26 June 2015
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.
2 February 2015
Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia has partnered KapanLagi Network, Indonesia’s largest online lifestyle news and entertainment media, in a strategic deal that will see business and media collaborations in many areas.
The announcement was made today at a networking event at Exodus Jakarta for the start-up community, including venture capitalists, corporate clients in the start-up scene, potential advertisers and sponsors, and the media. This event is jointly organized by Channel NewsAsia and KapanLagi Network to bring together the who’s who in the Indonesian start-up ecosystem, in conjunction with the launch of Season 2 of Channel NewsAsia’s Start-UP project. The event aims to encourage and nurture entrepreneurial spirit in Indonesia and regionally.
About Start-UP
Start-UP is a multi-platform project that includes a reality TV series which tracks the journey of a group of entrepreneurs going through the relentlessly competitive paces on multiple platforms – television, blogs, web portal and “live” webchat. Their aim is to pitch for part of the S$2 million in seed funding for their business ideas. Alongside the series is an interactive online portal at channelnewsasia.com that serves as a solution reference and contains insights on the start-up landscape. (see Annex for details)
Joint projects
A prime project in the partnership is the localisation of Start-UP with KapanLagi Network, presented in Bahasa Indonesia for the burgeoning local digital market. Channel NewsAsia will share production material and expertise for the construction of the microsite for Start-UP to KapanLagi Network. There will be on-site consultancy for the TV programme to capture the process of participants from pitching for venture capital seed money to the selection of finalists and winners in the contest. Plans are being made to broadcast this Indonesian series on local television.
Introducing KLN Play
At the event today, KapanLagi Network introduced a new arm of business, KLN Play. As an incubator of start-ups, KLN Play will offer budding Indonesian entrepreneurs seed funding and strategic support to jumpstart their businesses. This includes helping to build traffic, boosting the branding; providing IT advice, mentorship and potential advertising links. KLN Play is eyeing start-ups on e-commerce on the digital, mobile and online platforms for any category of business, with special interest in start-ups which think mobile first. It is looking to work with up to 10 start-ups in 2015, investing in them directly or to co-invest with other companies. “This relationship brings together two of the region’s top enterprises in an area of common interest, how to grow future businesses in Asia, particularly in the digital space. We believe we can leverage KapanLagi Network’s reach in Indonesia, and license our groundbreaking format for Start-UP in a win-win formula. I look forward to developing further collaborations with our partners,” said Ms Debra Soon, Head of MediaCorp’s News Segment.
News collaboration
Channel NewsAsia and KapanLagi Network will also cooperate to leverage the strength of news coverage of both parties on the digital platform. With its extensive network of correspondents and staff in the region, Channel NewsAsia will work closely with KapanLagi, which has a proven track record in covering Indonesia, to collaborate to support each other in news coverage. News exchange online, sharing of technical expertise, training stints and staff attachments are part of this collaboration.
4 September 2014
Regional broadcaster, Channel NewsAsia, today announced
plans to expand its Kuala Lumpur bureau to operate a High Definition (HD) satellite studio. This will
boost the channel’s production capability in Malaysia and its 24-hour rolling news coverage of Asia.
The studio will be directly connected to the channel’s headquarters in Singapore and take “live”
interviews with guests in a studio environment.
Ms Debra Soon, Managing Director of Channel NewsAsia noted that when the channel was
launched 15 years ago, one of its first bureaus was established in Kuala Lumpur. She said,
“Singapore and Malaysia are strongly linked by history, kinship and friendship. The channel has
made it a priority to report on developments in Malaysia first-hand, not just political and economic
news, but also on its people, society and culture. Malaysia will play a significant role in the world’s
fastest growing region, and we will play a role in helping the rest of the world understand Malaysia”.
Ms Soon made the announcement at Channel NewsAsia’s Malaysia Business Insights in Kuala
Lumpur today.
