Television Asia's Executive News
04 December 2006
Korean channels top terrestrials at 11th Asian TV Awards
CNN & Discovery best cable & satellite channels
Singapore – Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) topped the terrestrial channels at the Asian TV Awards 2006 held Nov 30 at Suntec Ballroom, Singapore. SBS were Terrestrial Channel of the Year, with KBS as runner-up and MBC highly commended.
CNN International were Cable & Satellite Channel of the Year, with Discovery Channel as runner-up and MediaCorp News' Channel NewsAsia International, Singapore highly commended.
These awards are given to the channels with the highest number of winning, runner up and highly commended entries in the programming and performance categories, along with select technical and creative categories. Twenty-one kudos were awarded on the night, selected from 1,331 submissions from 15 countries. Back in ATA's inaugural year, 1996, just 300 entries were received.
SBS wins included Best Reality for 'Real Situations Sunday – Changing our Child's Behaviour' and Best Social Awareness program 'Unanswered Questions – Single Young Fathers'. CCNI scooped Best News/Current Affairs for 'Pakistan Earthquake: Rising from the Ruins'; Best News program for 'CNN Today'; Best News Presenter or Anchor for CNN Today's Kristie Lu Stout; and Best Current Affairs presenter for Stan Grant in 'Rising from the Ruins.'
Singapore's MediaCorp, Japan's Tokyo Broadcasting System, Channel 9 Thailand and National Geographic Channel Asia also took home multiple awards.
2006 Asia TV Forum & Film Market 25% bigger this year
Singapore – The anchor events of Asian Media Festival, held Nov 28 – Dec 1 at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, grew 25% on last year's event. With sellers and buyers from 49 countries, Asia TV Forum, Film Market & Conference saw 25% growth year on year, said Ed Ng, President of Reed Exhibitions Singapore-Malaysia. Seller companies are up 25% to 250 this year, with the number of Asian companies up 44% to 121.
US$250 million in film funding was up for negotiation at the Media Financing Forum, with 34 short-listed from a total of 38 projects – a 40% increase in submissions on last year.
Transactions this year are predicted to exceed last year's estimated US$33m, and all five major US studios attended again this year. Australia, France, Singapore, South Korea, and Spain all had national pavilions at the market, and Mosfilm Cinema Concern, Kazakh Cinema Distribution and RUSCICO (Russian Cinema Council) articipated for the first time.
Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) announce a slew of new deals
DA, Fortune Star Entertainment (HK) Limited, video and movie distributor, Innoform Media and Singapore production company, Boku Films entered into an agreement to co-produce full length Mandarin action thriller film 'Rule Number One'. Written and directed by Kelvin Tong, film is targeted to start production in mid 2007. Under the agreement, MDA and Fortune Star will co-fund with Innoform Media and Boku Films. Fortune Star will distribute the film worldwide, working closely with Innoform to distribute the film in Singapore and Malaysia.
RGM Holdings and MDA established a Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF) to partially finance at least six international films, costing a total of US$50 million, over the next two years. Parties involved include Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Chartered Bank, ICB Entertainment Finance, a division of Imperial Capital Bank, and private investors. The first two international films to be partly financed by the LGF are “The Girl in the Park” featuring Kate Bosworth, Sigourney Weaver and Keri Russell, and “Pushing up Daisies” starring Rose Byrne and Jay Baruchel. Singapore's Oak3 Films and Infinite Frameworks are participating in the production of “The Girl in the Park” and “Pushing up Daisies” respectively – the first North American film production for both companies.
And MDA and the Korean Broadcasting Institute (KBI) will be co-financing three High-Definition TV (HDTV) co production projects for international distribution in the third quarter of 2007. These are Text in the City produced by Sitting in Pictures Pte Ltd (Singapore) & Digital Plus Co. Ltd (Korea); Asian Youths produced by Upside Down Concepts Pte Ltd (Singapore) & Media Special Co. Ltd (Korea); and FestivAsia – Moon Dance produced by Big Communications Pte Ltd (Singapore) & Creo Contents Co Ltd (Korea).
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) signed an exclusive international deal with celebrity chef, Kylie Kwong, in partnership with Sitting In Pictures and MDA for a 9 x 30 minute series Kylie Kwong: My China (working title). The deal grants FME worldwide television, DVD and ancillary rights (excluding Singapore).
Singapore signed three separate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Canadian National Film Board (NFB), Finanziaria Laziale di Sviluppo SPA (FILAS) of Italy and the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) of Thailand to advance media collaborations.
And Taoshu – The Warrior Boy, a Singapore joint production between Peach Blossom Media and Media Development Authority (MDA) is to get a Chinese language spin-off Taoshu & Friends, an animated and live action mixed media adventure series for 5 to 8-year-olds.
