News

HBO Asia Increases Output of Chinese Language Productions: New Series Developed With Taiwan’s Public Television Service and Singapore’s Infocus Asia

SINGAPORE, JULY 19, 2016 – Principal photography begins today for HBO Asia’s first production in Taiwan, THE PSYCHIC, jointly developed with Taiwanese broadcaster, Public Television Service (PTS), and award-winning Singaporean production company, InFocus Asia (IFA).

Set and filmed fully on-location in Taiwan, HBO Asia’s six-part hour-long series is based on the award-winning short film from PTS’s Innovative Stories, The Busy Young Psychic, which won Best Short Film at the Taipei Film Festival, and the Golden Bell Awards for Best Editing. THE PSYCHIC series is conceived by InFocus Asia (IFA) with 29-year-old rising Taiwanese writer-director, Chen Ho-Yu, who also wrote and directed the short film.

A coming of age story shot in Chinese with dialect, THE PSYCHIC will debut early 2017 on PTS, and across 23 territories on HBO, with subtitles where relevant.

Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia, said, “Asia’s rich diversity offers inspiration for countless of stories waiting to be told, and local talents to be discovered. Through collaborating with PTS and remarkable talents in Taiwan to increase our production of local language content, HBO Asia is perfectly placed to bring our creative spin to THE PSYCHIC for regional audiences to enjoy.”

Jessie Shih, Director of International Department, PTS, said: “I am very happy to announce PTS’s first collaboration with HBO Asia on their first Chinese original series, also their first Taiwan series, working with a young and upcoming local team, bridging the gap between television and film with the talented mix of crew and actors. Cultivating local young talents and helping them to connect with the international industry is PTS’s top priority, like our Innovative Stories and Life stories which have won many regional and international awards. I believe this new HBO – PTS collaboration, in partnership with IFA’s Singapore and Taipei creative team who have always done great work with PTS, will lead the local Taiwanese industry to greater heights!”

In THE PSYCHIC, Xiao Zhen (played by Taiwanese singer-actress Yao Yao, Golden Horse Award winner for Best New Performer) is a 16-year-old girl who just wants to lead a typical teenage high school life. But, born with the ability to see spirits, her life will never be normal. Xiao Zhen must juggle the pressures of teenage life – first love, academic success and peer pressure – with the demands of the spirit world. As Xiao Zhen learns to use her abilities to help the living deal with their loved ones on the other side – spirits who are lost, forgotten, angry or just crying out for help – this teenager finds that fixing other people’s problems gives her the strength she needs to navigate high school and her first major romantic encounter. But Xiao Zhen’s powers become a danger for her as others seek to use her abilities for their own greed.

Other cast regulars include Kent Tsai (Mon Mon Mon Monsters) and Chen Mu Yi (Comes The Black Dog).

THE PSYCHIC is HBO Asia’s first Taiwanese production. The network has collaborated with creative talents from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and the US on various English language productions, including the fantasy series, Halfworlds, recently renewed for a second season, which is concurrently being shot.

Within the same week, HBO Asia announced a first collaboration with China Movie Channel on an anthology of Chinese martial arts movies, with Hong Kong action director, Corey Yuen, executive producing the first two movies.

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, Cinemax and 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.

About Public Television Service (PTS)

With the passage of the Public Television Act by the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan Public Television Service Foundation (PTS Foundation) was established as a non-profit foundation to operate the Public Television Service (PTS), which started broadcast on July 1, 1998. The chief objective of PTS is to establish a public service mass media system. As an independent public service broadcaster trust by the public, PTS aims to provide value-added quality programming services covering a wide range of categories to present the diversity and creativity in Taiwan.

About InFocus Asia (IFA)

IFA Media is one of Asia’s premier content producers, producing award-winning factual and drama that rates across the world. The company is headquartered in Singapore with four offices across the region (Bangkok, Beijing and Taipei).

Emmy®- and Golden Globe-winning HBO Series Game of Thrones to begin production on Season 7 this summer

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SINGAPORE, JULY 19, 2016 – The Emmy^®– and Golden Globe-winning series GAME OF THRONES will begin shooting its next season later this summer, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO programming. Production of the seven-episode seventh season will be based in Northern Ireland, while additional portions will be filmed in Spain and Iceland, with debut slated for summer 2017 on HBO (StarHub TV Ch 601).

“Now that winter has arrived on GAME OF THRONES, executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss felt that the storylines of the next season would be better served by starting production a little later than usual, when the weather is changing,” said Bloys. “Instead of the show’s traditional spring debut, we’re moving the debut to summer to accommodate the shooting schedule.”

Season seven directors will include Mark Mylod, Jeremy Podeswa, Matt Shakman and Alan Taylor.

Locations for shooting in Spain will include Sevilla, Caceres, Almodovar del Rio, Santiponce, Zumaia and Bermeo.

Last week, GAME OF THRONES received 23 Primetime Emmy^® nominations, the most of any nominee for the third year in a row. This year’s nominations include Outstanding Drama Series, 2 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington), 3 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams), Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Max von Sydow), 2 for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Miguel Sapochnik, Jack Bender) and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss).

Season seven credits: The executive producers of GAME OF THRONES are David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger and Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin and Bryan Cogman; producers, Chris Newman, Greg Spence and Lisa McAtackney.
# # #

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, Cinemax and 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.