The channel’s premier regional business forum gathered government and corporate leaders to
discuss Malaysia’s role in the global economy, and the challenges facing companies as they head
towards the vision of making Malaysia a developed economy. Delegates shared insights on its
theme, “Sustaining Growth and Development in Malaysia”, and the structural reforms being
introduced to drive growth.
Senator Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who presented
the keynote address, said “Malaysia is restructuring to evolve towards a high-income nation and
create an economy that is more resilient, globally competitive and sustainable. Within this
framework, the coming together of key policy makers and corporate leaders at Channel NewsAsia’s
Malaysia Business Insights allows for keen dialogue and facilitates greater understanding by the
private sector. This will enable closer and greater collaboration between the public and private
sectors.”
Malaysia Business Insights was moderated by Channel NewsAsia’s Malaysia
Bureau Chief, Melissa Goh, and featured speakers on two panels:
Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria, Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and
Industry
Datin Roslina Zainal, Vice President, Regulatory Economics & Planning Division, Tenaga
Nasional Berhad
Mr Philip Rao, Senior Partner, EY Malaysia
Mr Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah, Group President/CEO, Felda Global Ventures Holdings
Berhad
Mr. Teh Kee Sin, National President, SMI Association of Malaysia
Mr. Christopher Ong – Managing Director, DHL Express Malaysia & Brunei
Mr. Heng Huck Lee – President, FREPENCA / Chief Executive Director, Globetronics
Technology Berhad
Mr. Manoj Menon – Senior Partner & Asia Pacific Managing Director, Frost & Sullivan Asia
Pacific
Malaysia Business Insights is the latest in the leadership series hosted by Channel NewsAsia
across Asia. The forums have travelled to Jakarta, Bangkok, Yangon, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh
City, with the aim of establishing stronger linkages across Asia and promoting deeper
understanding of the business climate and practices in the host countries.
22 May 2014
Leading regional broadcaster, Channel NewsAsia, announces that it intends to open a new bureau in Vietnam. This will be the channel’s 14th bureau in Asia, following the launch of the Yangon bureau in January 2014 in Myanmar. The bureau will increase Channel NewsAsia’s ability to cover the region’s developments more comprehensively, reporting from the ground with credibility and authenticity.
Ms Debra Soon, Managing Director of Channel NewsAsia says, “Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, is a fast growing and vibrant business hub. Having a ground presence there will allow us to uncover business opportunities, look at companies and developments, and beyond business, report on how a new generation of Vietnamese see themselves and the rest of Asia. We have been covering South East Asia well for the past 15 years, it’s time to go even further and beef up our ability to cover the IndoChina region even better, a mass of over 220 million people in Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.”
Ms Soon made the announcement at Channel NewsAsia’s Vietnam Business Insights in Ho Chi Minh City today.
The channel’s premier regional business forum gathered expert speakers and international corporate leaders to discuss the new growth model for sustainable development in Vietnam. Delegates shared views on “Redefining Sustainable Business Growth for Vietnam”, with a look at how the transformation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the private sector need to drive growth in the country.
Panel speaker and CEO of Ho Chi Minh Securities, Mr Johan Nyvene, said “Vietnam has re-emerged from global economic challenges and has rewarded savvy investors with good opportunities. Channel NewsAsia’s Vietnam Business Insights provides an excellent ’insider’s look’ at local issues.”
Leading Vietnam economist, Dr Le Dang Doanh, noted the strong economic outlook for the country, with international financial institutions forecasting a stable annual GDP growth rate at 5.6 – 5.7% in the coming years. But he said there remain other challenges.
CEO of KPMG Vietnam and Cambodia, Mr Warrick Cleine, said “sustainable growth will not occur without a robust corporate sector. There’s a real need for local companies to step up their service levels to be competitive.”
The panel discussion today is facilitated by the channel’s award-winning business journalist and presenter, Ms Lin Xue Ling.
About Vietnam Business Insights
Business Insights is a regional series of Channel NewsAsia’s CEO leadership seminars, aimed at establishing linkages across Asia by promoting the understanding of the business climate and practices in the host country.
