Television Asia Plus | January-February 2024

Simon

Sales

Chua

Sales

531

Editor’s Note

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the First issue of 2024 for Television Asia Plus!

A new year dawns on us bringing new challenges and the same trends carried over from 2023. While there has been news of cutting content to save over all costs across streaming, the demand for quality content continues and Asian stories will continue to dominate platforms across the world.

I am hopeful for this year in what seems like turbulent times for television content around the world. While only time will tell as to where the wind will blow in terms of where the business stands. We ride on.

On this issue’s cover & cover story we have a glimpse of the total cost and work needed to maintain a streaming service through the eyes of Zixi and fuboTV

For our first feature story, we have a look at Entertainment Oxygen’s launch of their comprehensive festival streaming and networking platform, eoFlix, spearheaded by founder/CEO Apple TungFong

And our final feature story is an exclusive first-hand account of Kate Ward, Managing Director of Factual Productions at BBC Studios, and her experience as she celebrates 1 year in the position.

EDITORIAL/PUBLISHER

Keen Whye Lee Publisher

Mathew Chan Editor editor-tva@harvest-info.com

Arjay Alivia Layout and Design OPERATIONS

Mari Vergara Head of Operations manager-ph@harvest-info.com

SALES

Simon Lee Hong Kong, U.S.A., and Europe sales@harvest-info.com

Chua Chew Huat Asia Pacific sales-sg@harvest-info.com

MARKETING

Lalissa Singson mktg@harvest-info.com

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Michael Magsalin tech@harvest-info.com

Harvest Information Pte. Ltd. 531 Upper Cross Street,#04-16, Singapore 050531

Mathew Chan Editor

Temptation Island India on JioCinema brings the perfect mix of love, drama and temptations

JioCinema is all set to elevate the entertainment quotient for its viewers with the launch of the Indian adaptation of one of the world’s biggest reality formats, Temptation Island. The show will have two of the most seasoned personalities of Indian television, the stunning Mouni Roy play The Queen of Hearts and the relationship expert, and the charismatic Karan Kundrra takes charge as the host. In this ultimate Pyaar Ki Pariksha, Mouni will be guiding the contestants in their journey of self-discovery, while Karan will test the strength of the relationships. Temptation Island is an original format owned by the Banijay Group and is produced in India by Banijay Asia.

Shot at an exotic tropical island, this unique social experiment will see couples tempted to sever old ties and explore new romances as they willfully separate in the Girls Villa and the Boys Villa and immerse themselves in an environment filled with irresistible allure. Surrounded by charming singles, they will grapple with their feelings, confront unfamiliar temptations, and delve into their deepest desires. Through the course of the show, the boys and the girls will explore new bonds through romantic dates, interesting activities, and theme parties that will help them understand each other better.

Presented by Too Yumm, Powered by Paytm, and along with Skore as the Digital Partner, Temptation Island India will span across 42 episodes, with an extended version called Temptation Channel streaming on the platform all day

OUTtv commissions trio of documentaries CJ ENM Hong Kong announces first Mandarin remake series BREEZE BY THE SEAslated for release last quarter of 2024

CJ ENM Hong Kong (CJ ENM HK) announced the filming commencement of their first Mandarin remake series BREEZE BY THE SEA first announced in November 2022. The filming commencement ceremony of BREEZE BY THE SEA was held on 27 October in the picturesque coastal town of Kinmen Island in the presence of producers, director and cast members.

Helmed by award winning director Peter Ho, the film stars an ensemble of A-list Taiwanese actors including onscreen sweethearts Bolin Chen and Puff Kuo, Charles Lin, Tuo Tsung-hua, Ma Nian-Hsien; Singapore’s veteran actress Fann Wong well known for her classic role in “The Return of the Condor Heroes”, Golden Horse Best Actress Nominee Hong Hui Fang (Ajoomma), Hong Kong’s rising actress Cecilia Choi, and many more.

With a production budget of USD 3 million, BREEZE BY THE SEA is a 12-episode drama adapted by K Drama “Top Star U Back” starring Kim Ji-seok and Jeon So-min, written by Lee Si Eun (True Beauty) and Lee So Jeong which premiered in Korea and worldwide in 2018. The producers immediately saw the connection between BREEZE BY THE SEA and “Top Star U Back” since both dramas are set in coastal town and revolves around the therapeutic storyline of island lifestyle.

BREEZE BY THE SEA is a cross-territory collaboration between CJ ENM HK, Central Motion Picture Corporation, and Deepwaters Digital Support Inc.

OUTtv has commissioned three brand-new documentaries. These are: Our Gay Family (1 x 90’) as part of the service’s popular OUTspoken documentary strand, three-part series The Last American Gay Bar (3 x 40’) and 45-minute one-off programme Escape to Paradise. Produced by Firestarter Productions, Our Gay Family explores a family with three generations of women living a gay life from their early twenties to mid-fifties.

The Last American Gay Bar, produced by Kristian Day Media and Daylite Pictures, is a three-part series telling the story of the rise and fall of gay bars in America through the eyes of three red state institutions.

Escape to Paradise is a one-off documentary, looking into the life of Filipino-American drag queen and reality television personality Manila Luzon on a summer day in Fire Island produced by Producer Entertainment Group.

Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv, said: “Documentaries are a hugely important part of our programming slate as they support our core values of telling the true stories of the LGBTQ+ community, and continue to be popular with our audiences all over the world. These projects spotlight a multiplicity of queer experiences – from the importance of vibrant night life and spaces to host it, to an intimate portrait of a family across generations.”

Story of Kunning Palace starring Bai Lu and Zhang Linghe finally premieres on iQIYI

iQIYI original costume drama Story of Kunning Palace has officially premiered on November 7th, after a year-long wait from the fans who rejoiced, “It’s finally not a scam, Story of Kunning Palace is really here!”

Starring Bai Lu, Zhang Linghe, and Wang Xingyue, Story of Kunning Palace is directed by Chu Yuipan, who was also behind the production of The Starry Love and The Long Ballad. Gathering a star-studded dream team and the anticipation from many, the reservation rates have reached 7.25 million, breaking the record as iQIYI’s highest number of reservations for a costume drama to date

Story of Kunning Palace tells the story of Jiang Xuening (played by Bai Lu), who went through many ups and downs to become the queen, but encountered a palace coup and was forced to commit suicide. With a second chance in life, she is determined to uncover the truth of the past and rewrite the outcome of her fate. Bailu’s popularity has been rising steadily after starring in One and Only, and her new works continue to deliver outstanding results. From the artist to the plot and production, Story of Kunning Palace found itself on multiple topics trending on Weibo as soon as it was released.

