk?

– Peter Jackson, PJ Square

Digitize, digitize, digitize! But when can we monetize?

– Ashok Mansukhani, Hinduja Media

Regulating pay-TV for the 21st Century

During a high-powered Regulatory Roundtable in Jakarta in May, Indonesian government officials and international TV executives called for 21st century rules for the country’s broadcasting sector. The meeting, organized by CASBAA and the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), examined media convergence, the state of current regulation and proposed updated rules and regulations for Asia’s third most populous nation. Keynote speaker and former senior UK regulator Tim Suter said the rapidly changing media landscape meant that “old TV” regulatory practices could no longer be used to control the entirety of content available to consumers. A “new media” approach is necessary.

CASBAA Taiwan in view 2017

With complex regulations as the bedrock on which Taiwan‘s multichannel TV and telecoms markets stands, CASBAA deep-dives into the realities of OTT and Multiscreen services in Taiwan. Moving beyond CabSat, OTT, Mobile, Broadband and Taiwan’s Essential Ad sales market. Speakers will include:

Ming Young, President, iQiyi

Nicole Chan, Chair, National Communications Commission

Magdalina Lin, Executive VP, FriDay

Chi-Mau Sheih, President & Director, Chunghwa Telecom

Dennis Yang, Executive VP, KKTV & CBO, KKV

Steve H. S. Wang, President, KBRO

Vivian Chang, VP, Vidol (Sanli TV)

James Jeng, President, Taiwan Mobile

Aravind Venugopal, Vice President, Media Partners Asia

For Registration (Mandy Tsui): mandy@casbaa.com

For Sponsorship (Adela Chan): adela@casbaa.com

CASBAA Convention 2017 Macau (6-9 Nov)

Is it all change or, just maybe, content of all kinds remains center stage as we come to terms with the business disruptors, distribution challenges, IP theft and technology revolution. With Member-driven closed-door roundtables, government regulatory sessions, Masterclasses, Tech Showcases, keynotes and social events open to all, our world will be in attendance. Don’t miss the networking & exhibition opportunities with all broadcasters, carriers, data divers
and top-tier tech vendors – for delegate and sponsorship enquiries please contact Adela Chen: adela@casbaa.com or +852 3929 1727.

OTT Meeting at Brightcove

CASBAA OTT Group members had a special meeting when Brightcove hosted a session at their suite at Broadcast Asia. During the extended 2-hour breakfast meeting we heard from three speakers. Vivek Couto of Media Partners Asia gave a summary of Key Trends in Digital Video. Greg Armshaw of Brightcove summarised best practises for launching and evolving an OTT service and Shad Hashmi presented the challenges of content discovery with examples from his experience with BBC iPlayer. What followed was a lively discussion and Q&A. Stayed tuned for details of the next meeting or contact Mark Lay at mark@casbaa.com to join the committee.

CASBAA supports the asi APAC Television and Video Conference

CASBAA was part of the asi 2017 APAC Television and Video Conference, a two-day gathering of global research specialists in Singapore in May. The conference examined the most pressing challenges for TV and video audience measurement, with discussions including the challenges of multiscreen measurement. CASBAA member companies speaking included Nielsen, Kantar, PwC, Turner Broadcasting, BBC World and Starhub. Key take-aways: The best possible ways to measure “All viewing”, Case studies of Cross media planning, On-line Measurement & How TV is still the dominant screen; ideas that will certainly make it into the APAC Multichannel booklet which will be distributed at the CASBAA Convention in November.

UNICEF Child Rights Award 2017 – A call to all broadcasters

CASBAA, The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and UNICEF are calling for entries to the 17th Asia-Pacific Child Rights Awards from broadcasters and producers across the region. This Child Rights Awards aim to break-down stereotypes and discrimination through animation, TV or film that educates and entertains. Entries must have been broadcasted between June 2016 and June 2017 and must be received by 30 June 2017. The Award will be presented during the CASBAA Convention in Macau in early November 2017. Click here for more information about the awards and competition.