15 July, 2016

Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending July 15th. 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

A lot of news about digital migrations this week, starting with Fox’s plan to live-stream its prime-time slate across the US, making it the first network to roll out an authenticated digital service for pay-TV subscribers across the country. Meantime, Bloomberg TV has signed up with Twitter to live-stream its market coverage and some of its shows. Elsewhere, Viacom’s Comedy Central has announced streaming deals with Amazon and Snapchat. And NBCU is touting its pay-TV-subscriber-only digital deluge of 4500 hours of Olympics coverage of the Rio Games, which start in just three weeks on August 5th.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

Google is creating value while fighting piracy, or so it claims… the internet giant has released its annual, self-congratulatory “How Google Fights Piracy” report that reiterates that it is on the side of the guys with white hats. But there are still more than a few questions unanswered; such as why it doesn’t remove pirate sites from search results, just demotes them; how much pirate content it’s simply overlooking; and, despite trumpeting its participation in the CASBAA workshop on online advertising last year, why the tech behemoth continues to provide advertising revenues to sites hosting pirate content. At any rate, the timing of the update is slightly uncanny, coming hard on the heels of that petition signed by some 186 artists protesting YouTube’s “safe harbour” status for copyright-infringing material.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

Reassuring, in these troubled cord-cutting times, to read a sensible article in praise of the bundle: “…neither streaming service felt like an adequate substitute for a cable package.” And it seems a lot of other people are starting to come around to the same idea, too: “…there are actually very few options available for those who want to watch live events without a cable subscription or TV.” All of which should be good news for major media companies being dumped on by Wall Street because of cord-cutting hype: they will “…remain relevant to any bundle and render irrelevant any bundle without them.”

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

Meanwhile, The Economist weighs in on the digital transformation of the TV industry, with a rather less optimistic viewpoint: “…the fat, pricey cable bundle of 200 channels is fast becoming antiquated as slimmer streaming options emerge.” It goes on to specifically identify the industry players threatened: “…large media companies with weak programming… small independent channels that have benefited from being part of the “long tail”; and satellite operators, who have little to sell but TV.” Dour stuff, indeed.

Kevin Jennings

Vice President, Programme

They’re not going down without a fight: CJ Hellovision and SK Telecom have filed follow-up report to South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission which recently rejected their M&A deal. Meanwhile, the companies’ competitors are — naturally — praising the FTC decision, which might still go the other direction before the dust finally settles. Both companies have hired individual lawyers though, a move seen as preparation for the deal to be blocked. There is still support for the merger, though, with the Korea Herald calling the FTC’s decision “…ill-advised as it deters the development of the nation’s broadcast industry.”

Anjan Mitra

Executive Director, India

Interesting data has been put forward by Singapore-based Media Partners Asia (MPA) on India in times of slow economic growth all round. A new report from MPA states subscription revenues for broadcasters in India from cable TV and DTH platforms will cross the Rs 10,000 crore (US $1.5 billion) mark by end 2016. India’s pay-TV industry too likely to generate $9.4 billion in sales in 2016. The report adds Asia-Pacific pay-TV industry is, however, expected to grow at a sedate average of 5.8 per cent annually between 2016 and 2021. Well, that should cheer policy-makers in New Delhi who recently uncorked a slew of liberalised investment norms for media sector.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

In Thailand, officials at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission have been given immunity from prosecution if they shut down TV or radio stations deemed to be broadcasting illegal content. The move by the ruling military government has drawn criticism from local media groups, with one member of the NBTC even going so far as to urge members of the media to file a lawsuit against the government. Join us on 5 September in Bangkok to find out the latest on the NBTC as well as a host of other industry developments at CASBAA’s Thailand In View event.

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

A new survey from IBM Cloud Video is casting doubts about last year’s headlines claiming password sharing is costing the SVOD industry millions; it says of greater concern for digital video service providers should be issues like buffering, ads, and slow streams. Other key takeaways in the report “Everybody Wants To Rule The Streaming World”: 43% of respondents do most of their viewing on a connected TV, most watch SVOD and cable about the same amount, 69% have never cancelled a streaming service, and buffering and delayed starts affected nearly three-quarters of respondents.

Kevin Jennings

Vice President, Programme

According to the Media Development Authority, most Singaporeans are satisfied with local media services (or, as the Straits Times puts it, “…satisfied of mainstream media.”). That assertion comes from three MDA surveys, the annual Media Consumer Experience Study, the Zero-to-Fourteen Consumer Experience Study, and the new Over-The-Top Video Consumer Study. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the surveys consistently found MediaCorp channels were most-watched among respondents. One detail worthy of much closer follow-up: only 11% of adult Singaporeans watching OTT video pay for their online video.

Anjan Mitra

Executive Director, India

Controversial Mumbai-based Islamic tele-eveangelist Zakir Naik and his sermons on his NGO-owned Peace TV has opened up a can of worms of illegal re-transmission of unlicensed TV channels in India. Denied Indian landing rights earlier, Peace TV sermons allegedly influenced some of the perpetrators of recent killings in Bangladesh. Peace TV, which beams in South Asia via various feeds, has triggered renewed review of monitoring of unlicensed TV channels and, at times, indulgent Indian bureaucracy.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

The latest deep dive from Matthew Ball at Media REDEF is a bit heavy on the Star Wars references, but “Big Media’s Death Star Strategy” makes a valid point: “Scale matters, but it wasn’t sufficient to stop the Rebel Alliance. Hollywood should take note.”

