Malaysia In early 2009, a US$800,000 co-production deal was announced between AETN All Asia Networks (AAAN) and The National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) to produce original content for the History Channel, Crime & Investigation Network and the Biography Channel. Produced by Malaysian production companies, the eight hours of original content will showcase Malaysian stories across the three channels. According to Mohd Mahyidin Mustakim, director general of FINAS, this is their third deal with an international broadcaster. “We are very pleased to be working with a company with such strong factual entertainment channels and a commitment to produce local content. This is a great opportunity to showcase true Malaysian stories to the rest of Asia and the world,” said Mustakim. Commenting on the deal, Louis Boswell, general manager, AAAN said the deal would bring viewers the best of both international and Asian content. Singapore Singapore’s media industry has been involved in several lucrative deals generating revenue in excess of S$19 billion. In 2009, the Media Development Authority (MDA) has been involved in over 179 co-productions, covering a diverse range of genres from documentaries and children’s shows to full length animated feature films. Singapore based production companies have been invited to submit original program proposals to AETN All Asia Networks (AAAN), in a deal between AAAN and Infinite Frameworks (IFW) to collaborate on several high quality programs for History, The Biography Channel and Crime & Investigation Network. All proposals submitted must have an Asian theme as well as be regionally and internationally appealing. They must also be commercially viable. Commenting on the collaboration, Infinite Frameworks managing director, Mike Wiluan added that the collaboration will not only enable Infinite Frameworks to add further value in visual effects and post-production areas but also contribute as an executive producer. AAAN has recently entered into collaborations with MDA and Beach House Pictures in the search for an Asian host for 4×1 hour program to be aired on History. The host will get the opportunity to travel to lesser known parts of the region. AAAN has also commissioned a 6×30-minute series to be aired on Crime & Investigation Network. These original series marks a two-year co-investment between AAAN and MDA which will support Singapore based media companies producing series or one off specials. Commenting on the partnership, Dr Christopher Chia, chief executive officer of the MDA said that the partnership with AAAN will help Singapore companies to leverage digital media and adopt a 360 degree approach to exploit original intellectual properties across multiple platforms and formats. “We also showcase the skills and capabilities of Singapore media talents in creating compelling content and stories of varied genres for today’s international audience,” added Dr Chia. A tie-up was also established between Singapore’s Beach House Pictures, MDA and Lonely Planet Television on a new 13 part flagship series: Lonely Planet: Roads Less Traveled. To be developed in conjunction with National Geographic International and distributor BBC Worldwide, the TV series will be accompanied by an interactive website with plans for delivery on mobile, web-TV and DVD. Multimedia projects have proven successful for MDA with Singaporean companies benefiting from lucrative deals. An agreement between MDA and leading UK distributor Fremantle Media Enterprise (FME) sees joint investment in multi-media projects from Singapore based producers. The projects are set to generate US$12 million over the next two years and aim to create commercially branded multiplatform Made-by Singapore content for global audiences. Fremantle Media is also collaborating with MDA on the international distribution of two High-Definition (HD) productions Kylie Kwong: My China by Sitting in Pictures (Singapore) and FestivAsia – Moon Dance by Big Communications (Singapore) together with Creo Conents (Korea). In addition, a US$20 million deal has been established between Singapore post-production house Infinite Frameworks and US based VOOM HD Networks to co-produce HD programming over the next five years. All post-production work on these projects will take place at Infinite Framework’s facilities in Singapore. Singapore’s programmes have been sold to over 70 countries and revenue for the media sector runs into the billions. Singapore’s media industry employs over 55,000 and funds generated by deals made by Singaporean companies to local and international trade markets is in excess of S$122 million per annum. Japan 2007/2008 saw Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK launch new strategies for co-productions and resume the development of new projects after a scandal-hit 2005/6 that contributed to a decline in co-production deals. This foresight has increased NHK’s co-production titles by 42 percent, with an aim to increase this figure substantially in the future. NHK and Singapore’s MediaCorp announced they are extending their partnership on The Asian Pitch competition for a further three years. Since teaming up in 2007 the two media giants have provided independent filmmakers throughout the Asian region funding to turn their ideas and dreams into world-class documentaries. Directors and project winners of The Asian Pitch 2009 are Transmission: Listening to the Mountain’s Message, Shohei Shibata, Japan and Red Box, Yang Li-chou, Taiwan. Last year, The Asian Pitch decided to announce a third winner, The Great Indian Arranged Marriage, Faiza Ahmad Khan, India. Meanwhile a three-way partnership deal between NHK/NHK Enterprises, Science Channel and Atlantic Productions will take viewers on an international quest to find the reclusive giant squid. Only ever seen twice and filmed once, Dr Tsunemi Kubodera an expert marine biologist and his scientific team lead the multimillion dollar expedition in the hunt for the giant of the deep. Due to