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Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Sept-Oct 2024 issue of Television Asia Plus!
Streaming continues to be going strong and they are banking on global content as some of their biggest shows this year (and now overall) are international productions across Europe and Asia.
The doesn’t mean the Asian markets and streamers are lagging behind. A big rising trend at the moment are Chinese Micro Dramas. You may have already seen some without noticing as a lot of popular scenes are now making the rounds on social media. These dramas are bit-sized and full of tension, and the right reaction as the world is enamored by by IG reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikToks.
On this issue’s cover story, we highlight Viddsee’s partnership with Risingjoy to bring Chinese Mirco Dramas to South East Asia as well as an exlcusive interview with them as they discuss their thoughts on where this trend might be going.
For our first feature story, we have a piece by John Wastcoat, SVP, Business Development and Marketing, Zixi, where he writes about how large scale live streaming can reduce it’s cost.
And our final feature story is all CinemaWorld’s 12th anniversary in the industry and what’s next for them and the feature’s they are spotlighting.
Mathew Chan Editor
Keen Whye Lee Publisher
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OneGate Media has announced a new partnership with Bravado Equity for the global distribution of the high-end political thriller series Dangerous Truth (Das zweite Attentat). The collaboration will see OneGate Media manage
the international distribution of the six-part drama series, with Bravado Equity handling the financing. Inspired by true events that took place in the lead up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Dangerous Truth (6×45’) centres around 35-year-old Alexander Jaromin, who for 20 years has been living with his mother in Athens under assumed identities in the witness protection program of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Alexander’s father and sister were killed in a terrorist attack in 2003, and his memories of them are overshadowed by unanswered questions.
Tormented by the unknown, the series follows Alexander to Berlin, on his desperate search to uncover the truth behind his father’s death. Alexander finds himself under the close watch of the Federal Intelligence Service, and his life in danger as he ends up in a race against time in which he must do whatever
it takes to uncover the truth. With a blend of high-stakes suspense and intricate plot twists, this unique series details a relentless pursuit of truth, and the courage it takes to go against the world’s political powers.
Dangerous Truth features a stellar cast including Desirée Nosbusch (Bad Banks, Sisi), Jakob Diehl (All Quiet on the Western Front, The Forgotten Battle), Noah Saavedra (Spectre, Why Not You), Daniel Lommatzsch (Am Ende ist man tot, Tatort), and Deleila Piasko (Agent Hamilton, A Stasi Comedy). The political thriller, which was filmed across Greece, Germany and Luxembourg, is directed by awardwinning Barbara Eder (The Swarm).
The series is a coproduction between EIKON Media, WDR and ARD Degeto Film along with Deal Productions (Stargazer, Tamara) in Luxembourg for ARD
Bodhitree Multimedia’s latest production, “Gunaah,” streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, has secured 3.4 million views. During the week of 24th to 30th June, 2024. Gunaah was the amongst the top 5 most viewed OTT shows in India as per the report published by Film Companion in collaboration with Ormax Media, a media consulting firm.
Directed by Anil Senior and produced by Mautik Tolia, Sukesh Dev Motwani and Persis Siganporia,
with Anirudh Pathak as the showrunner, “Gunaah” is a gripping murder mystery. The show features the remarkable talents of Surbhi Jyoti and Gashmeer Mahajani in the lead roles, supported by an outstanding cast that brings this intricate tale of murder, lies, betrayal, love, and friendship to life. The story revolves around Abhimanyu (Zayn Ibad Khan), who suffers an unimaginable betrayal from Surbhi Jyoti’s character, Tara.
Gunaah is now available to stream for free on the Disney+ Hotstar.
MediaHub has announced a new licensing agreement to distribute Kazakh content across the AsiaPacific region. This marks the first time Kazakh productions will be introduced to an Asia-Pacific audience through a local player. The agreement includes two notable titles, “Tole Bi” and “Vaccine
Against Corruption,” showcasing the quality and variety of Kazakhstan’s TV and film industry.
“Tole Bi,” a historical drama, explores the life of a wellknown judge and public figure, while the blockbuster “Vaccine Against Corruption” addresses
contemporary societal issues with dark comedy. These titles highlight the storytelling and production capabilities of Kazakh creators and shed light on more content that can resonate with APAC audiences.
Sangerim Zhakhina, Sales and Business Development Manager for Asia & CIS, stated, “We are extremely pleased to close this deal for licensing Kazakhstani content. We saw great potential in this content, namely in feature films from independent producer Kuralay Anarbekova and from the SakZhebe studio, where the producer is Nureddin Patteev. While Kazakhstani content is actively sold in the CIS countries, this deal has strengthened our ties to larger Asia. We’re looking forward to meeting our clients in person again at notable Asian industry markets such as BCWW and ATF to showcase more of our content.”
International distributor Eccho Rights has concluded a string of deals for the Turkish Drama
sensation MY HOME MY DESTINY with Pasiones in the US, Qazakstan TV in Kazakhstan, and Adom TV in
Ghana, bringing the total number of countries that have acquired the series to over 90 worldwide.
Produced by OGM Pictures, MY HOME MY DESTINY broke viewing records on Turkey’s TV8 when it first aired in 2020 and quickly garnered a huge fan following in both the domestic and international markets.
“MY HOME MY DESTINY is a modern Turkish drama classic with an all-star cast and a powerful love story at its core. Zeynep’s journey, exploring themes of belonging, identity and home, appeals to- and resonates with audiences worldwide”, says Barbora Suster, Head of Latin America & Iberia at Eccho Rights.
Leading kids’ entertainment companies CAKE, King Banana TV and Paper Owl Films have announced the cast line-up for upcoming Nikhil & Jay, a 52 x 11 minute animated family sitcom for CBeebies, based on books by Chitra Soundar, that follows the adventures of two Indian/British dual heritage brothers and their loveable family. British Tamil actor Charithra Chandran leads an authentic voice cast as Nikhil and Jay’s mum Amma. Charithra is best known for her roles in Alex Rider, How to Date Billy Walsh, her stage debut in Instructions for A Teenage Armageddon and as debutante Edwina Sharma in hit period drama Bridgerton. She is set to star in the upcoming series of Dune Prophecy
Charithra Chandran said, “It’s really wonderful to see a show like this on the BBC and to see my culture specifically represented. I never had anything like this when I was growing up.”
Making their voiceover debuts in the title roles are 7-year olds Shiv Senthilkumar and Sai Ganesh Nadesan who voice Nikhil and Jay respectively and who are proud of their Tamil heritage.