Jane Buckthought

Advertising Consultant

Research and consulting company Strategy Analytics is jumping on the Asia digital bandwagon, with a new report that predicts the APAC region will overtake the US this year as the world’s largest digital advertising market. Analyst Michael Goodman says: “Advertising is about “eyeballs” and the sheer scale of the Chinese market, along with India and Indonesia, is why Asia-Pacific will overtake North America this year, despite underlying economic weakness in some economies. Millions just can’t compete with billions.”

Christopher Slaughter

CEO

So much terrible news lately, in so many different places, it’s all been a little overwhelming. But what’s also overwhelming is to consider how that news is reaching us: “…though it will shake up the economics of TV, live streaming is opening up a much more compelling way to watch the news.” And with some 62% of adults in the US getting their news from social media, it’s clear things have already been pretty well shaken up. But the repercussions of that shakeup potentially extend well beyond just the TV news business: “Increasingly, what counts as a fact is merely a view that someone feels to be true – and technology has made it very easy for these “facts” to circulate with a speed and reach that was unimaginable in the Gutenberg era (or even a decade ago).”

Kevin Jennings

Vice President, Programme

The Television Academy has announced the nominations for the 68th annual Emmy Awards. The complete list includes 113 categories, and runs to a whopping 74 pages, which means there are too many awards to give out in a single night. And of course, there were surprises and snubs, although the list was also described as “mostly unsurprising.” The Academy’s 20,000 voting members will have two weeks to get their ballots in starting August 15, and winners will be announced at the awards show September 18.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

The digital rumble is on this weekend in Las Vegas, with the Evolution Championship Series (Evo for short) fighting games tournament getting underway. Players from 17 countries will descend on the event to compete in tournaments on nine console games (although at least one “Godslayer” has had US visa issues), alongside thousands of spectators, and featuring live coverage on ESPN. All the activity in e-sports is prompting serious consideration of the phenomenon, as well as the growth of e-sports oversight groups to protect the industry’s reputation.

Some additional links you might be interested in:

Member News

FOX Networks Group Asia scores big with 85 Emmy nominations haul across HK & SE ASIA

Asia’s leading network proudly calls itself home to 21 Emmy-nominated shows on its suite of entertainment channels across the region.

July 15, 2016 – Hong Kong – FOX Networks Group (FNG) Asia announced today that 21 shows carried by its channels across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia have garnered a total of 85 nominations for the 68^th Emmy Awards, to take place on September 18, 2016 in the US. The nominations were presented on July 14 live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles by actors Anthony Anderson and Lauren Graham. The network’s 85 nominations span across 5 of FNG’s entertainment channels, proving once again the network’s commitment to bringing to the region the best shows on offer and its insightful curation and programming capabilities. Among the categories for which shows were nominated include Outstanding Drama Series (The Americans and Homeland on FX), Outstanding Limited Series (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story on FOX Crime), and Outstanding Comedy Series (Modern Family on FOX).

In addition to nominations for FNG entertainment channels FOX, FX, FOX Crime and StarWorld, the network’s iconic factual brand National Geographic Channel also walked away with 8 nominations across 4 non-fiction programmes. He Named Me Malala, a moving documentary about the young activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, garnered an impressive 5 nominations.

The Emmy Awards are widely considered television’s most prestigious event, and the network is proud to be bringing shows that have garnered such respected recognition to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

For a full list of the 85 nominations, please see appendix.

-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:

Kelly Jang

Vice President, Marketing & Communications | FOX Networks Group Asia

kelly.jang@fox.com | Tel: +852.2621.8875

APPENDIX

Nominations received for shows on FOX Networks Group Asia channels in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

85 Nominations | 21 Shows | 5 Channels

FX (7 nominated shows, 30 nominations):

American Horror Story: Hotel (8 nominations)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Sarah Paulson
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Kathy Bates
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series or Movie
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special
Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special

Penny Dreadful (6 nominations)

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series
Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Outstanding Special Visual Effects

The Americans (5 nominations)

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Matthew Rhys
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Keri Russell
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Margo Martindale
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg

Ray Donovan (5 nominations)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Liev Schreiber
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Jon Voight
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Hank Azaria
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – David Hollander
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)

Homeland (4 nominations)

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Claire Danes
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – Lesli Linka Glatter
Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series

Archer (1 nomination)

Outstanding Animated Program

Galavant (1 nomination)

Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics – “A New Season”

StarWorld (4 nominated shows, 10 nominations):

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (4 nominations)

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics – “Settle For Me”
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Outstanding Choreography

Empire (3 nominations)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Taraji P. Henson
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics – “Good People”
Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series or Movie

American Idol (2 nominations)

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program – Ryan Seacrest
Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series

2 Broke Girls (1 nomination)

Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series

National Geographic Channel (4 nominated shows, 8 nominations):

He Named Me Malala (5 nominations)

Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program – Davis Guggenheim
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera)
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Event or Award Special
Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program

Star Talk With Neil deGrasse Tyson (1 nomination)

Outstanding Informational Series or Special

The Story Of God With Morgan Freeman (1 nomination)

Outstanding Informational Series or Special

Breakthrough (1 nomination)

Outstanding Narrator – Adrien Brody

FOX Crime (3 nominated shows, 29 nominations):

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (22 nominations)

