StarHub TV Excites with Pumped-Up Asian Lineup with 6 new channels from now TV and Hunan TV World

StarHub TV Excites with Pumped-Up Asian Lineup

-Six new channels-

-Shorter telecast windows for TVB dramas-

-Launch of VV Drama On Demand on TV Anywhere-

-Additional subtitling option for Korean channels-

-E City to be revamped-

Singapore, 30 April 2013 – The Asian offerings on StarHub TV is set to become even more exciting! From 3 May, StarHub TV will be rolling out a series of initiatives to ramp up its Asian lineup so as to cater to an increasingly discerning and sophisticated audience. These include:

· Launch of five exciting channels from now TV and Hunan TV World

· More TVB titles to be showcased concurrently with Hong Kong’s telecast

· Shorter window periods for TVB drama series on VV Drama (Channel 855)

· Launch of VV Drama on Demand (Channel 857) on TV Anywhere

· Dual language subtitles to be made available for Korean content

· Enhanced programming on E City (Channel 111/825)

Following the ramp-up, StarHub TV will further extend its leadership in Asian content, through the offering of more current, new and exciting titles, as well as increased flexibility in viewing schedules.

Launch of five new channels from now TV and Hunan TV World on StarHub TV

Viewers can soon immerse themselves in top-notch entertainment when StarHub TV launches new, exciting channels packaged by now TV, Hong Kong’s top pay TV operator, and a subsidiary of PCCW Limited. Four of the channels, now Baogu Movies, now Baogu Movies on Demand, now Mango and now TV On Demand will launch on 3 May, while the other two channels, Hunan TV World and now HaiRun will launch at a later date. In addition, customers can also take their viewing of these channels out of their living rooms when now Baogu Movies on Demand (selected titles), now HaiRun, now Mango and now TV on Demand, are made available on TV Anywhere, StarHub’s internet TV service.

– now Baogu Movies (Channel 861) and now Baogu Movies On Demand (Channel 862)

now Baogu Movies which showcases Asian blockbusters and first-run movies from Hong Kong, is a collaboration among the entertainment industry heavyweights comprising now TV, Huayi Brothers, and Peter Chan’s Shine Focus & Edko Films. Apart from movies, viewers can also look forward to top-rated micro films, behind-the-scene footages of the latest movies, and exclusive interviews with movie producers and A-list cast. now Baogu Movies On Demand allows viewers to catch the programmes at their convenience.

– now Mango (Channel 836)

A collaboration between now TV and Hunan Broadcasting System, now Mango features Asian superstars like Aaron Kwok, Faye Wong, Mayday and Jang Keun-suk in top-rated variety shows such as Happy Camp, Make Progress Everyday and World of Women.

– now TV On Demand (Channel 837)

now TV On Demand allows viewers anytime access to popular entertainment and lifestyle programmes like One Life One Earth, Chef Corner and You are the Queen aired in its original Cantonese language.

– Hunan TV World (Channel 831)

Hunan TV World presents rich infotainment programmes from Hunan Satellite TV, one of the most popular channels in China. Viewers can look forward to Chinese entertainment, culture and a glimpse into modern China through variety programmes like The Past, Yang Lan One on One, and Focus on Hunan.

– now HaiRun (Channel 851)

Launched by now TV and Hairun Media & Entertainment Group, one of the largest TV production company in China, now HaiRun showcases quality drama series from China, featuring popular artistes from the region including Sun Hong Lei, Betty Sun Li, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee and Joyce Tang Lai Ming.

Same-day telecast as Hong Kong on StarHub On Demand and shorter windows on VV Drama

Singapore viewers can catch the latest and hottest TVB drama series at the same time as their Hong Kong counterparts! Three of the highly-anticipated drama series will premiere on StarHub TV On Demand 星和随选电视concurrently with their Hong Kong’s telecasts in the coming months. These include Triumph in the Skies II衝上雲霄II, A Change of Heart好心作怪, Awfully Lawful熟男有惑. To enable Singapore viewers to enjoy more current TVB dramas, the window period on VV Drama 娱家戏剧 (Channel 855) will be shortened from the existing six months to three months.

Launch of VV Drama On Demand on TV Anywhere

VV Drama On Demand (Channel 857) allows fans of TVB drama series to catch their favourite programmes anytime. With VV Drama On Demand made available on TV Anywhere starting 2 May, viewers can take it one step further by choosing to watch their favourite TVB content anytime and anywhere. TV Anywhere allows subscribers of VV Drama Pack to catch all TVB titles that are currently screening on VV Drama On Demand as well as selected Korean titles, at no additional cost. With the availability of VV Drama On Demand on TV Anywhere, the Catch-Up feature on VV Drama (Channel 855) will thus be discontinued with effect from 1 January 2014.

Dual language subtitles soon available for Korean content

Anchored by mega-hit Korean drama series, and complemented with top-notch variety and music programmes, viewers of ONE can soon choose between English or the existing Chinese subtitles to complement their viewing. English subtitles for ONE will be offered on (Channel 820) in June, and it is available to subscribers of Chinese Entertainment Basic Group, Impian Pack and Thangam Pack customers. channel M (HD) (Channel 874), known for its wide range of Korean programmes like dramas, concerts, lifestyle and music, will also be offering English and Bahasa Malay subtitles for its programmes, on top of its current offering of Chinese subtitles. The options to select subtitles in other languages on channel M (HD) and ONE HD will be available in upcoming months.

