Television Asia's Executive News
18 December 2006
ITV loses appeal against licence fee ruling
Bangkok – Thai television network ITV, lost its appeal against the May 2006 ruling revoking the company’s rights to reduced concession fees and its replacement of news and educational programming with entertainment which breached the requirements of ITV’s original broadcasting licence.
Temasek Holdings (Singapore)-linked ITV’s concession fees were granted by an arbitration panel in 2004, for a 30 year concession to operate the only network not owned by the government or military, on condition that more than half of its programming is dedicated to news and information.
It is believed ITV will face fines of up to 94 billion baht (US$2.67 billion) with the Supreme Administrative Court upholding the May 2006 ruling, and will negotiate the exact payment with the government. The company may be forced into bankruptcy should it be required to pay the full amount.
ITV’s predicament worsened Temasek’s position as its purchase of a stake in ITV’s parent company Shin Corp is already under investigations by the interim Thai government, examining foreign ownership levels and the use of nominee companies.
NGCI and FINAS jointly commission Malaysian HD documentaries
Kuala Lumpur – National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) announced the commissioning of two, one-hour HD documentary programs for the NGCI-FINAS High-Definition Documentary Fund 2006, Malaysia to the World. The closed door commissioning event and master workshop was held in Kuala Lumpur on 13 December.
Over 80 proposals were received from Malaysian filmmakers and six filmmakers were shortlisted to attend the full-day master workshop conducted by NGCI senior producers.
Novista Sdn Bhd and Cosmo Vision Production Sdn in collaboration with VHQ Post (M) Sdn Bhd, will produce a one-hour documentary each. The programs will be shot in HD format with budgets of up to US$200,000 per documentary.
Production will commence in January 2007 under the guidance of NGCI senior producers, with the product to be showcased on National Geographic Channel’s global distribution network of up to 290 million homes in 164 countries and in 27 languages.
2006 Asia Television Forum closes on record high
Singapore – The 2006 Asia Television Forum (ATF), Asia Film Market & Conference (AFMC) and Asia Animation Conference (AAN) closed with US$47.1 million worth of deals concluded, exceeding the US$33 million mark in 2005 by about 42%. The market grew by 25%, with participation from a record total of 49 countries.
The market drew 121 Asian sellers, a 44% increase from 2005. Strong participation came from Singapore with 25 companies, a 20% increase over last year; and South Korea, with a first time involvement of all four of its major broadcasters.
The Media Financing Forum saw over US$250 million of total seed funding with 38 submissions, a 40% increase in submissions from 2005, resulting in a record 34 submissions being shortlisted for potential financing.
The ATF and Asia Animation SuperPitches received entries from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, and recorded 11 pitches. Australia’s Little Production House and Thailand’s Anya Animation won the ATF SuperPitch and Asia Animation SuperPitch respectively.
CASBAA to pursue 2007 mobile, regulatory agenda
Hong Kong – Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) announced its strategic direction for 2007 and results of the 2006 Annual General Meeting elections to the CASBAA Council of Governors and Board of Directors.
CASBAA will focus on the increasing impact of mobile technology and step up initiatives in India and China. It will also continue to engage regulatory authorities in markets and promote industry development in Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan among others.
Newly elected to the CASBAA Council of Governors include: Craig Zimbulis, President and COO of Anytime; Garie Pimentel, President and CEO of Mabuhay Satellite; Ian Barnard, President of MIH Asia; Juno Henares Chuidian, Head of Programmes Acquisition of SkyVision Corporation; Malcolm Spry, CEO of AGB Nielsen Media Research and Susan Ho, Head of Creative, Media and Tech Industries, Client Relations of Standard Chartered Bank. Re-elected members are: Christine Fellowes, Managing Director of E! Entertainment, Hong Kong; Hugh Stephens, SVP International Relations and Strategic Policy, Asia-Pacific of Time Warner; Jeanette Chan, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Jeremy Pink, CEO/GM of CNBC Asia; Nic van Zwanenberg, Regional Director, Distribution and Business Development of BBC World; Nigel Francis (Individual); PJ Wong, Founder, Chairman and CEO of iMediaHouse; Thierry Raymaekers, GM, Sales and Marketing of Irdeto; and William Pfeiffer, CEO of Celestial Pictures.
