ViuTV unveils exciting program lineup for 2017 – English channel ViuTVsix will be launched on March 31, 2017

HONG KONG, October 11, 2016 – ViuTV today unveils its strong content lineup for 2017 with more “real choices” for Hong Kong viewers. ViuTVsix, an English channel, will be launched at channel 96 on March 31, 2017.

Factual entertainment for everyone – ViuTV is committed to offering the most comprehensive factual entertainment content to viewers. In 2017, ViuTV will continue to bring a wide range of extremely entertaining and compelling programs, including Cuisine in Darkness hosted by I Love You Boyz and veteran chef Gabriel Choy, Being Director, Priceless, a series of microfilm directed by Jim Chim, Christine Ng, Prudence Liew and Kevin Boy, Full Time Mama On Vacation, Train You Mother, Grade6 in University and IQ148.

Drama in the everyday – ViuTV will broadcast different dramas from Monday to Friday, including Ex, Mid-Night Cousin starring by Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Michael Ning, and Urban Legend hosted by David Siu and Queenie Chu.

Open platform for music lovers – ViuTV will work closely with different music labels to promote “real music” to Hong Kong viewers. For example, superstar Alan Tam will host a nine-episode music program to be aired in 2017.

Leading international entertainment content and sports events – ViuTV will bring Asia’s hottest drama and variety shows to Hong Kong viewers in 2017, including W, DOCTORS, Love in the Moonlight, Natusko Kira, Crime Scene, Takeshis Medical Check-Up Show and Hometime Pride. Top-rated manga such as Assassination Classroom and One-Punch Man will also be available to fans in Hong Kong.

ViuTV will also screen a variety of world-class sports events, including HK Sevens, Hong Kong Marathon and selected LaLiga matches in live.

ViuTVsix launch – ViuTVsix, an English channel, will be launched at channel 96 on March 31, 2017. ViuTVsix will provide viewers with news and public affairs programs, variety shows, infotainment, classic and latest dramas.

– # –

For further information, please contact:

Portia Wong	Tracy Lee	Fiona Kan	Gladys Lam
9427-7493	9635-3902	6276-2890	6087-0772
3665-5834	3665-5814	3665-5922	2587-0728

Celestial Tiger Entertainment Enters South Korea

Celestial Moves _ SK Broadband

Celestial Movies Launches on SK Broadband

HONG KONG (October 11, 2016) – Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), operator of the largest bouquet of pan-Asian channels dedicated to Asian entertainment, announced today the launch of its flagship Chinese movie channel, Celestial Movies, on SK Broadband – a major pay TV platform in South Korea with over 3.8 million subscribers. The channel is now available on SK Broadband’s linear service “B tv” as well as Over-The-Top (OTT) services “B tv plus” and “oksusu”. The deal marks CTE’s first foray into South Korea.

“We are very excited to team up with SK Broadband for our entry into the South Korean market. SK Broadband’s B tv subscribers can now enjoy iconic Chinese blockbusters featuring their favorite Chinese stars localized with Korean subtitles on Celestial Movies. This launch in South Korea is a very important milestone for Celestial Tiger Entertainment as this marks the 16^th country for our network footprint,” said Todd Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Celestial Tiger Entertainment.

Celestial Movies will be fully localized with Korean subtitles. The channel will offer Chinese blockbusters and iconic films covering a diverse range of genres and featuring superstars like Jet Li, Chow Yun Fat, Stephen Chow and Nicolas Tse. Celestial Movies also airs special programming each month centered around themes such as tribute to stars, special holidays and particular genres. Beyond movies, the channel also presents interviews with renowned Chinese stars and directors.

Celestial Movies is CTE’s flagship Chinese movie channel in Asia. In Malaysia, Celestial Movies, Celestial Movies HD and Celestial Classic Movies continued to dominate the Chinese demographic as the top three most-watched regional movie channels among Astro Chinese 4+ audiences in the first six months of 2016*. In Indonesia, Celestial Movies remained among the top four regional movie channels including Hollywood services**.

Celestial Movies can be found on Channel 88 on SK Broadband, and is carried on the platform’s B tv Prime Pack.

