Television Asia Plus | September-October 2023

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SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2023

Sourjya Mohanty COO, EPIC ON

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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Dear Reader, Thank you for picking up the latest issue of Television Asia Plus!

Just went you think Hollywood and the studios had it together as the Writer’s Strike has officially ended which looked good for the SAG-AFTRA strike, news of a stalemate arouse and the strike continues. While movies and television can restart development, without the actors, these will remain concepts for now.

This gives a chance for Asian content to shine as a lot of Western media are choosing to spotlight and highlight our works across the region.

Expect more in the coming weeks as we inch closer to the new year.

On this issue’s cover & cover story we have an exclusive interview with EPIC ON’s, COO, Sourjya Mohanty. As the platform will soon launch their first wave of original content this month, we get a look as to why they decided to do this and what can we expect from an EPIC ON Original.

For our first feature story, we have a look at Korea’s Studio Dragon as they release the first Sustainability Report in the Korean drama production industry.

And our final feature story gives us a glimpse of the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Thailand in View conference, and the optimism for the future of video and content and a look at how it might be time for Bangkok to really grasp the world stage.

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. 150 Orchard Road #07-05, Orchard Plaza Singapore 169206

Mathew Chan

Editor

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NEWS CONTENT

Super-powered Korean drama Moving soars onto screens on Disney+

Thai BL dramas and variety shows coming to iQIYI this season Fans of BL shows are in for a huge treat – iQIYI has launched a plethora of dramas and variety shows, with more upcoming ones soon. Some of these titles that will be launching include Venus in the Sky, Beyond the Star, Low Frequency, My Universe, Naughty Babe, The Middleman’s Love, and Dinosaur Love. Not to forget K-drama Starstruck, Love Tractor and Thai shows The Hidden Character and La Pluie that have already been airing on iQIYI.

Some of the world’s most ordinary individuals will find themselves running for their lives after government agencies discover their hidden superpowers in Moving – an electrifying new Korean Original drama that debuted last August 9, exclusively on Disney+.

Set in modern-day Korea, Moving tells the story of a group of superpowered individuals who hide their true abilities from the world in order to protect their families from harm and exploitation.

Adapted from the smash webtoon of the same name by famed Korean author Kangfull, Moving is one of the most highly anticipated series of the year and is directed by Park Inje (Kingdom Season 2, Moby Dick), stars Ryu Seungryong (Extreme Job, The Admiral: Roaring Currents), Han Hyojoo (The Beauty Inside, W), Zo Insung (The Great Battle, Escape from Mogadishu) in his longawaited return to a drama series; Lee Jungha (Run On, Nevertheless), Go Younjung (Alchemy of Souls, Sweet Home), and Kim Dohoon (The Faceless Boss, The Law Café), and is produced by STUDIO&NEW.

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Venus in the Sky, Beyond the Star and Low Frequency are dramas by Y MOMENT that are coming to iQIYI soon. The drama Venus in the Sky embodies love, friendship and family, bringing audience joy. It presents the NC scenes artistically, portraying the charm of the characters through the actors’ acting. It also displays friend zone relationships in the form of a romantic comedy, allowing the audience to connect with the characters better.

Stay tuned to watch how the actors faced the fear of falling in love again!

In collaboration with Kantana Studio, Y MOMENT would be launching Low Frequency. The drama starred Ping, who acted in Mainland drama The Confidence and Thai drama Project S: Side by Side, and Bonus, the lead actor of supernatural drama What Zabb Man!.

It is about the supernatural events that the male protagonist Mon encounters as an interior designer, turning into a romantic love story as it goes.

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

Drama series Red Skies premieres to record ratings on Reshet 13 in Israel

With the much-anticipated Israeli premiere on June 19 and having previously announced the 2nd season pick-up, Reshet 13, the second largest broadcaster in the country, announced that Red Skies, the 8×50 minute drama series, based on the bestselling Israeli novel of the same name and inspired by true events, aired to record ratings. Red Skies achieved the highest ratings in five years on Reshet 13 for a first-prime drama series and has the highest ratings on-demand for any premiere in Reshet’s history, as well as the most watched show currently on all major VOD platforms in Israel.

The official ratings number is 11.3% (overnight+1) and 15.3% (overnight +6).

Red Skies is created by Ron Leshem (Euphoria, No Man’s Land), Daniel Shinar (author of the novel Red Skies), Daniel Amsel (Euphoria, HBO+ Valley of Tears), Amit Cohen (Hulu’s No Man’s Land, Fox and Canal+ False Flag) and the director Alon Zingman (Netflix’s Shtisel). The series is produced by veteran producer Yoav Gross (Carthago, Manayek) along with Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen, of Access Entertainment, who serve as Executive Producers.

“We are fortunate to receive this tremendous acceptance in Israel.

Red Skies has reached virtually every home in Israel becoming a true event. It’s today’s watercooler talk when we thought these days were gone. Being accepted to international festivals in France, Germany and India, the team and I have hopes that Red Skies will reach the hearts of millions globally, as it is already doing locally,” commented Leshem. facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

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VEGA Idol Asian Tour auditions open in nine countries across Asia

Netflix Japan announces Unscripted Line-up, including Love Like A K-Drama

VEGA Idol announced the official opening of its first season in Asia.

With a commitment to showcasing exceptional talent, VEGA Idol offers a platform for aspiring artists to shine and redefine the concept of idols in the region.

Featuring a seasoned panel of professional judges, extensive multiplatform promotion, and comprehensive audio-visual services, VEGA Idol aims to propel new talents and their works towards a wider audience. Talented individuals from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam are encouraged to apply for auditions.

In an astonishing response, the selection process has already attracted over 600 artists within a mere month, while the platform has garnered an impressive fan base of more than 80,000 registered supporters. Following two days of intense competition and a week of dedicated fan voting, 20 exceptional participants have emerged as winners, earning their rightful place in the forthcoming Asian regional selections. Notably, VEGA Idol has forged key partnerships with renowned platforms such as TikTok, Bilibili, and Wetv, ensuring unprecedented exposure and visibility for contestants.

Simultaneously, VEGA has joined forces with Universal Music, a global powerhouse, to produce the debut music work of the idol group. This collaboration will facilitate worldwide promotion on TikTok, propelling the selected talents into the international spotlight and transforming them into global sensations.

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Netflix Japan has revealed a slate of reality and variety shows, as it continues to invest in the category for local audiences.

The news was shared as part of the APAC Unscripted Showcase held in Seoul, where Netflix Japan’s unscripted lead Dai Ota spoke about the upcoming line-up.

