Sydney- Production and distribution group Southern Star will become a subsidiary of newspaper and online publisher Fairfax Media after its parent company Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB) agreed to a takeover. The SCB board accepted a buy-out offer from Macquarie Media Group (MMG), which values SCB at A$1.35 billion (US$1.15 billion). Concurrently, MMG entered into an arrangement to on-sell to Fairfax Media the metropolitan radio stations, Southern Star, Satellite Music Australia, which supplies … [Read more...] about Southern Star to join Fairfax Media empire
Pay-TV
ASTRO boosts subs, lowers churn
Malaysia’s ASTRO reported residential customers increased by 65,400 to 2.081 million in the first quarter of 2007, while churn fell to 7.8% from 8.8% a year ago, and ARPU remained at RM77 (US$22.14). Shareholders approved the US$166 million investment for a 20% stake in the joint venture Sun Direct TV, which will launch a digital DTH service in India in the latter part of 2007. In Indonesia, ASTRO is awaiting approval for a new broadcast license for its PT Direct Vision pay TV joint … [Read more...] about ASTRO boosts subs, lowers churn
Celestial Pictures and Zonemedia bring Shaw Brothers martial-art titles to Turkey and Northern Cyprus
Hong Kong– Celestial Pictures and Zonemedia concluded an exclusive agreement to air martial-art films from Celestial’s Shaw Brothers Film Library on ActionMAX (Digiturk, Channel 15) in Turkey and Northern Cyprus at 10.00pm every Monday from July. Celestial’s Shaw Brothers films will debut on pay TV in South Eastern Europe and South Western Asia to reach a potential 71 million viewers. Zonemedia licensed the pay TV rights to premiere martial-art titles made between the 1970s and … [Read more...] about Celestial Pictures and Zonemedia bring Shaw Brothers martial-art titles to Turkey and Northern Cyprus
Toei Animation and Elastic Rights secure Pretty Cure distribution in Spain
Tokyo- Toei Animation Co. Ltd. and Spanish brand management company Elastic Rights have secured sales for seasons one and two of animated series Pretty Cure with Spanish broadcasters. Disney’s Jetix acquired pay TV rights for Pretty Cure, with the series scheduled to run from June 25 to September 8. Cuatro secured free TV rights, with the second run of both seasons to start in early July. Clan TVE acquired free dtz rights for the series and will begin broadcast on June 28. Pretty Cure is a … [Read more...] about Toei Animation and Elastic Rights secure Pretty Cure distribution in Spain
Shanghai Media Group partners Intel on HD wireless and mobile technology
Shanghai- The Shanghai Media Group is joining forces with Intel Corp to develop wireless broadband and mobile technology for high-definition TV programs. The partnership aims to allow audiences to watch HD programs anywhere, any time, on personal computers or mobile devices, the Shanghai Daily reports. "We are at a crucial time when the traditional media and new media are converging," Zhang Dazhong, vice president of SMG, told the fourth China International New Media Forum before the signing … [Read more...] about Shanghai Media Group partners Intel on HD wireless and mobile technology
AETN All Asia Networks’ channels launching in Southeast Asia
Kuala Lumpur- AETN All Asia Networks Pte Ltd (AAAN), a joint venture of A&E Television Networks and ASTRO All Asia Networks, will launch The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand on June 15, 2007. Both channels will be carried on Astro in Malaysia and Brunei, on StarHub in Singapore and on Truevision in Thailand. The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network will be fully language-versioned in Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia, … [Read more...] about AETN All Asia Networks’ channels launching in Southeast Asia