Story of Kunning Palace premiered on iQIYI (iq.com and APP) on November 7

BBC Studios’ format Dancing with the Stars - Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, returns to its original home in India on Sony Entertainment Television

Bringing large-scale international formats to the Indian sub-continent, Sony Entertainment Television has acquired the rights to the highly anticipated and immensely popular dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, a BBC Studios unscripted format of Dancing with the Stars. Returning to Sony Entertainment Television after 12 years, the show premiered on November 11th.

The latest season of the celebrity dance reality show witnessed Farah Khan Kunder, Arshad Warsi, and Malaika Arora coming together to form a dynamic judging panel. Farah Khan Kunder, a highly skilled choreographer, and acclaimed filmmaker, is known for her imaginative dance routines and possesses a discerning eye for spotting talent, making her an ideal choice for the judging panel. Versatile actor, dancer and entertainer, Arshad Warsi will contribute his wit and charm to the mix while Malaika Arora is renowned for her mesmerizing moves and captivating presence, having made her mark not only as a Bollywood icon but also as a popular judge in various reality shows. Together, this trio, with their wealth of experience and expertise, promise to offer valuable feedback and unforgettable entertainment in the show.

One of the most popular BBC Studios formats with 61 licenses of the show globally, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is the Indian adaptation of Dancing with the Stars, or Strictly Come Dancing as it is known in the UK. It is recognized for its dazzling danceoffs, and its star-studded judging panel has remained a household sensation since its inception. With its unique blend of entertainment, emotion, and unparalleled choreography, the show consistently raises the bar for television.

Talpa Studios announces new adventure reality show: Camping The Wilderness

SBS6 in the Netherlands is set to launch the brand-new adventure reality show, Camping The Wilderness. This is the first show created by the new adventure reality division of Talpa Studios, an expansion that allows Talpa Studios to further grow its offerings in this genre and showcase its international production capabilities. In this reality show, four Dutch families who have never traveled beyond their traditional campsite in the Netherlands are in for the adventure of a lifetime. For two weeks, they will be staying in a familiar typical Dutch-style campsite, but with one significant difference: it’s located in the heart of the Botswana wilderness, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and wild animals. From here, the campers must literally step out of their comfort zone and embark on the most adventurous excursions, from night-time safaris to sleeping under the stars in the wild. Meanwhile, they are challenged to photograph as many animals as possible. Each photograph is worth a certain amount of money, the rarer the animal, the higher the amount.

During eight captivating episodes, it will become clear which family will gather the most extraordinary photos and earn the most. During this adventure, the families do not only share the joy of camping life but also the challenges and unique experiences of living in the wilderness. In addition to airing on SBS6 in the Netherlands, the episodes are also available on the streaming platform Prime Video

Disney+ Korean originals Moving and Big Bet win big at 59th Daejong International Film Award

Last November 15, artists, critics and studios gathered together at the 59th Daejong International Film Award where Disney+ Korean originals Moving and Big Bet took home a number of prestigious awards

Moving, a breathtaking story about South Korean special agents working to protect their super-powered

children from harm and exploitation at the hands of malicious government agencies, was recognized with the highly coveted Best Series award, with star Han Hyojoo also being named Best Actress in a Series.

Big Bet, a series about the rise of Cha Moosik (Choi Minsik) a masterful manipulator with an insatiable hunger for power who sinks deeper into the criminal underworld to achieve his goals, saw lead actor Choi Minsik take home the award for Best Actor in a Series, and director Kang Yunsung take home the award for Best Director in a Series. The recognition at Korea’s longest running film awards is the latest in a series of awards presented to Disney+ APAC original titles. In October, Busan International Film Festival’s Asia

Content Awards & Global OTT Awards saw Korean original series Moving awarded the Best Creative Award, Best Visual Effects, Best Writer (Kangfull), Best Lead Actor (Ryu Seungryong), Best Newcomer Actor (Lee Jungha) and Best Newcomer Actress (Go Younjung); Japanese original series Gannibal awarded with the Asian Excellence Award (Yuya Yagira); and Taiwan Crime Stories awarded with Best Supporting Actor (Hsueh ShihLong). In September, Korean original series Big Bet took home Best Program and Best Individual (Choi Minsik) at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

All of these award-winning series as well as an extensive library of unmissable content is available to enjoy now exclusively on Disney+.

Sand Land: The Series – a new Japanese Anime from Akirya Toriyama (Dragon Ball) coming exclusively to Disney+ spring 2024

In spring 2024, audiences are invited to revisit the dry and desolate wasteland of Sand Land in Sand Land: The Series, an exhilarating new Japanese anime coming exclusively to Disney+

In Sand Land: The Series, viewers are transported to a world where the water supply is all but dried up, with the small amount remaining controlled by a greedy king. Tired of suffering under the king’s rule, Sheriff Rao reaches out to Sand Land’s demons for help, and together they set off on a journey to discover the “Legendary Spring”. An exciting retelling of the hit 2023 Sand Land movie, Sand Land: The Series will build upon the movie’s original universe, telling new stories

featuring the beloved Fiend Prince Beelzebub, Sheriff Rao, and Thief.

Based on the popular short story by Akira Toriyama, the creator of DRAGON BALL and Dr. Slump, Sand Land: The Series is a collaboration between Sunrise, the anime studio behind Mobile Suit Gundam and Love Live! Series; anime studio Kamikaze Douga, which has gained attention for POPTEPIC and for creating the title sequence for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure; and ANIMA, which specializes in high quality 3DCG animation.

Starring Mutsumi Tamura as the voice of the Fiend Prince Beelzebub; Kazuhiro Yamaji as the voice of Rao; Chō as the voice of Thief;

Satoshi Tsuruoka as the voice of General Are; and Nobuo Tobita as the voice of Supreme Commander Zeu; Sand Land: The Series is directed by Toshihisa Yokoshima and is adapted for the screen from Akira Toriyama’s original graphic novel by Hayashi Mori.

ABS-CBN

and Viu partner a new for PH adaptation of hit K-Drama What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim;

ABS-CBN Entertainment and Viu are partnering for the local adaptation of leading entertainment company CJ ENM’s hit romantic-comedy series “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” for Filipino viewers The webtoon-based Korean series not only topped the local ratings when it aired in 2018, but also gained widespread popularity globally.

