PCCW and STAR explore IPTV Pay TV business opportunities across Asia

May 18th, 2006 - Two of Asia’s Pay TV powerhouses are teaming up to exploit their know-how and help operators build content-rich IPTV platforms across Asia.

PCCW, which operates the world’s most successful TV-over-DSL service, is cooperating with STAR, one of Asia’s leading media and entertainment companies that distributes 59 channels in nine languages to over 300 million viewers.  STAR already provides 17 channels on PCCW’s ‘now Broadband TV’ platform, which has over half a million subscribers (25 per cent of Hong Kong homes).

PCCW is providing the expertise in building and operating an IPTV business. STAR brings strength and experience in content creation and distribution, plus of course its own heritage in the Pay TV business.

PCCW executive director Alex Arena says: "PCCW has a wealth of experience in quickly implementing and operating a successful IPTV Pay TV business. Telecom and broadband companies from around the world visit us regularly to explore how PCCW can share its experience with them. We are delighted to work together with STAR to develop these opportunities."

STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world's largest contemporary Chinese film library and according to its CEO Michelle Guthrie: "We are excited to expand our working relationship with ‘now TV’, a tremendous partner of ours in Hong Kong. We are exploring opportunities across Asia.

“It is clear that IPTV will be an exciting distribution platform in the future. Today's announcement underscores our efforts to help unlock its full potential, enabling STAR to deliver content to more people across the region."

The STAR/PCCW cooperation will involve full Pay TV operations and will be in addition to worldwide technical and IT solutions provided by CASCADE Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PCCW. CASCADE has built and installed end-to-end technical IPTV solutions in countries as far afield as Thailand and Morocco. Ongoing discussions are in progress with a number of other overseas operators.