Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Oct 2nd. Curated by CASBAA, News Views keeps you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!
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2 October, 2015
25 September, 2015
18 September, 2015
4 September, 2015
28 August, 2015
21 August, 2015
14 August, 2015
07 August, 2015
31 July, 2015
24 July, 2015
17 July, 2015
10 July, 2015
03 July, 2015
26 June, 2015
19 June, 2015
12 June, 2015
05 June, 2015
29 May, 2015
22 May, 2015
15 May, 2015
08 May, 2015
30 April, 2015
24 April, 2015
17 April, 2015
10 April, 2015
02 April, 2015
27 March, 2015
20 March, 2015
13 March, 2015
06 March, 2015
Christopher Slaughter
CEO
It’s not exactly playing out according to script, but the latest episode in the legal drama that is Hong Kong Television Network’s struggle with the local regulator has ended with the High Court siding with the Office of the Communications Authority. While not exactly a cliff-hanger, it’s unclear whether HKTV will again appeal the decision in an effort to carry on with its OTT service, or wait for the review of its FTA licence application that was ordered by the High Court back in April.
John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer
At the beginning of this year, the Indonesian government set up a new Creative Economy Agency (Badan Ekonomi Kreatif). In June, the agency confirmed its executive team. And now they are getting active. We’re planning to host the head of the Creative Economy Agency at our Policy Roundtable at the CASBAA Convention 2015.
Jane Buckthought
Advertising Consultant
Measurement companies Comscore and Rentrak are merging, creating another major competitor in the US audience measurement business by combining Comscore’s digital measurement skills with Rentrak’s set-top box know-how. Incumbent Neilsen was not caught napping, though, and announced its plans to deliver measurement of audiences across linear and digital platforms by the end of this year. Meanwhile, here in the region, Starhub has hired Neilsen to launch “Starhub SmarTAM”, using Return Path Data from the two-way digital set-top boxes it has installed in 545,000 homes in Singapore.
Anjan Mitra
Executive Director, India
He came, he saw, he charmed. Especially the Silicon Valley tribe. One can add to that Indian PM Narendra Modi also generated controversy during his recent visit to the US where he met not only politicians, but also captains of the media and internet worlds. From Rupert Murdoch to Mark Zuckerberg to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton to Sunder Pichai to Elon Musk all showered praise on PM Modi, his governance and ability to connect with people. But many also thought some serious issues did not get properly addressed. For example, at FB’s Hackers Square PM Modi’s Townhall debate did not go anywhere near issues like net neutrality or how tech giants are lobbying against neutrality, including FB, or India’s indifferent infrastrucuture. At a time when China’s President Xi too was in the US discussing technology, one commentator asked: Why do American digital entrepreneurs, including those of Indian origin, find it a lot easier to deal with China, with all its harsh new conditions, than to do business with Delhi?
John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer
For those who enjoy piracy enforcement as a spectator sport, here’s the latest on Kim Dotcom’s ongoing extradition hearings in New Zealand, including some facts from the indictment about how Dotcom and his Mega cohorts were paying pirates< to upload infringing works and then generating revenues from the traffic. But it seems the prosecution may have made some technical errors in the documentation. The fun continues, next week…..
Anjan Mitra
Executive Director, India
Talks about liberalising FDI for news media in India keeps cropping up from time to time and the latest one makes cynics believe it’s like a sounding board when unnamed government sources are quoted saying a proposal to increase FDI to 49% from 26% is being studied. MIB and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had stated in January 2015 that FDI caps and their practicality need to be debated in a digital era, but then it needs a strong political will to push through such a radical policy decision. Is PM Modi’s recent US trip and meeting with top honchos of global media, any catalyst? Optimism apart, we don’t expect such a change to come through very soon, though.
Kevin Jennings
Programme Director
In a week when most of the world saw a Blood Moon, news from India is that ISRO has successfully launched its own telescope to gaze at the stars, joining US, EU and Japan in this exclusive club. The Astrosat was launched on Monday via the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-30, which also carried six other satellites, four of which were from the U.S., and one each from Canada and Indonesia. It is India’s first attempt at setting up an observatory in space. Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO, has announced that India has signed contracts to launch a further 23 foreign satellites in the near future. India has launched 51 foreign satellites to date.
Kevin Jennings
Programme Director
The New Zealand government has announced the release of a five-minute Chinese PSA featuring reality TV star Huang Lei, the star of China’s top reality show “Dad, where are we going?” The TV star reminds tourists to take care while driving in New Zealand in an effort to raise road safety awareness in one of the country’s biggest tourist markets, with NZ opinion starting to question the ability of foreign drivers.
Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore
Our business keeps changing. This week I have something for everyone about what we can do about it. For those of you in marketing take note of ‘The Great Unbundling of Marketing is Here‘. “Marketing has a problem nowadays: It’s too confusing.” For you programmers, Pilot Error: Top TV Critics on Reviewing New Shows in the Binge-Watching Era. “With fewer viewers watching TV as it airs, does it matter if the first episode is any good?” And for those playing the long game, the economist brings us, Naked Capitalism. “The internet blew the porn industry’s business model apart. Its response holds lessons for other media firms.”
