Singapore Cable Platform Unveils VOD Offerings

SINGAPORE, August 19: The
cable platform StarHub is launching an on-demand service for its digital
customers tomorrow, featuring, among others, Barclays Premier League games and
dramas from CBS Paramount International Television.

“We are confident that TV
viewers in Singapore will be delighted with Demand TV,” said Patrick Lim,
StarHub’s head of cable TV services. “Harnessing technology to place greater
flexibility into the hands of our customers has always been an ongoing process
for StarHub. Three years ago, we introduced Singapore’s first near
video-on-demand service. In 2006, we rolled out Smart TV, which enabled
customers to record and playback ‘live’ TV and last year, we evolved the
digital video recorder deployed for Smart TV to today’s HubStation device,
which allows users to watch, talk and surf at the same time.”

Subscribers can opt for
one-off purchases or pay a monthly subscription for unlimited access to the
on-demand channel.

The single programs
available include Barclays Premier League (BPL) matches, WWE monthly specials,
features from Hollywood, Bollywood and Indonesia, and TV series such as CSI and Numb3rs, courtesy of CBS. From September, the latest seasons of these popular
series will be available to StarHub as early as 24 hours after their U.S.
releases. In addition, viewers can choose to catch up on past seasons of
selected CBS series on Video-On-Demand. StarHub has also lined up deals to
deliver Taiwanese, Korean and Cantonese dramas.

Five On Demand Channels,
available for monthly subscription, launch later this month. These are Disney
Channel @ Play, VV Drama On Demand, TVBJ On Demand, Ruyi Hokkien Channel On
Demand and BPL On Demand. HBO On Demand will soon be added to StarHub’s On
Demand Channel lineup.

“The introduction of
Demand TV has further augmented StarHub’s position as the top pay TV content
provider in Singapore,” Lim added. “We are on the constant lookout for ways to
reward and give more benefits to our customers, and offering HBO On Demand and
BPL On Demand to The HBO PAK and Sports Group customers respectively at no
additional cost is another testimony of our efforts. In fact, we are the first
operator in the region that is not charging a premium for HBO On Demand to The
HBO PAK viewers.”

—By Mansha Daswani