Singapore – E!, a channel part of NBCUniversal’s portfolio, is boosting its original content line-up with local productions focusing on pop culture topics – from Asian celebrities to the latest in trends, music, television, movies and nightlife.

Starting in April with bite-size E! News Asia interstitials (again produced by ActiveTV Asia) to a series of E! Specials covering the most talked about names in Asia, E!’s slate of original programming that’s produced in Asia for local audiences will expand significantly. E! News Asia interstitials began airing on April 8, with three new versions each lasting 60 seconds to launch every week. E! Specials is slated for the second and third quarter of 2013.

Currently airing over 500 hours of original programming on E! Asia, the increased local production content will provide E! viewers with an offering that’s right on the pulse of Asian pop culture. According to Kantar Media in Singapore, E! closed 2012 as the number one English entertainment and lifestyle channel for female TV audiences 20-44 among all international general entertainment channels.

David Gunson, VP of South East Asia Channels, Universal Networks International, said, “We are investing in more Asian productions to ensure our range of programming reflects the content E! viewers are passionate about watching. Compelling content that is especially relevant to our audiences in Asia will magnify E!’s strength as a singular destination for television audiences seeking a distinctively original and topical entertainment experience.”