Christopher Slaughter
CEO
In principle, it’s a pretty simple idea: Twitter is going to start aggregating tweets on specific TV shows, to make it easier for live-Tweeters to follow the social media conversation about their favorite shows. In practice, though, it’s off to a clunky start, with seemingly innocuous hashtags that just happen to be the same as TV show names overlapping. Cue hilarity.
Jane Buckthought
Advertising Consultant
Facebook announces that it is rolling out four new upgrades to improve the buying, planning and measurement capabilities of its advertising suite, particularly for TV advertisers. According to the company, marketers can plan a campaign across TV and Facebook with a total TRP target in mind, and they can buy a share of those TRPs directly with Facebook.
Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore
There has been a lot of discussion since Apple announced that it would allow enhanced ad-blocking in IOS9. The fallout has hardy been realized but it will affect everyone in the advertising business. And maybe more so, here in Asia, where the mobile phone is THE device. Some think this is a brilliant assault by Apple directly against Google. Others believe that adblockers are The Only Way Out for news organizations. But there really is no question that the introduction of ad-free video streaming sites and increased ad-blocking on both PC’s and mobile devices will have a major effect. Those in the TV advertising space take notice: REFORM ADVERTISING…before it is too late.
Kevin Jennings
Programme Director
It’s being reported that Google is prepping a subscription to pair two YouTube offerings. YouTube’s Music Key service (which provides ad-free music videos and audio-only streams), and a pending service providing ad-free access to general YouTube content, will now be bundled instead of being sold separately. Google has reportedly told video industry sources that it plans to charge $10 per month for the combined service – a price matching that charged by Spotify and others for standalone subscription music offerings. According to sources the subscription service could be launched this month. A letter from YouTube reportedly told producers to agree to new terms by Oct. 22 or their videos will be taken offline.
Yegee Chun
Regulatory Assistant
Trevor Noah has had a mixed reception from critics as he made his debut hosting The Daily Show, replacing Jon Stewart who left last month. Viacom went big, airing the premiere across 12 Viacom channels and averaging 3,475 million viewers. Noah’s “smooth” but “flat” debut on Monday night had some wanting more bite – but it was probably better to play it safe, especially given previous controversy over his provocative Twitter history. As part of a strategy to attract a larger audience of millennials, he will also be utilizing platforms like Snapchat to connect with mobile followers.
Christopher Slaughter
CEO
Sony Pictures Television has launched a global campaign to raise environmental awareness. The “Picture This” campaign is running in across 177 countries, and features a range of key messages for different regions; here in Asia, the goal is to reduce use of plastic bags. #sptpicturethis
Some additional links you might be interested in:
Android drives dramatic rise in smartphone adoption in Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and India
From Nollywood to New Nollywood: the story of Nigeria’s runaway success
Google Announces Chromecast 2 And Chromecast Audio To Bring Intelligence To Your Living Room
India: Broadcasters challenge TRAI’s tariff orders for commercial subs in TDSAT
Local station blocks video from S’pore channel
Net neutrality could become the biggest face-off on corporate speech since Citizens United
Pakistan: Pay dues or face licence suspension, Pemra warns two channels
Quentin Tarantino Doesn’t Use Netflix, Still Records Movies From TV
Sports the best bet to fend off cord-cutting
The Many Stages of Life After Reality TV
The Simpsons: Smithers to finally come out as gay
Will this become the Netflix of sports?
With the TV Business in Upheaval, Targeted Ads Offer Hope
Member News
AXN Dominates Monday Night Quantico Premieres #1 in Singapore and Malaysia
BBC iPlayer for kids next year
Cignal thanks million subscribers
Discovery: “3bn global subs by year-end”
EUTELSAT 115 West B arrives in geostationary orbit
Hindi, Tamil channels to launch on DStv in Africa
Japanese cable firms to launch 4K channel
MEASAT Appoints New Sales Director – Africa
MSM plans to launch HD version of Sony Max
MSM restructures SET leadership team, appoints Danish Khan as Business Head, Anup Vishwanathan as Head Marketing
MTV appoints new president
Ooyala: 44% of video plays on mobile devices
Sony Launches 4K YouTube Channel
Sony Pictures Television Shakes Up International Team
TV5MONDE and AsiaSat Expand and Extend Long-term Partnership with TV5MONDE Asie HD and TV5MONDE Style HD on AsiaSat 5
Uday Shankar named Best CEO at Forbes India Leadership Award 2015
Viacom hires Lee Shin Yng from Added Value as CFO
ZEE brings the Magique of Bollywood to Africa with Zee Magic!
ZEEL offers 4 Indian shows for global distribution at Mipcom
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