Outstanding Limited Series
Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie – Cuba Gooding Jr
Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie – Courtney B. Vance
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie – Sarah Paulson
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television movie – David Schwimmer
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television movie – John Travolta
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television movie – Sterling K. Brown
Outstanding casting for a limited Series, Movie or Special
Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series Or Movie
Outstanding Costumes For A Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series Or Movie
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special- Ryan Murphy
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special- Anthony Hemmingway
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special- John Singleton
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or Movie – Adam Penn
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or Movie – C. Chi-Yoon Chung,
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or Movie – Stewart Schill
Outstanding Hairstyling For A Limited Series Or Movie
Outstanding Makeup For A Limited Series Or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Series Or Movie
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special – Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special – D.V. DeVincentis,
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special – Joe Robert Cole,

American Crime (4 nominations)

Outstanding Limited Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Felicity Huffman
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Lili Taylor
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Regina King

Vice (3 nominations)

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera)
Best Informational Series or Special
Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program

FOX (3 nominated shows, 8 nominations):
Modern Family (4 nominations)

Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Ty Burrell
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation

The Simpsons (2 nominations)

Outstanding Animated Program
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation

The Walking Dead (2 nominations)

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Limited Series, Movie Or Special
Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Supporting Role

-END-

HBO received 94 Primetime Emmy® nominations, the most of any network this year

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SINGAPORE, JULY 15, 2016 – HBO received 94 Primetime Emmy^® nominations, the most of any network for the 16th year in a row, for the upcoming 68th Primetime Emmy Awards®, which were announced last night in Los Angeles.

“Game of Thrones” led all nominees for the third year in a row with 23 nominations, while “Veep” received 17 nominations, and “Silicon Valley” received 11 nominations.

HBO’s Emmy^® nominations this year include:

23 nominations for “Game of Thrones,” including Outstanding Drama Series, 2 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington), 3 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams), Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Max von Sydow), 2 for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Miguel Sapochnik, Jack Bender) and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss).

Season six of GAME OF THRONES airs every Monday at 8.30pm from August 8 on HBO SIGNATURE. Or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

17 nominations for “Veep,” including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), 2 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Tony Hale, Matt Walsh), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Anna Chlumsky), 2 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Martin Mull, Peter MacNichol), 3 for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Chris Addison, Dave Mandel, Dale Stern) and 2 for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (David Mandel; Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck).

Catch the season five marathon of VEEP this July 23 at 12 noon on HBO SIGNATURE. Or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

11 nominations for “Silicon Valley,” including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Thomas Middleditch), 2 for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Alec Berg, Mike Judge) and 2 for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Alec Berg, Dan O’Keefe).

Catch the season three marathon of SILICON VALLEY tomorrow, July 16 at 12 noon on HBO SIGNATURE. Or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

8 nominations for “All the Way,” including Outstanding Television Movie, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Bryan Cranston), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Melissa Leo) and Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Jay Roach).

ALL THE WAY airs September 17 at 10pm on HBO SIGNATURE. Or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

6 nominations for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” including Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series (Paul Pennolino) and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.

Catch LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

3 nominations for “Vice,” including Outstanding Informational Series or Special.

Catch season one of VICE anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

2 nominations for “Confirmation,” including Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Kerry Washington).

CONFIRMATION airs September 24 at 12.05am on HBO SIGNATURE. Or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

2 nominations for “Getting On,” including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Laurie Metcalf) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Niecy Nash).

Catch season three of GETTING ON anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

2 nominations for “Project Greenlight,” including Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.

Catch PROJECT GREENLIGHT anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

2 nominations for “Vinyl.”

Watch the season finale of VINYL tonight July 15 at 10pm on HBO SIGNATURE. Or watch it anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

Other HBO nominees include:

4 nominations for “Lemonade,” including Outstanding Variety Special and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special (Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Kahlil Joseph).

3 nominations for “Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo,” including Outstanding Variety Special, Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special (Chris Rock) and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special (Amy Schumer).

2 nominations for “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures,” including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.

2 nominations for “Everything Is Copy – Nora Ephron: Scripted & Unscripted,” including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program (Jacob Bernstein).

In addition to: “Becoming Mike Nichols,” “Game of Thrones Main Title 360 Experience,” “Jim: The James Foley Story,” “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” “Real Time with Bill Maher,” “Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted” and “True Detective.”

The CINEMAX series “The Knick” also received 4 nominations, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Steven Soderbergh).

Catch THE KNICK anytime anywhere on HBO GO.

The Primetime Emmy® Awards will be announced Sept. 19 (Asian time).

# # #

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, Cinemax and 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.

HBO and Home Box Office are service marks on Home Box Office, Inc. Used with permission.
For more information, please contact HBO Asia:

Karen Lai

Director, Communications

Tel: (65) 6381 1796

Email: karen.lai@hboasia.com

Angela Poh

Manager, Communications

Tel: (65) 6381 1838

Email: angela.poh@hboasia.com

Chan Zi Ning

Executive, Communications

Tel: (65) 6381 1746

Email: zining.chan@hboasia.com

Turner seals partnership with globe telecom to launch Cartoon Network on mobile

Philippines’ No. 1 kids channel will be available to Globe customers through the Cartoon Network Watch and Play and Cartoon Network Anything apps

MANILA, July 14, 2016 – Turner Asia Pacific and Globe Telecom, the Philippines’ No. 1 mobile brand, have announced that two upgraded Cartoon Network apps will soon be made available to Globe customers.