air in 2012 the international collaboration will be produced in a multi-part special following the incredible technological and scientific effort to locate the giant squid. Focus will also be placed on other exotic and unusual beasts inhabiting this largely unexplored deep sea region. NHK also announced that new developments including the ambitious project Weird Edens are moving forward. Weird Edens, a six-hour production is planned for completion during 2011. The series is a collaboration between NHK, NHNZ, France 5, Animal Planet and the Science Channel. NHK said that projects being completed in 2010 are generating serious interest from partners. National Geographic Channel (US) and France Television have picked up World After Dinosaurs: Megaquake, a three part series has been picked up by National Geographic Channel International and further talks with partners are in the pipeline. During the 2007-2009 period, NHK co-production programs have seen a 100 percent increase in NHK original programs, an increase of 61 percent for documentaries, factual programs, animation and drama and a 20 percent increase in the production of classics and music over the same period. Korea MIPCOM 2009 had 30 Korean participants, including three major broadcasting networks, cable companies, producers and distributors. Among almost 12,000 participants, including 4,000 buyers representing 1,600 companies from 103 countries, Korean broadcasting networks and producers signed export deals worth approximately US$8 million. According to the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) newlymerged with the KBI, the three major Korean networks, the producers of Korean drama series, attracted the interest of foreign buyers with respect to formats of Korean drama series and entertainment programs, confirming the potential for Korean content in European markets. Korean documentaries, in particular, exceeded expectations. KBS Media sold Noodle Road to Spanish terrestrial broadcasting network TVC, and Asian Corridor in Heaven to Russian satellite broadcasting company Premium TV. Noodle Road has so far been exported to 12 countries and aired in nearly 40 countries, while Asian Corridor in Heaven has been sold to 20 countries and broadcast in around 60 countries. Major German broadcasting company Super RTL purchased EBS’s Koreanosaurus for the highest price in Korean documentary history. According to Disney-owned Super RTL, the first and second episodes of Koreanosaurus aired on August 1 and 8, at 8pm on Saturdays during the primetime hours, achieving ratings of 3.5 percent and 4.2 percent respectively – surpassing the average channel rating of 2.9 percent by more than 30 percent. Consequently, Super RTL expressed its intention to purchase the third episode of Koreanosaurus, which follows the making of the first and second episodes. European broadcasting companies also showed great interest in The Lion King of Africa, the latest project of legendary MBC nature documentary-producer Choi Samgyu, even though the project is still in the preliminary production stage. Announced around the BCWW event, held early September at COEX in Seoul, KOCCA and AETN All Asia Networks (AAAN) entered into a deal to co-produce 5×1 hour HD documentaries for History, Biography Channel and Crime & Investigation Network. Produced by Korean production companies and executive produced by Off The Fence, these documentaries will contain Asian themes and content, with completion and airing expected in 2010 and 2011. The documentaries will be shown on AAAN’s channels in South East Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. According to Boswell of AAAN, the deal underscores the emphasis that is placed on localizing the channels and offers the opportunity to selected production houses to have their own content aired on leading factual TV channels throughout the region. KOCCA has entered into coproduction deals with China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia to produce several documentaries that cover themes that showcase the diversity of Asian cultures. Natural resources, economic development, culture, tourism and ties with Korea are just some of the topics being covered. KOCCA’s main objectivefor entering into international co-productions is to increase understanding between Asian countries and create closer ties with broadcasters throughout the region. These documentaries consist of 21×60 minute episodes. Mongolia, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia will be co-producing four episodes and China will be co-producing five. Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Cambodia and Brazil have entered into a tentative agreement to participate in the project. Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific Around 15 percent of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific’s factual content is sourced and/or produced in Asia. On the whole, the amount of local documentary programming appears to be quite consistent over the past few years. To date, the company sees more than 500 hours of local programming across its various networks in the region. The Man Made Marvels strand on DSC has been a consistent top performer for Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, delivering on both regional relevance and the importance of engineering as a core genre. World Cafe is also becoming a success story for Discovery Travel & Living, with Bobby Chinn gaining increasing recognition and popularity as one of the key personalities on the channel and across the travel/food space. With regards to the amount of local production that is reliant on co-production funding with the likes of MDA, FINAS, KOCCA, the company does not aim for a fixed number of hours. “It all depends on the project and the editorial viability of having the right co-production partner for a particular project. We are always keen to explore opportunities to support local filmmaking talent and help bring their compelling, relevant stories to the rest of the world,” said