Another world-class sports event adding to now TV’s lineup as “Home of Sports”
PCCW (SEHK:0008) – HONG KONG, March 10, 2016 – now TV, Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV and a leading OTT service provider, will be the host broadcaster of the 2016 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to be held from April 8-10.
As one of Hong Kong's flagship sporting events, the Hong Kong Sevens is the most popular and prestigious event on the HSBC Sevens World Series. 28 teams from all over the world, including 16 in the core team competition and 12 in the World Rugby Sevens World Series qualifier, will compete in Hong Kong in April. These include all but one of the 12 teams already qualified for Rugby Sevens’ Olympic debut in Rio this summer.
As the host broadcaster, now TV will provide an unprecedented coverage experience for Hong Kong viewers. 10 HD cameras and a production team with over 100 people will be allocated to support this three-day mega event. now TV customers will enjoy full coverage of the event live on now SPORTS 4 (Ch. 634) in HD with exclusive interactive features including the Timeshift feature so that they will not miss a single moment of the action and entertainment. Customers also have the option to relive their favourite moments via now TV's VOD service, or to enjoy the games on the move via their smart devices on now Player.
The tournament will also be made available to the general public through a number of means. Live full broadcast is available on now SPORTS Prime (Ch. 630) via now Player for free. The public can also watch selected matches* via ViuTV, a free TV service to be broadcast via spectrum on channel 99 from April 6.
Ms. Loke Kheng Tham, PCCW's Executive Vice President of Pay TV, said, “We are proud to be Hong Kongers as Hong Kong is being chosen to host one of the greatest events in the world – Hong Kong Sevens. Being Hong Kong’s “Home of Sports”, now TV is dedicated to deliver the greatest content to local sports fans, and this is the reason why we strive to bring you back this world-class event again.”
Ms. Tham added, “now TV has always been and will continue to be in the leading role for providing a strong lineup of sports to Hong Kong viewers. We believe that the coverage of a variety of premium and exclusive sports content from around the world, including the top football leagues namely Barclays Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga, tennis Grand Slams, ATP World Tour, NBA, all 4 golf majors, PGA Tours, F1, snooker, badminton, rugby and many more, will continue to entertain Hong Kong’s sports fans.”
Mr. Vern Reid, CEO of the Hong Kong Rugby Union said, “The HKRU is delighted to again partner with now TV as the host broadcaster of the world-famous Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Leveraging now TV’s range of innovative broadcast platforms will provide the ultimate access to the event for those not able to attend in person and will help spread the excitement and passion of Sevens to a vast local audience, a particular goal for us with Rugby set to boom after its Olympic debut in Rio this summer.”
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* The broadcast arrangement will be announced in due course.
About now TV
now TV is one of the world's largest commercial deployments of IPTV and Hong Kong's largest pay-TV provider. It is delivered by PCCW Media Limited, the multimedia and entertainment subsidiary of PCCW Limited. PCCW also holds interests in telecommunications, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.
now TV offers the widest range of local and international content on its platform in Hong Kong. Its quality self-produced content includes two news channels and a diverse line up of entertainment and infotainment programmes. This is complemented by leading Asian and international content and brands across news, entertainment, information and sports genres including the exclusive Barclays Premier League.
now TV's premium content can be accessed through linear TV channels, on-demand and via OTT companion apps while on the move. now TV can also be enjoyed on the eye devices provided by HKT, the telecommunications business of PCCW.
To learn more about now TV, please visit http://nowtv.now.com/.
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.
About the Hong Kong Sevens
First established in 1976 and organised by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, the Hong Kong Sevens is the world’s premier international sevens event, marking its 40th year in 2015. In 1999, the Hong Kong Sevens became a part of the International Rugby Board’s World Sevens Series. To date, Hong Kong is the only HSBC Sevens World Series event to host 28 international teams, more than any other tournament, and offers the largest prize purse in international sevens (USD150,000). The Hong Kong Rugby Union is also the only international rugby union to have hosted two Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997 and 2005.
For media enquiry, please contact:
Ivan Ho
PCCW
Tel: +852 2883 8747
Email: ivan.wy.ho@pccw.com
For further information on the HKRFU or the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens please contact:
Sean Moore (English language enquiries)
Tel: +852 2808 0977
Email: sean.moore@elitestep.com
Andy Yeung (Chinese language enquiries)
Tel: +852 2808 0977
Email: andy.yeung@elitestep.com
Issued by PCCW Limited.