The shows announced are as follows: •

Seoul-set romance reality Love Like A K-Drama premiering November 28th

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Unique dating series Love Village renewed for a second season

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Is She The Wolf? coming to Netflix audiences worldwide on September 3

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Comedy competition Last One Standing returning for a season two on October 10th

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LIGHTHOUSE to premiere with new original songs announced on August 22nd

ZEE5 Global introduces a new twist to the latest edition of reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa ZEE5 Global, after the raging success of its previous season last year, ZEE5 Global’s iconic singing reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa returns with an exciting new season that has Himesh Reshammiya, Neeti Mohan, Anu Malik as judges and Aditya Naryan as the host. Streaming on ZEE5 Global, the new season is poised to change the game with a new format that includes spontaneous challenges thrown at contestants by the judges after one of their peers has delivered an outstanding act in a particular style or genre. Rather than a set template with weekly rounds one is familiar with, this challenging environment is bound to shake up the room a bit, stimulate a competitive edge amongst the contestants and pack in a new surprise for its viewers in every single episode!

Months ago, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa announced a nation-wide quest for ‘OG’ voices across India. For the first time ever, the audition process went paperless – led by a strong digital leg and even the on-ground phase saw negligible use of paper as a part of the channel’s endeavour of being environmentally responsible.

This season features contestants hand-picked by the judges from across India like West Bengal’s Albert Kabo Lepcha, Kharagpur’s Sonia Gazmer, Delhi’s Sana Arora, Mumbai’s Abdul, Uttar Pradesh’s Nishtha Sharma and Kolkata’s Ranita Banerjee.

The talented bunch promise viewers an exceptional musical extravaganza that marks a grand celebration of music this season.

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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NEWS CONTENT

OUTtv commissions first South African original The G-list

OUTtv, the leading LGBTQ+ television and streaming service, has commissioned its first South African original series, following its launch on Openview’s Ultraview service earlier this year in the territory. The brand-new unscripted series The G-list, produced by

The Red Pill Productions is set to start production this month.

The A-List is so yesterday, bitch!

Set against the backdrop of Johannesburg, The G-list is a reality show that follows three of Joburg’s queer ‘Uber Influencers’ – media personality, actor, presenter, model, podcaster and entrepreneur Kyle Clarke, charismatic radio host, passionate LGBTQIA activist and DJ Lula Odiba, and Mthaux, an unfiltered, magnetic and non-binary force in the world of broadcast entertainment – as they make their way through the city’s dynamic social scene, exploring topics such as identity, love, friendship, fame, community and success, all whilst navigating healthy doses of politics, intrigue and drama. In the city known as eGoli – all that glitters is certainly not gold! The series features Y, the country’s largest youth radio &

lifestyle entertainment brand, as a key production partner – offering viewers an unprecedented and unfiltered glimpse into what and, more importantly, who makes Joburg tick.

The series is set to release on OUTtv’s broadcast and streaming services worldwide and on Openview’s Ultraview service in Fall 2023.

Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv, said: “South Africa is an emerging market for us and also home to an incredibly rich, dynamic and culturally vibrant queer community which we are excited to be showcasing through “The G-List”. As the leading LGBTQ+ television and streaming service we want to be a home for stories from across the world which are by us and for us – and we can’t wait to see Joburg through the eyes of movers and shakers Kyle, Lula, and Mthaux.”

JioCinema breaks digital viewership records with 10 crore viewers on Bigg Boss OTT Breaking records at every step of the way, JioCinema’s Bigg Boss OTT has emerged as India’s biggest digital entertainment property. The high-octane season hosted by Salman Khan was viewed by over 10 crore Unique Viewers and clocked close to 3000 crore minutes of Watch Time, making it the most streamed entertainment property, next only to the IPL. The season finale on August 14, set new records for the most streamed Live entertainment event in India and in the Top 5 globally with 2.3 crore viewers, and 72 lakh peak concurrency.

A season of many ‘firsts’ including a wild card entry emerging as the winner, Bigg Boss OTT concluded its season by setting unprecedented records in terms of viewership, engagement and popularity.

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540 crore votes and 245 crore video views across the 8 week season are also a testament to Bigg Boss OTT’s phenomenal success on JioCinema, reaffirming the season’s commitment of placing power in the hands of viewers or Janta, the ‘Asli Boss’. Redefining digital engagement in the OTT ecosystem with 24-hour Live streaming, over 5.5 crore users engaged with breakthrough interactive features such as Multi camera feeds, audience takeovers in Hype mode, Meme The Moment, Live Chats and more.

households, and our partnership with Bigg Boss OTT stands as a testament to the remarkable achievements we have accomplished. The collaboration has helped us to create a powerful and impact-driven narrative across various touch points, thus building a lasting connection with the audience.”

Shedding light on the association with Bigg Boss OTT, the spokesperson for Vimal Elaichi said, “Vimal Elaichi as a brand stands for the emotion of apnapan and Bigg Boss OTT is one show that brings the entire nation together. Bigg Boss has evolved into a ubiquitous phenomenon in Indian

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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Love You Seven Times tops iQIYI’s global charts in month of August The romantic and light hearted drama Love You Seven Times, starring Yang Chaoyue and Ryan Ding, topped the global rankings in August, with soaring high popularity in 191 countries. Love You Seven Times saw its popularity index surpassing that of 8,000 on iQIYI a day after its broadcast.

their presence at the locations, it also allowed fans who are overseas to be up close and personal with their favourite lead actors.

Adapted from Jiu Lu Fei Xiang’s novel titled Seven Unfortunate Lifetimes, All Thanks To A Single Moment Of Impulse, Love You

Seven Times is directed by Li Nan, starring Ryan Ding and Yang Chaoyue and tells the story of Xiang Yun (played

by Yang Chaoyue) and Chu Kong (played by Ryan Ding), who accidentally are bounded by the red thread while quarrelling and were punished to go through seven lives of love before returning to the heavenly realm.

After watching the drama, many netizens fancied the fast pacing of the drama as well as its engaging content, filled with beautiful costumes, makeup and impressive special effects.

Outdoor advertisements of Love You Seven Times were spotted in various parts of the world. Displayed in seven countries, this represents the seven love cycles the main cast went through in the drama, further emphasizing the infinite cycles of love and death across seven lifetimes in the drama. This also in turn showcased the popularity of the drama overseas – apart from fans being able to mark

Kurt Seyit & Sura licensed to Mediaset Italy told to many kinds of audiences.”

Reflecting on recent successes such as Thailand’s Hunger and Indonesia

The first teaser for the upcoming Netflix series Cigarette Girl (Gadis Kretek) from Indonesia was revealed last August by series director Kamila Andini.

Andini appeared live onstage at the ContentAsia Summit 2023 in Bangkok, alongside Netflix Content Director for Southeast Asia Malobika Banerji and Hunger filmmaker Sitisiri ‘Dome’ Mongkolsiri. facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

During the ‘Shared Goals: Netflix in Southeast Asia’ session, the teaser was premiered by Andini, who said: “This is a story set across two time periods and with so many characters.

It’s a family drama and a romance, set against the backdrop of the Indonesian clove industry. This story that’s been with us for many years and we’re so excited to see the characters come to life and have their stories

The Big 4, Netflix’s Malobika Banerji shared more about our Southeast Asia plans during the session: “We are building a really compelling local content category to sit alongside our titles from around the world, so that members across Southeast Asia come to Netflix for a variety of must-watch titles. We’re deepening our relationships with the creative community here—there are so many great stories and storytellers from this region and I feel privileged to be driving efforts to showcase this talent in never before seen ways. We are also focused on training programs and workshops across the region to invest in the local production industry at all levels.”