– END –

* Source: Kantar Media, DTAM Malaysia. Jan-Jun 2016; all time; live and consolidated viewing data (as of 19 July, 2016); ranked by average audience on an individual channel basis. Astro Chinese 4+; across regional movie channels (incl. Celestial, Celestial HD, Celestial Classic, Cinemax, Fox Action HD, Fox Family HD, Fox Movies, Fox Movies HD, HBO, HBO HD, Sundance HD, TVB Classic Movies).

**Source: Nielsen, Indonesia Pay TV (Greater Jakarta) Pay TV 20+; Jan-Jun 2016, 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; CELESTIAL MOVIES PINOY, the Chinese movie channel that is programmed, dubbed and promoted specifically to Filipino viewers; cHK, the Chinese entertainment channel offering the latest Hong Kong and other Asian blockbuster movies, alongside highly-anticipated Chinese dramas and series; KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment; KIX 360, the dedicated Over-The-Top (OTT) linear feed for KIX; MIAO MI, the Mandarin “Edutainment” channel created for preschool kids across Asia; THRILL, Asia’s only regional horror, thriller and suspense movie channel; and THRILL 360, the dedicated Over-The-Top (OTT) linear feed for THRILL. 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 entertainment studio.

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

Samir Farah has been appointed as the new Head of BBC Arabic

Samir has been with BBC Arabic since 1996 as a programme maker, presenter and editor. Most recently he has led the programmes department, which has pioneered new formats and produced ground breaking documentaries including Syrian Journey, Broadcasting Hate and Slaves of the Caliphate.

Samir said: “It is a huge honour to be the new Head of BBC Arabic. It is also a huge responsibility. I will work with some of the most talented journalists in the world to continue delivering to our audiences the most impartial news, analysis and ground breaking programmes.”

As presenter, Samir has also launched and presented some of BBC Arabic’s best known programmes, including the flagship interactive debate programme Nuqtat Hewar.

He takes up the new role on 10 October.

Key Facts about BBC Arabic

BBC Arabic is a multimedia service, available on TV, radio, online and via mobile handheld devices, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
BBC Arabic has a weekly audience of 37m.
BBC Arabic radio was established in 1938, the website bbcarabic.com – in 1998, and TV – in 2008.
BBC Arabic, as part of World Service Group (29 Languages), is currently funded by TV Licence payers in the UK.
BBC Arabic covers political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in the Middle East, North Africa and across the world.
BBC Arabic provides impartial, balanced and accurate news and information that matters to its diverse audiences.
BBC Arabic is both the largest and the first of the BBC’s non-English language services.
BBC Arabic has its own correspondents in key locations in the region and around the world. While programmes are produced from studios in London and Cairo, the BBC’s vast network of correspondents is an added-value to its coverage of the Middle East and world events.

7 October, 2016

Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Oct 7th. 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

Australian operator Foxtel is buying out Seven West’s share in streaming service Presto, and will be shutting the service down to roll it into its own Foxtel Play service. The Streaming Wars have been particularly hard-fought Down Under: Quickflix went into administration in April, and smaller player Ezyflix gave up the ghost in August. (Turns out Quickflix has just been bought by US-based Karma Media… watch this space.) Of course, Oz was one of the first markets Netflix entered in the region, although plenty of previously-VPN-using Australian subscribers are less than happy with the local service (“screwed” is the word they use). Foxtel Play will be revamped in January, and we’ll see what happens then; in the meantime, the good news is it “…turns out Australians did want a wide selection of TV shows and movies, at a low monthly fee. Who knew?“

Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore

Last week it was all about Twitter being on the block. Google, Apple, Salesforce, even Disney were apparently looking at making a bid for it. This week there are rumours that Disney is making a play for Netflix This comes after it’s August purchase of a 33% stake in Major League Baseball’s BAM Tech unit for $1 billion. There is mixed reaction. Even though “it’s a big fish to swallow” Fortune says, Here’s Why a Disney Acquisition of Netflix Would Make Sense. On the other hand, Forbes believes that “Disney should punt because such a deal fails the four tests of a successful acquisition.” But for now, it’s all just rumours, and Disney CEO Bob Iger won’t comment on rumours.