An authenticated version of the Cartoon Network Watch and Play app unlocks its full functionality, including a live stream of the channel and additional video-on-demand content. Cartoon Network Anything will also be bundled, showcasing the network’s best short-form content on mobile devices.

Phil Nelson, Turner’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia, said: “Cartoon Network Anything and Cartoon Network Watch and Play are two of our most popular apps with very good reason. They capture the best of the Cartoon Network brand and deliver captivating content – games, video and quirky quizzes – across mobile devices. Offered to Globe customers, these products provide a convenient avenue for Filipinos to enjoy the most popular kids’ content wherever they are, and in a safe and flexible way.”

As part of Globe Telecom’s mission to give its customers the widest variety of entertainment, it has partnered with the country’s No. 1 kids’ channel. This year, Cartoon Network also ranks as a top-5 channel across all genres* – such is the local appetite for cartoons and a brand of entertainment that the whole family enjoys.

Globe Chief Commercial Officer, Albert De Larrazabal, added that, “Globe strives to provide the best service that includes premium entertainment from strong international partnerships like Turner’s Cartoon Network. We look forward to the many possibilities this partnership offers as both companies are committed to provide valued customers with a unique digital entertainment experience. Moving forward, customers can also expect more good news from Globe and Cartoon Network.”

-Ends-

Note to Editors:

Cartoon Network Watch and Play allows users to simultaneously watch a video from their favorite animation TV series and play a game from Cartoon Network’s website. With a simple rotation of the iPad, kids can switch between the tasks – providing a completely new type of app functionality for this latest generation of multi-taskers. Globe customers will also be able to access an enhanced version of the app which allows for live-streaming of the channel and access to additional content including full episodes.

Cartoon Network Anything is an app that contains content created for portable mobile platforms, rapidly delivering entertainment in a unique and fun way – an innovation that’s never been seen before in Southeast Asia. Cartoon Network Anything is an ever-growing and ever-changing stream of content consisting of games, activities, super-fast trivia quizzes and interactive video games, all approximately 15 seconds in length. After a user finishes with one item, they simply swipe the screen to move on to the next. The perpetually-updated stream is delivered randomly, providing never-ending entertainment.

Watch a video of how the apps work:

https://vimeo.com/172550490/d49c563e38

To know more about the Cartoon Network, visit www.CartoonNetworkAsia.com. To learn more about Globe and its lineup of content and services, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Data Sources:

*Kantar Media Philippines: Among Kids’ channels, Cartoon Network is no. 1 in the Philippines for Cable kids aged 2-12. Among all channels including FTA, Cartoon Network is among the top 5 channels for total Cable individuals 2+. National urban. Period: Jan-May 2016. All Time. Ranked by average ratings.

About Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network, the number one kids’ channel in Asia Pacific, offers the best in original animated content including the multi-award-winning global hits Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time and new comedy We Bare Bears. In 2016, the network welcomes back new series of popular franchises Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls. Cartoon Network is available in 31 countries throughout Asia Pacific and is currently seen in more than 88 million pay-TV homes. Internationally, it is seen in 192 countries and over 370 million homes, and is an industry leader with a global offering of the best in award-winning animated entertainment for kids and families, known for putting its fans at the center of everything by applying creative thinking and innovation across multiple platforms. Cartoon Network also reaches millions more through its websites, games and apps, including Cartoon Network Watch and Play and Cartoon Network Anything.

About Turner Asia Pacific

Turner Asia Pacific creates and distributes award-winning brands throughout the region, running 63 channels in 14 languages in 37 countries. These include CNN International, CNNj, CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, POGO, Toonami, World Heritage Channel, Warner TV, Oh!K, TCM Turner Classic Movies, truTV, MondoTV, TABI Channel, and HBO 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 Globe Telecom

Globe Telecom is a leading full service telecommunications company in the Philippines, serving the needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connections, internet and managed services. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singtel who are acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph. Follow Globe Telecom on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GlobePH as well as @EnjoyGlobe on Twitter and Instagram.

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

Yoly C. Crisanto
SVP, Corporate Communications, Globe Telecom, Inc.
Email Address: gtcorpcomm@globe.com.ph

Viu launches premium subscription in Singapore with Singtel

Telco alliance support aggressive regional expansion
Viu app downloads hit 1.6 million in Hong Kong and 500,000 in Singapore

PCCW (SEHK: 0008) – Hong Kong, July 11, 2016 – PCCW Media’s OTT video service, Viu, has launched premium subscription service in Singapore with telco partner, Singtel, the largest telecommunications company in Singapore, offering viewers unlimited downloads of their favourite content.

Hailed as Southeast Asia’s first unlimited downloads* OTT video service, Viu leverages on the quality network of Singtel to provide Viu premium subscribers with priority viewing of a vast library of content, such as the current Korean hit drama, Uncontrollably Fond, which premiered on July 6 and is aired with English subtitle right after Korean telecast for Viu premium subscribers. The fast turnaround with subtitles, first-ever in the region, is also available on Viu at the same time frame in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Viu premium subscribers also get to watch the latest Korean dramas and variety shows from the Big 4 Korean broadcasters and Japanese dramas as fast as 8 hours after telecast in Korea, enjoy 1080p HD quality and exclusive content window of the latest content with very limited ads. Meanwhile, Viu freemium users will continue to have access to Viu’s huge catalogue of Asian content for free. All users can also enjoy Viu’s user-friendly functions such as multi-screen access, download-to-stream capability and multi-device synchronization when streaming, providing users with a truly seamless viewing experience on-the-go.