NHK and MediaCorp to jointly organize The Asian Pitch
Singapore/Japan – NHK and MediaCorp are collaborating to offer The Asian Pitch, a platform for Asian independent directors to create quality documentaries on High Definition, featuring Asian content, perspectives, production styles and values. The initiative will be an international pitching event open to directors from Japan, hina, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and 10 Asean nations.
Caldecott Productions International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MediaCorp is working closely with the Japanese broadcaster on their common vision to bring Asian content to Asian audiences as first priority, and to the rest of the world. The agreement was signed on 29 November 2006 at the Asia Television Forum, by Mr. Lucas Chow, Chief Executive Officer, MediaCorp; Mr. Fumio Narashima, Deputy Director, Programming Department, NHK; and Ms. Ong Hee Yah, Managing Director, Caldecott Productions International.
While 4 entries are expected to be commissioned, funding ade available will be decided on a case-to-case basis, ith MediaCorp and NHK overseeing two productions each. all for submission will be from January to April 2007, with etails available from website: ww.caldecottproductions.com
ESPN STAR Sports scores live South Asia rights for Barclays English Premier League broadcast, mobile and Internet.
India – ESPN STAR Sportshas extended its agreement with the FA Premier League (FAPL) to deliver live and exclusive broadcast of the Barclays English Premier League (EPL) for the Indian subcontinent through 2010. The agreement grants ESPN STAR Sports the right to broadcast 370 matches per season throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, hutan, Mongolia, and the Maldives via television, broadband and mobile technologies.
The announcement comes four days after EPN STAR Sports declared its acquisition of the same EPL rights for 12 key Southeast Asian countries. ESPN STAR Sports has also extended its agreement with the FA Premier League to deliver live and exclusive broadcast of the EPL to 12 other countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, North Korea, Brunei, The Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Taiwan and Macau. These rights also include television, mobile and Internet platforms.
Mega Media Group inks agreements at ATF
Singapore – Mega Media Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Omnicron Media Kreasi, Indonesia with support from MDA and Indonesian Directorate General of Film, Arts and Cultural Values to create the Singapore-Indonesian Digital Film Fund. Their digital film technology partner is Panasonic, with Six-six-eight as international distributor of completed films. The initiative will fund 5 co-production digital feature films each year from 2007 to 2008, with management outside Singapore, shoots in Indonesia and post production in Singapore. The films are to be shot in High Definition, with US$300,000 of equity investments and an experienced Executive Producer attached.
Also signed on the same day was Mega Media's deal with SDI Media, a subtitling and dubbing service provider to bring mixing components of Asian language versions of Hollywood films to Mega Media's Dolby Digital Mixing Stage by early 2007.SDI Media's inputs will complement Mega Media's current capability to handle 7.1 Dolby Digital EX Surround Sound for Theatrical Feature Films.
Buena Vista announces multiple deals across Asia at ATF
Singapore – Buena Vista International Television (Asia Pacific) (BVITV-AP) the international television distribution arm of Walt Disney Company announced major deals at the Asia Television Forum.
BVITV signed a multi-year movie video-on-demand (VOD) IPTV agreement with Video on-Demand Channel Anytime to provide access to current and library features on Anytime channel in Australia through TransACT and Regional Internet Australia (RIA), Buddy Broadband in Thailand and TDMC in Taiwan. IPTV customers in Australia, Taiwan and Thailand will gain access to feature films from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films.
Viewers of Vietnam Television (VTV) will enjoy international television series Desperate Housewives and Lost and spy drama Alias. Criminal Minds and thriller series Nowhere Man, will air for the first time on VTV3. Vietnam Television (VTV) will show supernatural drama Ghost Whisperer. BVITV has licensed Ghost Whisperer to 12 broadcasters in Asia Pacific and can be seen in over 40 territories across the region.
In Brunei, BVITV has renewed a multi-year volume agreement with broadcaster Radio Television Brunei (RTB) to license over 260 hours of programming from a wide range of live action series and Jetix branded titles.
BVITV also licensed a live action series package to Indonesian terrestrial broadcaster JAK-TV, a local channel targeting Jakarta's urban and upscale audience. It features popular BVITV series including the Grey's Anatomy (seasons 1 and 2), and What About Brian and Ghost Whisperer.
A multi-year volume agreement has been concluded for library features with India-based FILMY, a pay-tv movie channel and part of the Sahara One Network. FILMY channel subscribers will have access to Hollywood features in Hindi including movies Signs and Shanghai Knights under the Hollywood movie block “Firangi Filmy”.
Korea begins broadband TV trial
Seoul – South Korea moved nearer to its delayed launch of internet protocol television (IPTV) with the start of trial services by a KT Corp.-led consortium.