John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer

The European Commission’s copyright proposals have generated a lot of commentary – almost none of it positive. They are hit on one hand for excessive reform-mindedness that will damage cultural diversity and the copyright environment, and on the other hand for not doing enough to reform. Of course, there are large industrial interests with vastly different points of view: on one side, content owners and network operators, and on the other, the usual internet interests. Much of the commentary has focused on the proposals to make content more widely available within the EU,by extending the “country of origin principle”. (“An end to geoblocking?”) But on the other side, there’s a more intriguing possibility: requiring serious efforts by the internet industry to protect copyright: under the proposals, notice-and-takedown wouldn’t be good enough to guarantee a safe harbor – internet companies would have to have pro-active policies to prevent infringement. “This provision could have very wide repercussions…(It) effectively forces these actors to police content by taking appropriate and proportionate measures to prevent the availability on their services of works not covered by agreements with rightholders.”Hope those last proposals survive the policy meatgrinder in Brussels…

Kevin Jennings
Vice President, Programme

The Korea Cable TV Association (KCTA) has called for the South Korean government to toughen sanctions on mobile carriers’ product bundling. The KCTA say the bundling is affecting fair competition and is adversely affecting the outlook for the cable TV industry. Mobile carriers ― such as SK Telecom ― are increasing market share by bundling services such as mobile and internet protocol television (IPTV), which poses a threat to cable TV operators who cannot sell the same services. In response the KCTA outlined a new initiative called One Cable, the blueprint for which will push for developing a unified platform for around 90 cable TV operators across South Korea and help develop next-generation quality services to counter the threat.

Christopher Slaughter
CEO

It was only a couple months ago that CNN chief Jeff Zucker publicly dumped on Buzzfeed News (in a Variety cover story, no less), now he’s gone and poached their top political reporting team. Which truly does seem to be a case of “…if you can’t beat them, hire them,” while also serving to highlight the fact that Buzzfeed might just, in fact, be a credible news organisation. And the newly-hired team’s first “scoop” for CNN? “Trump took Polaroids, interviewed models in 1994 Playboy video.”

John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer

Variety has published a pretty comprehensive list of estimated salaries for top US TV talent, and even if the numbers are off, they’re still impressive. And they speak to a trend in Hollywood, where there is a clear consensus that over the past year, salaries have doubled for superstars. Cross-reference this with The Hollywood Reporter’s recent salary guide for everyone from studio CEOs to boom operators, and quickly skim the recent Forbes lists of top-earning TV actors and highest-paid actresses (which studiously ignore any discussion of gender-limiting terminology), and you come away with a simple conclusion: clearly, everybody is in this line of work because they want to make the world a better place.

Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore

Over cocktails last night, after an industry event, a CASBAA member was complaining that he couldn’t find an SVOD service for old movies. Well maybe he spoke too soon as Turner is planning to Launch FilmStruck Classic Movie-Streaming Service on Oct. 19. Turner execs have said this is an opportunity to test out the direct-to-consumer SVOD segment. The service is developed and managed by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in collaboration with the Criterion Collection. ““By combining the expertise at TCM and the Criterion Collection – two of the leading authorities in film preservation and history – we have created something really special that is a must-have for passionate film lovers,” said Jennifer Dorian, general manager of TCM and FilmStruck.

Kevin Jennings
Vice President, Programme

In a Tit-for-Tat move the Pakistani regulator PEMRA has requested that Pakistan should restrict Indian TV channels and content. The move is seen as retaliatory as Indian authorities had previously banned Pakistani content including dramas, channels and even cricket matches. PEMRA have suggested that only the same amount of Indian content and TV channels should be allowed in Pakistan as the Indian authorities allow Pakistani content and says it will only allow Indian content when India lifts the ban. While the ban on both sides is lamentable and part of the bigger geo-political picture, can’t help feeling they’ve just made the piracy market a lot more lucrative…

Christopher Slaughter
CEO

A couple of items to file under “Stuff Journalists Like”, but non-hacks might also enjoy. First, a long thought-piece by the now-resigned Head of BBC Radio, making the case for “slow news”, saying “I detect a change in our public discourse, a cheapening of arguments and a simplifying of debates, to match the speed of the 24/7 news cycle.” Also, an interesting exploration of how journalists reply when they are accused of mishandling coverage of Donald Trump. Again, a long read, but chock full o’ insights.

Member News

Additional News

Fox Sports provides more choices to baseball fans in Taiwan with strategic digital partnership with major league baseball

Taiwan – FOX Sports announced today a ground-breaking digital-rights partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) in Taiwan from 2016 to 2020, which enables baseball fans to watch MLB games on their mobile phones, tablets, computers or Smart TVs, in addition to catching the action on the FOX Sports network on TV.

