SINGAPORE, MAY 31, 2016 – HBO Asia, the sole distributor of BabyFirst in Asia, announced today the signing of an exclusive multi-year deal for the top baby and toddler network’s content to be available on You+ Kids, a new children’s video on demand service on Beijing You Peng Technology Co., Ltd (Youpeng)’s interactive TV platform. BabyFirst’s content on You+ Kids will be available from mid June this year, in high-definition and dual language options: Mandarin or English audio with Chinese subtitles.
Since 2009, HBO Asia has inked deals with multiple affiliates, growing the BabyFirst footprint across eight Asian territories; in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines and Singapore.
“It’s a proud moment for us to see Youpeng launch BabyFirst’ programming in China,” said Guy Oranim, CEO, BabyFirst. “Youpeng is an established and innovative TV operator as well as a great partner that truly appreciates the importance of offering quality children’s content for all families and embraces our multicultural approach to babies education.” He adds, “We are also very delighted with our collaboration with HBO Asia which is a wonderful partner and extremely helpful in getting BabyFirst new distribution opportunities in Asia Pacific since 2009.”
Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia, added, “Our strong presence in 23 Asian territories and deep knowledge of the region puts HBO Asia in a unique position to connect our partners, benefitting 40 million families across China on Youpeng’s leading interactive platform with BabyFirst’s award-winning selection of localised early childhood education programmes.” He continues, “This is an extension of HBO Asia’s brand promise to bring the best programming to audiences through the biggest operators in the region.”
Youpeng’s Chairman and CEO, Colin Shao said: “Families have always been Youpeng’s focus and early childhood education is extremely important to Chinese parents. For this reason, Youpeng spent a lot of effort searching for quality content recommended by experts in the field, and found this with BabyFirst, the reputable and trusted brand in early childhood development programmes. Through working with HBO Asia and BabyFirst to localise the programming, we hope to provide the best curated child development content platform to kids and parents all across China.”
A recipient of the iParenting Media Award for one of the “Greatest Products of the Year”, a Dr Tay Best Products winner for the “Best Play and Learn Vocation Products” and the US International Film and Video “Gold Camera” award for educational children’s programming, BabyFirst offers a safe, positive and commercial-free learning environment, tailored to benefit developmental needs of children up to three years. The network’s evolving and interactive programmes are supervised by leading experts in child psychology and development, early childhood education and children’s programming.
Through BabyFirst’s “Joy” colouring system, the content will be categorised and programmed to target all aspects of child development, including logic, language, numbers and imagination. They are further adjusted to suit the Chinese family, providing a guided and delightful viewing experience for children.
All BabyFirst content on You+ Kids will be carefully curated from a vast library of over 4000 episodes. With every title translated and dubbed in Mandarin, parents have complete control over their children’s viewing experience, with the flexibility to play whichever programme they want, whenever they want to, in their language of choice.
You+ Kids will be available extensively through Youpeng’s affiliated telecom operators, cable operators, SmartTV and set top box manufacturers, reaching over 40 million households in China.
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 BabyFirst
BabyFirst is the leading commercial–free 24/7 network for young children and their parents. Working closely with an extensive network of renowned authorities in every area of early childhood psychology and education, BabyFirst is a trusted age appropriate network throughout the world. BabyFirst is currently available to more than 100 million households in more than 35 countries including the top 5 U.S. satellite and cable operators: DirecTV, Dish Network, Time-Warner, Comcast and Charter. BabyFirst is committed to creating a commercial-free, nurturing and interactive environment by offering an ever-changing line-up of quality child developmental content.
About Beijing You Peng Technology
Founded in 2006, Beijing You Peng Technology is China’s leading Interactive TV company. The company’s core product, “Youpeng Cloud”, provides Interactive TV cloud services to IPTV, digital cable and Internet TV platforms, including technology solutions and platform operations, product configuration and customisation, content aggregation, customer acquisition, CRM and value-added services. With a team of over 800 people and 18 branch offices across China’s key markets, Youpeng Cloud provides services to 46 provincial telecom companies, 12 cable operators and 5 SmartTV manufacturers, including Skyworth, Hisense, TCL, Konka, Changhong, covering 40 million households in China.