Initially launched as a freemium OTT service last October, Viu has seen tremendous growth in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia. In Hong Kong, Viu app downloads already surpassed 1.6 million while in Singapore, it has recorded over 500,000 downloads in the short span of four months following its January launch**. Meanwhile, Viu is well-supported by a host of advertisers in the region. More importantly, users are actively engaged, averaging 1.82 hours^ of viewing time daily on the mobile app.

“This strategic tie-up between Viu and Singtel is a win-win for consumers as they can enjoy the best Asian entertainment content at the most competitive offering across the best network in Singapore. With the rise of digital content, we are seeing a rapid shift in the way media content is being consumed, especially by millennials. By sharing the same vision to bring the most compelling content to viewers anytime, anywhere on any mobile device, Viu and Singtel are strategically aligned to focus on adapting to meet the needs of today’s viewers,” said Ms. Janice Lee, Managing Director of PCCW Media.

cont’d …

“86% of Singapore netizens regularly stream or download video content, of which 60% are watching dramas⁺. These numbers show the immense potential in the OTT video streaming market where we are spearheading change in the way consumers engage with and consume digital content,” added Ms. Lee.

Regional partnerships with telcos and top broadcasters

To assure viewers of a stable viewing experience, Viu has forged strategic telco partnerships with networks such as CSL in Hong Kong, Singtel in Singapore, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Maxis, Digi and U Mobile in Malaysia as well as Telkom Indonesia in Indonesia.

Ms. Lee said, “The strategic partnerships we have built with top broadcasters and leading telcos all over Asia to deliver the best Asian content at the fastest speeds on quality networks has enabled Viu’s growing success. The recent airing of Descendants of the Sun has shown us that what consumers want today is fast, convenient access to digital content, and Viu was able to cater to that mass demand by being the first platform with such a large library of authorized Korean content where fans could catch it in Singapore.”

Industry recognition

Viu has built a relevant and personalised experience with exclusive unique innovative content based on the a freemium model and its achievement is duly recognized in the industry, garnering the Gold Award for Best Mobile App at the HKICT Awards 2016, Telecom Asia’s 19^th Annual Award for Best OTT Video Service this year, and most recently named Asia Pacific Telco Digital Service Provider of the Year by industry research group Frost & Sullivan at its Asia Pacific ICT Awards 2016.

“We will continue to leverage our research to gain insights to our viewers’ preference so that our content and features are uniquely tailored to their needs thus enabling continued relevance to our viewers,” added Ms. Lee.

– # –

* Based on the research in Nov 2015 among the legal OTT video platforms with services in the countries included in ASEAN Economic Community, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei Darussalam. Downloading contents via 3^rd party software from the OTT video platform is not included.

** Figures from Google Play Developer Console and iTunes Connect

^ Acorn study commissioned by PCCW Media Group

⁺ Based on Singapore user tracking data on Viu in May 2016

cont’d …

About PCCW Media

The media group of PCCW is a leading, fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong.

The media group operates the leading pay-TV service in Hong Kong under the Now TV brand delivering both self-produced and licensed content to its customers using advanced IPTV technology. Now TV offers more than 180 linear channels of local, Asian and international programming. Its premium content can also be accessed on-demand and on the go via now Player app. It is also a leading producer of Chinese language news, financial news and sports programming in addition to Asian infotainment content which complements its wide portfolio of licensed movie and international television content.

The media group is also engaged in the provision of over-the-top (OTT) video service under the Viu brand in Hong Kong and other places in the region. In addition, MOOV is a hugely popular lossless music digital streaming service in Hong Kong.

Moreover, the media group operates one of Asia’s leading directories businesses under the Yellow Pages brand.

About PCCW Limited

PCCW Limited (SEHK: 0008) is a global company headquartered in Hong Kong which holds interests in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.

The Company holds a majority interest in the HKT Trust and HKT Limited, Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider and leading operator in fixed-line, broadband and mobile communication services. HKT meets the needs of the Hong Kong public and local and international businesses with a wide range of services including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses such as customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting, and contact centers.

PCCW also owns a fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong, PCCW Media. PCCW Media operates the largest local pay-TV operation, Now TV, and is engaged in the provision of over-the-top (OTT) video service under the Viu brand in Hong Kong and other places in the region.

Also wholly-owned by the Group, PCCW Solutions is a leading information technology outsourcing and business process outsourcing provider in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In addition, PCCW holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, and overseas investments including the wholly-owned UK Broadband Limited. To learn more about PCCW, please visit www.pccw.com.

cont’d …

For further information, please contact:

Ivan Ho

PCCW

Tel: +852 2883-8747

Email: ivan.wy.ho@pccw.com

Marina Leung

Magnus Muses Limited

Tel: +852 3951 0222 / +852 9203 6203

Email: Marina.leung@magnusmuses.com

Issued by PCCW Limited.

8 July, 2016

Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending July 8th. 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:

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

As everybody knows, the last few months have seen feverish building of alliances between telcos/ISPs and OTT content players. And the mobile sector is affected, too: a new survey reports that half of Asia’s mobile operators have partnerships with OTT players already, and the other half is very interested in doing a deal. Interestingly, even as big international players (like Netflix) roll out more content deals in the region, it is local players who are doing well at snapping up indigenous content at reasonable prices and making a push to lock in local consumers.