A total of 260 households in Seoul will be connected to the service, providing SD and HD broadcasting, Video-on Demand, streaming internet, multimedia messaging, video conferencing and other applications via broadband.Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) and Korea Broadcasting Commission (KBC) will evaluate the service in January 2007 before approving a full-scale launch.
Meanwhile, rival service Daum Consortium will start a separate trial service with 100 households from 27 November 2006. Disagreements between the ministry and the KBC have stalled the launch of IPTV for over three years, with each side claiming rights oversee the new technology.
ABC announces 2007 line-up
Australia – Rachel Ward will play a vet in drought-stricken Australia in 'Rain Shadow' a six-part drama series co produced by Southern Star and ABC-TV Australia. Other new dramas in the ABC's line-up for 2007 include East of Everything, a 6 x 60 minute series with a heightened sense of serendipity, produced by Deb Cox, Fiona Eagger and Roger Monk; Bed of Roses, also 6 x 60, a saga of how one woman reacts when she discovers her husband died in the arms of his lover, leaving her broke, produced by Mark Ruse and Stephen Luby; and The Librarians, 6 x 30 drama/comedy about love, betrayal and revenge during Book Week, produced by and starring Wayne Hope and Robyn Butler. Also on the slate are 90-minute telemovie Valentine's Day, set in a small country town with only two things going for it – a pie factory and a football team; and drama Curtin, about Australia's Labor Prime Minister during World War II.
Khan named new 'Millionaire' host in India
New Delhi – Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan is to front India's most popular show, News Corp.'s Star Entertainment TV's 'Kaun banega crorepati' based on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.' Previous celebrity host, Amitabh Bachchan, fell ill a year ago, and despite his recovery has not returned to front the quiz show. Production will start in December and is slated to air by the end January 2007.
Off the Fence announces Asia sales at ATF
Holland – Production and distribution company Off the Fence has concluded several sales with key buyers in the Asian region. These include NHNZ produced series, Man Made Marvels, and Raising Baby Panda to Hong Kong's ATV, Fantastic Food Factories and The Most Extreme Series 4 to TVB, also in Hong Kong, Face to Face with the Polar Bear and Sperm Whales to KBS in South Korea, When Nature Strikes to Indonesia's Lativi, and Hollywood Science to Vision Media (For CCTV), China.
Rive Gauche Television signs deals in Asia and Australia
Los Angeles – Dorothy Crompton, SVP of Sales, Rive Gauche Television announced major sales in Asia and Australia for its reality, medical and documentary programmes. UBC has acquired programming for broadcast in Thailand, titles include: 101 More Things Removed From The Human Body, Alien Autopsy The True, Anatomy of a Giant, Super Humans, Hurricane Katrina Babies, Obese at 16: A Life in Balance, Outrageous Home Videos, Scars, Wild Weddings 1 & 2, and Raw History: Hitler Tapes. Telesis in Japan secured DVD and broadcast rights to the Dog Whisperer Season 1 for Broadcast Satellite and Commercial Satellite. ATV and Nine Network have acquired Anatomy of a Giant for broadcast in Hong Kong and Australia respectively.
Discovery Networks Asia and Nokia unveil Asia's Best Mobile FilmMaker in 2006 Awards
Thailand – Indonesia's Hardiyan Digwiyono was named the grand prize winner of the Mobile FilmMakers 2006 Awards, organized by Discovery Networks Asia and mobile communications giant, Nokia. He clinched the grand prize of US$10,000 and a three-month stint with Discovery Networks Asia for his entry titled, Children in the Hot Mud Volcanoes. More than 2,000 entries were received for the competition, and 70 semi-finalists were selected. That number was further reduced to 14 during the finals, and included participatns from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
Advertising agencies launch World Aids Day Campaign
United Kingdom/United States/Hong Kong – Seven global advertising and marketing agencies collaborated to produce a new multi-platform campaign, Turn on TV, on HIV and AIDS prevention in support of the Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI). The agencies include 180 Amsterdam, Cake, Lowe Worldwide, Ogilvy, Wieden + Kennedy 12, and Y&R, who partnered with WPP and MTV Networks International to debut the campaign on World AIDS Day, December 1.
People
BBC Worldwide appoints Norman Lockhart as Head of Production
United Kingdom – Norman Lockhart has been appointed Head of Production in BBC Worldwide's Content & Production team. He will oversee the management of BBC Worldwide's format productions around the world, excluding the United States, and the setting up of and maintenance of global production bases in selected territories, and managing the relationship with local production partners in others. Lockhart will join BBC orldwide in the New Year, and will report to Colin Jarvis, irector of International Formats.