Netflix’s newest Indonesian series Cigarette Girl will start streaming on November 2, 2023. Based on the novel by Ratih Kumala, the period drama tells an epic romance amid the evocative blend of flavorful spices to create the perfect kretek cigarette set in 1960s Indonesia.

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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NEWS CONTENT

QYOU Media India’s Q TV Launches New Original Series Viral Hua Re, Deploys an AI Anchor to revolutionize the way audiences engage with content with the introduction of an AI anchor.

Recognizing the burgeoning need for innovative and compelling content, QYOU Media India’s Q TV, continues to successfully strike a chord with its audiences. Further bolstering its ‘Zara Hatke’ proposition, Q TV, in a firstof-its-kind initiative, announces a new original series, ‘Viral Hua Re’, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) that launched lasr August 20 2023.

In a pioneering move that unleashes a completely new approach to content creation, ‘Viral Hua Re’ aims

to transport the ubiquitous mobile phone experience of scrolling through multiple short format videos, onto the living room television set, through an engaging and hilarious lineup of short videos. Led by a sassy animated AI anchor, ‘Viral Bhabhi’ with her witty one-liners and anecdotes, the show features viral videos sourced from social platforms spanning various sub-genres including comedy, pranks, gags, falls and fails.

Combining creativity with cuttingedge technology, the channel aims

Speaking on the launch, Simran Hoon, CEO, QYOU Media India, said, “At QYOU Media India, we have always been at the forefront of delivering exceptional and wholesome entertainment to our viewers. We believe in the power of innovation and thus the introduction of the new AI-driven show adds a revolutionary dimension to our programming. ‘Viral Hua Re’ exemplifies our commitment to curating content that resonates with our cherished viewers. With the launch of the new AI-driven show, we remain steadfast towards harnessing the power of technology to redefine entertainment experiences.

We look forward to embracing the future of television, where creativity meets technology and storytelling transcends conventional narratives.”

Night Train Media and All3Media International’s The Ex-Wife finds new partners Worldwide Leading independent distributor All3Media International has secured its first raft of deals for new Paramount+ original drama The Ex-Wife in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Co-produced by Night Train Media, Clapperboard Studios and BlackBox Multimedia, The Ex-Wife is based on bestselling author Jess Ryder’s book of the same name and stars Céline Buckens (Showtrial), Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow), Janet Montgomery (New Amsterdam) and Jordan Stephens (Feel Good).

The drama debuted on Paramount+ in the UK last year

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and, following deals struck by All3Media International, launched in the US on BritBox last August in addition to a double acquisition in Canada with CBC covering English speaking Canada on CBC Gem and in French speaking Canada the series will be available on Radio-Canada.

and Switzerland, OSN in the Middle East, TVNZ in New Zealand and Paramount+ in Australia.

In Europe, The Ex-Wife has been acquired by TV4 (Sweden), MTV OY (Finland), NPO (the Netherlands), Stöð 2 (Iceland), Virgin (Ireland) and Eitb Media (Basque region Spain). A multi-territory deal covering rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia sees the fourpart thriller air on Pickbox, in addition to Paramount+ in Austria, Germany

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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NEWS OTT

BBC Studios and MyVideo launch BBC PLAYER exclusively in Taiwan

BBC Studios and MyVideo, the video streaming service under Taiwan Mobile, today launched the flagship SVOD streaming platform, BBC PLAYER, for viewers in Taiwan. Featuring six BBC Studios brands, including BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, BBC First, BBC Brit, BBC Kids, and CBeebies, it encompasses a wide range of programme genres.

Now, Taiwan audiences will be able to enjoy a full curated line-up of BBC Studios’ video on demand services in one single destination with 3,000 hours of premium content.

As the subscription-based multigenre media platform launched

by BBC Studios for overseas markets, BBC PLAYER enables viewers to enjoy quality British drama, documentaries, comedy, and factual shows, as well as programmes for preschoolers, available to watch anytime and anywhere. Meeting the diversified entertainment needs of viewers of all ages, BBC PLAYER will further enhance the mobile viewing experience for viewers in Taiwan. On BBC First, viewers can be enthralled

by Luther, the British drama nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards, or gripped in suspense by Endeavour, the period detective drama. Viewers with a passion for exploring the wonders of nature can choose from Frozen Planet II, the majestic Planet series on

BBC Earth, or Blue Planet II, whose aweinspiring scenes took four years to film.

BBC PLAYER also brings BBC Brit to Taiwan audiences for the first time, an entertainment brand featuring factual shows, entertainment shows and comedy for those who are fans of a variety of factual entertainment and comedy programmes. The channel treats viewers to a range of content including the world-acclaimed comedy show Mr. Bean, the seventh season of dark drama Inside No. 9, the fourth season of sitcom Ghosts, and the 33rd season of Top Gear – the world’s biggest motoring show, all premiering exclusively on MyVideo.

A further brand, BBC Lifestyle, features programmes on food, home ideas and fashion, such as Nigella Lawson’s Nigella Feasts, for those seeking inspiration in the kitchen.

M1 partners with Eazie TV to launch first-of-its-kind TV service in Singapore M1 Limited (M1), one of Singapore’s leading Mobile Network Operators, announced its exclusive partnership with regional content-streaming startup Eazie TV Pte Ltd to launch the new live TV streaming app for as low as S$19.98 for M1 customers and $24.98 for non-M1 customers.

With over 75 live TV channels, Eazie TV’s lineup includes popular channels such as Discovery, Nickelodeon, Hunan TV International, History, CNN International, TLC, AXN, CNBC and more, catering to the entertainment needs of customers of all ages.

Supported on multiple devices including TV, mobile, tablet, and computers, customers only need to download the app and sign up to immediately enjoy 24-hour, non-stop entertainment. With one

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subscription account, customers can consume content on as many as four streaming devices from the comfort of their own home or even on-the-go.

Customers can catch their favourite live TV channels and on-demand content from major global and Asian networks across popular genres

including News, Entertainment, Sports, Movies, Documentary, Lifestyle, Kids and Asian – all delivered via a simple App experience adapted for various devices and eco-systems.

Existing M1 customers on M1 mobile, fibre and Maxx plans will receive a free 30-day subscription when they first subscribe to it.

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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NEWS OTT

ZEE5 Global records 35% year-on-year viewership growth in the U.S. ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, has recently revealed some key insights on the South Asian diaspora’s viewing preferences in the US. As the streaming platform with the largest reach into the global South Asian diaspora, ZEE5 Global’s insights shed light on the viewing preferences of this large and influential community in the US region as a category leader.

Dramas have unquestionably emerged as the most preferred genre, showcasing a remarkable 38% increase in viewership since 2022.

