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MUMBAI: There will be 130 million digital pay-TV homes in India by 2020, according to new research from Media Partners Asia (MPA), reflecting about 60 percent of all TV homes in the country, up from 28 percent last year. The report, India Pay-TV & Broadband Markets, also notes that digital penetration …

BEIJING/SINGAPORE: A study by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the China Film Distributors and Exhibitors Association (CFDEA) reports that the Chinese film and television business directly contributed $15.5 billion to the country’s economy in 2011, supporting more than 900,000 jobs and generating tax revenues of $3.4 billion. The lion’s …

CULVER CITY/ZURICH: Dori Media Group has sold a 50-percent stake in Televiva, its telenovela channel in Indonesia, to Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks. The service, targeting females 15-plus with imported telenovelas dubbed into Bahasa Indonesia, is carried on leading DTH operator Indovision. SPT already has a strong presence in Indonesia—which is …

BALI: The Asian lifestyle channel Life Inspired is now available in Thailand, inking a three-year carriage agreement for its HD and SD offerings with leading pay-TV provider TrueVisions. The channel, delivering content focused on food, home, wellness, travel and style, is already available in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. On …

NEW YORK/TOKYO: Asia Ireton has been hired as the general manager of The History Channel Japan, a collaboration between A+E Networks and Super Network. As general manager, Ireton will be expected to supervise all channel operations, including programming, production, marketing, affiliate distribution, sales activities, financial reporting and new business development. …

LONDON: Twofour Rights has sold more than 100 hours of factual, features and entertainment programming to broadcasters in Australia. SBS opted for Be Your Own Boss, led by Richard Reed, who co-founded the Innocent smoothie empire; Urban Secrets with Alan Cumming; and In the Footsteps of Thesiger, an adventure documentary. Foxtel picked …

SINGAPORE: SingTel, which operates the mioTV IPTV platform, is expected to appeal a ruling by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) mandating that it make its coverage of Barclays Premier League (BPL) football available to rival service StarHub. The Singaporean regulator ruled today that SingTel’s non-exclusive deal for BPL live …

SINGAPORE: With more than two decades of media experience, Monica Tata has become HBO India’s new managing director, effective immediately. As managing director, Tata will work out of Mumbai under Jonathan Spink, the CEO of HBO Asia. She will be charged with introducing and developing a variety of initiatives to …

SINGAPORE: Ahead of the May 1 relaunch of MTV Thailand, MCOT, appleTool and Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Asia have entered into a partnership to collaborate on the production, licensing, distribution and live events for the localized channel. MTV Thailand officially makes its return on May 1, with a reach of …

AUCKLAND: Ashley Coupland has become the new managing director of Eyeworks New Zealand, working alongside Greg Heathcote, who will be serving as co-managing director. Bailey Mackey becomes the new creative director. Former CEO Julie Christie is leaving Eyeworks New Zealand, but will remain in an international creative role for the larger …