Mei Tian Mei Yu Entertainment’s new TV/web series Planet Homebuddies, which premiered on February 8 across multiple online video platforms, has been accused of being a “ripoff” of the iconic Friends by U.S. talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and other entertainment journalists. According to China Daily, each episode of Planet Homebuddies begins with music provided by Danny Wilde of American band The Remembrandts, who also famously performed the theme song of Friends. Mei Tian Mei Yu … [Read more...] about Mei Tian Mei Yu’s “Planet Homebuddies” accused of copying “Friends”
Country Focus
CNBC goes “Inside China”
Singapore and Beijing – CNBC today announced that it is launching Inside China, a new monthly half-hour programme providing fresh, original and in-depth coverage of China, on March 15. CNBC’s Eunice Yoon will present the programme, which will provide viewers with a front row seat to the historic changes shaping the country. Yoon will travel around the country covering the trends that are defining the new China and influencing the world. The show kicks off with a focus on … [Read more...] about CNBC goes “Inside China”
China unblocks IMDB
Chinese authorities have lifted a two-year ban on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), according to the South China Morning Post. Both the English and Chinese versions of the portal have been blocked since January 2010. It is speculated that IMDB might have offended the Chinese government when it published a preview of When the Dragon Followed the Sun, a documentary about the Free Tibet movement. Many Chinese have taken to social networking sites to express their opinions, which ranged from … [Read more...] about China unblocks IMDB
MIPTV: Japan’s TV Asahi and UK’s Warner Bros. International co-develop “No Brainer”
No Brainer, an innovative quiz show co-developed by TV Asahi in Japan and Warner Bros. International Television Production, will make its debut at MIPTV in April with its pilot filmed in London, UK. The rules and game play in the quiz format, No Brainer, have been re-developed for audiences in Europe and the U.S. The pilot was produced by U.K. production company Wall to Wall using British contestants and staff at the London Studios to give the format an international flavour. Last year, TV Asahi … [Read more...] about MIPTV: Japan’s TV Asahi and UK’s Warner Bros. International co-develop “No Brainer”
Yew Ming Lau resigns from Turner International Asia Pacific
Turner International Asia Pacific has announced that Yew Ming Lau, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the company’s business in North Asia, will resign from his position with effect from the end of June. After more than a decade working with Turner in Asia, Lau is to transition with his family back to Sydney. Lau’s position as SVP and MD of North Asia will be assumed by Phil Nelson, currently Turner’s Asia Pacific head of Business Development. Commenting on … [Read more...] about Yew Ming Lau resigns from Turner International Asia Pacific
Disney XD launches on Singapore’s StarHub on March 16
Lee Soo Hui, Vice President of Media Business Unit, StarHub (left); and Natasha Malhotra, General Manager, Branded Media Content, The Walt Disney Company, Southeast Asia (right) posing with Marvel superhero Spide-Man. Singapore – The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia (TWDC SEA) together with StarHub, will launch Disney XD, a brand new kids channel in Singapore, on March 16 at 10am. The channel is the first High-Definition Kids channel offering on StarHub TV (Disney XD HD - Channel 360), … [Read more...] about Disney XD launches on Singapore’s StarHub on March 16