The genre accounted for 60% of the viewership on the platform during the first two quarters of 2023. It saw blockbusters like Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ka Jaan break records along with Uunchai, Salaam Venky and others.

However, the spotlight on the genre lies with ZEE5 Originals like Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Tarla, Ayali, Taj: Divided by Blood, and Vyavastha.

Drama and Comedy have emerged as the top performing genres on the platform and are at the heart of a 35% y-o-y increase in viewership, spanning across language, and demographics.

These two genres are closely followed by romance, thrillers and reality shows.

Comedy is another genre that has strong resonance with the community.

Comedy content registered a notable 22% of total viewership on the platform during the first half of 2023. The genre experienced a staggering 92% y-o-y growth in viewership. Titles such as Kanjoos Makhichoos, United Kachche,

Mrs. Undercover, Chhatriwali, and Raksha Bandhan have significantly contributed to this surge in popularity.

Viewers seeking an adrenaline rush through suspenseful plots and unexpected twists in thrillers, saw the genre surge in popularity, recording a sharp rise of 58% in viewership. The category has done immensely well with edge-of-theseat ZEE5 Global Originals like Lost, Blurr, Oru Kodai Murder Mystery, Sabaash Feluda, Hatyapuri, Chup, Sengalam, U-Turn, and Duranga becoming fan favourites.

Finecast partners iWantTFC to offer addressable CTV Inventory in the Philippines Finecast, GroupM Nexus’ addressable TV solution, has partnered with iWantTFC, the premier Filipino streaming platform, to offer connected TV (CTV) inventory to clients in the Philippines. According to this year’s Nielsen Consumer and Media View, more consumers than ever before are now watching TV via digital extensions. In fact, the ownership of CTV has increased from 6.1% before the pandemic to 17.2% currently. This presents a favorable moment for advertisers in the country, as the partnership arrives at an opportune time.

With Finecast’s expertise in addressable TV and iWantTFC’s position as a leading streaming platform, this is set to revolutionize the advertising industry in the country. This collaboration allows Finecast to expand its reach and solidify its

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position as a leader in the media industry while enabling iWant to enhance its advertising capabilities.

Speaking on the partnership, Yasmin Mallari, Chief Investment Officer, GroupM Philippines says, “Finecast is delighted to partner with iWant to bring CTV inventory to clients in the Philippines. This partnership is a game changer for the industry and will drive the evolution of TV advertising in the country.”

“We are excited to offer our clients the opportunity to reach audiences through CTV and make the most of the evolving media landscape in the Philippines. This will enable brands to capitalise on this trend and deliver their message to audiences on the big screen for maximum impact,” says Kathryn Domingo, Finecast Director for the Philippines TV remains the cornerstone of media planning in the Philippines,

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

with a substantial adoption rate of 79% in urban areas and 71% in rural regions. However, the TV landscape is evolving, and linear TV alone is no longer sufficient.

Despite this shift, TV continues to hold cultural significance in the country, particularly for family viewing during primetime.

According to GroupM’s This Year Next Year forecast, spending by advertisers on CTV in the Philippines will triple from US$18 million in 2020 to US$59 million this year. By 2024, this category is expected to grow by a further 28%.

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Paramount+ expands global Korean content slate from partnership with CJ ENM

Switch Media, a world leader in online content delivery, has announced that Malaysia’s first and largest video streaming network Tonton, owned and operated by media powerhouse Media Prima, is using its MediaHQ online content publishing platform to create Tonton’s integrated, dynamic new OTT service.

Media Prima owns and operates a wide range of media outlets including: four national broadcasted TV stations, including the nation’s number one free to air channel: TV3.

Complimented by five national radio stations, three national newspapers, an out of home network and Malaysia’s widest reaching digital content platforms. Tonton, which is very well known across the country, originally launched back in 2010 and has been through several iterations since as the service it provides, and market it serves, has evolved.

International OTT services have since entered the market but local content still remains the nation’s most beloved genre and Media Prima continues to be one of the genre’s biggest producers of content.

Oscar Gutierrez, Switch Media’s VP of Business Development, said, “We took an in-depth look at what Tonton had been doing and where they wanted their OTT business to get to – a vital component of what we do – and it was immediately clear that our modular MediaHQ

platform would be ideal for them.

It provides a level of flexibility and adaptability, via the ability to easily add and remove services and to create the look and feel they needed, crucial in attracting and maintaining viewership.”

The AVOD service, which launched in November 2022, was initially available on the Web, as well as on mobile apps for Android and iOS for smartphones and tablets with display and instream ads. This service carries a collection of Media Prima’s marketleading free-to-air channels.

This March saw the launch of its SVOD service, home to a range of premium international content, as well as local content, providing a broad selection of content for viewers. Switch Media has also now rolled out these services to Android TV and Smart TVs.

Skytel launches Go+ in Mongolia

ABP Network, a trailblazing presence in the realm of news broadcasting, has achieved a significant accomplishment by surpassing the impressive milestone of 100 million subscribers on YouTube. This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the Network’s exceptional digital capabilities and emphasizes its resolute dedication to providing trustworthy news and captivating content to diverse language audiences.

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The collective subscriber count encompasses a wide spectrum of YouTube channels under the ABP Network umbrella, including those associated with ABP News, ABP Ananda, ABP Majha, and ABP Asmita, as well as digital channels such as ABP LIVE, ABP Ganga, ABP Sanjha, ABP Nadu, ABP Desam, and ABP Bihar. Additionally, Video Hub Channels like Ent LIVE, Dharma LIVE, Sports Live, Auto Live, Paisa Live, and Health Hub, along with Uncut and ABP LIVE Podcasts, have contributed to this monumental achievement.

Speaking about this success, Avinash Pandey, CEO of ABP Network, said, “Reaching the remarkable milestone of 100 million YouTube subscribers is the pinnacle of immense pride and honour for us. This achievement not only showcases the widespread appeal of our content but also underscores the trust and loyalty of our esteemed viewers.”

The channels within ABP Network’s

ambit have not only amassed impressive numbers but have also established themselves as leaders in specific language markets. ABP Majha, with its 10 million subscribers, has become the leading Marathi news channel on YouTube; while ABP Ananda, with 9 million subscribers, holds the top spot for Bengali-speaking audiences. The resounding success of ABP Sanjha and ABP Asmita in the Punjabi and Gujarati markets attests to their prominence.

Remarkably, ABP Network has ascended to become one of the world’s largest news publishers to achieve the distinction of 100 million YouTube subscribers. With an unprecedented presence across eight languages, the network stands as a global leader in the realm of news publication. Its journey has been propelled by a steadfast commitment to delivering credible and impactful news while embracing the dynamic shifts in the media landscape.

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NEWS PLATFORMS

KC Global Media launches Animax on Dialog TV KC Global Media announced the launch of Japanese anime network, Animax, on Sri Lanka’s Dialog Television. Subscribers will get to enjoy an exciting array of anime content available via subscription on-demand (SVOD) on Dialog Television and on the Dialog ViU App, meeting the growing demand for anime content among the vibrant and passionate anime community in Sri Lanka. Dialog Television

viewers and ViU App subscribers will also continue to enjoy hit series on AXN, the popular English general entertainment channel.