Produced by King Banana TV (Yakka Dee!, Meet the Experts), Paper Owl Films (Pablo, Happy The Hoglet), Exec Produced and distributed by CAKE (Angry Birds
Summer Madness and Supa Team 4) and with funding from Northern Ireland Screen, Nikhil & Jay is based on the book series by award-winning author Chitra Soundar, who also Exec Produces and writes on the series ensuring cultural authenticity at every level. A diverse team of writers, animators, composers and directors make up Nikhil & Jay’s offscreen talent. Nikhil & Jay will launch on CBeebies later this year.
Amuz Distribution’s Alex Avon, Chief Revenue & Strategy Officer with Vivek Lath, Managing Director at GoQuest Media jointly announced that the companies have struck a deal to distribute their titles in various territories. The entire Amuz Distribution catalog in Asia, Oceania, MENA, and non-French speaking African territories while some titles from GoQuest, to be named later, will be represented in Canada and the U.S.
Titles from Amuz Distribution include multiple award-winning poly-handicapped family dramedy series About Antoine; hilarious real estate comedy series Counter
Offer; redemptive dramedy series Larry; and mystery series Valmont, among other feel-good tv series.
Avon stated: “Amuz Distribution is thrilled to partner with GoQuest Media and expand our reach. They have the right connections in Asia, Oceania, MENA and non-French speaking territories to share our premium catalog of award-winning dramedies, comedies and feelgood programs with new audiences. Additionally, we are excited to share titles from their portfolio.”
Commenting on the deal, Lath said “GoQuest Media is pleased to be able to license such great
programs from Amuz Distribution, a trusted company in the west. We look forward to sharing their top programs with viewers in regions where we have strong relationships.”
Banijay Asia, part of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, has signed a deal with the leading independent distributor All3Media International, acquiring the rights to create the Indian adaptation of the globally acclaimed drama series, The Tourist, the awardwinning drama created by Two Brothers Pictures. This partnership aims to set a new benchmark for international adaptations in the Indian subcontinent, offering viewers yet another captivating series. The remake will retain the thrilling essence of the original while infusing cultural elements unique to India.
Starring Jamie Dornan, the original series was written by Harry and Jack Williams, the creators of Rellik and Boat Story, and was produced by Two Brothers Pictures and Highview Productions. Distributed internationally to over five continents by All3Media International, it has aired with production partners BBC One in the UK, Stan in Australia, and ZDF in Germany, with further territories including the USA, Canada, Latin America, South Korea and the Nordics.
The plot of the groundbreaking series revolves around an Irishman
who wakes up in an Australian hospital with amnesia after a car crash. Seeking answers, he encounters a local woman who remembers him and volunteers to help him rediscover his identity. What few clues he can find hint that he has a dark past from which he must escape before it catches up with him.
Banijay Asia has successfully delivered a number of hit scripted adaptations including The Night Manager, The Trial and Call My Agent Bollywood, alongside successful originals like Aarya, Dahan, Matsya Kaand, Bombay Begums and Trial By Fire.
yes Studios announced that it has extended its relationship with Arte by licensing all three seasons of its hugely popular series Shtisel (33 x 45’) to the broadcaster for launch on arte.tv, This latest deal follows the announcement earlier
this year that Arte acquired yes Studio’s award-winning comedy series Bloody Murray (9 x 45’)
Shtisel —which stars Michael Aloni (The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, 8200), Dovale Glickman (Oslo, Laces), Neta Riskin (Ghosts of Beirut, The Spy), and Emmy Award-nominee Shira Haas (Unorthodox, Night Therapy) —follows the daily lives and loves of the extended Shtisel clan, an argumentative, ultra-Orthodox family living in modern-day Jerusalem.
Created and written by Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky, the series became a global phenomenon when it first aired on Netflix, offering unique insights into Haredi society. Shtisel is produced by yes TV and Abot Hameiri Barkai for yes TV. The series won 17
Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Drama Series, Best Script, Best Actor (twice) and Best Actress.
Sharon Levi, managing director at yes Studios comments: “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Arte and are excited that Shtisel will be made available to audiences across France and Germany. With its endearing characters and fascinating look into everyday life in an ultra-orthodox community, Shtisel continues to prove a hit wherever it is shown. It tends to quickly develop a strong local fanbase, with most viewers keen to binge-watch this addictive TV series. We are confident that this experience will be repeated with this latest deal and look forward to seeing how well it performs on arte.tv.”
Millimages, one of the oldest independent animation studios and IP developers in Europe, and leading Belgian cinema chain Kinepolis have announced the premiere of Molang’s first ever cinema film event. Opened last September 1st and distributed by the chain’s distribution arm Kinepolis Film Distribution France, “Molang at the Movies” screened in 40+ cinemas across France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
“Molang at the Movies” is a 55-minute family film compiled from Molang’s vast catalogue comprising six award-winning preschool TV series. Aimed principally at preschoolers and their parents, the movie features Molang taking care of its surroundings, whether it’s helping out a turtle in need or cleaning up the galaxy. For added entertainment there will be a five-
minute break in the middle of the film for two on-screen games (a spot-thedifference and a counting game).
Leading up to the launch there will be a broad promotional campaign, such as avant-premieres in Lille, Bruxelles, Madrid and Utrecht with exclusive merchandise for each movie-goer and teaser campaigns in cinemas over the summer; as well as on Molang’s enormous social media platform.
The huge success with and devotion of its fan base is attributable to MOLANG’s core values of empathy, softness, tenderness and joy present in all its messaging across all media. Also known as The Ambassador of Kindness, MOLANG was just recognized (once again) for these values at the 2024 France Licensing Day & Licensing International Awards, where it won the CSR
Initiative of the Year award for the MOLANG SAFE SPACE media campaign, launched in 2023 against cyberbullying. Other awards honouring the property include Best Exported French TV Series (TVFI); Best Animated Series (Xinguang Award), and an International Emmy Kids Award nomination for Best Preschool series
Other animated compilation movies distributed by Kinepolis Film Distribution France include global hits Peppa Pig and The Smurfs
The award- Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster and ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading content provider, and are partnering for the tenth adaptation of the hit Japanese TV drama “Mother” for Filipino audiences, which will be known locally by its title “Saving Grace” and it will be top-billed by awardwinning actress Julia Montes.
“Mother” achieved award-winning success when it first aired on
Nippon TV in 2010 and it is now Asia’s most exported scripted format. The well-loved series about love and motherhood spawned various critically acclaimed adaptations in different countries – Turkey, South Korea, Ukraine, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Mongolia. The Philippine version records a landmark tenth adaptation of the coveted script.