The agreement is testament to the strong relationship between FOX Sports and the MLB, which spans more than a decade, and paves the way for the future development and promotion of the game in Taiwan.

Joanne Tsai, EVP & Managing Director of FOX Network Groups, Taiwan & China, said, “MLB is one of FOX Sports’ key properties. We are delighted to work with MLB to bring more content on a larger scale to Taiwan. The audience can now watch live streaming of MLB games anywhere through the FOX Sports branded on-demand service. We expect this cooperation to raise MLB viewership in Taiwan.”

Jim Small, Vice President of Major League Baseball, Asia Pacific, added “We are delighted that baseball fans throughout Taiwan will be able to access MLB games anytime and anywhere via our partnership with FOX Sports.”

The increased investment in MLB digital rights, to add to the existing linear rights, significantly increases FOX Sports’ commitment to baseball in Taiwan, and together with the Nippon Professional Baseball & Chinese Professional Baseball League, it further cements FOX Sports as the Home of Baseball.

FOX Sports will continue to explore more opportunities in future, to further fans’ enjoyment of the content on the FOX Sports network and consolidate its position as the Home of Sports.

-END-

FOX Networks Group Taiwan – Contacts:

Mindy Lee Mindy.Lee@Fox.com O: +886-2-8752-8927 M: +886-938-057-000
Tammy Lo Tamara.Lo@Fox.com O: +886-2-8752-8193 M: +886-972-393-837

Fetch TV launches Turner’s CNN International in Australia

2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

Timing ideal to cater for the unprecedented interest in the US Election

SYDNEY, October 5, 2016 – Fetch TV today announced the launch of CNN International, which will be available this week to Entertainment Pack subscribers at no additional cost.

CNN international is the number one international TV news channel across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America. The brand reaches more than 425 million households around the globe, including more than 77 million across Asia Pacific.

CNN International carries news, current affairs, politics, sports, opinions, features and business programming worldwide.

“The timing couldn’t be better for the launch of CNN International. Fetch TV subscribers now have access to unparalleled, round-the-clock coverage of this historic US presidential race, which culminates in the election on November 8,” said Robi Stanton, General Manager of Turner Australia, which operates CNN International locally.

Fetch TV now offers unmatched access to international news with 10 leading English language news channels; CNN, BBC World News, CNBC, Bloomberg, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, EuroNews, France 24, CCTV4 (China), and NDTV (India). Fetch TV also offers several foreign language news channels.

Scott Lorson, CEO, Fetch TV, said: “We’re delighted to add a channel the calibre of CNN International to our Entertainment Pack. This is the third channel we have launched this year, joining Comedy Central (April) and Spike (June), with more to come. We are also thrilled to add Turner to our growing list of Tier 1 channel partners, which now includes; Turner, BBC, NBCU, Viacom, Nickelodeon, Fox International Channels, Disney, ESPN and Scripps.”

Fetch TV is available via ISPs including Optus, iiNet and Dodo, and leading retailers Harvey Norman and JB-HiFi.

-Ends-

About CNN International

CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms reaching more than 425 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America and has a US presence which includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. Over the years CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. CNN has 41 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is part of Turner, a Time Warner company.

About Fetch TV

Fetch TV partners with leading internet service providers Optus, the iiNet Group, and M2 along with leading retailers Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi to provide subscribers with an entertainment service delivered to the TV over a broadband connection to a set top box. In addition to a 1 terabyte personal video recorder for recording TV, the content line up includes an in-home movie store with over 6,000 titles including the latest new releases to buy or rent, a TV store with leading TV shows to purchase, leading SVOD services Netflix, Stan and Presto, and free to air Catch-Up TV services plus the option to add subscription entertainment channels from major content providers. Visit fetchtv.com.au for more information.

For further information, please contact:

Sue Brenchley

Fetch TV

0404 811 140

Sue@fetchtv.com.au

James Moore

Turner Asia Pacific

James.Moore@turner.com

‘The Voice’ a hit on Starworld, Its new Asia Home

The Voice S11 on StarWorld

Season 11 of the hit singing competition show kicked off on Sept 20^th, pushing StarWorld to #1.