George Chien, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of KC Global Media said, ” We are delighted to elevate our diverse content offerings to Sri Lanka with the launch of Animax. Like the rest of Asia and the world, Sri Lanka has a thriving anime fanbase, and we are excited to offer them a dedicated platform to indulge in their passion for anime.”

Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Operating Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We are excited about our partnership with KC Global Media, which enables us to bring the vibrant world of Japanese anime to Sri Lankans. The addition of Animax to our platform exemplifies

our unwavering dedication to offering our viewers a rich variety of captivating and immersive content.

With the increasing popularity of anime within Sri Lanka’s passionate anime community, we are delighted to provide an extensive collection of anime content through our subscription on-demand service.”

Home to some of the biggest anime titles, Animax offers popular genres for action, romance, horror, supernatural, sci-fi, comedy and slice of life. Subscribers can look forward to enjoy an extensive library of anime content that features popular and niche titles including award-winning series.

All content from Animax will be streamed in their original Japanese audio and accompanied with English subtitles.

Qalbox Partners with Astro to offer an unparalleled MuslimFocused entertainment experience in Malaysia Qalbox by Muslim Pro, the entertainment streaming service renowned for its diverse global Muslim content, has joined forces with Astro to exclusively stream Muslimfocused content in Malaysia. In line with Muslim Pro’s aim of becoming the digital home for all things Muslim, this strategic alliance represents a pivotal moment in the country’s entertainment landscape, offering Astro’s customers an unparalleled selection of enriching Muslim-centric content, elevating the entertainment experience for viewers across the country.

Under this collaboration, Qalbox will be available on all Astro Ultra and

12

Ulti Boxes as an add-on, offering an extensive array of content for the Muslim community. The partnership was announced by the app’s Co-CEOs from Bitsmedia, Nik Emir Din and Fara Abdullah, along with Astro’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Shafiq Abdul Jabbar, and Director of Content, Agnes Rozario.

Since the inception of Qalbox, which is readily accessible within the Muslim Pro app, on web and TV, Muslim Pro has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to investing in the Malaysian market. Acknowledging the nation’s young and tech-savvy Muslim

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

population and the government’s vision of establishing Malaysia as a tech hub for Islamic content, Muslim Pro launched Qalbox in Kuala Lumpur in December 2022.

The latest collaboration with Astro further strengthens Muslim Pro’s dedication to serving the Muslim community in Malaysia by enhancing accessibility for users. This partnership enables a more dedicated and seamless experience, ensuring that Muslimfocused content is readily available to a wider audience, enriching the entertainment landscape in Malaysia.

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Rock Entertainment Holdings, myTV SUPER, and Regentact Join Forces to Introduce Golden Chinese Drama Channel to the World Rock Entertainment Holdings, myTV SUPER (TVB-affiliated OTT platform) and Regentact have announced their exclusive partnership to bring a new channel “Golden Chinese Drama” to the market. Each is known for its expertise in different aspects of the media and entertainment landscape, combining strengths to showcase Qiong Yao’s timeless Chinese Classic, which has withstood the test of time with its remarkable productions.

beauty of Chinese storytelling.

Golden Chinese Drama channel offers a curated selection of nostalgic masterpieces that have shaped the landscape of Chinese dramas. This includes an exquisite collection of Chinese dramas from epic historical sagas, Qiong Yao’s romantic tales of love and sacrifice, as well as gripping martial arts adventures, featuring well-known casts such as Charmaine Sheh, Dicky Cheung, Richard Ng, Wu Yue, Zhang Gu Li, Zhao The channel will serve as a gateway Wei, Ruby Lin, and Fan Bingbing. for avid fans who have grown up watching these dramas and for “We are thrilled to partner with myTV viewers who seek to discover the SUPER and Regentact to bring these

legendary tales internationally as we preserve the essence of classic Chinese dramas, and offer a nostalgic escape into the past for those looking for a break from contemporary offerings.” said Beatrice, CEO of Rock Entertainment Holdings. “With the strategy of delivering 700 fresh hours per year, fans can look forward to a continuous stream of high-quality content that reflects the rich heritage of Chinese storytelling.”

Golden Chinese Drama will be available on linear broadcast, SVOD (subscription Video on Demand) and FAST (FreeAd-Supported Television) platforms.

THEMA celebrates Eazie TV kick-off in Singapore with 5 TV channels onboard THEMA, a Canal+ company, joined the Eazie TV kick off in Singapore and celebrated the launch of a selection of five of its thematic channels on the innovative platform, providing high quality live music, entertainment, cinema and dramas.

Eazie TV users now have access to the best of classical music, ballet and opera on Mezzo Live as well as to the ultimate Live concert video experience of best-selling artists in all popular genres on Qello Concerts by Stingray. They can enjoy the premium selection of classic and independent cinema masterpieces on FilmBox Arthouse, the major popular Turkish series on Dizi Channel,

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both produced by SPI International, and will discover INPLUS unique and disruptive stories and adventures.

Launched on 1st August 2023, Eazie TV offers a seamless viewing experience with a simple, cancelanytime subscription plan, and bring the best of linear TV via over-thetop (OTT) technology. Eazie TV is available directly to consumer or at a

preferred rate for M1 subscribers, a leading telco in Singapore.

“Eazie TV put together an unprecedented subscription approach across the Singapore pay-TV market. We are very pleased to partner with Eazie TV in this ambitious project which will bring new audiences to our premium thematic channels” said Alexandre Bac, Managing Director APAC at THEMA.

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

13

NEWS PLATFORMS

Magna signs Asia Pacific technology partnership with Open Broadcast Systems Magna Systems has signed a technology partnership agreement to represent Open Broadcast Systems across the Asia Pacific region. Open Broadcast Systems provides cutting-edge and end-to-end encoding and decoding software solutions for the broadcast industry.

Magna Systems & Engineering group CEO, Matthew Clemesha, said, “Open Broadcast Systems is revolutionising the provision of advanced broadcast technology, moving the industry towards a flexible, cost efficient, softwaredriven future. Its cutting-edge and end-to-end encoding and decoding software is accelerating

the delivery of premium content over IP, improving quality at the same time as reducing costs. Its products adapt to the pressures and challenges of the modern broadcast environment and can be developed and installed in extremely short timeframes, without compromising on quality. It is a perfect fit for Magna, our clients and our industry.”

As a result of the new agreement Magna will be selling Open Broadcast Systems’ full range of encoders and decoders which are able to deliver high quality, low-latency broadcast services, running as apps on standard IT hardware.

Open Broadcast Systems products are based entirely on commercial-

off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and so can be used in a wide variety of applications. They have native uncompressed IP (ST-2022-6 and ST2110) support and high density. They are also used widely for major sports, news and channel transmissions.

