Hong Kong, April 22, 2005 – The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today announced seven new memberships of CASBAA, Asias leading regional multi-channel television trade body, signed by pay-TV content, technology and service providers.
The new members include three Patron Memberships taken out by Sun Microsystems, Nokia and broadcaster AETN (The History Channel).
The four CASBAA Corporate Memberships signed in the first quarter of 2005 were Playboy TV International, Two Way TV, Sky News Australia and Zieland Productions.
“The participation of Nokia and Sun Microsystems at the highest level of the Association underlines the changing nature of our businesses,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CASBAA CEO.
“Such participation demonstrates how mainstream telecoms and technology companies see clear benefit in partnering with the traditional cable and satellite TV industry. Such memberships are an unequivocal vote of confidence in the future of Asias pay-TV market,” said Mr Twiston Davies.
According to CASBAA, The History Channels Patron Membership of CASBAA and the Corporate Memberships taken out by Playboy TV and Sky News Australia point to the increasing demand for quality niche programming across the entire Asia Pacific. The membership of Zieland TV, a New Zealand-based supplier of educational television content and services, also highlights the growth potential for relevant pay-TV programming.
No less important, is the CASBAA participation of interactive TV specialist Two Way TV, a Sydney-based listed company, said Mr Twiston Davies.
“Digital and interactive television is the clear future of our industry. Services provided by Two Way TV and video-on-demand provider Anytime TV (which joined CASBAA in Q4 2004) are offering new opportunities for improving ARPU for cable, satellite and broadband pay-TV operators and content creators alike.”
New CASBAA Patron Members Sun Microsystems, Nokia and The History Channel took up their seats on the CASBAA Council of Governors in March.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Ms Rebecca KENNEDY
Communications, CASBAA
Tel: (852) 2854 9913
Email: pr@casbaa.com
ABOUT CASBAA
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel television via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 120 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than 3 billion people. Member organisations include ABN AMRO, AsiaSat, ASTRO, Bloomberg Television, Discovery Networks Asia, EMC, Galaxy, HBO Asia, The History Channel, IBM, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, Nokia, now Broadband TV, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television International, STAR Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner International Asia Pacific, UBC, Walt Disney Television International, Anytime, BBC Prime. Freshfields, HSBC, Irdeto Access, Loral Skynet, Mindshare, and TOM Group.