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SINGAPORE: As part of its ongoing efforts to combat piracy, HBO Asia will start premiering all HBO and Cinemax original content in the region less than 24 hours after the U.S. broadcast. The move kicks off this July with the new Cinemax series The Knick starring Clive Owen and directed …

HONG KONG: Ex-Universal Networks International programming director Marianne Lee is joining Turner International Asia Pacific in May to serve as the pan-regional broadcast group's VP of general entertainment content. Lee is tasked with executing the content and channel strategy for Turner's general entertainment brands in the region: WarnerTV (a new …

HONG KONG: BBC Worldwide has made four new senior hires within its Asian business, all of whom will be based in Singapore. Laura Byrnes becomes the VP and head of business and legal affairs for Asia. She was previously the director of legal and business affairs for NBCUniversal Asia Pacific. …

BEIJING: Youku Tudou has entered into definitive agreements with a joint investment vehicle of Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Yunfeng Capital that gives it a $1.22 billion injection. After taking into account the shares to be issued in the transaction, Alibaba and Yunfeng Capital will indirectly hold approximately 16.5 percent …

SYDNEY: Ben Ulm, an award-winning producer, has joined ITV Studios Australia in the newly created position of head of content. Ulm has developed and produced content for all Australian free-to-air networks, pay TV, U.K. broadcasters and U.S. networks. Most recently he was the head of factual entertainment at WTFN, where …

BEIJING: China's TV regulators have pulled a number of popular U.S. TV shows, including The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife, from a range of online video sites, including Sohu. The Beijing Times reports that China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued a notice stepping …

SINGAPORE: In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Asian Food Channel (AFC), Scripps Networks Interactive is presenting a refreshed logo, look and feel for the network. The new AFC logo, which will be revealed on May 1, pays homage to the joy of food at the heart of Asian …

SYDNEY: ITV Studios Australia has named Micah Hewson, who helped bring about shows such as Paddock to Plate and River Cottage Australia, as its new head of development. Hewson will work closely with Ben Ulm, himself recently named the production outfit’s new head of content, along with other genre heads …

ATLANTA/BANGKOK: The Weather Company, which operates The Weather Channel, among other assets, has partnered with Thairath TV to launch weather services in Thailand. Thairath TV is one of seven newly licensed digital news channels in Thailand. The channel was launched on April 24. In addition to The Weather Channel, The …

KUALA LUMPUR: Tarantella Pictures of Malaysia and the U.S.-based Medient Studios have signed a five-year deal to jointly develop, finance, produce and distribute content for China and the Far East Asian markets. The two will work toward producing pan-Asian international films for distribution both in Malaysia and at Medient's new …