Mansha Daswani

Vivek Couto, executive director of Media Partners Asia (MPA), gives insights into the company’s new report on content trends in seven Asian markets, exploring the evolution of the local production sector and the impact of SVOD platforms on the acquisition market.

HONG KONG/SINGAPORE: Disney’s Andy Bird, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, YouTube’s Robert Kyncl, Viacom’s Bob Bakish, Turner’s Gerhard Zeiler and the heads of several AsiaPac media groups, telcos and pay-TV platforms are among the speakers lined up for APOS in Bali this April.

TOKYO: Ryoichi Ueda has succeeded Katsuto Momii as the president of Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

LONDON/LOS ANGELES: Independent film and television outfit Komixx Entertainment is targeting expansion in Australia and Asia with the creation of a new office in Perth to be led by Amanda Morrison.

MUMBAI: Star's Hotstar platform has clinched a deal with Disney India to add a range of blockbuster movies to its Premium SVOD service.

NEW YORK: A+E Networks has picked up a stake in Korea's IHQ and has acquired two local channels in the territory that will be rebranded as HISTORY and Lifetime next year.

MUMBAI: Netflix has inked a long-term deal with Red Chillies Entertainment (RCE), the film production house founded by Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, to be the SVOD home of past and future releases.

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro's eSports and gaming entertainment channel eGG Network has launched in Australia via Fetch TV.

HONG KONG: FOX Networks Group Asia is taking legal action against Bangkok Bank for failing to honor payments it guaranteed from two Thai digital channel operators.

SINGAPORE: Asia TV Forum & Market and ScreenSingapore wrapped Friday with record attendance of 5,383 and more than $244 million worth of deals scored at the event.