To be produced by award-winning Dreamscape Entertainment, this is the third adaptation of a top rating international format between ABSCBN and Viu, following “The Broken Marriage Vow” and “Flower of Evil.” This Viu Original Adaptation for the

Philippine version of “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” will feature Kapamilya stars Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino in the lead roles as Secretary Kim and Mr. Vice-Chairman, who were originally played by Park Min-young and Park Seo-joon.

ABS-CBN and Viu’s most recent partnership is with GMA Network for the recently concluded series “Unbreak My Heart,” which served as the most watched series in the Philippines on Viu. Watch out for Kim and Paulo in “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” coming this 2024.

Sony Pictures Television – Kids announces the third

and final season

of its Award-Winning Animated Show Hilda

Sony Pictures Television – Kids (SPT – Kids) third season of its highly acclaimed and award-winning animated series, Hilda, debuted on Netflix last 7th December.

Having faced Trolls, Safety Patrols, Black Hounds and more, Hilda returns in season 3 with a brand-new appetite for adventure. Our intrepid, blue haired heroine will be lured into mystical worlds that will lead her to a deeper understanding of who she really is. While uncovering mysterious truths about herself, she will embark on train journey outside of Trolberg, face heroes of Old and endure an epic family journey with her Mum and friends by her side. The 7×22 minute episodes climaxed with an

unmissable 70-minute season finale. Based on the Eisner-Award nominated graphic novels by Luke Pearson and co-produced by SPT – Kids and Mercury Films, Hilda is a 2-D animated show aimed at kids aged 7-11 years that is available in 130 countries on the streaming service’s global platform. Hailed by Mashable as ‘as powerful as it is simple, as fierce as it is gentlehearted, and as extraordinary as it is ordinary. It’s a quiet adventure. And it rings with all the more resonance for it.’, the show has won numerous accolades since it first debuted in September 2018. This includes three Daytime Emmys, a Children’s BAFTA, Kidscreen Award, TAAFI and six Annie Awards.

Yeti Television’s The Truth About My Murder returns to TRUE CRIME for second series

Yeti Television announced that AMC Networks International UK (AMCNI UK) has commissioned the second season of the hit true crime series The Truth About My Murder (10×60’), which is set to air on top factual entertainment channel TRUE CRIME – formerly known as

CBS Reality – in early 2024. TRUE CRIME is a joint venture between AMCNI UK and Paramount Global.

Season 2 of The Truth About My Murder will once again see forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd tackle ten complex murder cases, guiding the audience through each victim’s post-mortem to reveal the truth behind the horrific crimes they were subjected to.

From a state-of-the-art laboratory at Manchester Metropolitan University and with a ground-breaking technology called an Anatomage Table that uses digitally scanned sample bodies, the series follows Dr Shepherd as he investigates a series

of murders where pathology played a leading role in solving the case and bringing the killers to justice. Featuring 4 US and 6 UK murders, the cases include Laureline Garcia-Bertaux who was crushed and asphyxiated by her Russian ex-boyfriend; Peter McMahon whose horrific torture by his fiancée led to his death; and a mysterious poisoning in America that took twenty years to solve.

Season 2 was commissioned by AMCNI UK’s Sam Rowden and Jess Rampling. The series was produced by Carole Lochhead, executive produced by Yeti’s Creative Director Sian Price, and the series is being distributed by Boat Rocker.

Eccho Rights Acquires Worldwide Rights to New Turkish Drama I Am Mother

Eccho Rights announced the acquisition of worldwide rights to the Turkish drama “I Am Mother (Original Title: Sandık Kokusu)”, a captivating tv series produced by the renowned O3 Medya. Premiered last December 6, on Turkey’s Show TV, ‘I Am Mother’ tells the poignant story of a woman who carries her

mother’s pain all her life, is tested by her child and split in between two men reveals all the realities of life.

The series boasts a star-studded cast including Özge Özpirinçci, known for her impactful roles in ‘Woman’, ‘First and Last’, and ‘Yakamoz S-245’; Demet Akbağ, a luminary in Turkish entertainment industry with

her roles in ‘Bir Demet Tiyatro’, ‘Sevdaluk’, and ‘Scorpion’; Metin Akdülger and Necip Memilli.

I AM MOTHER tells the gripping story of Karsu, a resilient mother of three who relocates from Adana to Istanbul, and bravely starts anew in the bustling city after enduring a life-altering trauma. This drama navigates her journey of resilience and renewal, as she confronts the challenges of rebuilding her life. It portrays the complicated dynamics of family bonds, the strength of a woman’s spirit, and the journey towards liberation from a burdensome past. ‘I Am Mother’ is a story of mothers and daughters, laughter and tears, and the universal quest for self-discovery. A series where every viewer will find a piece of themselves reflected in the heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking moments of life.

Paramount+ branded area to debut on Streamz in Belgium

Paramount Global Content Distribution announced that Streamz, one of the top streaming services in Belgium, will create a Paramount+ branded area on their platform as part of a multi-year licensing deal which will include scripted and unscripted series and children’s programming. This

agreement reinforces Paramount’s strategy to expand the Paramount+ brand in more ways around the world, including making Paramount+ available as a direct-to-consumer streaming service, through bundled partnerships in key markets as well as through branded hubs in local markets through licensing deals.

The Paramount+ branded area will offer Streamz subscribers the ability to search for and stream content from Paramount. Titles such as the new and returning hit series 1883, 1923, FRASIER, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, PAW PATROL, POKER FACE, SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS, STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and TULSA KING as well as series including WACO: THE AFTERMATH, MADE FOR LOVE and THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH will be available on the service.

Streamz subscribers will have access to Paramount Pictures films in the coming months including MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM and PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE.

Molang YouTube Channel hits 100K Subscribers in 5 Months

Millimages’ flagship property Molang, the ambassador of Kindness, has just hit 100,000 subscribers and over 12.6 million views on its new YouTube Influencer channel, in barely 5 months

The innovative channel launched in June 2023, and features Molang and Piu Piu “IRL”, interacting with their fans in video concepts normally presented by human hosts: gaming, ASMR, reactions and various challenges. Molang and sidekick Piu Piu have proven especially popular influencers in Latin America, home to 20% of the channel’s new fans and over 3 million views. Mexico is the number one most popular territory globally, closely followed by Indonesia and the United States. The strongest

target group worldwide continues to be Millennials which make up two thirds of all fans and audiences.