Mark your CASBAA DIARIES

Jun 6 – CASBAA IGM meeting (HK)

Jun 22 – CASBAA Taiwan in View (Taipei)

Jul 3 – Regulatory & Anti-piracy Committee Meeting (HK)

Aug 30 – CASBAA Philippines in View (Manila)

Sep 6 – ContentAsia Production

Sep 7-8 – ContentAsia Summit

Nov 6-9 – CASBAA Convention 2017 (Macau)

Nov 30 – Dec 1 – Asian Television Awards 2017

For PR enquiries, contact pr@casbaa.com For membership enquiries, contact membership@casbaa.com CASBAA is the Association for digital multichannel television, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across Asia. The CASBAA mission is to promote the growth of pay-TV and video content through industry information, networking exchanges and events while promoting global best practices. To view the full list of CASBAA members, please visit here. You have received this email from CASBAA as you are currently part of the Association’s database. If you do not wish the Association to use your personal data for direct marketing, you may make a request below.

2 June, 2017

Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending June 2nd. Curated by CASBAA, News Views keeps you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!

Brought to you by:

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

It’s become an annual ritual, the release of Mary Meeker’s massive Internet Trends report. As data-dumps go, it’s always a bit of an overwhelming one; this year, it runs to 355 slides. Of particular interest are the special section on China (where mobile Internet consumption has surpassed time spent watching TV), as well as her focus on India (where Internet users grew by 28% in the first half of 2016, still only representing 27% penetration). As Meeker points out, the report is intended to be read, not presented, but you can watch her presentation online if you’ve got a spare half-hour. And even though it will probably take much longer than that to get through the whole deck, it’s well worth the effort.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

European officials are being criticized from all sides, for different aspects of pending copyright proposals. Film producers at Cannes warned against going too far in implementing the Digital Single Market. “The territoriality of copyright needs to be maintained,” they said. “This principle ensures high level support for artistic creation in Europe.” They also said “Internet Giants” have to be the object of “equal application of the rules to all broadcasters, platforms, sharing websites and social networks.” The European Commission took a concrete step in that direction, advancing a proposal to more closely regulate SVOD services, including a requirement that 30% of their libraries must be European content. The Internet Giants’ surrogates took the field, too, with the usual California crowd (EFF, Wikimedia, Creative Commons) inveighing against rules that would (horrors) actually require internet companies to take steps to avoid use of their services for piracy. On that issue, a case in point arose: Google Video is now reported to be out of control, with piracy syndicates “delighted about how things are going because even if it is illegal, Google is offering a very reliable and superior hosting platform to many alternatives used to date.” There are large piracy websites in Europe which now provide exclusively links to content on Google services. I wonder who’s selling the ads…….

Kevin Jennings

Vice President

Minority shareholders in Hong Kong pay TV broadcaster i-Cable Communications have voted to approve a rescue plan that will inject fresh cash into the struggling operator following the withdrawal of support by its majority shareholder, Wharf Holdings. i-Cable launched in 1993 as Hong Kong’s first pay TV operator but has seen declining subscriber numbers over the past several years. After the shareholder approval i-Cable reapplied for its pay TV broadcast license and is continuing with its roll out of the FTA service Fantastic TV. Industry experts are urging the company to rebrand and focus on OTT video services and expand its operations to outside of Hong Kong.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

In The Road to À La Carte Television, the line that jumps out is, “Here’s a hard truth about the TV industry, one that will inevitably lead us to à la carte TV: You can’t make consumers pay for channels they don’t want anymore.” Which led me to think about how important recommendation engines are moving forward. I read someplace that an average subscriber only sees 20% of Netflix’s catalogue. At first I thought this was a bit nutty, but after using the service for a while, all I now see is programming that suits my tastes. And hence, in my head anyways, I’m not paying for programming that I don’t want.

Kevin Jennings

Vice President

In South Korea monthly mobile data consumption among subscribers using the LTE (4G) network has surpassed 6 gigabytes for the first time. According to the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, local smartphone users subscribing to LTE services used an average of 6.06 GB of data in April, up 2.2 percent month-on-month. Industry watchers said the increase is attributable to the rising number of users enjoying various services provided through mobile platforms, including video-streaming content. The latest monthly figures marks a sharp rise from 1.79 GB posted in 2012, which was only a year after South Korea first adopted the LTE network.