Personnel elected to the CASBAA Board of Directors are: Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia; Peter Jackson, CEO of AsiaSat; Sompan Charumilinda, EVP-Chairman, United Broadcasting Corporation; Nic van Zwanenberg, Regional Director, Distribution and Business Development of BBC World; and William Pfeiffer, CEO of Celestial Pictures. Retaining seats on the CASBAA Board of Directors 2006 for the second year of two-year terms are Ian Carroll, SVP and GM, Turner International Asia Pacific; James Ross, Regional Director, Granada International/ITV Worldwide; Marcel Fenez, Asia-Pacific Leader, Entertainment and Media Practice PricewaterhouseCoopers and Michelle Guthrie, CEO of STAR Group.
Stepping down from the CASBAA Council of Governors were Jeanne Marie Gescher, President of Claydon Gescher Associates and Karl Rossiter, CTO of Zieland Productions.
Media e2e, Oracle and Wipro Infotech form Media Technology Consortium
Mumbai – Media e2e, Oracle and Wipro Infotech announced the formation of a Media Technology Consortium to address growing technology needs of the media and entertainment sector by designing advanced information systems.
The alliance sees Media e2e bringing domain expertise and niche applications solutions for the media and entertainment industry, Oracle providing industry focused business applications, and Wipro offering infrastructure services and system integration capabilities.
The consortium is in the process of meeting broadcast and media and entertainment companies, and expanding its focus on key Asia-Pacific markets in the coming months.
Disney Channel launched on HiTRON in Papua New Guinea
Disney Channel has launched on the basic offerings tier of Papua New Guinea’s HiTRON. The country’s television and data service provider also distributes the channel to other cable TV platforms in the market.
HiTRON provides television and data communication services through satellite TVRO and TV re-broadcast systems in Papua New Guinea. It has a MMDS TV system in Port Moresby and a VSAT data communications system. The company’s wireless Internet network also provides internet services in the country.
ICC selects ESPN STAR Sports as global media and production partner till 2015
Dubai – ESPN STAR Sports has been selected as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) global media and production partner for its audio-visual rights for ICC Events from late 2007 to 2015.
Official figures of the agreement are understood to exceed ICC’s previous deal with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), which saw sponsorship rights and audio-visual component amounting to US$550 million for the years 2000 to 2007.
18 ICC tournaments are expected to take place within the 8-year agreement, including 2 ICC Cricket World Cups in Asia (2011) and Australasia (2015); at least 3 ICC Champions Trophy tournaments; 2 ICC Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa (2007) and England (2009), Cricket World Cup qualifiers, 4 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cups; and the inaugural Women’s Cricket World Cup in Australia (2009) and India (2013).
EURO 2008 Media Rights outside Europe sold
UEFA has granted broadcast rights for the EURO 2008 European Football Championships in a number of territories outside Europe via unprecedented direct negotiations with broadcasters.
ESPN was granted rights for North America and pay rights in South America, with coverage on its network including 2 games on ABC; ESPN Star got rights for the Indian sub-continent, including sub-licensing to terrestrials; Al Jazeera was granted rights for the Middle East and North Africa; while PCCW was selected in Hong Kong, with NOW TV, distributing via an IPTV network and mobile services.
SportFive will represent media rights to the tournament in the remaining markets outside Europe, extending from its existing agreement with UEFA for European territories.
FremantleMedia Enterprises concludes Asia deals at ATF
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) announced ATF- concluded deals in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Mediacorp TV, Singapore acquired Project Runway, American Idol, The Apprentice, Prehistoric Park, Bills Food, and Jamie at Home.
Onmedia, Korean pay-tv service provider, took up American Idol, Project Runway, Jamie At Home, Jamie’s Return to School Dinners, The Apprentice, Martha, How Clean Is Your House, Property Ladder, Falcon Beach, and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.
Media Prima, Malaysia acquired American Idol, The Apprentice, Project Runway and American Inventor, while ABS-CBN's Lifestyle Network in Philippines welcomes Jamie's Kitchen, Jamie's Great Italian Escape and Oliver's Twist.