New, entirely original ten-minute episodes are released every

Sunday. The content is produced by Millimages’ world-renowned studio in Paris with a dedicated 16-person creative team including writers and creative directors managed by the company’s inhouse Social Media team

AcTVe & OTT Studio join forces to launch The Almost Friday FAST channel

In just four short years, Almost Friday Media has emerged as a voice of the male Gen Z generation: its content garnering upwards of 3 billion impressions with a monthly reach of more than 20 million in the coveted 18-44 yearold male demo. Although there are certainly other media outlets targeting men, none have Almost Friday’s curated mix of fun, action, laughs and sports. And now, Almost Friday Media has teamed up with acTVe and OTT Studio to launch the Almost Friday channel, currently available as a free, ad-supported FAST Channel on Amazon Freevee. The Almost Friday channel serves up a mix of original and nostalgic

programming, including content from numerous filmmakers, leagues, content creators, and others from their incredible network encompassing tens of millions of monthly fans.

The Almost Friday channel features its hugely popular sketch comedy, irreverent sports brands and comedians Will Angus and Liam Cullagh’s unpredictable, entertaining Almost Friday Podcast. In the first half of 2023 its social accounts gained more than 1.8 million followers and posted nearly 22,000 pieces of content. The Almost Friday TV YouTube channel has cultivated an audience of more than 320,000 subscribers, delivering more than 28 million views this year alone.

Amazon Freevee is a streaming video service with thousands of premium movies and TV shows, including Originals and free adsupported (FAST) Channels, available anytime, for free. All FAST Channels available on Freevee can be accessed through the Freevee app, as well as within Fire TV and Prime Video.

sooka & NJOI customers can now access 5 new FAST channels from Astro

All sooka and NJOI customers can now access five new Free AdSupported Streaming Television (FAST) channels at no additional cost, namely Filem Mantap, Drama Hebat, Drama Hotpot, Lawak Sentral and Travel & Taste. This addition compliments

the existing ten FAST channels available for sooka customers, expanding customers’ choices to include more dramas, comedies, travel shows and Astro’s very own content such as Super Spontan All Stars, Suri Hati Mr Pilot, The Rebel Princess and Perfect Partner.

sooka is Malaysia’s only streaming app with complete sports and compelling local and Asian entertainment. The app provides a simple, no fuss experience on any connected device and is ideal for on-the-go entertainment. Meanwhile, NJOI is Malaysia’s first prepaid freemium satellite TV service, offering a variety of exciting entertainment, sports, learning and news content.

This expansion on sooka and NJOI aims to provide users with a more diverse range of entertainment options at no additional charge. Created by Astro, these new FAST channels offer a mix of in-house content and international programmes, and are accessible via the NJOI Box for NJOI customers and mobile devices & Smart TVs for sooka users.

BBC Studios inks new content agreement with NTT DOCOMO’s Lemino streaming

platform in Japan;

BBC Studios announced a new content agreement with Lemino, a Japanese video-on-demand streaming service operated by NTT DOCOMO. This inaugural partnership with NTT DOCOMO will enhance Lemino’s content portfolio with a variety of British

dramas and factual programmes. Lemino subscribers will also have access to other programmes such as iconic long-running British dramas like Call The Midwife Series 1-11 and Father Brown Series 1-10, period dramas The Pursuit of Love and Sanditon, as well as documentary

series Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change The World.

Cheryl Png, Vice President of Distribution for Southeast Asia, South Korea and Japan of BBC Studios Asia, said, “We are thrilled to partner NTT DOCOMO’s Lemino to bring the best of BBC Studios content to even more audiences in Japan. BBC Studios is known for our premium content, powerful storytelling and the ability to connect with a global audience. We look forward to working closely with NTT DOCOMO to showcase the depth and breadth of our programmes that we are confident Japanese viewers will enjoy.”

Thema and Globo close exclusive distribution mandate agreement in the Asian Market

Seeking to further expand its presence on the Asian continent, Globo closed a distribution mandate agreement with THEMA, a Canal+ company. As of January 2024, THEMA will handle Globo’s titles distribution across the region, bringing its success stories to new audiences.

Among the premium content that will land on the continent are drama classics, new releases and Globoplay Originals, which are part of the Brazilian company’s varied portfolio. With 27 thousand hours of new productions in 2022

alone, Globo is the largest media company in Latin America, also operating the leading Brazilian streaming platform, Globoplay

Globo’s partnership with THEMA covers the distribution of premium and ready-made titles such as ‘Land of Desire’, telenovela that is currently airing in prime time in Brazil, and ‘The Others’, the most consumed series ever published on Globoplay*, in strategic territories such as Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore, where THEMA’s local expertise and market knowledge will support Globo’s content regional outreach. Globo will keep operating directly its format sales activities aiming at making the company’s content available for local adaptations.

“The Asian market is very important for Globo and we want to increasingly

strengthen our presence in the region. We are currently exhibiting ‘God Save the King’ in Japan and last year we exhibited ‘Brazil Avenue’, also in Japan, in addition to ‘Under Pressure’ and ‘Hidden Truths’ in Vietnam, between others. With THEMA, we will have local experts who will help us better understand the market and its cultural differences. This way, we will be more assertive in taking our content to new audiences”, comments Fábio Mauro, Content Distribution and Partnerships at Globo

“We are delighted to partner with Globo and bring such powerful contents in this part of the world. We aim to develop further Globo’s footprint in the region and support local players with a new selection of appealing series to entertain their subscribers”, said Alexandre Bac, Managing Director at THEMA APAC

tvN Movies turns 7 and launch first fully dubbed Tagalog channel in The Philippines via Cignal

tvN Movies celebrates 7 years of excellence. They continue to expand their reach by making their content available through various platforms. tvN Movies Pinoy is a linear TV channel that launched in the Philippines via Cignal last November 1st. This is the first attempt by tvN Movies to launch a fully dubbed channel for local audiences.

Earlier in September, we also launched our SVOD services in Hong Kong via PCCW’s Now Services.

Since tvN Movies launch in 2017, the channel has consistently delivered blockbuster content, bringing the best of Korean cinema to viewers. In 2023 (year to date) tvN Movies successfully acquired 14 out of the Top 20 grossing movies in

SPOTV acquires exclusive media rights for

Malaysia and Singapore

SPOTV has acquired the exclusive media rights for the UEFA EURO 2024 scheduled for 14 June 2024 and will showcase all 51 tournament matches LIVE. The highly anticipated tournament will be hosted in Germany, with the Final scheduled for July 14 in Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

Football fans can expect to experience a comprehensive coverage of the UEFA Euro 2024 starting from the Final Draw on 2 December 2023 and the Group Stage kicking off on the 14

Korea, including the No. 1 film “The Roundup: No Way Out” starring Don Lee and Lee Joonhyuk which collected a stunning USD $77 million gross box office.

