The Biography Channel Set for Southeast Asian Rollout

SINGAPORE,
May 22: The Biography Channel (BIO)
will launch in Singapore on StarHub and in the Philippines on May 27, becoming
the third network from AETN All Asia Networks (AAAN) to roll out in Southeast
Asia in less than a year.

Additional distribution
agreements are expected for the channel in the coming months around the region.
A free preview of BIO will be available to StarHub subscribers using the
HubStation, digital or high-definition set-top box through StarHub Digital
Cable Channel 95 from May 27 to June 1 inclusive, with Chinese subtitles. BIO
content will also be distributed via digital services, including mobile,
broadband and VOD.

In June 2007, AAAN, a
joint venture of A&E Television Networks (AETN) and ASTRO All Asia
Entertainment Networks (ASTRO), launched The History Channel and Crime &
Investigation Network in Southeast Asia.

BIO’s original series aim
to uncover the real drama in people stories: everyday situations with a twist,
celebrities going off-script and paranormal events. BIO is home to the Emmy
Award-winning Biography series,
which profiles personalities such as Vera Wang, Angelina Jolie, Michelle Kwan,
Chiang Kai Shek and Kim Jong Il, as well as real-life series like Family
Plots and Flip This House.

In addition to original programming from the BIO catalogue, the channel in Southeast Asia will feature
local content. Among the first
acquisitions is Little Big Dreams,
produced by Singapore-based Threesixzero Productions and distributed by iD
Distribution. Shot in HD, this film looks at the children who come from all
over China to attend the infamous Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastic School to pursue
their Olympic dream. Ranging from 3- to 10-years old, the children have left
their hometowns and families, traveling to boarding school with the hope of
being selected by the national gymnastic squad to further their training.

BIO is currently available
in more than 23 territories in 67 million TV households.

Louis Boswell, the general
manager of AETN All Asia Networks, said: “The Biography Channel is the third
network we have launched in less than a year, and confirms our commitment to
becoming the leader in factual entertainment programming in Asia. It is a
channel dedicated to real people and their real stories, no matter whether they
are famous or simply have an extraordinary story to tell. There is an infinite
supply of real-life stories to tell here in Asia, and we look forward to
telling them. We are delighted that the channel will be seen from launch here
in Singapore on StarHub and in the Philippines. After the early successes of The
History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network, I am sure that BIO will
be equally well received.”

“StarHub
is pleased to collaborate with AETN to add a new channel to our pay-TV lineup,”
added Patrick Lim, StarHub’s head of cable TV services. “Singaporeans are
becoming better informed and well traveled today, thus we hope to bring in
content which enables them to learn more about famous icons across the globe.
The launch of The Biography Channel provides another quality
choice of content for our StarHub Digital Cable customers and I am sure they
would enjoy the content on this channel which is both informative and
entertaining.”

—By
Irene Lew