FIC & StarHub Extend Carriage Deal

SINGAPORE: Fox International Channels (FIC) has renewed its carriage deal with StarHub in Singapore for its channels and services such as Nat Geo Wild, which is adding Malay- and Tamil-language options for the region. 

The deal includes STAR Movies, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, STAR World, FOX, FX, FOX Family Movies, Channel [V] International, Channel [V] Taiwan, Channel [V] China, STAR Chinese Movies, STAR Vijay, STAR Plus, tvN, Phoenix Chinese Channel and Sky News. Eight channels of the FIC HD channel bouquet are part of StarHub’s HD offerings to viewers in Singapore.

As part of the renewal deal, Malay- and Tamil-language tracks will be made available to viewers of Nat Geo Wild starting today. These language tracks are in addition to the currently available English and Mandarin audio, making Nat Geo Wild the first channel in Singapore available in all four official languages in the country.

“We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with FIC—a network that offers so much choice, quality programming and iconic channel brands geared towards the Singapore viewers’ entertainment taste and needs,” said Neil Montefiore, the CEO of StarHub. “We are confident and committed to bringing a best-in-class, enhanced TV viewing experience to every Singapore home and our renewal with FIC is another testimony of that commitment.”

“We’ve had a fantastic working relationship with StarHub in the past; our collective journey has seen many milestones in delivering quality content to our viewers in Singapore,” added Ward Platt, the president for the Asia Pacific and Middle East at Fox International Channels. “This continuation of our collaboration with StarHub supports our efforts in providing compelling and entertaining content that resonates with Singaporean audiences—with more choice, more localisation and language dubbing and enhanced services.”

The non-exclusive deal also marks the first major renewal for carriage of channels and services in Singapore under the new media market conduct code as set out by the Media Development Authority of Singapore.

“The recent changes to the Media Market Conduct Code seek to further enhance competition in the media market so as to promote the interest of consumers and the pay-TV industry as a whole,” added Aubeck Kam, the CEO of the Media Development Authority of Singapore. “Since the introduction of MDA’s cross-carriage measure on 12 March 2010, MDA notes that a number of non-exclusive content deals have been concluded, resulting in more common channels being offered by pay-TV retailers. Apart from cross- carriage of exclusive content, non-exclusive content deals present another means for a greater variety of content to be made available to consumers. StarHub’s viewers can look forward to enjoying great content and entertainment from Fox International Channels.”

Added Montefiore, “While industry watchers have been waiting to see how the new cross carriage regime will pan out for local pay-TV operators, StarHub will continue to focus on securing good quality content and developing long-lasting relationships with our content partners. With the FIC deal in place for the next few years, our customers can look forward to the widest range of content, enhanced TV experience and greater value from StarHub, they can be assured of it being delivered over the best quality network and supported by a dedicated customer service team.”