“Korean films made a propitious rebound in theatrical market this year and tvN movies continues to be Home to these blockbusters for our loyal audiences. We will continue to expand our footprint and bring Korean movies to more audiences in Asia and beyond”, said Mickey Ong, Senior Vice President of CJ ENM Hong Kong

tvN Movies is available for subscription in linear and VOD services on Pay TV and OTT platforms across 7 territories including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong and Vietnam

UEFA EURO 2024 in

June up till the Final, across SPOTV’s multiple platforms and touchpoints on linear, digital and social media with previews, highlights, updates, news and much more.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA’s director of marketing, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome SPOTV as the home of UEFA EURO 2024 in Malaysia and Singapore. Fans in both territories will be offered an extensive and excellent coverage of the UEFA EURO 2024 Final Draw and

Final Tournament, with all matches broadcast on linear television and the digital platform SPOTV NOW.”

Lee Choong Khay (CK), CEO of SPOTV, said: “We are delighted to bring a marquee football tournament to our viewers and ensure that they can experience the thrill of one of the biggest sports events next summer. This acquisition of the exclusive media rights in Malaysia and Singapore is part of our continued efforts to expand our content offering and options for Asian sports fans.”

Formula E and Eclat Media Group extend multi-year APAC broadcast agreement

Formula E and Eclat Media Group announced an extension of the exclusive multi-year broadcast agreement to air the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in selected markets across the APAC region

The partnership began in early 2022 at the start of Season 8 and will now continue through upcoming seasons with SPOTV’s linear channels and streaming platform SPOTV NOW, broadcasting races live in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia,

CJ

Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. In addition to live races, SPOTV will also maintain live broadcasts of Formula E practice sessions and the popular qualifying format, known as Duels, where drivers race head-to-head in a knockout format to decide starting grid positions.

SPOTV also broadcasts race highlights programming with localised Formula E content for TV, digital and social media across different markets in the region

The first race of Season 10 was Saturday, 13 January 2024 in Mexico City and continues with a 16-race calendar including multiple races in Asia. Formula E will become the first motorsport world championship to race on the streets of Tokyo on Saturday, 30 March, and will race for the first time in Shanghai with a double-header on Saturday, 25 May and Sunday, 26 May. The series returns to Hyderabad on Saturday, 10 February following a successful debut last season.

ENM Signs MOU With the Saudi Arabian Content Leader Manga Productions;

CJ ENM announced that it has entered into MOU with the Saudi Arabian content company Manga Productions to commit to a content business partnership.

The two companies will join forces to co-produce and distribute content across all areas of media and entertainment including animation, TV series, films, webtoons, infrastructure, and more. The partnership also aims to mutually enhance

talents and human resources. Manga Productions focuses on the production and distribution of animations and games. It has recently co-produced films with Toei Animation, Japan’s top animation studio, expanding its portfolio of collaborations with various partners in Asia.

Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, commented on the partnership, saying “It would enable the two creative forces to merge and offer exceptional entertainment

content to audiences worldwide. The partnership would be an essential opportunity to reach Korean audiences with rich Saudi content for the first time through CJ ENM and introduce Korean creative contents to Arab world.”

Koo Chang-gun, CEO of CJ ENM, remarked “Through this partnership with Manga Productions, the leading content company of the Middle East, CJ ENM aims to accelerate its embark into the Middle Eastern market and spearhead the expansion of K-culture within the Middle East. By combining the expertise of both parties, we will produce content that appeals to a global audience and advance our cultural partnership with Saudi Arabia.”

Meanwhile, CJ ENM has previously signed MOU with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture in June 2022 to strengthen the cultural ties

International Sales Team launches new services

International Sales Team (IST), a global network of highly experienced broadcast and media industry professionals, renowned for their expertise in sales, is pleased to announce a significant enhancement of its services, now tailored to foster international expansion and industry competitiveness. As a “Sales Team for Hire”, IST has unveiled a suite of new services designed to empower businesses looking to expand in the global marketplace.

Under the banner of ‘GROW GLOBAL’ IST’s latest offerings include:

Local Presence – IST’s premium full-time service provides dedicated regional sales management to develop new

business opportunities and bolstering performance in regions worldwide.

Local Knowledge – Introducing a new individual opportunity management service that leverages the strength of local presence, covering everything from RFIs to RFPs and on to successful delivery.

Local Data – IST’s newly introduced tailored market research service which provides essential local intelligence on business prospects, region by region.

LocalConnections–Anewpersonalised response service designed to follow up and qualify leads and enquiries from exhibitions, conferences and seminars, ensuring maximum returns on your trade show investments. Charlie Day, Partner Manager for International Sales Team said, “We

are excited to expand our suite of services to meet the evolving needs of our industry. Our new services are designed to easily and economically enable the industry to expand into new territories and countries, compete effectively in international tendering, access and analyse international market data, and professionally manage and qualify new customer leads and enquiries.”

Day continued, “All of our new services are a direct response to the industry’s demands, as both manufactures and services providers seek to grow their businesses. Too often, a visitor will get little more than a generic email after the event. Our ‘Local Connections’ service ensures that the investments made in trade shows and seminars generates a substantial return on investment once the event has closed.”

Prime Video Launches its First Dedicated Sports Channel –FanCode, India’s Premier Sports Destination

Prime Video expanded its sports programming by launching FanCode, India’s premier sports destination, on Prime Video Channels. The first dedicated sports streaming service to launch on Prime Video Channels, FanCode offers access to the best of global and domestic sports. Through

its partnerships with marquee sports leagues and organisations, FanCode brings more than 15 different sports including cricket, football, rugby, kabaddi, basketball, horse racing to sports fans in India. Prime members can now purchase an annual add-on subscription to FanCode, at a special introductory price of INR 249, available only through Prime Video Channels.

With a subscription to FanCode on Prime Video Channels, Prime members can enjoy live streamed sports from around the world. Some of FanCode’s exclusive rights and partnerships include ICC Pathways, Cricket West Indies, EFL, CONMEBOL, Volleyball World & FIBA. Subscribers can watch tournaments such as the Carabao Cup, Women’s Big Bash League, FIFA U17 World Cup, Barclays Women’s

Super League, AFC Champions League, AFC Cup, and Yuva Kabaddi, amongst others. In addition to these, subscribers will also get access to the Super Smash and England tour of the West Indies later in the year.