Jane Buckthought

Advertising Consultant

The Media Consumption Forecasts report indicates that people will spend an average of 316 minutes per day with traditional media this year. Broadcast TV is the largest single medium for consumption, with 170 minutes viewed per day, as compared with 140 minutes for the internet. “We expect it to remain dominant for the rest of our forecast period,” Zenith says. However, the gap between television and internet consumption is getting smaller, from 30 minutes in 2017 to seven minutes in 2019. A new analysis of insights from Nielsen’s fourth-quarter 2016 Comparable Metrics Report found that over 92% of all viewing among U.S. adults (18+) happens on the TV screen.

Kevin Jennings

Vice President

Singapore’s My Republic internet company is rumoured to be looking for funding to buy a stake in the mobile telco M1. My Republic first came to our attention for offering high speed internet and easy access to overseas TV content through an impressive array of VPN services which allowed subscribers to bypass incumbent broadcasters and rights holders in the Lion City. If successful it will be interesting to see what USP My Republic will use to increase market share for M1 which currently ranks third in a three horse race.

Member News

Additional News

Telstra connects 29 sporting stadiums across Australia to new Remote Production Hubs

Telstra today announced it had been selected by FOX SPORTS to be its network partner of choice, using Telstra’s Distributed Production Network (DPN) to enhance FOX SPORTS’ outside broadcasting model.

DPN is an end-to-end IP network, which has been custom built for the media industry. DPN enables professional media customers to produce live broadcasts at a distance from the actual event by sending multiple raw camera feeds, audio and equipment control signals over the network back to centralised production hubs.

The long-term deal will see Telstra’s countrywide DPN connect 29 sporting stadiums across regional and metro Australia to new Remote Production Hubs located in Sydney and Melbourne.

Head of Telstra Broadcast Services Trevor Boal said the DPN would be fully operational ahead of the 2018 NRL and AFL seasons and would support more than 520 live tier one sporting events each year.

“Telstra’s DPN is designed to help our broadcast customers meet the rapidly growing demand for live content by offering access to our high capacity, low latency, multi-tenant network of scale,” Mr Boal said.

“The deployment of a remote production model in Australia requires a world-class countrywide network to overcome the unique challenges of Australia’s vast and expansive geography. In a world first, multiple channels of uncompressed linear contribution video at the lowest possible latency will be traversing our network from sporting venues up to 3500 kilometres away from the Remote Production Hubs.

“Telstra’s DPN will play a pivotal role in satisfying audience demand for live, high quality, content-rich sporting coverage and we look forward to strengthening our longstanding partnership with FOX SPORTS to deliver the next evolution of live sport broadcasting.”

FOX SPORTS’ Director of Operations and Digital, Les Wigan, said: “FOX SPORTS, in partnership with Telstra and NEP Australia, is proud to be leading the way for the outside broadcast production model of the future. These new hubs will allow us to cover multiple sports from a centralised, revolutionary facility that will deliver the highest quality broadcast to sports fans around the country.”

This deal builds upon Telstra’s reputation of delivering innovative technology solutions to enhance the way audiences engage with sport, with Telstra’s Globecam technology – a world leader in live, point-of-view miniature wearable camera technology – integrated in FOX SPORTS’ broadcasts.

About Telstra’s Distributed Production Network (DPN):

Telstra’s DPN has standard capacity of 100Gbps into each venue nationally, which is achieved through diverse network paths.
Telstra’s DPN has standard capacity of 100Gbps into each venue nationally, which is achieved through diverse network paths.

Telstra Media contact: Michael Zappone, +61 438 004 959, media@team.telstra.com.

Media reference number: 053/2017.

TURNER ENLISTS HOLLYWOOD A-LISTERS FOR NEW TV PROJECTS

Original series include TNT’s sci-fi from Ridley Scott and TBS comedy ‘Miracle Workers’ co-starring Daniel Radcliffe and Owen Wilson

The Scott sci-fi series is being developed by Turner’s TNT brand as part of a night of original science-fiction programming, as announced at its recent annual upfront in New York City. Initial plans are for an hour-long series produced by Scott’s Scott Free Productions in association with Turner’s Studio T, with Scott and David W. Zucker (The Good Wife, The Man in the High Castle) serving as executive producers and Jordan Sheehan (The Good Fight, The Terror) and Clayton Krueger (JCVJ, Mercy Street) as co-executive producers.