“We’re very, very happy and excited to announce ABS-CBN Studios’ newest Dreamscape production ‘Saving Grace.’ This is the Philippine adaptation of ‘Mother’ that is created
and produced by Nippon TV. This is our very first adaptation of a Nippon TV series and we are very grateful to Nippon TV for entrusting us with the rights for the Filipino version.” shared Cory Vidanes, chief operating officer of ABS-CBN.
“As we celebrate our landmark tenth international deal for ‘Mother,’ we are delighted to be announcing this adaptation with ABS-CBN.
‘Mother’ is truly a beautiful story and we are confident that the Filipino audience are going to love it. Best wishes to the cast and crew,” said Yuki Akehi and Sally Yamamoto, Content Business, Nippon TV.
“Saving Grace” will go into production soon and is set to air in 2025. The thrilling story revolves around a struggling teacher who impulsively abducts a young student who suffers from abuse from her own mother. The risky journey becomes complicated as it turns into a national manhunt for the child.
Paramount+ UK & Ireland has announced that psychological thriller series THE EX-WIFE has been recommissioned for a second season
THE EX-WIFE 2 (4 x 60”) will see Celine Buckens (Show Trial, War Horse, The Castaways) and Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow, Watchmen, See) reprising their roles of Tasha and Jack. Jordan Stephens (Tucked, Foundation, Smothered) also returns to play Sam while Katie McGrath (The Continental, Supergirl, Jurassic World) joins the cast in the lead role of Jen.
The series is a co-production between Clapperboard Studios, Blackbox Multimedia and Night Train Media, who provided international financing and controls worldwide distribution rights with All3Media International. Filming for THE EX-WIFE 2 is underway in Cyprus
The second season picks up three years after the dramatic conclusion of series one, with Tasha now hiding in Cyprus with her daughter Emily (Liberty Miller: Malpractice), while Jen has moved on and is preparing to walk down the aisle for a second time. Living under false identities, Tasha has started a new life for herself and Emily. However, Tasha is forced to abandon her fresh start when she learns that Jack has been released from prison early – having only served a year of his sentence. Jack appears to be a changed man, grieving the death of his daughter and searching for redemption from a newly engaged Jen.
Directed by Paul Walker (Riviera) THE EX-WIFE 2 is written by Polly Buckle (Love Rat), Nessa Muthy (Coronation Street) and David Turpin (The Cuckoo).
Executive Producers are Giuliano Papadia and Chiara Cardoso for BlackBox, Mike Benson and Andy Morgan for Clapperboard, Herbert L. Kloiber and Olivia Pahl for Night Train Media, with Kim Crowther serving as series producer. All3Media International handles sales for the title.
Winsing Animation has announced a new partnership with Boomerang Thailand this June, bringing Winsing’s flagship IP, GG Bond, to Thai audiences
Boomerang Thailand is a prominent TV channel renowned for its high-quality children’s programming and extensive reach across the country. With a strong reputation for delivering entertaining and educational content, Boomerang Thailand is a strong partner in
introducing GG Bond into Thai. As part of this exciting collaboration, the GG Bond beloved series “Dino Diary” is currently being localized and dubbed into Thai. This series will soon premiere on the Boomerang Thailand Channel. In line with Winsing’s goal of expanding its YouTube multi-language channels, a Thai-language YouTube channel for GG Bond is also in development with Boomerang. This initiative aims to make GG Bond more accessible to a broader audience in Thailand.
Pornpoj Laohasukkasem, CEO of Boomerang Thailand, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are excited to collaborate with Winsing Animation to bring the GG Bond brand to Thailand. This partnership aligns with our commitment to providing highquality and engaging content for
kids, and we believe GG Bond will be a wonderful addition to our programming lineup and a promising hit among kids shortly.”
This summer, GG Bond will debut in mascot as a new IP through a series of local school tours organized by Boomerang Thailand. These events allow children to meet GG Bond and participate in exciting activities, generating enthusiastic responses and fostering a strong connection with the new audience.
Expanding internationally has been a key focus for Winsing. In addition to GG Bond, another Winsing flagship children’s IP, GOGOBUS, has also launched a YouTube channel in Thailand. Within just six months, the GOGOBUS channel has achieved remarkable success, amassing 47 million views and demonstrating significant engagement from Thai viewers
Rock Entertainment Holdings has announced the launch of its new free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) Channels, Jelly Jamm World and Free Movies on sooka, a Malaysian streaming app for global and local LIVE sports, Asian entertainment, children’s entertainment and curated local Originals. Jelly Jamm World, our exciting new FAST Channel, is
designed to ignite curiosity and foster creativity in children. It offers a treasure trove of life lessons, from basic mathematics to environmental awareness, all wrapped in vibrant animation and catchy tunes. With award- winning titles like Counting with Paula and Leo the Wildlife Ranger, Jelly Jamm World promises to deliver edutainment to preschoolers in a fun and engaging way.
Launching the new FAST Channel in ASEAN will allow the Rock Entertainment brands to connect with new audiences across Southeast Asia, with its broader accessibility across multiple platforms. This accessibility, combined with the fact that the channels are free and adsupported, significantly lowers the barrier to entry for budget-conscious viewers, making high- quality entertainment more accessible to all.
“sooka is excited to collaborate with Rock Entertainment to introduce two new FAST channels, Jelly Jamm World and Free Movies. This launch marks a significant milestone in our plan to provide high-quality, accessible, and diverse content to sooka users as well as to strengthen our position in the streaming industry. With the addition of these channels, sooka now offers a total of 25 free channels including FAST channels thus providing a broad blend of genres for our users” said Chu Young Lee, Director, sooka & JOI, Astro.
Sooka viewers can look forward to enjoying Jelly Jamm World and Free Movies. Talks are also underway for a broader rollout across the ASEAN region, with confirmation details about the countries and platforms included in this expansion coming soon.
Amuse Animation, a pioneering digital-first animation studio announced the launch of CAR CITY ADVENTURES, a fully localized 24/7 linear FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus. Now available in eight languages across ten countries, Amuse partnered with Xumo Enterprise, the business-tobusiness arm of Xumo that provides FAST solutions to the industry, on the development, creation, and distribution of the channel.
Inspired by the hugely successful digital-first Car City IP, which boasts over 25 billion views worldwide, CAR CITY ADVENTURES brings beloved vehicle-themed preschool content to young audiences and their coviewing families across the globe.
CAR CITY ADVENTURES is now available on Samsung TV Plus,
Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, and Brazil. A Korean channel will launch in South Korea in the coming weeks, with other APAC countries to follow
CAR CITY ADVENTURES features 24 of Amuse Animation’s hugely popular vehicle-themed series, making it a unique offering in the preschool entertainment space. Designed for preschoolers and their families, CAR CITY ADVENTURES offers a captivating blend of adventure, comedy, and edutainment, starring every manner of vehicle. The programming features a diverse mix of dialogue, songs, narratives, and non-dialogue episodes, formatted into themed 30-minute blocks that promote core values such as friendship, teamwork,
kindness, empathy, and gratitude. The original content from Amuse Animation has had huge success around the world garnering well over 10 billion views on YouTube and 13 billion views in China.