HONG KONG – OCTOBER 5^TH, 2016 – FOX Networks Group (FNG) Asia launched season 11 of music reality TV show ‘The Voice’ on its new home on Starworld on September 20^th to an exceptional on-air debut. The premiere episode made StarWorld the #1 western general entertainment cable channel in Singapore and the Philippines.

The hit show moved to StarWorld, a leading GE channel as part of FNG Asia’s network, starting with the current season. The channel is now the home of ‘The Voice’ across Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

The show was also a hit on social media across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, with more than 10 million fans engaging with ‘The Voice on StarWorld’ content on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. This drove 9.5 million video views across all platforms and 2.3 million ‘The Voice’-related searches on Google.

Keertan Adyanthaya, EVP of Content & Communications for Asia Pacific & Middle East at FOX Networks Group commented, “Our commitment to delivering the best content on offer to our viewers is exemplified by our decision to acquire ‘The Voice’ and make StarWorld the new home of this highly popular hit show.”

He continues, “Our content strategy across the network is driven by what viewers want, be it for StarWorld, FOX, FOX Movies Premium, National Geographic Channel or SCM, and always with the aim to make our channels the top destinations for the best entertainment, and to stay relevant to our audiences.”

Subaru and Oreo, key advertising partners attached to the show, also appreciate its universal appeal across the region.

“Subaru is glad to be associated with this hugely-popular talent show that StarWorld is bringing to Asian audiences. We are excited about this current season and are confident that the programme will continue to achieve even more impressive audience ratings as the season progresses,” said Mr. Glenn Tan, Executive Director, Tan Chong International Ltd.

Anthony Ho, Marketing Director at Oreo for Asia Pacific, said, “We are extremely excited to be partnering with FOX Networks Group on the debut of ‘The Voice’ on StarWorld. The partnership seamlessly amplifies our latest ‘Oreo Wonderfilled’ brand campaign in multiple markets across the region.”

He continues, “As part of our brand campaign, we have collaborated with top artists from across Asia to produce a truly unique sound that we hope will not only bring to life our ‘Oreo Wonderfilled’ platform, but also create an enjoyable music video track. ‘The Voice’ was a natural choice and excellent fit given its musical genre, show ethos and wide viewing audience on StarWorld, in building upon Oreo’s values of imagination and strengthening the bond between people.”

In Singapore, StarWorld was the #1 western general entertainment cable channel during the season 11 premiere of ‘The Voice.’

In the Philippines, StarWorld’s debut of the show saw a 79% increase in ratings versus the season premiere episode on a competitor channel last year. Strong viewership made StarWorld the #1 western general entertainment cable channel during all primetime encores.

In Malaysia, ‘The Voice’ season 11 premiere telecasts and the two primetime encores on StarWorld performed well, with a rise in ratings ranging from +124% to +294% compared to the prior 12 months’ timeslot average.

New episodes of ‘The Voice’ premieres every Tuesday and Wednesday, shortly after the US telecast at 1pm HKT with encore airings at 6pm and 10pm HKT.

Sources: 15-49 with cable & satellite (Kantar Singapore), 16-49 with cable & satellite (Kantar Philippines); 15-49 (DTAM Kantar Malaysia)

Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Twitter Analytics, Facebook Ads Manager, Facebook Insights, YouTube Analytics

-END-

About FOX Networks Group

FOX Networks Group (FNG) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, sports, factual and movie channels in 45 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FNG’s core channel brands include FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Life, FOX+ and National Geographic Channel. FNG’s movie channels include FOX Movies, FOX Movies Premium and SCM (formerly Star Chinese Movies). Our non-linear brands include FOX Play, FOX Play+ and Nat Geo Play. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high- definition extensions, reach over 1.825 billion cumulative households worldwide. In addition, FNG owns and operates two production studios and produces thousands of local programming hours for its wholly owned channels and third parties.

Media Inquiries:

Gladys Lau

Assistant Manager, Marketing & Communications | FOX Networks Group Asia

Gladys.Lau@fox.com | Tel: +852.2621.8782

BBC Bangla marks 75 years of broadcasting with TV, radio and digital audiences

BBC Bangla marks 75 years of broadcasting with TV, radio and digital audiences

3 October 2016. BBC Bangla will present a series of programmes and events with audiences in Bangladesh and India to mark 75 years of broadcasting. It will engage with audiences via Facebook Lives and radio to discuss the global and national issues that are of special relevance to them. The theme of The BBC and Bangladesh will be discussed at a seminar at Dhaka University, with a panel and students, and will also be the focus of new programmes commissioned to mark the anniversary.

