New Asian Doc Channel from SPARK, Astro & Moving Visuals International

October 14, 2014 World Screen Top Stories

CANNES: SPARK, Astro Malaysia and Moving Visuals International (MVI) have entered into a partnership to launch SPARK ASIA, an HD factual and documentary channel.

The network is set to go live in the first half of 2015. It will feature a wide variety of exclusive Asian and global HD content. It will also aim to nurture the local production community by driving training initiatives and offering an alternative platform to showcase their doc projects. SPARK ASIA will focus on science and technology, exploration, history, the environment, nature and wildlife. It will also draw its programming for the library of Autentic and ZDF Enterprises.

Rohana Rozhan, the CEO of Astro Malaysia, said, “As one of Southeast Asia’s leading content and consumer companies, Astro is always exploring new ways to meet the audiences’ changing preferences. With the growing interest in Asian content, there is a huge opportunity in Asian factual content that resonates not only with audiences in Asia but around the world. In line with our strength in the creation of IPs and content brands we believe that the aggregation of Asian-centric stories and factual content in an Asian branded documentary channel is timely and has tremendous potential. This joint venture with like-minded partners enables Astro to take a stake in content that will resonate in Asia and around the world.”

Galen Yeo, the director of MVI, added, "As the world’s most populous continent, Asia has long deserved a channel to harness its thriving diversity of culture, history, people and stories. We are pleased to work together with SPARK and Astro on this landmark venture to promote Asian documentary filmmaking, and provide producers a unique platform that will support and promote their work to audiences all across Asia. SPARK ASIA welcomes opportunities to collaborate and work together with storytellers from around Asia and the world."

Patrick Hoerl, the CEO of SPARK, commented “Being close to our viewers' lives and hearts has always been at the core of the SPARK brand. We can only deliver on that promise, if we team up with the best experts in our business in each region we operate in. It's hard to think of better partners than Astro and Moving Visuals for a truly Asian channel.”