Kevin Jennings

Vice President, Programme

South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has objected to the proposed merger between SK Telecom and the media company CJ HelloVision and have asked for an evaluation on the impact on market competition. An official with the antitrust authority told the Korea Times that the FTC agrees with the concerns raised by SK Telecom’s rivals over the potential impact on the deal, claiming the merger could restrain competition by handing SK Telecom market dominance, and give SK Telecom the ability to distort the market by offering bundle pricing that rivals may not be able to match. This is a big blow to SK’s ambitions; the company complained that the FTC was being “excessively stringent” and wasn’t heeding the needs of the market economy, as the cable industry needs “healthy restructuring”. SK now has to decide whether to drop the merger case totally, or try to press on despite the FTC’s objections, which are considered by many to be “an effective block” of the merge.

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

Lots happening in VR this week. Following the money, HTC Vive announce a $10 billion VR VC fund “to put the investment weight of much of the industry on the back of itself and its partners”. On programming, NBC will offer 85 hours of VR Olympics courtesy of Samsung. None of it live though. And this Christmas one can expect to see a full-length, 90-minute “Jesus VR — The Story of Christ”. BTW, if you are into seeing how VR may evolve to take over the world, I highly recommend an excellent sci-fi book, Ready Player One. An even more fun read if you are a geek-pop-culture buff.

Andrew Lin

Regulatory Assistant

Recently, Comcast and Netflix have reached an agreement to incorporate Netflix into Comcast’s X1 set-top-box platform. People with the X1 cable box will now be able to access Netflix content which will not only make binge watching TV shows easier, but also introduce Netflix to the elderly US residents who are less aware of it and watch more TV than the average. Despite issues in the past, Comcast teams up with Netflix as a way to keep their customers connected to their cable subscription.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

This week’s trawl for the dirt on censorship produces an interesting question, from Chennai: “Does Television Content Need Censorship?” There’s no single answer in that article, but a couple of other articles show the perils of creating a nanny-state censor board, as India has for the film industry: every Tom, Dick and Hari has an heartfelt need to have content of one kind or another blocked. Maybe it’s because regional films are a threat to national unity. Or because content shown isn’t appropriate to someone’s religious holiday season. Or even because it shows your city in a bad light. And remember that over in China, stories about space aliens get censored too! The point is that there are a never-ending series of reasons why somebody might object to some sort of TV content, and in a fully wired/wireless world, it is self-regulation and co-regulation that make sense.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

On the subject of censorship, the latest round of Chinese blocks on foreign content have the Koreans worried – Korean series have been fabulously successful in China. (Of course, Korea has long had in place a whole array of quotas and other constraints designed to keep out keep foreign content…….People who spent long years trying to negotiate access for foreign channels to the Korean market can be forgiven a bit of shadenfreude.)

Mark Lay

Vice President, Singapore

REDEF has another fantastic “Original”, The Death and Resurrection of Live & Communal Entertainment. “Live isn’t just something you put in your queue – you prioritize it and go out of your way to watch it. This is of huge strategic value. Not only does live sustain greater ad loads and improve ad efficacy, it also does so with integrated, pre and post-roll advertising. To this same end, live defies binge-based consumption, thereby driving both sustained subscriptions and/or engagement. In addition, live affords fan engagement opportunities that can’t be replicated on-demand (e.g. audience interactivity) and can significantly increase a fan’s brand affinity. This will make live programming particularly important for video services that can’t compete based on the sizes of their libraries.”

Anjan Mitra

Executive Director, India

Another reshuffle, another round of period of `understanding issues’ (read slow decision-making process). At a time when industry thought MIB had an important role to play in giving those extra `nudges’ to India’s burgeoning, but regulation-intensive, media and entertainment sector, a recent Cabinet reshuffle saw senior ministers at MIB and Telecoms Ministry replaced. Critics went to town: one said the reshuffle was PM Modi’s way of admitting government was off track, while another blamed the PM for another squandered the opportunity for a “course correction that his government” needed.

John Medeiros

Chief Policy Officer

The Indian government is looking at three technologies that can help extend “Digital India” to cover the country’s many rural areas. And Eureka! Satellite is one of the three.

Some additional links you might be interested in:

Member News

HBO Asia announces first Chinese martial arts production with China movie channel

Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen executive produces the first two movies of the anthology to premiere across CMC’s network of channels and HBO Asia’s 23 territories at the end of 2016

SINGAPORE, JULY 11, 2016 – HBO Asia today announced a collaboration with China Movie Channel (CMC) to develop an anthology of Chinese language martial arts action movies. Set to premiere at the end of 2016, the first two movies of the anthology will be played on CMC’s channels, and concurrently across 23 Asian territories on HBO and RED by HBO, with subtitles where relevant.

Hong Kong action director, Corey Yuen (The Transporter, X-Men), executive produces the first and second movies, set in ancient China at the end of the Qing dynasty, which boast of gritty combat sequences executed by a cast of Chinese actors professionally trained in mixed martial arts, kung fu and muay thai.

Titled “Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So” and “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying”, principal photography for both movies has commenced in Heng Dian, China, helmed by Chinese action choreographer and director Guo Jian Yong (So Close, Chinese Hero Zhao Zi Long). Singapore’s award-winning screenwriter, Koh Teng Liang, is among a team of writers from China responsible for the screenplay of the latter movie, “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying”.