BBC Bangla Editor, Sabir Mustafa, said: “Since the very first transmission on 11 October 1941, the BBC’s broadcasts in Bangla have delivered to its audiences much-needed accurate and impartial news and information. It has earned the trust of Bangla-speakers, wherever they were over the tempestuous decades – and wherever they are today. This anniversary is a great opportunity for us to check how in tune we are with what they expect and need from us.”

Between 7 and 14 October, BBC Bangla will hold broadcast events in Bangladesh – in Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna – and in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal from where a significant proportion of the BBC Bangla digital audiences come. Starting as informal discussions with the BBC Bangla audiences, these events will transform into Facebook Lives on the BBC Bangla Facebook page. The focus of the conversations will be how the BBC can engage with younger audiences and meet their news and information needs.

Throughout October, BBC Bangla journalists will travel to various parts of Bangladesh to debate critical issues with local residents. The following topics will be debated in these locations:

Khulna – the survival of mangrove forests
Sirajganj – the safety of migrants
Rangpur – revival of the rural economy
Sylhet – the role of expatriates in the country’s development
Rajshahi – the plight of rivers
Barisal – the threat of river erosion
Chittagong – how to preserve the country’s ethnic diversity.

The conversations will be broadcast live on radio with simultaneous discussion for those who connect with BBC Bangla on social media.

On 19 October, the conference, The BBC and Bangladesh, co-hosted by BBC Bangla and Dhaka University’s Department for Journalism and Mass Communications, will look at the role of the BBC in covering Bangladesh and the region, asking the panel and the audience of over 100 students how they want to engage with the BBC in the digital age.

To celebrate the anniversary in October, the weekly TV programme, BBC Probaho, will feature audience members looking back at their own special BBC Bangla moments. An event page on Facebook, Hirok Joyonti (Diamond Jubilee), will display archive photos and comments from fans. BBC Live! will showcase contributions from the BBC Bangla teams – past and present – looking back at key moments during their time at the BBC, and will be available for download at bbcbangla.com. BBC Bangla radio will also broadcast selected extracts from some of the key programmes from its archives.

BBC Bangla is part of BBC World Service.

Ends//

For more information please contact:

BBC World Service Group Communications – Lala Najafova lala.najafova@bbc.co.uk

Notes to editors:

BBC Bangla radio programmes – on FM, shortwave and via the website bbcbangla.com – are produced in London and Dhaka. The website bbcbangla.com registers around 1.6 million unique visitors per month (Source: comScore average monthly reach between April and September 2016). The BBC Bangla Facebook page has around 9 million followers (October 2016). BBC Bangla’s weekly current-affairs TV programme, BBC Probaho, is broadcast live by Channel-i in Bangladesh at 9.35 pm local time every Thursday.

BBC World Service delivers news content around the world, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. The BBC World Service Group operates around the world in 30 languages, on radio, TV and digital. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.

KIX Sends Four Southeast Asian Celebrities on The Ultimate BROcation

KIX’s new reality series “The Ultimate BROcation” has just started shooting in Hong Kong. From left: Bjorn Shen, Philip Ng, DJ PK, SonaOne and Billy Crawford.

New Reality Series Follows the Adventure of Four “Bros” in Hong Kong

Hong Kong (October 3, 2016) – KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment in Asia, announced today the cast of its new reality series The Ultimate BROcation. Joining the all-expenses paid vacation tailor-made for “bros” are Filipino-American singer, dancer and actor Billy Crawford; popular Thai TV and radio host DJ PK (Piyawat Kempetch); award-winning Malaysian songwriter, producer and rapper SonaOne; and Singaporean maverick chef and restaurateur Bjorn Shen. Together, this band of “bros” will get to experience Hong Kong as the ultimate guy’s playground and enjoy an exhilarating adventure in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Principal photography on the reality series, produced by Celestial Tiger Entertainment and Endemol Shine Group (MasterChef, Big Brother), has already begun in Hong Kong.