Scheduled to launch in 2018 with seven episodes, the first season of Miracle Workers will be a Heaven-set workplace comedy based on Rich’s book What in God’s Name. Radcliffe will play Craig, a low level angel responsible for handling all of humanity’s prayers and Owen Wilson will play Craig’s boss, God, who has pretty much checked out to focus on his favourite hobbies. To prevent Earth’s destruction, Craig must achieve his most impossible miracle to date.

TNT’s new sci-fi series will mark Scott’s second project for the network. He previously served as executive producer on the network’s award-winning CIA miniseries The Company in 2007.

“Being given the creative license to generate and develop science fiction programming in a variety of formats for TNT is very exciting,” said Scott. “This genre is one of my favourites, and there are an infinite amount of original and innovative story ideas out there that we are looking forward to exploring with TNT. It is very exciting for all of us.”

Turner’s slate of original content includes a vast slate of kids and youth-focused series, as well as comedies Search Party, I’m Sorry, The OG (with Tracy Morgan), Dress Up Gang, Close Enough, Final Space and Tarantula, as well as dramas Good Behaviour and the upcoming Shakespeare-inspired Will.

-Ends-

About Turner Asia Pacific

Turner Asia Pacific creates and distributes award-winning brands throughout the region, running 61 channels in 14 languages in 42 countries. These include CNN International, CNNj, CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, POGO, Toonami, Warner TV, Oh!K, TNT, TCM Turner Classic Movies, truTV, MondoTV, TABI Channel, and HBO, HBO HD and WB in South Asia. Turner manages the business of Pay- and Free-TV-channels, as well as Internet-based services, and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures; it teams with Warner Bros. and HBO to leverage Time Warner’s global reach. Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. (“Turner Asia Pacific”) is a Time Warner company.

About Scott Free Productions

Scott Free Productions is the film and television production company of acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott. In the 20 years since Scott Free was formed, the company has earned over 100 Emmy® nominations with 22 wins and 28 Golden Globe nominations for its television projects. Current productions include the third season of the landmark series adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic The Man in the High Castle for Amazon; the widely acclaimed The Good Fight, a CBS all-access spin-off of The Good Wife; season one of the Amazon half-hour action-comedy JCVJ, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme; the forthcoming AMC historical anthology series The Terror; and pilots of The Passage, a post-apocalyptic thriller for FOX, and the legal drama Perfect Citizen, starring Noah Wyle for CBS. Notable projects on the current development slate include Strange Angel, based on the eponymous book that explores the life of JPL co-founder John Parsons and his secret obsession with occultism, and 3001: The Final Odyssey, as well as limited series adaptations of Blood & Thunder, the epic tale of Kit Carson and the conquering of the American West, and the best-selling non-fiction thriller The Hot Zone for National Geographic.

Other hailed Scott Free productions include the Emmy and Golden Globe®-nominated, Peabody-winning drama The Good Wife, which recently concluded its seventh and final season on CBS; two seasons of the esteemed PBS Civil War medical drama Mercy Street; Numb3rs, which ran for six successful seasons on CBS; and the acclaimed and Emmy-nominated National Geographic channel series of Killing telefilms: Killing Jesus, Killing Kennedy, Killing Reagan and the docudrama Killing Lincoln. Notable long form programs include Klondike for Discovery, the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated The Pillars of the Earth for Starz, World Without End for Reelz, the Emmy-nominated Into the Storm for HBO, the Emmy-nominated The Andromeda Strain and Coma for A&E, the Golden Globe-nominated The Company at TNT and a feature-length digital series for X-Box/Microsoft, Halo: Nightfall. Acclaimed non-fiction programs include Crimes of the Century and the Emmy-winning documentary special Gettysburg for History Channel.

With offices in Los Angeles and London, Scott Free works closely with RSA Films, one of the world’s largest and most successful commercial production houses in the world.

For more information, please contact:
James Moore, Director of Communications, Turner Asia Pacific
James.Moore@turner.com
Tel: +852 3128-3720

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