Amuse Animation creates animated heroes for kids who are kind, responsible, and creative. Our characters face real-world issues and inspire curiosity through a diverse array of content, including musical, comedy, adventure, and educational series.
Studio Dragon, a leading drama studio in South Korea, has proven its strength as a powerhouse of K-drama by releasing three global OTT top-ranked series in the first half of this year.
‘Marry My Husband,’ ‘Queen of Tears,’ and ‘Hierarchy’ have all reached the number one spot
globally, showcasing the studio’s exceptional capability in producing high-quality content that resonates with audiences worldwide.
‘Marry My Husband’, produced by Studio Dragon, climbed to the top spot on the daily rankings of TOP TV Shows on Prime Video in January, demonstrating its immense popularity and appeal. It has been on the Prime Video’s TOP 10 list for 27 consecutive weeks. ‘Marry My Husband’ is the first K-drama to top the global ranking of Prime Video.
In March, Studio Dragon’s ‘Queen of Tears’ topped the global rankings chart. Not only did ‘Queen of Tears’ rank No. 1 in tvN’s all-time viewership with an average of 24.9% in the final episode, but it also topped the Netflix Global Top 10 Non-English TV List in just three weeks of broadcasting.
So far, ‘Queen of Tears’ has been ranked in the Top 10 list for 15 consecutive weeks on Netflix, recording 43 million views, and 653.9 million hours viewed, making it a leading K-drama hit of 2024.
Studio Dragon’s global No. 1 ranking was continued by ‘Hierarchy,’ which depicts the addictive high-teen scandal. Netflix series ‘Hierarchy’ started as No. 2 ranking in the Netflix Global Top 10 Non-English TV List in the first week of its release, and rose to the top of the chart in the second week. ‘Hierarchy’ is drawing attention as it ranked No. 1 in a total of nine countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Philippines, and South Korea and entered the top 10 chart in a total of 72 countries.
Dejero recently provided Czech production company Livecast s.r.o with EnGo mobile video transmitters, a GateWay network aggregation device, and a WayPoint receiver to deliver uninterrupted connectivity of Czech Television’s live coverage of the 2024 Prague Marathon, which saw 8000 participants take part.
With the help of Dejero connectivity solutions, Livecast was able to deliver live camera feeds along the 26 mile route to Czech TV’s CT1 TV and the event organizer’s YouTube channel, from a helicopter covering a 20 km diameter, a motorbike, and a car.
The Dejero EnGo mobile video transmitters, each fitted with six SIM cards, simultaneously combined signals from three diverse cellular network carriers to deliver resilient
and reliable connectivity as Livecast camera operators followed the participants through the streets of Prague, overcoming the inevitable network congestion created by the 15,000+ people at the start/finish line.
Livecast has been providing production services to the national broadcaster for its coverage of Prague’s 13 mile half marathon and its 26 mile full marathon since 2015.
“Dejero solutions save us a lot of time and logistics – the units are quick to set up and easy to operate, and we had wonderful coverage across the entire Marathon routes without any breakups.” said Honza Strohner, CEO, Livecast s.r.o
Livecast uses Dejero Control cloud management system to adjust
parameters in even the most challenged environments and on the fly. “With Dejero Control, our camera operators are free to concentrate on their work. All the settings are made remotely so our productions are stress-free,“ shared Strohner.
“Dejero has a very supportive team of engineers. It keeps improving the product with every new firmware release. They really listen to their customers,” he concluded.
Crunchyroll, the ultimate brand for all things anime, is unveiling a new brand identity today. The new look, feel, and sound will reflect the joy that anime brings to fans, tapping into an ethos of fun and celebration.
Crunchyroll continues to bring anime to fans in all the ways they want it across streaming, theatrical, events, games, music, news, consumer products, collectibles and more. Central to Crunchyroll’s growth has been a focus on connecting fans and creators in celebration of their shared passions.
Starting last July 25 with San Diego Comic-Con, the updated and recharged Crunchyroll brand identity will be rolled out across all fan touchpoints of the organization over the next year. The updated brand identity includes a modernized logo with a balanced eye symbol and revamped wordmark; a new font set called Crunchyroll Atyp that blends classic and modern elements for improved readability; and a vibrant
color system featuring orange, black, white, and taupe to reflect anime’s dynamic nature. The new glyph system boasts over 139 anime and manga-inspired characters, adding depth and personality. A new seven-second audio-visual mnemonic captures the immersive Crunchyroll experience with animeinspired sound design and playful elements. Collaboration and cocreation with Japanese artists on new textures and patterns further
enhance the brand’s authenticity and immersive storytelling.
Additionally, the new brand identity will also be showcased inside and outside the Convention Center. There, fans will get a chance to showcase their passion for anime by picking up a limited and fan-forward streetwear collection inspired by the new and refreshed Crunchyroll – designed by 2024 CFDA Fashion Fund finalist Sebastian Ami.
Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience, pairing the world’s largest dedicated anime streaming library of 50,000 episodes and more than 25,000 hours of anime series, music, and films with experiences across events, theatrical, gaming, ecommerce, and so much more.
Over the last year, anime – and thus Crunchyroll – has surpassed numerous milestones, achieved increased success and launched new fan-forward initiatives
More and more Filipinos are glued to their TV screens to watch the YouTube livestream of ABS-CBN’s shows where watch time hours have increased by an average of 85% yearly since 2020
Watch time hours of Filipinos who enjoy consuming ABS-CBN shows on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel using their smart TVs have already hit 554.9 million watch time hours versus 549.6 million watch time hours logged for mobile phones.
Kapamilya Online Live, which livestreams ABS-CBN’s programs 24/7 in Asia, Australia, Europe, and New Zealand, accounts for 61% or 539.8 million live viewers from the said territories who watch ABS-CBN content on YouTube using their smart TVs.
Viewers get their daily dose of news and entertainment on Kapamilya Online Live by watching the nightly newscast of “TV Patrol,” Coco Martin’s action-packed adventures in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” Piolo Pascual’s
dramatic confrontations in “Pamilya Sagrado,” and Andrea Brillantes’ thrilling revelations in “High Street.”
Noontime show “It’s Showtime” also accompanies viewers with nonstop fun and good vibes throughout the afternoon. One of its well-loved segments that features ex-couples finding new love, “EXpecially For You,” continues to be a hit among viewers for spreading insightful lessons about relationships.
