Hong Kong – Cable TV added 59,000 subscribers, boosting the total to 845,000, in the first nine months of 2007, up 7% on the prior year, although broadband customers slipped by 3% to 316,000. Blaming an “unfavourable” operating environment due to intensified competition with nowTV, parent company i-Cable Communications Ltd. reported pay TV revenues fell by 16% to HK$1.2 billion (US$155.7 million), while operating profit slumped by 30% to HK$132 million (US$16.9 million). The … [Read more...] about Cable TV boosts subs as revenues and profits fall
Pay-TV
Two deals point to growth in China’s digital cable
Beijing - Deals involving cable MSO Beijing Gehua and digital solutions supplier China Digital TV Holding underline the growing potential of the digital cable industry in China. The digital cable TV market will generate RMB5.8 billion (US$775 million) in subscription revenues by the end of this year, according to Media Partners Asia. By 2010, MPA expects almost half of China’s cable TV subscribers will have been converted to digital, equating to 84 million digital subs and RMB26.4 billion … [Read more...] about Two deals point to growth in China’s digital cable
SPAA hands out awards to Aussie producers
Gold Coast, Queensland - Michael Bourchier was named producer of the year at the Screen Producers Association of Australia annual conference on Nov. 15. Bourchier’s credits as executive producer or producer include the feature films Lucky Miles and Napoleon, and TV series The Upside Down Show, Out There, Head Start and Heartbreak High. Among other recipients were Nick Murray as drama producer of the year for the Blackjack telemovies; Trevor Blainey, feature film producer (for Noise); Laura … [Read more...] about SPAA hands out awards to Aussie producers
April 2008 debut flagged for ABC kids’ channel
Sydney - The Australian Broadcasting Commission flagged plans to launch a dedicated free-to-air digital children’s channel in April 2008 after the Liberal/National Party Government pledged to provide A$82 million (US$74.9 million) in funding if it is re-elected at the Nov. 24 Federal election. The four-year funding would be split between commissioning new Australian entertainment and education programming, and buying Australian and international content. Branded ABC3, the channel would … [Read more...] about April 2008 debut flagged for ABC kids’ channel
Telstra to beam Beijing Olympics in HD to Australian homes
Sydney - Telstra has signed agreements with China Netcom and the Australian rights holder, the Seven Network, to broadcast live coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to millions of Australian homes. The telco will use two dedicated fibre-optic cable links from China to Australia as a dual backup to provide uninterrupted and live broadcasting, circumventing any cable failures. Telstra will monitor the international broadcast feeds as they travel from Beijing across more than 15,000 km submarine … [Read more...] about Telstra to beam Beijing Olympics in HD to Australian homes
BMC to provide panoramic broadcast sites for Beijing Olympics
Beijing - Beijing International Media Services Company (BMC), a JV of China’s Beijing Television and Seven Network Asia Ltd providing broadcast services, facilities and equipment, will establish its new live broadcasting site at the Crouching Dragon Market Place, 500m east of the Beijing Olympics’ main sites, the Bird’s Nest Beijing National Stadium and the Water Cube National Aquatic Center. BMC will set up multiple equipped, non-equipped and ad-hoc studios on the rooftop of … [Read more...] about BMC to provide panoramic broadcast sites for Beijing Olympics