Charmaine Kwan, vice president, programming, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific. Discovery has had several successful co-production partnerships with local bodies. The network worked with Singapore’s MDA for Culinary Asia and EDB for Changemakers Asia, Malaysia’s FINAS on Discovery Channel’s First Time Filmmakers and Eye On initiatives, China’s CICC on the recent Man Made Marvels series and CETV-3 for Eye On China, and Taiwan’s GIO for the Unknown Taiwan and Eco Taiwan series. The terms vary from agency to agency, project to project. The network has built up strong working relationships with a number of production houses across Asia-Pacific. Some of the production companies Discovery regularly work with are Bang Productions, Beach House as well as Infocus Asia. Discovery has yet to confirm its attendance at the Asian Side of the Doc at press time. “If we do attend, as with other markets, we will be on the lookout for strong stories which can be told from this region, across both the factual and lifestyle space,” said Kwan. BBC World News An increasing amount of BBC World News’ factual/documentary programming is locally sourced or produced in Asia. Asia Business Report comes live from Singapore every weekday; Michael Peschardt, who is based in Sydney, constantly tours the region for his two series Peschardt’s People and Peschardt’s Business People; a series has come from Hong Kong University, Asian Business Leaders, and in January the channel aired a documentary also from Hong Kong, Cambodia Surgical Ward which follows a firebrand surgeon as he tackles sick children in Cambodia. All of BBC World News’ regular strands like Click and Fast:track report from across Asia, and the channel runs documentary series from all over the region on political, business, travel and environmental issues. The majority of the channel’s programming is produced by companies based in the UK. “This has been the traditional organisation for BBC World News but increasingly we are relying on local companies to fill the schedules. One documentary strand, My Country, takes the work of the best local film and documentary makers and versions it in English for a world audience,” said Paul Gibbs, head of programmes, BBC World News. “We also rely on the talents of local camera crews, researchers and fixers. For example, our Fast:track team recently used a cameraman based in Nepal for one of their programmes. Additionally, we have several relationships with production houses in SE Asia,” Gibbs added. The amount of local documentary programming in Asia is growing rapidly, notes Gibbs. “For the first time we have established a close working relationship with a production company based in Singapore. Under the supervision of the highly regarded producer, we believe that there will be a steady increase in existing and in-production documentaries over the next few years,” he said. Gibbs is particularly proud of the Develop or Die series which explained the dilemma emerging economies have when faced with present-day environmental challenges. “Ditching the Dollar on the rise in the power of the Yen and the reportage of the Sichuan earthquake were powerful pieces of broadcasting,” he added. Asked by TVAplus how much of local production is reliant on co-production funding with the likes of Media Development Authority (in Singapore), FINAS (in Malaysia), KOCCA (in Korea), Gibbs said, “This is usually a matter for local independent production companies. We rarely approach media funding institutions directly but depend on available funds being won by local production companies.” “But we are always keen to raise funds from the usual commercial channels. Asian economies are booming and keen to advertise with us and sponsor programming. We have talented teams of people constantly talking with companies to help them globalise their commercial message,” said Gibbs. AETN All Asia Networks According to Michele Schofield, director, content – programming, acquisitions & production, AETN All Asia Networks, “Our volume of local production has taken a dramatic increase this year on what we produced last year as our commitment to localizing our channels remains in the forefront of our network priorities. As well as local production, we scour the international market for genre-relevant, high-quality Asian content to play on our channels.” Availability to source this content varies by genre but as an average, around 5-10 percent of AAA Networks’ content is Asian, with this increasing as the original productions continue. Schofield noted that 2010 will be a busy year for AAA Networks. “Our original production output will be triple the amount we produced and premiered last year! As well as continuing local production on CI and History, audiences will see more local production on BIO this year as well,” reveals Schofield. Schofield added that the 2 x 1 hour special on Mahathir was a great premiere on History. “Our ratings for the premiere in Malaysia were 300 percent the average and we received great recognition and press. Likewise, launching our original crime series, Crime Investigation Asia, with an initial 6 x 1 hour episodes (with more episodes to come in 2010) was a first (in the factual crime genre) for a regional channel in Asia and certainly increased the ratings and exposure of CI also,” she said. Schofield says AAA Networks is not ‘reliant’ on the funding of government bodies to make productions as they fully-commission and co-produce programs with other channels, and production companies wishing to be stakeholders in the product. “We fully support the co-funding models with government bodies, such as the ones we have with MDA, FINAS and KOCCA, as a way to develop the documentary production industry within those local countries – which will in turn benefit networks such as ours in our long-term plans to sustain local production within the region. What’s more, our co-pro slates offer new genres and more internationally-recognized networks within Asia to further broaden the