In the four years since its inception, FanCode has streamed more than 45,000 hours of live sports content

Speaking on the collaboration, Yannick Colaco, co-founder, FanCode, said, “FanCode wants to reach every sports fan across the country and this association with Prime Video is a step in that direction. We are excited to bring our premium content to Prime Video Channels and further increase our reach. The fact that FanCode will be the first sports platform on the service makes the collaboration even more special.”

Warner Bros. Discovery announces leadership Appointments in Asia Pacific

Warner Bros. Discovery today announced several leadership roles across its Asia Pacific business, following the appointment of James Gibbons as President, Asia Pacific last month.

As the company looks to accelerate growth across all lines of business, it will move forward with a combined market and functional leadership that caters to unique local dynamics, while leveraging strengths and collaboration across the region and globally.

Reporting to Gibbons:

Tony Qiu – GM, Greater China & Southeast Asia, leading a regional cluster of SEA, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, based in Singapore.

Arjun Nohwar – GM, South Asia, based in Mumbai.

Magdalene Ew – Head of Content, Streaming, APAC, based in Singapore.

Lynn Ng – Head of Content, Networks, APAC, based in Singapore.

Shonali Bedi – Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Insights, APAC based in Singapore.

Jae Chang – Head of Content Licensing, SEA, India and Korea, based in Singapore.

Masami Takahashi, Country Manager and Head of Studios, Japan has made the decision to retire from the company and will be leaving at the end of March 2024. Recruitment for a GM, Japan role, to be based in Tokyo will commence shortly.

The below regional leaders continue in their roles, based in Singapore:

Daniel Tan expands his remit to Head of Marketing, APAC, and continues to report to Patrizio Spagnoletto, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Direct-to-Consumer.

Kurt Rieder continues as Head of Theatrical Distribution, APAC, reporting to Andrew Cripps, President, International Theatrical Distribution.

Jason Monteiro continues as APAC Lead, Streaming, reporting to JB Perrette, CEO and President, Global Streaming and Games.

Gibbons said: “Culturally, demographically, and economically, APAC is the most diverse region, with more than half of the world’s population and a mix of developed and emerging markets. There are significant growth opportunities here, and I have every confidence that this leadership and our talented teams have the expertise, skills and ambition to drive optimum value across our globally renowned portfolio.”

James Gibbons - Warner Bros. Discovery

QYOU Media Appoints Former TikTok

Country Manager

Raj Mishra as India Group CEO Overseeing All Operations

QYOU Media Inc., operating in India and the United States has announced the appointment of digital leader and strategist, Raj Mishra, as Group CEO of QYOU Media’s India operations overseeing all business units, with immediate effect. Mishra will focus on increasing operational and financial synergies and strengths among the three primary business units as the company further pivots in India into digital distribution and direct to consumer initiatives.

Raj Mishra was appointed to QYOU’s Board of Directors on May 30th, 2023 and brings a strong track record of driving business growth and profitability in the mobile, media and entertainment sectors With over 13 years of experience and a background that includes senior management roles in building some of the most successful app businesses in Indian markets history, Mishra specializes in go-to-market strategies, sales, marketing, business growth, and profit and loss management in India’s evolving social media landscape.

Mishra’s career highlights include his instrumental role as the first employee at Musical.ly in India (now TikTok), leading it to over 60 million monthly active users. As the Country Head for both Musical.ly and later for TikTok following their acquisition, he fostered growth for ByteDance in India, established local teams, cultivated business partnerships, and nurtured the creator community. Under his leadership, Musical.ly became the most downloaded app on Android and iOS app stores. He subsequently oversaw the rebranding transition from Musical.ly to TikTok after its acquisition in 2017 wherein it became quickly established among the most downloaded apps in India with 610 million downloads in India alone in less than three years representing over a quarter of all global downloads.

QYOU Media business units in India include QYOU Media India which includes the broadcast and CTV channels, the influencer marketing business Chtrbox Technologies and Maxamtech Digital Ventures’ gaming business

Raj Mishra, India Group CEO, QYOU Media

Quickplay launches EMEA office; names Wim Ponnet as President, EMEA

Quickplay announced the latest stage in the expansion of its worldwide footprint with the establishment of a new office in Europe and the naming of highly-regarded media, sports and technology veteran Wim Ponnet as President, EMEA

The new office will address heightened industry demand for cloud-native, open architecture OTT solutions. These solutions have been proven to accelerate time to market capabilities, drive cost effectiveness and optimize audience engagement and monetization. Quickplay will leverage market-specific expertise and its global talent and innovation capabilities to tailor fast, flexible, and scalable solutions that can power digital transformation success for pay-TV, telco and MVPD customers throughout the EMEA region.

As chief strategy and commercial officer of Endemol Shine Group, Ponnet was responsible for P&L management of the company’s sales organization, achieving multiple consecutive years of annual growth in excess of 20%. Previously, with Yahoo!, he had been senior director, strategy and operations, EMEA and chief of staff. He most recently served as founding partner and CEO of FanTechCapital, an investment firm at the intersection of sports, media and technology. He also serves on multiple investor and advisory boards for sports, academic and business organizations.

Quickplay’s OTT platform is designed to build and run scalable applications in the cloud using cloud-native technologies, including containers, microservices, a service mesh, APIs, and immutable infrastructure

The OTT technology stack provides significantly better performance, a modular approach for feature expansion, continuous delivery for rapid iteration, and built-in scalability, observability and security. Forwardlooking OTT providers such as Allen Media Group, Canada’s Sportsnet SN NOW, India’s aha 2.0, PLDT’s Smart in the Philippines and others are using the Quickplay platform to deliver services with the flexibility and the agility of the cloud, while equaling or exceeding the reliability and high performance of broadcast.

Wim Ponnet, President, EMEA

The Many Factors Contributing to the Total Cost of Ownership of Streaming at Scale

The broadcast industry is experiencing a rapid phase of digital transformation, and driving much of the tech-led developments being implemented is the adoption of IP which is proving to be a major enabler of innovation and efficiency. Many companies that previously relied on legacy workflows are adopting IP-based infrastructure to deliver a range of benefits, from operational flexibility and agility to the delivery of reliable broadcast-quality distribution of live video content over the Internet and bottom-line business impact.

In the dynamic world of video streaming, organizations are constantly seeking efficiency and cost-effectiveness to manage their largescale implementations. The solution that has been revolutionizing the industry is our Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP) powered by the Zixi Protocol.