Kieran Kunhya, Open Broadcast Systems CEO concluded, “We already have a strong customer base in Asia Pac. The nature of the region means it is more open to COTS solutions and ST-2110 which is an ideal opportunity for us to grow further. Magna is the ideal fit for Open Broadcast Systems and will add great value to customers and users of our products throughout the Asia Pacific region.”

Warner Bros. Discovery and J:COM expand joint venture agreement in Japan

Warner Bros.

Discovery and J:COM announced a strategic new agreement in Japan, significantly expanding their joint venture partnership from the current two networks to a seven channel linear TV portfolio. The multi-year deal, effective starting last August 1, strengthens the longstanding collaboration between the two companies as they continue to bring world class entertainment to Japanese audiences.

one operation. Enhancing the current offering for audiences, all channels will see a significant uplift in titles from Warner Bros. Discovery’s diverse portfolio of much-loved content, and for the first time ever, Discovery and Animal Planet will feature thematically relevant movies within their schedules. As part of the deal, J:COM will oversee distribution of the seven channel portfolio to third party cable and DTH operators in Japan.

The expanded portfolio brings together leading brands Discovery, Animal Planet, Mondo, Tabi, Cartoon Network, Movie+ and LalaTV under

James Gibbons, President & MD, Western Pacific, Warner Bros.

Discovery said: “Warner Bros.

Discovery and J:COM have a proven

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

partnership in Japan and this new agreement leverages the deep expertise of both companies to build an even stronger offering for Japanese consumers. Beyond the joint venture expansion, the deal also provides additional opportunities for further collaboration between the two businesses, including content for SVOD platforms and local co-production.”

Yoichi Iwaki, President, Representative Director, J:COM, said: “We are honoured to strengthen our close strategic relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery, the world’s leading IP owner. Under the new partnership, J:COM will leverage the assets of both parties, such as providing unprecedentedly attractive content and new SVOD platforms.”

With the expansion of the strategic alliance, the two parties aim to bring evenmorevaluetoJapaneseconsumers across their platforms and services.

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PEOPLE

CJ ENM announces new leadership for OTT Platform TVING and K-POP Culture Platform Mnet Plus

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM announced the appointment of prominent IT startup female executives as the new leaders for its OTT platform TVING and K-POP culture platform Mnet Plus respectively, to further push growth and innovate its platform business.

Choi Ju-hui has been appointed the new CEO of TVING, becoming the first female CEO in the Korean OTT industry. Choi has accumulated expertise in platform business, previously serving as CSO at the online fashion platform ‘W Concept’ and as CBO of the luxury e-commerce platform ‘Trenbe,’ where she oversaw business including strategy, sales, marketing and IT. Prior to that, she was part of the Boston Consulting Group, after which she moved to Walt Disney Korea managing the business strategy for Asia including the launch of Disney+ in Korea.

Choi Ju-hui

Kim Ji-won has been named Head of Mnet Plus Business. She has accrued expertise in new platform business

development

across

various

companies

from major Korean conglomerates such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and NCSOFT, to global IT companies like US-based Moloco and edtech developer Mathpresso, where she served as COO and CPO, overseeing operations such as profit model development.

Launched as an independent corporation from CJ ENM in October 2020, TVING became the No. 1 OTT in Korea due to its original content with a unique appeal.

Meanwhile, Mnet Plus is a K-POP culture platform launched by CJ ENM last year. It provides K-POP content libraries and fan-artist interactive communities that CJ ENM has accumulated over the years, including Mnet Plus original IP, Mnet music content and KCON.

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Kim Ji-won

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

15

PEOPLE

Clare Bloomfield appointed Chief Policy Officer for the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has appointed Policy

Clare

Officer

Bloomfield (CPO),

with

as

its

new

immediate

Chief effect.

Bloomfield has been with the team since 2017 as Director, Policy & Research, and more recently as Acting CPO, helping to develop and execute policy initiatives relevant to the video industry, in consultation with and on behalf of AVIA member companies.

In her new role, Bloomfield will spearhead AVIA’s policy unit, working with members to set the policy strategy and represent and engage in constructive dialogue with governments and regulators around the region so they may better understand the curated video industry and foster an environment of

support

for

the

growth

of

the

industry.

“I am delighted to confirm Clare Bloomfield as our new Chief Policy Officer. I have worked with Clare throughout my time at AVIA and I have great respect for her acumen and understanding of the issues faced by our rapidly

Clare Bloomfield

changing industry, as well as clear and practical ideas as to how best advocate for what is needed to safeguard its future development and prosperity. I look forward to continuing this journey with her as I am sure do our member companies.” said Louis Boswell, CEO, AVIA.

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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Vizrt Group appoints new Director of Channel Development to strengthen Channel Program

All3Media International has appointed a new VP Sales in its Asia-Pacific office, as Tony Ziran Tang joins to handle sales and co-productions of the company’s multi-genre programming and formats portfolio in China, Korea, Japan.

Reporting to Sabrina Duguet, EVP Asia Pacific, Tony will be responsible for finished programme and format sales activities in the territories, working across TV, local digital platforms and home entertainment.

Having joined as a Format Sales Executive he progressed to Senior Commercial Manager/Senior Producer at BBC Studios in China, where he oversaw originals, coproductions and distributions. He brokered the first China original One Cup a Thousand Stories, the first science original Rendezvous with the Future and several international co-productions including The Green Planet.

Prior to BBC Studios, Tony was Development Producer at non-scripted production company Sparkling Media in China.

Fluent in English and Mandarin, he has a Master degree from the Communication University of China’s Television School.

This latest hire follows All3Media International’s recent expansion of its Asia-Pacific team, which saw Jaenani Netra appointed in the newly created role of VP Sales for India and the Indian Subcontinent.

Sabrina Duguet commented, “We’re delighted to welcome Tony Ziran Tang to the team as we expand the reach of our finished shows and formats in these key territories. Tony’s comprehensive experience in digital and linear distribution, format development, and coproduction, alongside his established relationships with clients across Asia and globally, will ensure we can continue to optimise opportunities within our current client network as well as secure and grow new business.”

Tony Ziran Tang added, “I’m thrilled to join All3Media International’s talented team – few positions give the opportunity to manage rights to such a varied line-

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Tony Ziran Tang

up of high-quality scripted and non-scripted titles from a host of the world’s most acclaimed producers. The Asia-Pacific region offers myriad destinations for premium finished content on TV, digital and home entertainment platforms as well as strong potential for strategic collaborations on both international and local productions.

I’m looking forward to building on All3Media International’s fantastic reputation in Asia and bringing more of the company’s innovative shows and formats to screens across the region.”

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

17

COVER STORY

EPIC ON Joins The Original Content Game

By Matthew Chan

The world of streaming is a cutthroat industry with new platforms and services popping up every few months.

As the peak TV bubble seemingly has burst, big named services like Netflix, Disney+, Max, and the like are scrambling to keep subscribers and launching cheaper plans that include ads to help bump up their revenue.