industry experience of local companies.” An update of the network’s past and current co-production funds and MOU’s by Schofield include co-production, co-investment deals in Singapore with MDA and production/post-production house, Infinite Frameworks, as well as FINAS (Malaysia), and KOCCA (Korea). Schofield says that some of the production houses with whom AAA Networks have established good working relationships with are Asia Pacific Vision (Hong Kong), Red Communications and Rack Focus (Malaysia), Beach House Pictures, The Moving Visuals Company and The Right Angle Media (Singapore). Schofield will be attending Asian Side of the Doc “being open to identifying new co-production opportunities for Asian content with European broadcasters and/or production companies, as well as the intent of exposing our brands and our network production opportunities to producers from other international regions.” National Geographic Channels Says Choylin Mok, director of regional production & supervising producer, National Geographic Channels International, “As localization is a key strategy for National Geographic Channel, we definitely aim to increase the number of hours we produce in Asia as well as create shows tailored specifically for Asian markets.” One of National Geographic Channel’s most successful local documentaries include Among the Great Apes with Michelle Yeoh, an inspiring documentary about saving orang- utans in Malaysia. “We are very honored that renowned actress Michelle Yeoh – star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, took her time to go on a very personal journey back home to Malaysia for an intimate look at one of our closest relatives. Orang-utans, whose name means ‘persons of the forest’, are among the world’s most endangered primates. You will get to see Michelle climbing 20-ft trees, speaking the local lingo and showing her motherly instincts caring for the babies! As Michelle finds out, many people – from local Malaysians to international conservationists – are devoting their lives to save Asia’s only great ape from extinction. The program will be premiering on National Geographic Channel in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia in the coming months,” notes Mok. Fight Masters: Silat is another landmark National Geographic HD documentary made under the ‘Malaysia to the World’ Documentary Fund with the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS). GS Productions, a local production team based in Kuala Lumpur, made a world-class documentary showcasing the Malay martial art of Silat. Using the latest motion capture technology and stunning 3-D animation, the documentary takes viewers behind the science of Silat and deconstruct the moves that make this the deadliest of martial arts. A high percentage of National Geographic local productions are co-funded with government organizations in Asia. “These partnerships have been instrumental in creating opportunities for Asian filmmakers to showcase their programs to the world, and at the same time, allowing National Geographic to transfer its hallmark production techniques and skills in Asia,” said Mok. In 2001, National Geographic Channel collaborated with the Economic Development Board of Singapore, investing over US$10 million to fund 57 films over 5 years. “We have also set up co-production funds with the Government Information Office of Taiwan, the Korean Broadcasting Institute and the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) In 2007, we launched a High-Definition initiative with the Media Development Authority of Singapore and Off the Fence that is open to Singapore production companies,” adds Mok. Mok says that National Geographic Channel works with production companies all over Asia but more extensively in Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia “where we have had longstanding co-production funds.” “Infocus Asia from Singapore has produced some excellent shows for us, such as Megafish and Inside Afghan ER, which won Best Social Awareness Program at the Asian TV Awards 2009.” In addition, Beach House Productions has also done extensive work with National Geographic Channel in Asia, the most recent being a quirky new travel series with Lonely Planet TV called The Road Less Travelled. Ten Alps Asia Formerly Uproar Asia, new Singapore-based factual production company Ten Alps Asia is currently working on a number of projects in the region, including First Time Filmmakers for Discovery Channel in Vietnam. Ten Alps Asia’s managing director Sarah Macdonald is producing the series, in association with the Ford Foundation, guiding the five winning entries to the competition through their first half-hour documentary production for an international audience on the Discovery Network. Broadcast in December 2009 on BBC World News, Chivas-sponsored series The Year Book took six boys from the same year in the same school in 1998, catching up with them today, to hear about their careers and aspirations. Also for BBC World News, broadcast January 2010, The Projectors, sponsored by Lexus, talks to the leaders in their respective fields and ask the question: What does the future look like? Macdonald says that funding is even more important than ever in getting your work commissioned. “It’s very important to have money already attached to a project, it will jump you to the front of the queue if there’s 30 or 40 percent of the budget on board. For documentary makers, there is less and less money to be had at the higher end, we’re having to look at better ways to attract funding.” Macdonald has also just finished a documentary on child trafficking in India; the programme is presented by Lindsay Lohan. “There’s no pretending we would have got that documentary away without Lindsay on board.” Asked about survival in an evermore competitive environment, Macdonald says she has always made sure not to staff up too much. “That’s a massive failing of production companies, taking a large production staff on the payroll even when there’s no work on.”