While the pace of change varies from one organization to another, for fuboTV, a fast-growing sports-first live TV streaming platform, IP infrastructure has become a cornerstone of its tech-led strategy. Available on the web, via mobile and connected TV devices, fuboTV is a leading OTT provider, offering a wide range of live and on-demand content across 100+ channels featuring top leagues and teams, as well as popular shows, movies, and news. The company is a virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD) that operates a distribution strategy that relies mainly on IP networks. As such, it has broken away from traditional broadcasting workflows for primary delivery of content.

In developing its IP-based infrastructure strategy, fuboTV needed a live video acquisition solution that would securely and reliably provide broadcast quality across its content portfolio. The correct offering would need to ensure a high-quality viewing experience, helping them retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive OTT marketplace. Its procurement process led to the selection of Zixi as its technology partner to deliver live video over any IP network via its SDVP. Operating as a Universal Video Gateway, fuboTV can leverage a single platform for

John Wastcoat, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Marketing , Zixi

source acquisition of live linear content across fiber and satellite networks and then normalize content for distribution to digital delivery targets at ultra-low latency. As more TV is consumed via streaming, with even linear TV channels now commonly watched via apps on Smart TVs and connected devices, the challenges of latency has become an even more pressing one. Viewers are now watching on a wider spectrum of devices than ever before, as well as consuming sports and breaking news stories via social media platforms, so if the content they are watching is slower to arrive than other platforms it poorly affects their experience. And, for businesses like sports betting that are increasingly moving to monetizing live events with close to real-time interactions (‘Will Player X score this penalty’ etc), as well as the growing number of 5G use cases that are being established, both D2C and B2B, ultra-low latency video is mission critical. Until recently streaming has been much slower, and live video delivery to viewers at something between 15 to 40 seconds latency. This is the result of the additional workflow processes like transcoding that are required as part of delivery, and the challenges of routing video via the public internet. The widespread adoption of techniques such as Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) streaming, which adjusts the quality of the media stream depending on both available bandwidth and decoding

processor speed of the end user, low latency HLS and low latency CMAF have brought this down to the faster end of the spectrum, but with the increasing adoption of 4K HDR in sports specifically, even 15 seconds can be challenging in some circumstances.

Linear broadcasters and streaming services alike can benefit from greatly reduced latency using existing workflows and a couple of game-changers have helped achieve this. CMAF is one, using chunked encoding and transfer encoding to break video down into smaller fragments of a set duration that can be published as soon as encoded and forwarded as soon as received. The result is live video delivery that can take place in near real-time while later chunks are still being processed without the need to build up a large signal buffer. Second is SMPTE 2022-7 hitless failover in which data is sent down multiple paths to a single receiver and stitched together by taking whichever version arrives first while maintaining the original sequence. The Zixi protocol leverages these technologies and incrementally adaptive FEC, ARQ, network bonding, and congestion avoidance to algorithmically reconstruct data in less than round-trip. It also offers options over and above 2022-7 allowing the data stream to be sequenced or bonded, the latter resulting in a delivery system that combines internet, fiber, satellite and cellular connections from multiple providers to form a virtual bonded network optimized for speed and reliability. This contributes to Zixi’s ability to transport live video at ultra-low latency to and from any location globally that can be adjusted to provide additional protection at problematic edge point locations with a high percentage of extreme packet errors without interruption of the live stream as the

protocol can recover from up to 40% packet loss. In any communication system, there is also a three-way tradeoff between latency, bitrate and resiliency, with video being no exception. We use the optimal tradeoff between latency (target), overhead (FEC), and resiliency (goal) for the lowest latency and highest resiliency, customizable to enable transport of broadcast-quality video according to the unique needs of each individual use case. This adaptability enables broadcasters to synchronize their services, adjusting the latency to achieve video frame synchronicity to the viewers’ devices at the same time which helps maintain viewer satisfaction and ensures that the action gets to them, if not at the speed of light, then as close to it as we can manage with all production and monetization processes customers still need to insert along the way.

Zixi supports latency to 0 ms with proprietary and tuned congestion aware FEC can be used to achieve latencies as low as transit time with no additional latency for the protocol and the ability to adjust latency in real-time without impact on production stream. While other protocols have a sizable burst of unrecovered packets per given bitrate, studies show that as latency is dialed down below 300ms, Zixi unrecovered packet count stays very low for the most robust delivery available.

Unparalleled coverage of the Asia Pacific’s media industry

The Asia Pacific ’ s media industry is evolving at a rapid pace and Television Asia Plus is here to provide full coverage and an unbiased look at everything that is happening in the region

Television Asia Plus embraces Asia Pacific ’ s vibrant broadcast, production, and distribution of content across Free TV, Pay-TV, OTT, short video, livestream and new media platforms. We take a look at the trends, the current market, and the freshest news and information on what’s happening in the industry today

Our digital platforms comprising tva.onscreenasia.com an @TVAsiaPlus on FB, Twitter and LinkedIn cover the latest industry news and movements Meanwhile our print version is available as bonus distribution at all major trade events including HK Filmart, APOS, Mipcom Cannes and ATF

In the market for over two decades, Television Asia Plus has been proven to be a reliable and reputable television content journal We reach 15,000 senior content professionals across Asia Pacifi c through our web, social media, e-newsletters and print products

https://tva.onscreenasia.com

Entertainment Oxygen Officially Launches Premier Film Festival Streaming and Networking Platform “eoFlix”

Entertainment Oxygen (eo), the one-stop shop for indie film festivals, filmmakers and content creators, has unveiled eoFlix, its comprehensive festival streaming and networking platform, the announcement was made by founder/ceo Apple TungFong.

“eoFlix stands at the forefront of the industry, offering an unmatched, seamless blend of networking, dynamic live and online streaming, empowered self-distribution avenues, robust monetization strategies, and much more,” comments TungFong. “With eoFlix, we’ve established a worldwide digital media ecosystem that streamlines collaboration, seamlessly guiding film and television projects from their initial script stages to the creation of the ultimate on-screen masterpiece.”

The go-to hub for all things surrounding movies and the festival circuit, Entertainment One, through the eoFlix platform, is committed to redefining the indie film industry, providing its festival partners and filmmakers with unprecedented,

comprehensive support. eoFlix’s intuitive, dynamic platform is a simple to use and easy to navigate and understand, without using technical or specialized terminology or having complicated user instructions.

Entertainment Oxygen/eoFlix also offers its festival partners live event ticketing; schedule and film guides; pass management; virtual screenings; Geoblocking/ DRM software; self distribution/monetization; digital promotion; networking; a centralized entertainment database; onsite voting; QR code scan capabilities; and sales data management. The company currently boasts 37 festival partners, with more being added monthly.