Kapamilya Online Live, which launched in 2020, offers livestreaming and on-demand viewing of the latest episodes of various ABS-CBN shows in and outside of the Philippines via the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel, the number one YouTube channel in Southeast Asia in the media and entertainment category with 48 million subscribers.
Nest Productions has partnered with expert film and TV insurance firm MiB. The new scheme will provide Nest’s partner indies with highly competitive insurance rates, enhanced coverage and production risk management and support
The new Insurance scheme will provide a high and consistent level of coverage across all of Nest’s and their indie partners’ productions, giving stakeholders peace of mind that their productions are insured correctly.
Nest partners will receive benefits such as a pre-agreed insurance rate regardless of budget size resulting in no minimum premium threshold and production risk management and support from the early stages of pre-production right through to final delivery.
As part of the scheme, stakeholders will also get out of hours contact, a simplified insurance process, and can add on access to EAP for
their staff and crew, an Employee Assistance Programme for Wellbeing.
The new scheme allows small to mid-sized independent production companies to benefit from preferential insurance rates that up until now have predominantly been reserved for owned indies that merge with networks, groups and super indies. The rates will match those that companies which are part of a group get, which normally independent producers don’t receive – meaning more money can be reserved for development and production.
The aim of the scheme is to give insurance support, clarity and protection to producers of any size and at any stage of their lifecycle, with bespoke packages available that cover productions from development to production to sales
Autentic, a leading specialist in high-quality documentaries and factual series announced the U.S. launch of its three successful international channels – Autentic Travel, Autentic History, and Adventure Earth These channels are available now in the U.S. on Sling TV’s FAST service, Sling Freestream, as well as streaming platforms VIDAA and Anoki, with further launches planned in the coming months.
This expansion into the U.S. market marks a significant milestone for Autentic, building on the success of its channels in Europe, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. With a diverse range of content, including enlightening historical documentaries, captivating travel content, and awe-inspiring nature and wildlife programs, Autentic aims to provide American viewers with exceptional documentary programming.
Adventure Earth is dedicated to wildlife, nature and the unique beauty of our planet. The channel is a joint project between Autentic and OneGate Media, two leading international natural history libraries that have joined forces to create a platform for exploring and appreciating the natural world. Autentic Travel features diverse
cultures, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. The channel takes viewers on a journey across breathtaking destinations, from sea-level to snowy peaks, deserts to rainforests, and bustling cities to serene villages.
Autentic History offers a refreshingly unbiased and in-depth look at history and features documentaries about fascinating and often overlooked historical events that are both educational and compelling.
Autentic’s entry into the U.S. market underscores the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality content on both national and international levels. Autentic now boasts a total of six FAST channels. In addition to the three channels launching in the U.S., Autentic also offers three channels specifically for German-speaking audiences: Terra Mater WILD, SPIEGEL TV Konflikte, and Curiosity Now.
Red Arrow Studios International, the worldwide TV distribution arm of Seven.One Studios, has rebranded to Seven. One Studios International, effective immediately.
Seven.One Studios International is a leading TV distributor of scripted, formats and factual entertainment shows from a
network of inhouse and third-party production companies. Key shows in the catalog include Married at First Sight, Stranded on Honeymoon Island, Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds and Vienna Blood.
Seven.One Studios is part of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, one of Europe’s leading media groups. Tim Gerhartz, managing director of
Seven.One Studios International said: “Changing Red Arrow Studios International’s name to Seven. One Studios International aligns the business more closely with its parent company Seven.One Studios and that of Seven.One Entertainment Group. It reinforces the Group’s strong commitment to the international production and distribution marketplace.”
Bundesliga International has agreed to a four-year broadcast deal with leading Polish sports broadcaster ELEVEN SPORTS, beginning an exclusive partnership in the Polish market from the start of the 2025-26 season. The package contains all 617 games of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, as well as the German Supercup, which takes place at the start of each season between league and DFB Pokal winner, and the all-important Bundesliga play-off matches that take place at the end of every season.
In addition, ELEVEN SPORTS will already begin broadcasting the Bundesliga in January 2025,
showing selected Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches from the second half of the 2024-25 season on a non-exclusive basis. As part of the agreement, ELEVEN SPORTS will make several games each matchday available on its most prominent linear channel, as well as offering Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 on its own Over-TheTop (OTT) platform. As a part of this close and growing collaboration, the Bundesliga and ELEVEN SPORTS will also join forces to prominently feature the Bundesliga and its clubs in the Polish market, including potential friendly matches and further on-ground activities.
The deal allows for fans across Poland to experience the best of German football. The legacy of players such as Łukasz Piszczek, Jakub Błaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski has made Poland
a key market for the Bundesliga with the German league being one of the most popular and viewed European leagues in the country.
Bundesliga International Chief Marketing Officer Peer Naubert said, “Building on our former collaboration with ELEVEN SPORTS underscores our dedication to reestablishing a successful partnership, including that of our passionate fanbase, which extends beyond Germany to reach fans across Europe and around the globe.”
As well as live match action, ELEVEN SPORTS will continue to keep fans up to date with all the latest developments from the Bundesliga, incorporating various ancillary content tailormade to the Polish market across its range of linear, digital and social media platforms
Brat TV, a leading digital production company known for its original content aimed at a youthful demographic, has renewed its contract with DigitalGlue, locking in another five years of creative. space, the company’s nextgeneration shared storage solution Brat TV cited substantial performance improvements, increased revenue opportunities, and workflow benefits as a few of the many reasons they’ve extended the partnership.
Prior to learning about creative.space, Brat TV struggled with managing
storage across hundreds of hard drives, resulting in disorganized workflows, inefficiencies, and cumbersome project updates. Seeking a more efficient, centralized storage solution, Brat TV became an early adopter of creative.space. The monthly payment model allowed Brat TV to avoid a large initial capital expense and eliminated the need for additional IT involvement, providing the company with financial benefits.
Since adopting creative.space, Brat TV has experienced significant advancements in its operations. The centralized storage solution has consolidated media assets into a single directory structure, vastly improving organization, making it easier to manage projects, and drastically reducing time spent on project updates and data management. Teams can now collaborate in realtime, accessing and editing the same media assets simultaneously across post-production applications. This streamlined workflow has resulted in
smoother VOD delivery to multiple platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Peacock, Pluto, and Roku, monetizing content and boosting revenue streams.