The Ultimate BROcation is a five-episode reality series following the adventures of four male celebrities as they revel in the best experiences in Hong Kong, a vacation of every guy’s fantasy in the city. The show will be filled with exhilarating activities, lip-smacking good food, parties, beautiful new friends, cool gadgets and some solid male-bonding. The four guys may start off as strangers but will end up as “bros” after experiencing the “brocation” of a lifetime. Joining the four bros in a cameo appearance is Hong Kong martial arts star Philip Ng. Most recently seen on the hit TV drama A Fist Within Four Walls and the martial arts epic Once Upon A Time In Shanghai, Philip will show the bros his city and act as a local insider for their “brocation”.

Each of the four “bros” was selected for their distinct personalities and appetite for adventure. Billy Crawford, from the Philippines, is a born entertainer who balances hard work with his charm and great sense of humour. He has released 5 albums and 16 singles across numerous countries, including the UK and France, and has won the “International Male Artist of the Year” Award in France; DJ PK is a two-time winner of the prestigious Mekhala Award for “Best TV Host” and is a recognized face in his home country of Thailand. DJ PK epitomes living “the high life”; he loves fast cars, fine wine, beautiful women, and he brings a dramatic flair to the show with his big personality.

SonaOne has made history with unprecedented back-to-back wins at Malaysia’s two most prestigious music awards in 2014. This hip-hop artist loves traveling and finds inspiration in everything that he goes through in life, fuelled by his passion for music and graffiti art; Bjorn Shen is a resident chef columnist for Time Out Singapore. he is known as a local pioneer of “dude-food” and creator of #dudestronomy. Named Chef of the Year by SC Global in 2013, Shen believes that new experiences make him a better chef.

The Ultimate BROcation is supported by Hong Kong Tourism Board, and sponsors Cathay Pacific and the Harbour Grand Hong Kong. The show will air first and exclusively on KIX. KIX is now carried on 22 pay TV platforms across Asia.

# # #

Media Contacts:

Pauline Poon

Celestial Tiger Entertainment

Public Relations Manager

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; CELESTIAL MOVIES PINOY, the Chinese movie channel that is programmed, dubbed and promoted specifically to Filipino viewers; cHK, the Chinese entertainment channel offering the latest Hong Kong and other Asian blockbuster movies, alongside highly-anticipated Chinese dramas and series; KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment; KIX 360, the dedicated Over-The-Top (OTT) linear feed for KIX; MIAO MI, the Mandarin “Edutainment” channel created for preschool kids across Asia; THRILL, Asia’s only regional horror, thriller and suspense movie channel; and THRILL 360, the dedicated Over-The-Top (OTT) linear feed for THRILL. 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 entertainment studio.

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

About Endemol Shine Group

Endemol Shine Group is a global production powerhouse creating world class content for all platforms. As a producer and distributor, Endemol Shine Group works on a unique local and global axis, comprised of 120 companies across more than 30 markets dedicated to creating content that enthralls and inspires.

In 2015, the company’s travelling formats originated from eleven different countries across the Group with global hits including Masterchef, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, The Money Drop, Your Face Sounds Familiar, The Brain, Hunted and The Island. Endemol Shine Group’s drama portfolio is similarly international and diverse, with acclaimed worldwide hits such as Humans, Bron, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Kingdom, Grantchester, The Fall, Intersection, Spring Tide, Penoza and Broadchurch. The Group’s award-winning digital production and distribution studio Endemol Shine Beyond helps advertisers and brands to engage millennial audiences around the world through popular online content and channels including eSports format Legends of Gaming and lifestyle brand ICON, each with local adaptations in multiple markets.

In 2015, Endemol Shine Group produced a total of 733 productions in over 50 languages airing on 256 channels around the world.

About Hong Kong Tourism Board

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked to market and promote Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide and to enhance visitors’ experience once they arrive. For more information, please visit DiscoverHongKong.com.

Dance Singapore Dance Season 2 to Start October 2 on Zee TV APAC

SINGAPORE, Oct. 02, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Popular reality show Dance Singapore Dance is set to return for its second season on October 2, 2016, to be aired on Zee Television Asia Pacific (Zee TV APAC). A localised version of the popular Dance India Dance (DID) series, Dance Singapore Dance brings together aspiring dancers from different backgrounds and cultures from across Singapore with an open category dance competition that aims to provide a platform for both amateur and experienced dancers to showcase their talent.