“It’s truly exciting to see the evolution of Entertainment Oxygen,” says Silvia Bizio, advisory board member, eo, Golden Globes Foundation board member. “Having worked as a journalist covering the global film industry for over almost four decades, I know first hand the value that such an important and powerful tool as eoFlix can bring to the creative community.”

Attorney Phillip Rosen, Hank Chen, chief investment officer, China International Fund Management (joint venture between Shanghai International Trust and JP Morgan Asset Management), and Dr. Charles Huang, founder/chairman of Pasaca Capital Inc. also serve on the Entertainment Oxygen’s advisory board.

Founded in 2021, Entertainment Oxygen (eo), featuring the unprecedented digital ecosystem eoFlix, is currently the only service that combines film festivals’ virtual screening hybrid solutions with direct networking, allowing users to interact with content creators. The platform provides a global community that empowers entertainers, executives, and all other media professionals to showcase their creative skills, and streamline the process from script to screen in ways never before imagined. Filmmakers can easily link the cast and crew with their film portfolios and create an interactive network to transform the way entertainment industry professionals connect around the world. The eo on demand feature is crafted with care and designed specifically for independent movies, unlocking their potential by generating revenue.

Apple Tungfong, founder and CEO of Entertainment Oxygen (eoFlix)

A Year with BBC Studios Factual Units

By Kate Ward

February 2024 marks my first year in post overseeing the industry leading BBC Studios Factual Units as Managing Director of Factual Productions at BBC Studios. In my role I have the privilege of overseeing the phenomenal work of the Natural History Unit, Documentary Unit, Specialist Factual Unit, and Science Unit, alongside our production label Voltage and a number of independent producer relationships.

It has been a pleasure seeing how BBC Studios factual programming has such a special place in audiences’ hearts and how our team’s passion for telling global stories is resonating with audiences in Asia and beyond.

Asia is the home for some of the most spectacular filming locations across all BBC Studios Natural History landmarks, as seen mostly recently in Planet Earth III. Key sequences filmed on location included capturing an intimate and detailed account of the unique behaviour of archer fish entirely in the wild in Indonesia, and rare footage of hornbills catching bats during courtship which took six shoots across three years in Borneo to capture.

In Bali the team filmed the adapted behaviour of long-tailed macaques who steal tourists’ phones to barter, learning that more valuable items results in greater rewards from

travellers. The robbing-bartering phenomenon has only been observed in Uluwatu, and has been present for over 30 years.

To capture footage of blind cave fish and shrimp in Hang son Doong, Vietnam, considered the largest cave in the world, the production team had to trek for two days through the jungle which included passing through another enormous cave, Hang En. On average, they walked over a mile underground every day - carrying over half a ton of filming gear, not to forget the 150 batteries for the cameras, torches and filming lights!

It’s testament to the popularity of our factual content and the power with which it resonates with Asian audiences that Planet Earth III was made available to audiences in so many markets across Asia. Widespread popularity of these landmark titles has resulted in some strong distribution partnerships including our long standing relationship with NHK in Japan and our Joint Venture Sony BBC Earth in India. Planet Earth III performed particularly well on our own channel BBC Earth across Asia and our streaming service BBC Player in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia where it was the most watched BBC Earth title in 2023.

Asia is such a rich and diverse continent for the production of natural history programming that we are devoting a whole landmark series to the continent. As the largest and most biodiverse continent with some of the of the

Visit to mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, Xi’An China in ‘Ancient Powers’

most spectacular and superlative landscapes, Asia is a fascinating place for us to focus attention on.

The upcoming seven-part series, Asia, celebrates the diversity of life on the Asian continent but will also feature the conservation challenges and potential solutions. On a continent that is home to well over half the world’s human population, there is a growing movement within Asia to protect its wild places and animals – these stories of conservation heroes will feature prominently in the series. Iconic landscapes and intimate behaviour will be filmed using the very latest techniques, allowing audiences to experience the beauty and wonder of Asia like never before. We can’t wait for audiences to see it.

Collaborating with local filmmakers is a vital part of working in regions across the world. Announced in 2022, Songbird is a new talent initiative to invest £1m over multiple years to develop and support aspiring natural history filmmakers globally. In the last year, Songbird has funded a number of training opportunities for aspiring filmmakers with Natural History Unit teams across various filming locations including Pakistan and Indonesia. This on-the- ground training has provided individuals with access to production teams and offered meaningful roles on shoots for broadcast, as well as mentorship from experienced camera operators and/or directors and hand- on access to kit.

Building further on in-country collaborations, Songbird also began its objective to create local language versions of Natural History Unit productions for local viewings in communities where our programmes are filmed. This has included translated and screened feature Bears about the House in Laos, which tackles the impact of the bear bile industry. With further plans to expand the reach of our content to local communities later into 2024, watch this space!

We know the power of locally relevant content and building a pipeline of Asian content working with Asian production partners, platforms and commissioners is a goal for the BBC Studios teams in Asia. We have seen success with large scale co-productions including Ancient Powers, a co-production with our documentary unit and Bilibili, and Rendezvous with the Future which explores the science behind the science fiction of the award-winning writer Liu Cixin, and has achieved over 75 million views to date on Bilibili in China. We also have a Production Studio in India, led by Sameer Gogate, producing some really fantastic, original and locally relevant factual content with partners for that market including the amazing ‘Sons of the Soil’ and the more recent critically acclaimed ‘Wedding.con’ both for Amazon Prime Video. We see a lot of potential for future projects with Asian production partners.

As well as production relationships, we have a number of long-term partnerships in Asia to bring our world class content to audiences in the region. These range from NHK in Japan who we’ve worked with as co-producer in association with a number of Natural History landmarks, KBS in Korea who air our landmark Natural History titles and premium factual including Science, in addition to a decade-long partnership with PBS in Thailand.

We offer a full range of factual content on our own channel BBC Earth which is available in a dozen countries across Asia. The channel has a strong resonance with local audiences and continues to grow, achieving record viewing in December 2023 in Malaysia & Singapore. We see huge potential for bringing the BBC Earth brand to audiences across multiple touchpoints in Asia. An example of this is the eco-friendly outdoor clothing range, inspired by the BBC Earth natural history programming which launched in the South Korean market in 2023.

Asia is an incredibly important region to the BBC Factual Unit, both in terms of reflecting its wonder and beauty and working locally with talent and partners. I’m looking forward to more successful collaborations in 2024.

Kate Ward

Hang Son Doon Cave, Vietnam, Hoang Trung in ‘Planet Earth III’