Enhanced programming on E City (Channel 111/825)

Rejuvenations are underway for E City, the 24-hour Chinese entertainment channel packaged by StarHub. Featuring the trendiest idol dramas from Taiwan, Japan and Korea, popular Japanese animation series, and highly-rated Taiwanese variety shows, the rejuvenation will see E City bringing on new time belts to showcase lifestyle programmes and microfilms. Following the revamp, E City will also undergo a makeover that includes a slightly refined logo and new channel outlook that revolves around the “Happy” theme.

From June, E City will introduce popular lifestyle programmes like cooking shows and travelogues every Saturday and Sunday at 7pm. The first show to premiere, Flavour of Happiness (煮) 角, is a cooking programme that introduces food that is cooked with different themes in mind, and explores the moving story behind each delicious cuisine.

Microfilms 微电影from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will premiere on E City starting 28 June. These microfilms which originated from China are short films that usually last from five to 15 minutes. These microfilms will be screened on every last Friday of the month at 10pm.

Ms Lee Soo Hui, Vice President of Media Business Unit, StarHub 李素慧, 星和多媒体企业部副总裁 expressed, “The ramp-up in our Asian lineup is timely as our increasingly discerning customers yearn for access to more quality productions in the region, more up-to-date titles, as well as a stronger demand for flexibility in their viewing schedules. These additions and enhancements are testimonies of how StarHub never rests on its laurels and constantly strives to provide our customers with the best content coupled with the best value.”

“At the same time, we are excited to work with now TV, Hong Kong’s leading pay TV operator to showcase even more exciting content from Hong Kong on our platform. The partnership with now TV augments StarHub TV’s comprehensive range of Asian lineup and reinforces our leadership in Asian content. We are confident that the launch of now TV’s six channels on our platform, one of which – the now Baogu Movies that showcases the hottest movies with exclusive behind-the-scenes footages and related interviews, will be well-received. Similarly, now Mango’s top-rated variety shows showcasing Asian superstars will be a hit with the Singapore audience. In addition, Singapore’s viewers would be happy to note that the highly-popular lifestyle programmes on now TV On Demand not only offers them flexibility in their viewing schedules, they will be aired in its original Cantonese language,” Ms Lee added.

Ms. Janice Lee, PCCW’s Managing Director of TV & New Media 电讯盈科电视及新媒体董事总经理 – 李凯怡, said, “Singapore is one of the most important Chinese-language markets in our overseas distribution roadmap and we are glad to have StarHub, the largest pay-TV operator in Singapore, as a partner. We are excited that more and more viewers globally can experience our top-class Chinese-language entertainment, movies and drama series.”

Customers who wish to enjoy more of their favourite Asian channels can subscribe to new value bundles that offer access to more than 10 compelling channels with savings of up to 53% off the retail prices of the add-on packs. These are:

· Yu Le Pack 娱乐增选配套which comprises VV Drama Pack 娱家戏剧组合, Cantonese Premier Pack 粤语精选组合and STAR Chinese Movies Pack 卫视电影组at a monthly subscription of $22.90 (including GST) (U.P. $38.52).

· Qiang Dang Yu Le Pack 强档娱乐增选配套comprising VV Drama Pack, Cantonese Premier Pack, STAR Chinese Movies Pack, now Baogu Pack, Celestial Movies天映频道, Celestial Classic Movies天映经典频道 at a monthly subscription of $28.90 (including GST) (U.P. $62.06).

For more information on StarHub TV, visit www.starhub.com/tv.

-End-

Description of now TV channels and Hunan TV World

now爆谷台

now爆谷台－電影人打造的電影頻道!now TV聯同華誼兄弟、陳可辛Shine Focus、以及安樂影片合作推出，播放香港首輪猛片及亞洲頂級電影，加上獨家花絮、精品短片、電影人訪談，每天24小時為您精心打造最佳電影體驗！

now爆谷台随选

now爆谷台随选－電影人打造的電影頻道!now TV聯同華誼兄弟、陳可辛Shine Focus、安樂影片合作，播放香港首輪猛片及亞洲頂級電影，加上獨家花絮、精品短片、電影人訪談，隨時一按即看，為您精心打造最佳電影體驗！

now芒果台

now芒果台為now TV 與湖南廣播電視台合作的綜藝娛樂頻道，搜羅“快樂大本營”、“天天向上”、“ 天下女人”等高收視、集亚洲巨星的節目。曾參與巨星包括郭富城、王菲、五月天、韓星張根碩等，為觀眾帶來無限歡樂、陣陣笑聲！

now TV 随选

now TV随选-創新粵語生活時尚娛樂隨選頻道，提供“一個地球”、“煮角”、“女皇駕到”等旅遊、飲食、生活潮流節目，其中“觀星總部”更奉上新鮮娛樂新聞及獨家專訪，緊貼香港及亞洲娛樂圈最新動態！精彩節目隨時一按即看！

湖南國際頻道

湖南國際頻道整合中國領軍媒體的湖南衛視優質節目資源，為海外觀眾打開輕鬆看中國的視窗。《往事》《楊瀾訪談錄》《世界看湖南》等將中國的歷史事件、人文古跡到現代社會至每日資訊一一為觀眾講述，讓海外華人與中國緊密相連。

now海润台

now海潤台為now TV與國內劇集製作巨头之一海潤傳媒娛樂集團合作的24小時華語劇集頻道。播放劇集屢獲口碑，曾參演紅星包括孫孙红雷、孙俪、黃子華、張可頤、滕麗名等，部份更設導賞環節，迎合海外華人口味。