Other strategies include investing heavily in local content and Asian content as a whole to help fill the gaps of their own original content as Hollywood faces major union strikes, that has drastically delayed productions.

Asia has its fair share of streaming services trying to vie for eyeballs in an already cluttered space but that isn’t stopping them from trying. EPIC ON, a South Asian

Sourjya Mohanty, COO, EPIC ON

OTT, hopes to drive more users thanks to its diverse platform. Not only do you get shows & movies, you also get podcasts and even games. Now they are joining the original content game and we caught up with Sourjya Mohanty, COO, EPIC ON to tell us more about their push and decision to start producing originals.

was made to invest in original content. The platform aims to stand out from its competitors by delivering distinctive and exclusive shows and movies that can’t be found elsewhere, thereby enhancing its appeal to potential subscribers. This strategic move is anticipated to drive both monetization and audience engagement for the platform.

Why is now the time for EPIC ON Originals? What was the catalyst that drove that decision to start producing original content?

In recent years, the OTT landscape in India has

1. Monetization: By creating compelling shows and movies, platforms can attract more subscribers and

generate

additional

revenue

through

subscriptions, advertising, and licensing deals.

2. Audience

Demand: If there’s a demand for

the

specific types of content or genres that aren’t

involvement and investments of both international

readily available on the platform, creating original

and Indian OTT players, as well as an increasingly

content can help meet those demands and

diverse

retain existing users while attracting new ones.

experienced

remarkable

content

growth,

preference

driven

among

by

consumers.

The competition in the streaming industry is fierce,

3. Brand Building: Original content can also help in

subscribers.

brand building and establishing the platform as a

EPIC ON, a versatile super app under the IN10 Media

content creator and curator, not just a distributor.

Network umbrella, offers a wide array of content,

This

including films, TV shows, podcasts, games, and more,

and credibility in the entertainment industry.

with

everyone

striving

to

secure

tailored to a broad audience base. To further solidify its position and capture a broader audience, the decision

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

can

enhance

4. Data-Driven

the

platform’s

reputation

Insights: Platforms often analyze

user data and preferences to identify gaps in their

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content library. They may decide to create original content based on these insights to cater to their audience’s tastes and preferences more effectively.

5. Long-Term

Strategy:

Investing

in

original

content can be part of a platform’s long-term strategy to ensure sustainability and growth in the competitive streaming market. It can also help reduce dependency on licensing content from other studios, which can be expensive.

6. Global

Expansion:

For

platforms

looking

to expand globally, original content can be a valuable asset. It can help them reach a broader international audience and compete with 7.

established

global

streaming

giants.

Creative Control: Producing original content allows

platforms

to

have

greater

creative

control over the content they offer, ensuring it aligns with their brand image and vision.

8. Partnerships and Collaborations: Platforms may

our decisions regarding the creation of originals or

collaborate with production companies, filmmakers,

acquisition of content. Our constant aim is to captivate

and actors to create original content, leveraging

the audience on a monthly basis with fresh, high-quality

their expertise and reputation to attract viewers.

content that is uniquely tailored to their tastes, providing them with a distinct experience on our platform.

How long was this in development and how much of your previous viewing data played a role in the development?

After years of extensive data collection and analysis, we have made the bold decision to venture into original content production. Countless months have been dedicated to in-depth research and extensive discussions with production houses to carefully curate and develop content that promises to be truly binge-worthy!

Our team has been tirelessly analyzing various data points, including viewing habits, geographical trends, and audience preferences in terms of genres and formats. This data plays a crucial role in shaping

When can we expect the original series to arrive and what is the content plan?

Will you be releasing them on a binge model or weekly?

Starting from October 2023, we are set to launch a brand-new original web series or movie every month, ensuring our subscribers a continuous stream of topnotch entertainment. All our shows and movies operate on a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) model, guaranteeing excellent value for money while providing irresistibly binge-worthy content for our users to enjoy.

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19

COVER STORY

Can you share how many more shows are in development and what were the growing pains to transitioning to producing owned content?

Currently, we are in the planning stages for the launch of our initial line-up, which consists of eight exciting originals, encompassing both web-series and movies. Additionally, there is a substantial roster of stories in the pre-development phase, poised to progress to the shooting stage in the near future.

Stay tuned for even more captivating content coming your way!

brand is synonymous with providing ceaseless, oneof-a-kind entertainment that captivates our audience.

What are some of the shows that EPIC ON subscribers should watch out for and what are other content would you like to produce in the future?

Our slate includes an exciting line-up of shows and movies: •

atlubaaz - A pulp-fiction show produced by 9pm Films, featuring Dheeraj Dhoopar, Nargis Fakhri, and Divya Agarwal.

What makes an EPIC ON Original? What kind of content are you gearing towards and what do they say about the brand as a whole?

•

Films, starring Rajniesh Duggall and Amruta Khanvilkar.

• •

and straightforward, yet highly pertinent in today’s

- A dramedy produced by Rusk Media,

#Blue Tick (aur trolls) - A drama produced by Folklore Film Studios, starring Parul Gulati and Siddharth Nigam.

•

Maya Deluxe - A noir thriller brought to you by Lockdown Shorts Studio.

to formulate our content strategy. Our primary emphasis is on crafting stories that are relatable

Plot 1/2

featuring Nishant Malkhani and Ankit Bhatia.

We’ve meticulously gathered data across a range of metrics, both from our platform and external sources,

Video Cam Scam - A thrilling production by Blue Drop

•

Chill - A slice-of-life drama produced by Mukesh Chhabra Films.

context. Tailoring our content to resonate with our

We also have some exciting aspirational, romcoms, and

target audience, we’re confident it will strike a chord

biopics in the pipeline, with plans for production and release

with individuals aged 15 and above. The EPIC ON

at a later date. Stay tuned for more incredible content!

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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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.

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21

FEATURE STORY 1

Studio Dragon, Drama Producer behind The Glory, the first ever to release the ‘Sustainability Report’ among Korean drama production companies

By TVA Editor

Studio Dragon, the storyteller group which produced

The report introduces the main dramas of Studio Dragon,

The Glory, has released the first ‘Sustainability

which encapsulate the social values represented by

Report’ in the Korean drama production industry.

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Studio Dragon

Driven by the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mission to “Create a More Valuable World through Premium Storytelling,” Studio Dragon has presented Dream

With

Dragon. Following their successful

introduction of the studio model for the first time in the domestic drama industry, they plan to take a leading

sets to increase the production of dramas that embody social values such as Our Blues, a warm portrayal of the social discrimination against the disabled, Mine, dismantling and

The

prejudice Glory,

towards

depicting

sexual

solidarity

minorities, among

the

underprivileged who stand up against school violence.

role in sustainable management. This sustainability

The report also contains the efforts to reduce waste

report adhered to the global standard guidelines

produced during the process of building and tearing down

of GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Standards 2021.

the filming set as for protecting the environment. For instance, in August 2021, Studio Dragon signed a business agreement with Mungyeong City and transformed the 2,294m2 landfill into an open set of Alchemy of Souls, promoting local specialties, and offered the visitors a firsthand experience of the drama, thereby establishing a tourist destination. Additionally, plans are made to recycle the set of upcoming drama When the Stars

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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Clockwise from the top left) ‘Mine’ poster, ‘Our Blues’ poster, ‘The Glory’

Gossip and use it as a filming location for upcoming drama, entertainment, etc. or for tourism purposes.

