Channel NewsAsia launches the Channel NewsAsia SME Hackamit

Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia launches the inaugural Channel NewsAsia SME (Small Medium Enterprise) Hackamit in Singapore today. Hackamit gathers top leaders, influencers, industry experts and middle management from regional SMEs, providing them the platform for robust discussion and collaboration.

Hackamit brings together representatives from leading regional SMEs and experts, in two sessions, as they share insights on the challenges and solutions unique to SMEs. They would discuss how SMEs can leverage innovation, social and online media in sharpening their strategies, and how SMEs can effectively identify and incorporate new technologies in their businesses to ensure maximum growth potential. Among the leading SME entrepreneurs are Mr Takahiro Yagi, Craftsman and Director of Kaikako Co. Ltd from Japan, and Mr Sunil Chainani, Senior Director of Fabindia from India.

Steven Chia, Mediacorp’s News Presenter and Editor, moderates the panel discussions. The event is attended by invited guests, including representatives and heads of local SMEs.

Vice President of Mediacorp News Segment’s Marketing, Distribution and Innovation Mr Yong Chung Jin says, “We are honoured to bring together like-minded businesspeople from around the region and provide them with a platform for idea generation and exchange. We envision the Channel NewsAsia SME Hackamit to be the select event for SMEs, and we want to bring it into other regional countries in the future.”

Highlights from the Channel NewsAsia SME Hackamit will be included in a five-part documentary series, The Big Turnaround. The series profiles five successful SMEs from different regions (India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam) and industries (fashion, food and beverage, hospitality, retail and transport). The Big Turnaround will telecast on Channel NewsAsia every Thursday from 3 November 2016, 9.30 – 10.00pm (Sin/HK/MNL time). The series will also be available for catch-up viewing online at www.channelnewsasia.com/tv and www.toggle.sg.

(Source: Channel NewsAsia press release)

Technology companies take top spots in the 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking

Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia and its partners, CSR Asia and Sustainalytics, today announced that technology companies took seven of the top ten spots in the 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking. Wipro Ltd. was ranked number one for its proactive efforts to reduce its energy use and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The annual Ranking identifies the top 100 companies in Asia with the highest sustainability performance, measured based on a broad range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) indicators. The partners released the Ranking at the 2016 CSR Asia Summit in Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.

 
Key findings of the 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking
 Companies in the technology sector captured the largest proportion of positions (38 of 100) in the Ranking.
 Eighty-two percent of companies in the top 100 are from Japan (33), Taiwan (20), India (16) and South Korea (13). Regulatory oversight of corporate sustainability disclosures is likely the reason for companies in these countries to take leading positions.
 Five Japanese companies have been placed in the top 20 of this year’s Ranking, up from only one in the 2015 Ranking.
 The top five companies in the 2016 Ranking are Wipro Ltd. (India), City Developments Limited (Singapore), Lite-On Technology Corp. (Taiwan), Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. (South Korea) and Qisda Corporation (Taiwan).

 
The 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking is generated based on specific ESG indicators and methodology developed by Sustainalytics, a leading global provider of ESG and corporate governance research and ratings. From the full list of 100 companies identified, the Ranking highlights the overall top performing 20 companies and the top three businesses per country. A total of 11 territories are covered in this robust research – China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

 
The Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking is part of the channel’s initiative under its larger Corporate Social Responsibility project, Changing Lives. The focus for this year – Business and Philanthropy in Asia – highlights the importance for today’s businesses to take the lead in propelling social change and progress in Asia. The Ranking urges businesses in the region to find the balance among their economic, social and environmental responsibilities in their operations.

 

Ms Hidayah Ong, Head of Mediacorp’s News Segment, says, “Amidst the competitive and busy corporate climate in Asia, this Ranking serves to help businesses benchmark themselves against some of the best in the industry. It spotlights companies that are successful in corporate sustainability and urges action from others. We hope that such initiatives play a pivotal role in driving change.”

 
Mr Michael Jantzi, CEO of Sustainalytics, says, “Over the past few years, the consideration of ESG factors has gained significant momentum throughout Asia. This Ranking has added to the dialogue, bringing more attention to the importance of company ESG issues. We congratulate the companies included in this year’s Ranking for providing comprehensive sustainability information to their stakeholders.”

 
Mr Richard Welford, Chairman, CSR Asia said, “This ranking enables companies and their stakeholders to benchmark performance with respect to sustainability. Bold and effective leadership – from business, government and individuals – is needed to drive the sustainability agenda forward in Asia Pacific. Indices like the Ranking are an important tool to assess which companies are looking to become regional and global leaders”.