Hosted in Ho Chi Minh City over two days on 21st and 22nd May 2014, the event kicked-off with a corporate golf challenge at Long Thanh Golf Club, attended by more than 100 participants.
Highlights of Vietnam Business Insights – Redefining Sustainable Business Growth for Vietnam will be broadcast on Channel NewsAsia on 5 June 2014.
The Business Insights series has been hosted in Jakarta, Bangkok, Yangon, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City. It will next travel to Kuala Lumpur in September 2014. (Source: Press release)
22 April 2014
Channel NewsAsia programmes have been honoured with 12 awards at two prestigious international and film contests over the last fortnight. It won two gold, three silver and four bronze World Medals at the 2014 New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards; and at the 2014 WorldMediaFestival in Hamburg, it took one gold and two silver Intermedia-globe Awards.
2014 New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards
The New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards, now in its 57th year, announced its winners on 8 April at its annual gala in Las Vegas. A jury comprising members of award-winning industry experts gave the top honours to 9 of Channel NewsAsia’s programmes, amidst competition from 35 countries.
Channel Newsasia’s wins are as follows:
• Gold World Medal -Silent Screams
(Best Investigative Report)
• Gold World Medal -Living In The Shadows
(Human Interest)
• Silver World Medal -China Close-Up -Free Lunch
(Best Direction)
• Silver World Medal -China Close-Up -Fat Camp
(Best Editing)
• Silver World Medal -China Close-Up
(Social Issues)
• Bronze World Medal -Factory Towns
(Community Portraits)
• Bronze World Medal -Silent Screams
(Current Affairs)
• Bronze World Medal -Silent Screams
(Human Concerns)
• Bronze World Medal -Boomtown Asia – Japan
(Science & Technology)
Six of the channel’s programmes are also awarded finalist status:
• IT Figures: Preoccupation With Population – for Best Editing
• IT Figures: Rags to Riches – for Best Public Affairs Program
• Crossroads: Dutiful Donkeys – for Community Portraits
• China Close-Up: Free Lunch – for Human Concerns
• Get Rea!: Point Blank – for Social Issues
• China Close-Up – Free Lunch – for Community Portraits
2014 WorldMedia Festival
In addition to the accolades at the New York Festivals, Channel NewsAsia also took home awards from the 2014 WorldMedia Festival. A total of nearly 700 entries were submitted from 35 nations for this competition which honours and celebrates excellent solutions in corporate film, television, web, web TV and print productions. The awards will be presented in Hamburg on 14 May.
Channel NewsAsia’s wins are:
• Intermedia-globe GOLD – TILT’s Channel NewsAsia’s Channel Branding Promo – Clarity (Haze) (Station Image Promotion)
• Intermedia-globe SILVER – Surviving Haiyan
(Global Issues)
• Intermedia-globe SILVER – Insight Special – The Plight of Indian Farmers
(Society & Social Issues)
Ms Debra Soon, Managing Director, Channel NewsAsia says: “It is an incredible honour to be recognized by our peers and industry experts internationally, and we are proud to work with the best media professionals in Asia, to tell the stories of Asia. These programmes have helped us highlight the uncomfortable truth of society in investigative programmes, such as Living in the Shadows and Silent Screams, but we’ve also told stories about progress and success, such as IT Figures, China Close-Up and Boomtown and highlighted Asia’s challenges along the way in a nuanced and insightful manner. We truly believe in helping the world to Understand Asia, and our partnerships in industry, here in Singapore and the region, have helped us produce quality content for the world. As the channel celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, with a refreshed programming grid and on-air look, we will continue to raise the quality of our productions to tell the story of Asia to the world. ”
Channel NewsAsia has also been awarded other industry accolades over the last 6 months, by PromaxBDA Asia, Asiavision, The Association for International Broadcasting, and the Securities Investors Association of Singapore.
(Source: Press release)