Studio Dragon operates the Industrial Safety and Health Committee for drama production sites and collaborative partners, aiming to ensure the safety and well-being of employees. The report includes details about the activities of the Safety Management Team, established in 2022.

Studio Dragon’s Safety Management Team is conducting safety management campaigns that include reward system and activities reinforcing safety consciousness for co-producers, partner companies of the set, props, lights, and other collaborating entities involved in the company’s project. The film sets that adhere to safety regulations are selected quarterly, with the producer and the most outstanding staff member receiving accolades.

Prior to the report’s publication, Studio Dragon earned ISO 14001 certification for environmental management, a pivotal benchmark for ESG management, from the British Standards Institution in June.

CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Sung Ho Jang, the head director of Studio Dragon’s ESG management, commented, “Considering the immense influence the media industry has on the world, I truly empathize with the substantial interest demonstrated by investors and interested parties in Studio Dragon’s endeavors toward sustainable management, as the leading K-Drama enterprise.” He announced that

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“Studio Dragon has achieved successful outcomes, including securing a key indicator for sustainable management—the ISO 14001 certification for environmental management—and is set to spearhead sustainable management to create a resilient ecosystem, positioning itself as a leader in the K-Drama industry.”

Meanwhile, the sustainability report Dream with Dragon has selected sustainability importance issues since January based on a survey of the general public and industry relatives, and the insights of the advisory committee composed of customers, investors, business partners, and employees, among other internal and external stakeholders. It covers Studio Dragon’s strategies and initiatives for each of the six sustainability focal points: •

Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Culture through Content and Leading

•

Protecting and Respecting Human Rights & Cultivating a Positive Workplace

•

Ensuring Safety and Health

•

Strengthening Compliance, Ethical Management, and Fair Trade

•

Reducing Waste Generation and Emissions Encouraging Circularity and Reuse of Resources

•

Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Management & Establishing an Environmental Management System.

September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

&

23

FEATURE STORY 2

The Future of Thai Content Shines Brightly with Thai Soft Power Enabling it to Travel the World

By AVIA

L to R: Winradit (Win) Kolasastraseni, President, Digital Media, True Digital Group, Kanokporn-Jay Prachayaset, Country Manager, WeTV Thailand, Tencent Thailand, Parnsuk (Poppy) Tongrob, Country Director for Thailand, iQIYI Over 150 industry leaders gathered in Bangkok for the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Thailand in View conference, for a day of discussions centered around the State of Video in Thailand, the Supremacy of Content and Boosting Advertising Revenue, before closing off with a keynote address on the Big Picture.

There was much optimism on the future of video and content, with many speakers agreeing that it was indeed Thailand’s time on the world stage. In his welcome address, Sompan Charumilinda, Executive Vice Chairman, True Visions Group, said that in a world where

content was resonating and spreading across borders, we’ve now seen the success of Asian, and Thai content, with its heritage of content production second to none.

Commissioner Pirongrong Ramasoota of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand, expanded on the potential for Thailand, sharing that soft power was now a major national strategy, to address the lack of unified regulations and the lack of a strategic database of its creative and content centre, for effective policy execution. With 11 sectors to focus on, from film and gaming to fashion, although it was too early to predict its success, it was certainly a welcome direction.

Commissioner Pirongrong also added that its key role was to regulate as well as promote the audio and video landscape, to make it fit for purpose in the digital age, economically, socially and culturally. With the strength of the Thai industry lying in the diversity of its content, the NBTC was also looking to promote content that reflected diversity and cultural uniqueness, and with the potential to be coproduced with other countries as well.

Content was also a key focus for the streaming platforms.

Kanokporn-Jay Prachayaset, Country Manager, WeTV Thailand, Tencent Thailand, shared that while growth has

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September – October 2023 Television Asia Plus

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slowed down post pandemic, WeTV remained optimistic, pursuing local originals more aggressively, and taking another step into producing original variety content.

And for both iQIYI and WeTV, AI was already in play, increasing efficiencies and cost reductions, with Parnsuk (Poppy) Tongrob, Country Director for Thailand, iQIYI, adding that “iQIYI is AI presented by creative talent.”

Winradit (Win) Kolasastraseni, President, Digital Media, True Digital Group, also said that production was not just for the Thai audience, but for a global audience.

However, what you do next after investing in local content was key, with a need to increase the value creation upstream to further downstream in distribution and monetization. “People are now recognizing that Thai can be a Korean option, or even a better version,” said Win. Expanding on the topic of Showcasing Thai Soft Power to the World, Surin Krittayaphongphun, President of TV Business and Executive Director, BEC World, said that soft power was very important for the entertainment industry and for its content to travel the world, and soft power was the weapon to bring more visitors in and showcase the country as well. For Birathon Kasemsri Na Ayudhaya, Chief Content Strategy, Investment & Partnership Officer, CP Group and True Corporation, soft power was about building brand love for Thailand.

“Soft power is created by emotional value and emotional connection and video is the intersection of every form of emotional communication,” he added.

However not all video was perceived equally, as shown in the results of AVIA’s Thailand consumer research on usage

and attitudes towards mass and premium OTT platforms, presented by AVIA CEO, Louis Boswell. Although mass platforms, such as social media and user-generated content, marginally outperformed premium OTT at the category level in terms of having high quality content, this result was driven mainly by two high volume UGC platforms.

When looked at as individual services, 7 of the top 10 platforms ranked as having the highest quality content were premium OTT. Furthermore, when it came to the highest attention levels, 6 of the top 10 services were premium OTT. And for video platforms that Thai consumers would recommend, 7 of the top 10 platforms were premium OTT. Closing off the conference with his view on the future of content was Group Chief Executive Officer of The One Enterprise, Takonkiet Viravan. For Viravan, each project had to have a different balance between commercial and art to be successful, and it was becoming more and more important today, as you could no longer depend just on local advertising. With the need to go international, the content should be Thai as the selling point, but the execution and the style of storytelling needed to skew more towards western and international preferences, as a good balance. Although it was more of a challenge, it also gave more opportunities to tell different stories that appealed to different people, he said. “You have to know your product and know which demographic it will appeal to.

You have to put it where the viewers are,” added Viravan.

And with the strong ecosystem that One Enterprise had as a content creator and distribution channel, coupled with the launch of their own OTT platform, OneD, producing their own originals to attract the streaming audience, Viravan remained cautiously optimistic for the future.

Photo Caption: Takonkiet Viravan, Group Chief Executive Officer, The One Enterprise with Louis Boswell, CEO, AVIA

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