Commenting on Zee TV APAC’s decision to renew the show for a second season, Mukund, CEO Middle East and Asia Pacific at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited said, “Following the highly successful debut season, we’re excited to present a bigger, better and more entertaining Season 2 of Dance Singapore Dance. Now that the auditions are complete, the top 12 contestants have been shortlisted and divided into two groups, each of which will train under the guidance of their mentors to win the title of Singapore’s best dancing star. We believe that the show will give a new dimension to the weekend television viewing experience.”

Format of the show

After the audition process, the shortlisted top 12 finalists will compete with one another through various rounds to win the title of “Singapore’s Best Dancing Star”. The winner will take home SGD 15,000 (USD 11,000), while the first and second runners-up will also be awarded cash prizes. In addition, the best performer each week will be awarded the “Performance of the Week” trophy

The 12 contestants will be split into two teams — Shyam’s Supersonics, mentored by Dance India Dance Season 4 and Boogie Woogie winner Shyam Yadav, and Sahil’s Stompers, mentored by famous Indian dancer Sahil Adanaya.

About the judges

In Season 2, Dance Singapore Dance has roped in Mudassar Khan, Bollywood ace choreographer of Dabangg fame, and the popular classical and contemporary dancer Sreedevy Sivarajasingam. They will be joined each week by a guest judge, who will be a renowned personality from Singapore’s lively performing arts scene. Some of the names include Zaini Tahir, Najip Ali, Haslinda Ali and Daisy Irani.

When to tune in

Season 2 will be co-hosted by Emcee KP, who presented Season 1, and Sehar Rida Hashmi, one of the inaugural series’ most popular contestants. The competition is divided into 11 weekly episodes which will be aired from Oct 2 every Sunday at 8pm, with two repeat telecasts on Wednesday at 5pm and Saturday at 8pm on Zee TV APAC.

For more information about the show visit http://apac.zeetv.com/shows/dance-singapore-dance-2/

“With season 2, we continue our commitment to discover Singapore’s best dancing star,” said Tripta Singh, Senior Vice President International Business, Zee TV. “This year is all about #dancetoimpress. Dancers on the show come from different backgrounds and cultures, and showcase different genres, from Bollywood to contemporary to classical dance.”

“We’re also proud to welcome StarHub as the presenting sponsor for Dance Singapore Dance for the second consecutive year, further strengthening our relationship.” she added.

Ms Wang Li-Na, Head, Product & Marketing, StarHub, enthused, “Come October, one of the biggest dance reality shows will once again enliven viewing screens in Singapore. We are thrilled to showcase season 2 of Dance Singapore Dance (DSD) on StarHub TV. As a homegrown company, StarHub has always been supportive of nurturing local talents. Therefore, we are pleased that one of the contestants from the inaugural season has been selected to be the co-host in the upcoming season. That is a huge accomplishment and shows that DSD is a great platform for youths to shine and showcase their other talents, apart from dancing. We look forward to discovering a new batch of fresh talents in season 2!”

About Zee Television Asia Pacific

Launched in June 2004, Zee TV APAC is the Asia Pacific feed of the Flagship channel – Zee TV (India). Now available in 18 countries, Zee TV APAC showcases Indian content with English subtitles and airs all the programs with just one-day lag from India. Being a pioneer in the industry, Zee TV is also the first Indian channel to produce local shows like Dance Singapore Dance and Make It Snappy in Singapore and Dulha Dulhan Destination and Bangkok Buzz in Bangkok. The channel showcases a variety of genres for all audience segments including prime time drama series, comedy, reality shows and children’s programs. http://www.apac.zeetv.com/

Contact:

Mansi Chopra
mansi.chopra@zee.esselgroup.com
+65 81432262

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Christopher Slaughter CEO

Mark Lay Vice President, Singapore

John Medeiros Chief Policy Officer

Kevin Jennings Vice President, Programme

Christopher Slaughter CEO

John Medeiros Chief Policy Officer

Mark Lay Vice President, Singapore

Kevin Jennings Vice President, Programme

Christopher Slaughter CEO

Christopher Slaughter
CEO

Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore

John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer

Kevin Jennings
Vice President, Programme

Christopher Slaughter
CEO

John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer

Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore

Kevin Jennings
Vice President, Programme

Christopher Slaughter
CEO