Said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia, “In expanding our production capabilities in North Asia to match audience appetite, HBO Asia is privileged to draw on CMC’s strong domestic production expertise while entertaining and inspiring viewers across the region with China’s vivid culture and stories. Apart from being HBO Asia’s very first Chinese language production and approach to the genre, this also marks the network’s first collaboration with talents from China, Hong Kong and Singapore.”

Cao Yin, President and Managing Director of CMC, said, “As the most influential movie channel in China, CMC has always been developing quality Chinese films over the years, and we are very happy and excited to work with prestigious international media companies such as HBO Asia. This is the first time CMC is doing a co-production of original TV movies. Through this partnership, we hope to exchange knowledge and know-how in the production of original content, and together with HBO Asia, introduce the essence of our culture through martial arts – one of the most iconic representations of the Chinese heritage.”

CMC is China’s top investor in local film production, having produced and co-produced more than 1,700 movies and TV movies, including Slave Mother (International Emmy^® award winner for Best Performance by an Actress), and the winner of multiple Asian film awards, The Taking of Tiger Mountain (directed by Tsui Hark and starring Tony Leung Ka Fai).

HBO Asia previously collaborated with filmmakers in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia on various English language productions, including the fantasy series, Halfworlds, recently renewed for a second season, which is concurrently being shot in Thailand.

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.

About China Movie Channel (CMC)

China Movie Channel (CMC) is a media organisation directly subordinate to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of P. R. China (SAPPRFT). Established in 1995, its services cover a wide range of areas, including broadcasting, content production, print media and new media. CMC’s flagship channel CCTV-6 is the only national movie network in China reaching over 1.09 billion people through basic subscription. CMC also offers 3 premium subscription channels, CHC Family, CHC Action and CHC HD, and has more than 2.8 million subscribers. CMC Channels have exclusive deals with all major Hollywood studios and over 95% of all Chinese movies and exclusive licensing deals with other European and Asian distributors. CMC is also the exclusive Chinese broadcaster for major international awards such as the Oscars^®, Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes. CMC’s streaming site 1905.com is one of the top film streaming websites in China.

Turner strikes content deal with nine and launches ‘Adult Swim’ branded block on 9GO!

Adult Swim-Rick and Morty

Hit animation series Rick and Morty to make FTA prime-time debut in Australia

SYDNEY (July 8, 2016) – Adult Swim, Turner’s irreverent brand of young-adult comedy, has found a new home in Australia under a syndication agreement with Nine.

Nine’s 9GO! channel will host a weekly one-hour, Adult Swim-branded, block of programs every Sunday evening, starting July 10. The Adult Swim block will feature hit shows such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Harvey Birdman, Robot Chicken, Squidbillies and The Venture Bros.

Nine has also picked up the local format rights to Adult Swim’s FishCentre, which will introduce the block each week The deal marks a free-to-air debut for many of these shows, including Rick and Morty, Adult Swim’s hit animation from Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, which will debut on the channel later in the year.

Robi Stanton, Turner Australia’s General Manager, said: “Adult Swim has a great new home in Australia. This partnership announcement with Nine will no doubt excite comedy-craving late teens and young adults across the country. Adult Swim produces some of the wackiest, craziest and cheekiest shows out there, and there’ll be only one destination on Sunday late nights – and that’s 9GO!.”

Adult Swim has been described as a life-changing pseudo-network – it’s not just television, it’s a way of life. Virtually nothing is sacred and nothing is safe, and viewers can certainly expect the unexpected.

Hamish Turner, Nine’s Director of Acquisitions, said: “Adult Swim is an iconic brand that continues to challenge its audience with a subversive and irreverent brand of comedy. We are proud to be bringing it to our audience in an Adult Swim late-night block on 9GO!, as well as making it available for catch-up and live streaming on 9Now. In partnering with Adult Swim, we have uncovered the network’s next big stars, making their debut on the Aussie version of FishCentre on Sunday July 10 at 11:30pm.”

Audiences can download the app or go to 9now.com.au to find the best of Adult Swim content in one place.

Adult Swim can also be seen on The Comedy Channel on Foxtel, as well as Netflix, which carries Rick and Morty.

-Ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Web address where the Adult Swim content will be housed:

https://www.9now.com.au/shows/adult-swim

Watch a sneak-peek of Australia’s premiere episode of FishCentre here:

https://www.9now.com.au/adult-swim-fish-centre (in Australia)

or here: https://vimeo.com/173123770 (outside Australia)

For further information, contact:

James Moore, Director of Communications, Turner Asia Pacific

+852 3128-3720 / James.Moore@turner.com

Sean Salter, Network Publicist for 9GO! and 9Gem, Nine Network

+61-8-7326-1116 / ssalter@nine.com.au

About Adult Swim

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. In the US, Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 94 million US homes and beyond. Adult Swim is part of Turner, a Time Warner company that creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult multi-platform content for consumers around the world.

About Turner Asia Pacific

About 9GO!

9GO! is a youth orientated channel targeting all audiences under the age of 40 with a mix of Comedy, Reality, General Entertainment, Movies, Animation and Drama. 9GO! is the No.1 multichannel for People 25-54, 18-49, 16-39, GBCH and Kids 0-17 since launch and is currently leading Survey Year to Date 2016 for the same demos.

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