Brat TV has utilized creative. space’s user management and VPN capabilities extensively, which are vital for their operations. The platform’s user management tools allow for efficient onboarding and offboarding of team members, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to specific projects. The ability to edit permissions and manage different spaces within shared storage has been crucial for maintaining security and organization. Additionally, the integrated VPN capabilities support remote work without compromising data security, allowing team members to access projects and seamlessly collaborate from anywhere in the world. This flexibility has been especially beneficial for managing the numerous freelancers and temporary staff involved in various productions
LiveU’s IP-video EcoSystem played a pivotal role in the real-time, round-the-clock coverage of the recent UK election. The company’s field units, cloud production and distribution solutions were used extensively by the UK’s and world’s leading broadcasters and news agencies from 40 countries, enabling reporting from hundreds of polling stations and other locations across the country. LiveU’s solutions were instrumental in covering key election spots, with the broadcasters prioritizing
high-profile constituencies with the most impactful election counts. Nearly 900 LiveU field encoders (including the multi-cam LU800 and compact LU300S) were deployed by over 180 LiveU customers over the 48hour period (July 3-5) complemented by the LU-Smart smartphone app. Around 18,000 live sessions were recorded, totaling over 5,000 hours, with over 10.5 TB of live transmissions. LiveU’s cloud-native IP-video distribution platform, LiveU Matrix, was the backbone of pooled political content, such as around the party leaders, allowing broadcasters to securely share key moments with each other in real-time, reducing production costs. Over 400 distribution channels were used. LiveU’s cloud-native video production solution, LiveU Studio, expanded the reach of interviews, speeches, and aftermath coverage across digital channels as part of a seamless production workflow.
The election stood out for its scale and deployment of the most engaging live broadcasts, including interviews, parliamentary candidates arriving to their polling stations, the declaration results and speeches live on air. LiveU’s technology allowed broadcasters to provide comprehensive coverage, from buildup and pre-election reporting to post-result analysis. A mix of cellular, local WiFi, and LEO connectivity was used, offering connection diversity without having to alter workflows.
The UK election follows LiveU’s track record of supporting major global events, including the European Parliament and Indian elections, Tour de France, and Euro 2024. The US Presidential Election is now in full swing with LiveU’s flexible broadcast equipment, private connectivity and production solutions being used for extensive election coverage.
MwareTV, a prominent cloud-based multi-tenant platform provider, has brought Sree Sivanandan on board as VP India and South-East Asia. He will act as consultant to the company, providing a strong link on the ground with potential clients.
With a career history involving many major media entities, Sree has been running his own venture growth consultancy, NetworkOnomy Ventures. It focuses on helping scale operations through the localization of products to meet specific market needs, structuring strategic partnerships and driving revenue growth. Having worked with over 100 publishers across the region during his Head of Asia role at AOL, Sree successfully expanded the network and impact further by working with over 20 founders who have built tech solutions for the media, video and adtech industries, stitching together multi-million-dollar deals.
“The media industry in India, the sub-continent, and the wider south Asia region is very dynamic, very exciting,” said MwareTV CEO Sander Kerstens. “We need someone on the ground, someone with strong local credentials to really tap into the full potential of this market. Sree is the perfect partner for us, and we look forward to working with him to bring the MwareTV success story to the fore in the region.”
Sree Sivanandan said, “Video consumption and OTT as a sector is poised for continuous growth across the key Asian markets, especially India, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Despite the presence of large global businesses, we continue to see new regional players launched to cater to the diverse needs of local users. This trend will continue, backed by innovative monetization models.
“What MwareTV brings is the ability to customize features to meet specific market needs, align the business model incorporating the regional nuances and, most important, offer a solution that can scale cost-effectively. That is what stands out for me, and I look forward to working with Sander and the team to expand our presence in the region. Ultimately, our goal is for our clients to delight their consumers, thanks to MwareTV’s remarkable one-stop solution.”
Sivanandan has worked in Latin America and Asia Pacific. He has a master’s degree in management from the Amrita School of Business and is an alumnus of oncampus corporate executive programs at the Wharton School of Business and the Indian School of Business.
Viacom18 announced significant additions to its technology leadership team, as the company looks to scale up its OTT platform JioCinema into one of the country’s foremost digital content destinations. These strategic appointments are aimed at enhancing tech expertise, agility, and speed to market as the company continues to rapidly scale its operations and deliver world-class digital experiences.
Bharath Ram joins as Chief Product Officer & Ad Tech Platform Lead:
Bharath Ram brings extensive experience from Flipkart, where he led Product and Engineering functions for key charters including user growth, retention, new product innovation, and new categories. Prior to Flipkart, Bharath worked with Instagram, in the core product team in the US, focusing on ad revenue, ad auction systems, ad personalization, user experience with ads, and advertiser experience. Bharath also worked at Amazon Prime Video where he led personalization and other key areas. Bharath holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering from Ohio State University and an MBA from Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. Bharath will be reporting to Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital, Viacom18.
Vijay Sheshadri joins as Chief Technical Advisor:
With over 25 years of industry experience, Vijay Sheshadri has an extensive background in enterprise security, e-commerce, and large-scale distributed systems. He was an Engineering Fellow at Swiggy and has held key roles at Amazon and Symantec, where he built several enterprise security solutions and cloud infrastructure services. Vijay was the lead architect for Symantec’s Reputation-based Security technology, which won the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in 2010.
Shoury Bhardwaj joins as Engineering Leader for App Experience, Search, Recommendations, Data & App Backend Platforms:
Shoury Bhardwaj comes from Flipkart, where he spent 12 years working on various key areas of e-commerce. In his most recent role, he led the product and engineering teams for new business initiatives. Shoury is passionate about developer productivity, agile methodologies, and creating enduring technical and product blueprints. He holds an engineering degree from NIE, Mysore, and an MS from BITS, Pilani.
Commenting on these appointments, a Viacom18 spokesperson said, “We are thrilled to welcome Bharath, Vijay and Shoury to the Viacom18 family. Their expertise and leadership will be instrumental as we embark on the next phase of our ambitious growth journey. These appointments reflect our commitment to building a worldclass tech platform that can deliver the best of content and an unparalleled experience to our consumers.”
Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, named broadcast industry veteran Andy Wiswell as the company’s Production Technology Ambassador. Well known in the media and entertainment industry for his 40-plus year career with Sony Broadcast, Wiswell brings an invaluable combination of knowledge and connections to ASG
Wiswell will support ASG’s expanding client base with high-profile entertainment, corporate, education, broadcast, and post facilities throughout the U.S. Given his extensive background at Sony, he’s well versed in hardware and software video production technology. His knowledge and connections beyond Sony are expansive. Wiswell will assist ASG in a wide range of tasks, including supporting personnel with sophisticated configurations.
