WITH the merger of FOX International Channels with many of STAR’s channels in Asia, FOX executives now boast business cards covered in channel logos encompassing multiple genres across factual entertainment, GE, music, movies and news. Cross-promotion opportunities abound and Fox One Stop Media has been established to offer ad sales solutions at local, regional and global level.

Meanwhile Stateside, as the merger of Comcast and NBC awaits regulatory approval, President and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) Jean Prewitt has expressed her concerns about the merger.

“If allowed to go forward, the merger will give the American public far less choice in programming as more channels and distribution platforms are closed to independent content,” said Prewitt. “This conflict between a corporate interest and the all-important public interest is at the heart of the larger issue… an issue that cuts to the core of American values of diversity, creativity and the free exchange of ideas.”

Many international networks in Asia are rapidly expanding their channel portfolios into new genres, undoubtedly feeling the pressure of competing with FOX in the region. But executives prefer to put a positive spin on their expansion, talking not of pressure but of opportunity.

Even the encouragement of pay TV rivalry in Singapore, and to some extent Malaysia, feels like competition for competition’s sake. In this age of media multi-tasking, it would appear that the viewer is not the only one trying to do too many things at once.