London / Singapore – Sunset+Vine, the multi-award winning UK independent TV sports production and media company, has announced the opening of a new Asia operation to take advantage of the growing TV sports production market in South East Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, Sunset+Vine Asia will be headed by Huw Bevan, who has been released by Fox International Channels to take on the Managing Director role.

Huw has worked in Asia for a total of 15 years, the last 10 of which were as Senior Vice President, Production for Fox International Channels and previously ESPN STAR Sports (ESS). He will be responsible for establishing the Sunset+Vine Asia business across the region. The new business is expected to be operational towards the end of January, subject to the conclusion of formal registration procedures with the local authorities.

Sunset+Vine, part of The Tinopolis Group, was set up in 1983 and is now a leading independent supplier of sports programming to broadcasters in the UK and overseas. It was recently appointed as primary production partner for BT Sport (UK) and produces the channel’s live English Premier League Football and Aviva Premiership Rugby matches and all support programming. In 2013 it was awarded a BAFTA for “Best Sport and Live Event” in relation to its ground-breaking coverage of The London 2012 Paralympic Games. In 2014, Sunset+Vine will be Host Broadcaster of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Jeff Foulser, Chairman of Sunset+Vine, said: “It is clear that South East Asia presents some significant opportunities for Sunset+Vine in the production around big sports events and we feel that now is the right time to establish a dedicated operation in the region. In Huw, we have identified the ideal person, with the established network, relevant business experience and local market knowledge to spread Sunset+Vine’s reputation for creative production excellence to a new audience. In Singapore, we have a vibrant place to do business and a perfect location to reach out to the rest of South East Asia.”

Huw Bevan, the newly appointed Managing Director of Sunset+Vine, added: “I am excited to be joining such a well-respected and dynamic media outfit. I am proud to have been afforded the honour of managing the company’s first office outside of the UK. Thanks to my experience with Fox International channels and previously with ESS, I have been fortunate to witness the great growth that has taken place in Sports Production across the region. With more Asian sports events, TV channels and platforms catering for increasingly knowledgeable sports fans, the opportunity to showcase Sunset+Vine’s unique production and programme-making skills is something which I know will be particularly appealing to this market.”