“ASG’s business, expertise, and reputation grow significantly each year,” explains Wiswell. “I’m thrilled to bring my experience of more than 40 years at Sony to such a well-respected firm. In this role, I’ll support existing clients and connect industry people by bringing them together.”
Many of the ASG staffers are former colleagues of Wiswell, including founders Dave Van Hoy and Amy Zeno. “They hire spectacular people,” he says. “I’m looking forward to bringing what I know to the team and working directly with folks I’ve admired for years.”
ASG President Van Hoy pointed to Wiswell’s broad base of experience and his ability to foster relationships as key factors in bringing him on board,“I’ve known Andy since my days as a audio engineer. He maintains deep relationships that can span decades. He knows the power of long relationships and staying current on a broad range of industry topics and technologies. He’ll be of tremendous support to our Systems Integration and Cloud teams, in particular. I’m confident that Andy’s experience and acumen will add to the success of our team.”
Calrec has announced the appointment of Anthony Wilkins as International Sales Manager, APAC. With a successful career in Technical Sales, Business Development and Product Marketing spanning several years, Wilkins is well placed to further increase Calrec’s presence in the region.
He has extensive experience across a wide range of technologies including music creation, broadcast, video, audio, consumer electronics and industrial test. A native of the North West of England, he has also lived and worked in Switzerland, Germany and the Republic of Ireland.
Wilkins commented, “It’s an honor to work for a company with such a customer-centric mindset. Calrec is experiencing unprecedented demand with the industry reaching a tipping point in its deployment of IP. My goal is to develop partnerships and sales strategies that help our clients stay ahead of the technology curve and leverage our IP offerings in a way that best suits their business. My in-depth knowledge of broadcast audio, video and success in combining a commercial and engineering mindset will help to further increase brand awareness.”
Dave Letson, Vice President of Sales at Calrec said, “Anthony brings a wealth of experience to Calrec’s sales team, leveraging his deep understanding of broadcast audio and video to drive success. His unique blend of commercial acumen and engineering insight will be a valuable asset to our customers and will help to expand our presence in the APAC region.”
Before joining Calrec, Wilkins held the role of Director, EMEA Sales at Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. where he managed and coordinated the company’s EMEA pro-distribution partner activity; set and monitored sales targets; managed, mentored and coached EMEA pro-sales management team; and reported to the Board of Directors. Prior to that, he has held numerous sales and marketing positions at companies including Jünger Audio, DTS, Sony and MultiBroadcast.
Viddsee, Southeast Asia’s leading short form drama platform has announced its partnership with Risingjoy, a prominent Chinese content investment and licensing company, to introduce Chinese micro drama content to Southeast Asian audiences. This collaboration aligns with the growing global popularity of micro dramas, a trend that has seen remarkable reception in China and beyond
Micro dramas, characterized by their concise narrative structure and engaging storylines, have become a cultural phenomenon in China and are increasingly gaining traction worldwide over the past two years. Notably, the market value of the microdrama industry in China reached approximately US$5.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach up to USD$233 billion in 2028. As the leader in short form dramas, Viddsee is strategically positioned to bring these captivating micro films to Southeast Asia, expanding its diverse content offerings and catering to the evolving preferences of regional audiences.
“With over 10 years of experience in short form content, Viddsee has honed its expertise in understanding and delivering what audiences crave,” said Ricky Ow, Board of Directors at Viddsee. “The growth of micro dramas, coupled with Viddsee’s expanding capabilities as a studio and platform, ensures that they are uniquely positioned to lead in this emerging entertainment format and excel”.
Since 2022, Viddsee has been producing original vertical microseries, resulting in a significant uptick in viewership and engagement on the platform, thus affirming the rising trend of micro dramas. This partnership with Risingjoy is expected to accelerate this momentum by presenting selected Chinese
Cassandra Yang, General Manager at Risingjoy, commented on the partnership, stating, “This is a tremendous opportunity to bring rich and diverse Chinese content to Southeast Asia. Viddsee’s studio and extensive network of creators, the largest in Southeast Asia, also makes them an ideal partner to facilitate localisation of such micro dramas in the region. We look forward to solidifying our competitiveness and sustainable growth in this dynamic content landscape”.
“We are excited to partner with Risingjoy to bring fresh and engaging content to our audiences,” said Ho Jia Jian, CEO and Founder of Viddsee. “This collaboration marks
the beginning of several such partnerships, through which we aim to diversify our content offerings and maintain our leadership in the short form drama space”.
The first set of Chinese micro drama titles is slated for release on Viddsee in the second half of 2024. Further details will be shared in the coming months, highlighting the exciting new content and collaborative projects to come.
IIn terms of growth, how fast do you think the rise of Chinese Micro dramas will be worldwide?
Chinese micro dramas have demonstrated impressive growth within a short span of time, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. The market value of the micro-drama industry in China
reached approximately US$5.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to skyrocket to USD$233 billion by 2028. Given these figures and the increasing global demand for concise, engaging content, we expect that Chinese micro dramas will continue to see exponential growth worldwide. This rapid rise can be attributed to their unique narrative style that resonates with audiences’ preferences for easily consumable content, as well as, the localisation of the content in some countries.
Chinese micro dramas have struck a chord with audiences for several reasons. Firstly, their concise narrative structures are perfect for the modern
viewer’s lifestyle, offering engaging stories that can be enjoyed in short periods of time. The hooks of each episode keeps the audience looking forward to more.
Do you think the micro drama/micro content format will continue to gain popularity and traction?
The consumption habits of audiences are evolving, with a clear preference for shorter, high-quality content that can be enjoyed on-the-go. The ongoing success and viewer engagement metrics we have observed, both in China and other markets, suggest that micro dramas and short-form content, in general, will continue to gain prominence. Platforms like Viddsee, which specialize in such formats, are wellpositioned to tap into this growing trend and continue to meet the changing demands of our audience.
Is this format the next big thing in content and do you think companies are gearing up for this new level of competition?
The micro drama format is shaping up to be a significant trend in the content landscape. The industry is already recognizing the potential, as demonstrated by the growth in this space. At Viddsee, we are not only expanding our content offerings but also enhancing our production capabilities to stay ahead of the curve. The competitive landscape is indeed intensifying, and we expect to see more players entering the market, further driving innovation and quality.
In this new era of TikTok videos, how does Viddsee remain competitive to get eyes on the platform?
Viddsee is the home for quality storytelling combined with a network of talented creators. Platforms like Tiktok enable proliferation of content, which is part of the Viddsee distribution network. Viddsee’s mission around empowering storytellers, enables us to create compelling IP whether it is for our own platform, for brands or even for other platforms. The community who are the backbone of our platform ensures we create IP that resonates with the audience regardless of platforms.
