The formats business in Asia is booming. Game shows are hot. So are dancing/singing shows. And comedy is fast becoming the new frontier for clever concepts that can travel. China is busily commissioning local versions of Western productions. Of the emerging markets, Vietnam is devouring numerous formats, and Pakistan is becoming more receptive. And telenovela producers see great scope in adapting their shows for Asian markets with local partners. Summing up the buoyant mood, Pierre Cheung, … [Read more...] about Formats frenzy in Asia
asian entertainment news
Thinking global, acting local for High School Musical 2
OverviewBased at the regional headquarters in Hong Kong, Simon George is responsible for directing the marketing strategies for Disney channelsacross the region, and overseeing the development of television franchises by working closely with other divisions of The Walt DisneyCompany. He joined the Company from Cartoon Network in October 2006 with extensive experience in marketing, brand management and commercial exploitation. His first major project in Asia -franchise management for the … [Read more...] about Thinking global, acting local for High School Musical 2
The truth is out there
Maybe it’s simply down to significant cross-promotion across myriad cable channels, but the boundaries of genre seem to be becomingincreasingly blurred. Trailers for shows about ‘survivors’ in the jungle, ghost-hunters and real pirates of the Caribbean seem more suitedto general-entertainment and movie channels than the pillar channels of the factual entertainment space. Shows about strange facts and occurrences almost beyond credibility, or the limits to which the human body … [Read more...] about The truth is out there
Striving for the BesTV
As the worlds of broadcasting and telecommunications move towards convergence, SMG is expanding to meet the emerging opportunities of the digital media sector. Earlier this year, SMG made its intentions quite clear: “The aim is to make Shanghai the biggest IPTV network in the world”, said DaZhong Zhang, VP – Shanghai Media Group and CEO of the IPTV venture. BesTV’s Chief Operating Officer Huaiyu Li told Television Asia: “We are currently offering these services in … [Read more...] about Striving for the BesTV
Going for Olympic gold
Chinese television stations are gearing up for the 2008 Beijing Olympics with ad spend expected to soar for a Games being held on home soil. The International Olympic Council has already predicted broadcast revenues for the Beijing Olympiad to cash in at US$1.7 billion - 14% up on the Athens-held 2004 Games. Although the Chinese advertising market has grown ‘calmly’ at only 12% for the first 5 months of 2007, China-based CTR Market Research expects the market to experience a … [Read more...] about Going for Olympic gold
Digital cable growing apace in metro China
Digital cable TV is developing at a fast clip in China, with the number of households with access to the facility having reached 60 million throughout the country, according to one estimate. The number is nearly 10 times as many as the 6.56 million homes reported to have digital cable TV by the industry watchdog, the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) as of end-June 2006. Digital cable TV, which offers subscribers a choice of at least 50 channels, is regarded as … [Read more...] about Digital cable growing apace in metro China