Hong Kong – Triple play service provider PCCW's IPTV network, now TV, inked multiple deals to carry Rainbow Media's VOOM HD channel, National Geographic Channel's video-on-demand (NGC VOD) service as well as Eurosport and Eurosportnews channels. The new offerings will potenially reach now TV's 700,000-strong customer base.

24-hour VOOM HD channel provides HD programming on adventure travel, fashion, luxury lifestyle, art, live concerts, action sports and video gaming. VOOM HD channel, which will be sub-titled in Chinese, will launch in SD on April 18, and in HD shortly thereafter. Elsewhere in Asia, VOOM HD is due to launch on Singapore SingTel’s platform later this year, while Skylife's SkyHD has run a daily primetime VOOM HD branded programming block in Korea since last September.

Following launches in Japan and Taiwan, National Geographic Channel's VOD service debuted on now TV on March 22. The new service joins National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Wild and A1 channels which are already airing. The VOD service features programmes in the Culture, Exploration, Science, Nat Geo Junior, Wildlife, and Nat Geo Showcase categories and is available to National Geographic Mega Pack subscribers of now TV at an additional price of HK$15 (US$1.90) per month.

 

now TV started offering 24-hour subscription sports channels Eurosport and Eurosportnews on March 22. Eurosport offers coverage of international sporting events and has Hong Kong professional athletes and commentators providing Cantonese commentary for key live events.

 

These additions follow recent deals that saw now TV bring on board Fox International's BabyTV, STAR's Hindi entertainment channel STAR One and Tamil entertainment channel STAR Vijay.