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
By John Wastcoat, SVP, Business Development and Marketing, Zixi
The adoption of IP technologies is enabling significant operational flexibility, agility, and reliable broadcastquality distribution of live video content over the internet. Yet, how do media organizations efficiently manage the vast amounts of data required for video streaming while keeping costs under control? This is a common challenge among industry professionals. Many media companies focus solely on upfront expenses, often overlooking long-term operational and infrastructure costs. What if there was an approach that emphasizes a holistic view of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), integrating various efficiencies that contribute to substantial savings and optimized performance?
Zixi’s Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP), underpinned by the Zixi Protocol and the ZEN Master Control plane supports this IP migration, whether it’s satellite rationalization, OTT, direct-to-consumer models, 5G, or multicast to set-top boxes. The solution maintains high-quality, low-latency streams over IP networks and provides an opportunity for lowering total cost of ownership.
An ideal solution is optimized for low-latency streaming, which is crucial for live broadcasts where delays can disrupt the viewing experience. This optimization ensures that content is delivered in real-time, without the lag that can detract from the live event. By leveraging advanced protocols and adaptive bitrate streaming, Zixi minimizes buffering and latency, providing a seamless viewing experience even under varying network conditions.
Zixi’s SDVP requires 7% of the compute resources compared to other solutions, encouraging sustainable workflows and cost savings. It also delivers a 14fold increase in compute efficiency compared to less efficient open-source protocols. By using ARM processors instead of traditional Intel processors, Zixi’s SDVP can achieve an additional 50% savings in both operational costs and energy usage.
It also minimizes the need for excessive virtual machines, which reduces operational costs, including compute, engineering, operations, and energy expenses. This streamlines infrastructure and allows organizations to manage resources while lowering operational expenditures. The use of these types of technology can prepare media organizations for future demands and challenges, and support environmentally conscious workflows where reducing energy consumption and resource usage is a priority.
When using the ZIXI SDVP and protocol, the cost of transmitting video streams out of a network (egress costs) is reduced by an average of 50% due in part to the protocol’s compression and decompression processes which maintain the integrity and high quality of the video content.
Architectural design plays a crucial role in project economics – especially as media workflows transition to IP and the cloud. Zixi’s SDVP supports hybrid infrastructures, integrating on-premises, direct network connections, and cloud services. This architectural flexibility allows organizations to optimize egress rates and manage scalability with small incremental investments.
As the number of channels and affiliates grows, a control plane provides a centralized platform for
managing many video streams from a few hundred to over 3,000. This type of scalability allows for quick deployment and on-the-fly adjustments, which supports an agile and modular infrastructure across an entire media organization. Zixi’s Master Control plane is designed to work with a wide range of systems and technologies, which helps to minimize the risks associated with deploying new systems and significantly shortens the time required to get new projects up and running.
Traditional monitoring methods become impractical since they cannot handle the complexity and volume of the growing number of channels and streams. Zixi’s Intelligent Data Platform (IDP) and ZEN Master Control plane use multi-object correlation analysis (MOCA) for rapid incident and root cause analysis. This capability reduces the time and resources required for troubleshooting, allowing teams to focus more on content creation and audience engagement rather than operational issues.
Migrating to IP and the cloud for live video requires specialized skills, from production to distribution, with the expertise needed varying across workflows. Having a unified software-defined platform allows for synchronization of engineering disciplines and speeds up the resolution of problems and allows teams to manage operations on a global scale.
The adoption of Zixi’s SDVP and protocol has set the industry benchmark for cost-effective, ultra-low latency live streaming. The platform’s bandwidth and compute efficiencies reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) for organizations managing extensive video streaming operations. By harnessing Zixi’s advanced technology, companies can optimize their resources, cut costs, and deliver high-quality video content. This technological edge paves the way for growth, innovation, and superior video streaming experiences, proving that costeffectiveness and operational excellence can coexist.
CinemaWorld, the pioneering pan-Asian movie service, proudly marks 12 years of delivering exceptional and diverse film content. For over a decade, CinemaWorld has set the standard in culturally rich entertainment, fostering thoughtprovoking conversations, and offering unique cinematic experiences to its viewers across Asia.
As part of its ongoing mission to prioritise exclusive content for its Asian audience, CinemaWorld is excited to announce a diverse selection of film festival favourites and local box office hits just in time for the holiday season. Audiences can look forward to being among the first in Asia to experience these films, whether at home or on-the-go through CinemaWorld’s 24-hour HD channel or CinemaWorld On-Demand, available in select territories.
• Elaha (2023) – A Berlin International Film Festival Best Film Nominee, this poignant coming-ofage story explores female empowerment amid the clash between traditional and modern values.
• Forever, Forever (2023) – Winner of the Venice Film Festival, this film offers a compelling comingof-age narrative with a nostalgic 90s twist.
• Hunters On A White Field (2024) – A Tribeca Film Festival nominee, this psychological thriller delves into the eerie mystery of vanished wildlife, and masochistic pride blinds three hunters as they turn against one another.
• Unsinkable (2023) – Based on a true story, this gripping film recounts the tragic sinking of the Danish rescue boat RF2 in 1981. Co-written by Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Martin Strange-Hansen.
• Victoria Must Go (2024) – A light-hearted, witty Norwegian box office success perfect for families this festive season. This comedy follows the misadventures of two siblings trying to rid themselves of their overbearing stepmother by hiring a hitman.
In Q3 2024, CinemaWorld proudly launched the Asian Filmmaker Spotlight, featuring a range of compelling Asian films such as Golden Horse-winning Chinese director, Ann Hu’s Confetti (2021), Emmy-nominated Japanese filmmaker, Mayu Nakamura’s Intimate Stranger (2021) and 2023 Sri Lanka local box office hit, Gaadi - Children of the Sun (2023) by renowned veteran
director, Prasanna Vithanage. CinemaWorld conducted special interviews with each of these award-winning directors to explore their inspiration in filmmaking. These insightful conversations are now available on YouTube, providing our audience an avenue to learn and engage with the creative minds behind the films. The spotlight also included the debut of On The Way Home, the first-ever Taiwanese short film on the channel which garnered significant media attention in Taiwan.
Ms Suarina Chua, Co-Founder and CEO of CinemaWorld, states , “Film is a powerful medium that connects people and cultures. At CinemaWorld, we are dedicated to bringing our viewers a vibrant array of storytelling that reflects a kaleidoscope of culture, tradition, and language. We are relentless in our pursuit of exceptional storytellers and are delighted to offer our Asian audience exclusive access to the best international films.”
With fresh releases of award-winning foreign films monthly , look forward to non-stop entertainment that broadens the mind and celebrates our humanity.