 
The Ranking is available online at http://sustainability-ranking.channelnewsasia.com/

 

(Source: Channel NewsAsia press release)

Channel NewsAsia releases groundbreaking documentary on race relations in Singapore

Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia unveils a one-hour special documentary dealing with the difficult issue of race in Singapore. A first on national television, Regardless of Race… examines where multiracial Singapore really stands on race relations and aims to answer some tough questions – Why are people afraid to talk about race? Do parents tell their children that racism is bad? How colour-blind are Singaporeans?
Dr Janil Puthucheary, Chairperson of OnePeople.sg, the organisation that advocates multiracialism and racial harmony in Singapore, goes on a journey to find answers to these questions. From taxi drivers to primary school children, he speaks to Singaporeans from all walks of life to find out what people are not willing to say about race.
Among the profiles are one of Singapore’s S League teams, former Nominated Member of Parliament Mr Zulkifli Baharudin, consulting editor of The Middle Ground Ms Bertha Henson, Vice Dean & Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Dr Kenneth Paul Tan, and Singaporean entertainer, Kumar.
Some highlights of the programme include a social experiment exploring the presence of a privilege gap between majority and minority racial groups, as well as new statistical findings from a large nation-wide survey done in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies.
Ms Sharon Hun, Senior Executive Producer of Current Affairs, says, “Having just celebrated 50 years of independence, we wanted to explore a topic that might confront Singapore as we move into the next 50 years. We have never dealt with race relations as a topic on national television, but we believe that it is the right time to examine who we really are as a people. We didn’t want it to be purely anecdotal, but based on a comprehensive nation-wide survey on race relations. We also asked people from all walks of life and of all ages, to find out if it is time we talk more about race.”

Special Screening
A special screening of Regardless of Race… was organised for some 100 invited guests and members of the media before its telecast on Channel NewsAsia.
The screening was followed by a short dialogue with Dr Janil Puthucheary.
Regardless of Race… will telecast on Channel NewsAsia on Monday, 15 August 2016 at 8pm (Sin/HK/MNL time). It will also be available as video-on-demand on www.channelnewsasia.com/tv and www.toggle.sg a week from its telecast.

(Source: Channel NewsAsia press release)

ABC Australia and MediaCorp sign partnership agreement

Australia’s public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and one of Asia’s leading media companies, MediaCorp, have signed a partnership agreement between their international platforms.

 

The agreement was signed in Singapore on 26 June 2015 and sees both companies exploring opportunities for future programme and content exchange and co-production between its various platforms on television, radio and online.  The cooperation includes providing news talent for live crosses and the exchange of news footage between Australia Plus TV and  the partnership is applicable to regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia and MediaCorp’s other language channels as well as radio stations.  The journalism is also applicable to the whole array of media properties that both companies own, from traditional free-to-air platforms to digital entities.

 

In an increasingly interconnected and digital world, media organisations have to constantly seek partnerships and evolve to provide the best content for their audiences.  Having a rich and diverse source of content is one way to ensure continued relevancy and access to news whenever it happens in the world.

 

CEO of ABC International, Ms Lynley Marshall, said: “Channel News Asia sets a benchmark for quality international broadcasting across Asia. As we extend and enrich our content and services to audiences across the region, we are delighted to have reached an agreement that will enable both companies to leverage our respective knowledge, content and platforms.”

 

MediaCorp’s Head of News and Premier, Ms Debra Soon, added, “With pressure on news organisations to stay relevant, report faster, expand our digital offerings and meet our competitors head on, media organisations, need to find ways to work together without compromising our business objectives or standards.  We look forward to working with ABC to explore how we can do so.”

Channel NewsAsia, an English language Asian TV news channel, was established by MediaCorp in 1999 and is now viewed in 26 territories across Asia.  ABC International manages the digital and social media brand Australia Plus, including AustraliaPlus.cn, as well as the 24/7 subscription television service Australia Plus TV which is available in 40 countries across the Asia Pacific region.

CNA offers live coverage of Singapore state funeral

CNA offers live coverage of Singapore state funeral

Istana, SingaporeMediaCorp regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia will offer a live telecast of the funeral of Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. Coverage will include the procession from the Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore, to the lying-in-state proceedings and funeral ceremony:

1) Lying in State (“Farewell to Lee Kuan Yew, Lying in State Ceremony” 25 – 28 March 2015)
2) State funeral (“Farewell to Lee Kuan Yew” 29 March 2015, 2pm)

CNA says all the coverage will be made available to the international media and news agencies. Selected daily news coverage will be uploaded for the Asiavision News Exchange for participating members, which can be accessed by submitting a request at the Channel NewsAsia website. Video clips can be used free of licensing charge within 14 days from the time of broadcast or upload by Channel NewsAsia. After 14 days, use of the footage will be priced at prevailing licensing fees.

Well wishers for LKYAll of the funeral proceedings will be shown live on Channel NewsAsia and streamed
on Channel NewsAsia’s website (www.channelnewsasia.com) and YouTube channel
(https://www.youtube.com/user/channelnewsasia). There will be no relay or upload of recordings of these live coverage. Broadcasters wishing to use the coverage will need to record the proceedings off the Channel NewsAsia international feed.

The Channel NewsAsia International coordinates are:
Channel NewsAsia International
AsiaSat 7 @ 105.5°E
Satellite transponder: 3H
Downlink frequency: 3706 MHz
Symbol Rate: 6MSym/s
FEC:
 3/4
Video Format: MPEG-2 (Free to Air)
Modulation: DVB-S/QPSK