American Chopper stars to visit Australia
Tourism Australia and Discovery Networks will bring Orange County Choppers’ Paul Teutul Sr. and sons Paul Jr. and Mikey, characters from Discovery’s American Chopper, to Australia in February 2007. The program highlights the building of custom-made motorcycles in the Orange Country Chopper garage, New York.
Their travels will feature for a special three-part installment to air on Discovery Networks in the second quarter of 2007. The Teutuls’ two-week visit to Australia is part of Tourism Australia’s ‘Global Programs’ the three-year partnership between Tourism Australia and Discovery Networks, showcasing Australia’s lifestyle, people and culture to the world.
Australia Network wins AFI honours
Sydney – Three Australia Network drama and lifestyle programs won awards at the Australian Film Institute’s (AFI) Awards night on 7 December 2006: Love My Way, starring Claudia Karvan, won the Best Television Drama Award; Enough Rope with Andrew Denton won for Best Light Entertainment; and Suzie Porter, lead actress in Remote Area Nurse, won Best Actress in a Television Drama.
Twentieth Century Fox, Ciwen and Fortune Star to co-produce Chinese Martial Arts Film for worldwide distribution
Hong Kong – Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (Fox), Beijing Ciwen Digital Oriental Film & TV Production Co. Limited (Ciwen) and Fortune Star Entertainment (HK) Limited (Fortune Star), will co-produce costume martial arts film, Gold Bandits (working title), in China starting from June 2007.
Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau will produce and direct the film, with Gordon Chan providing the script. The film will also be jointly produced by Ma Zhong-Jun, General Manager of Ciwen and Peter E. Poon, General Manager of Fortune Star.
Under the agreement, Ciwen will distribute the film in China while Fortune Star oversees distribution in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and India. Fox manages worldwide distribution and also holds home video distribution rights for China.
Fox has also established a representative office in China and a new distribution partnership with Zoke Culture Group in November 2006.
Distraction inks deal with Theatre Red
Singapore – Canada’s Distraction Formats has placed its catalogue in the hands of Singapore-based Theatre Red to develop business in this territory as well as in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India.
As emerging markets with a growing interest in international products, Asia will be at the forefront of Distraction’s 2007 activities.
The 2003-established Theatre Red is an integrated TV production, distribution and interactive services company. Theatre Red has already begun work on the Distraction catalogue and generating significant interest in the flagship series Hollywood Connection.
“The Distraction catalogue represents a wealth of new formats that we are very pleased to be able to offer our clients in these territories,” said Theatre Red founder Ian Hogg. “As a production outfit, we are also looking forward to exploiting the added benefit of producing a few of the formats ourselves.”
Said Michel Rodrigue, President and CEO of Distraction, “We substantially increased our products offering such successes as Sins of Love, Hollywood Connection and All Against One and continued to promote formats, such as Dirty Rotten Cheater and Love Bugs that have contributed to the company’s development. Our goal in 2007 will be to further develop the territories in which we are already present and to increase our presence in those already emerging.”
People
Odendal appointed Astro CEO
Kuala Lumpur – Robert Odendal will join Astro All Asia Networks PLC (Astro) as Chief Executive Officer from February 1, 2007, replacing Ralf Marshall who is promoted to Executive Deputy Chairman. Odendaal was previously BSkyB and most recently President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Mobility and Bell Distribution.
Astro’s sister company Measat (Malaysia) successfully launched the Measat 3 satellite from Kazakhstan on 12 December. The launch expands the group’s footprint across South East Asia, the Indian subcontinent and parts of Africa, and adds 25 new channels to Astro’s line up. These are mainly foreign-language channels catering to markets in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and India. Astro's investment is in the range of RM200 million to RM250 million (US$57 – 71 million).
Astro also unveiled third quarter revenues of US$156 million, up 9%, and an additional 56,500 subscribers in the period, taking its total in Malaysia to 1.97 million. Its Hong Kong subsidiary Celestial Pictures recorded US$4.4 million revenue, a 37% increase attributed to the WaTV network launch and higher subs for the Celestial Movie Channel.
Television Asia’s Executive News will take a break for Christmas and New Year’s Days. It will return on Monday January 8 2007, and we would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
