Maria Brown Managing Director, Programming & Acquisitions - Asian Food Channel

Asian Food Channel (AFC) acquired, repackaged and reformatted a number of Asian titles which were well received across the region. Our unique platform and format places food-based content in the right context, with shows like Singapore's Yummy King and $2 Wonderfood having done well as part of a pan-Asia programming strategy. Trends in food programming can be quirky and do not always follow larger programming trends. However, interest in food-based reality shows should continue as Asia has not cooled to reality, but we do expect this to change eventually. Although AFC will continue to acquire vernacular titles to increase diversity of content, demand is stable given our extensive library, and we are thus selective in buying. We hope producers and distributors can be creative and flexible in production and licensing, and co-operate to possibly secure future revenue streams. AFC has a niche focus and we look to bring in programmes from around the world. We believe new platforms are opening up to the benefit of TV channels and content suppliers, but producers must understand revenue from these new platforms will not be as high as traditional TV.

Surang Prempree Managing Director, Bangkok Broadcasting and Television Co.

For Bangkok Broadcasting and Television Company (BBTV), Asian dramas and sports programmes did best in 2006. We see that Thai-produced programmes are doing very well for us with strong demand from the local audience. In addition, I have observed that Asia-produced content has risen to the challenge in terms of quality against content from elsewhere, especially that of US and UK. For this year, BBTV should be acquiring as much as we did in 2006 and we will focus on purchasing drama series, sports programming and feature films. We have generally not been concerned about the programme's country of origin as we buy based on the quality of the production and freshness of the concept(s). Finally, similar to everyone else in the global broadcasting industry, BBTV is also looking to move into new media platforms, but we are unable to disclose any details as yet.

James Gibbons Senior Vice President, Programming & Creative Services, Discovery Networks Asia

Discovery Channel enjoyed success with series Mythbusters and Mean Machines, together with limited series and specials such as Tribe. Topicality resonates with our audiences, with high-end docu-dramas covering contemporary history such as Hiroshima and the Munich assassinations. Discovery Travel & Living saw success in three seasons of Project Runway and food programmes featuring Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Keith Floyd, while Globe Trekker continued as a signature travel series. Generally, science is emerging strongly as producers make it more accessible and relevant to contemporary culture. Lifestyle is also a growth market with more players including the terrestrials. Acquisitions supplement our original pipeline, and provide more topical and regionally relevant content. We will source international and regional content in science, engineering, forensics and culture for Discovery Channel; and travel, cuisine and style programming for Discovery Travel & Living. US, UK, New Zealand, Australia and Canada will continue to be important sources of supply and we will look to Asian producers to help deliver cultural relevance.

Roxanne J. Barcelona Vice President, GMA Worldwide, Inc.

The programs that were successful for GMA Worldwide last year were Japanese and Korean drama serials, as well as anime from Japan. In 2007, we expect formats and reality to do well for us and thus this year we are considering more programmes from each genre. Although GMA's acquisitions this year will remain at approximately the same level as 2006, we will consider acquiring genres which we have not considered previously. Even as we are acquiring programmes for free-to-air TV channels GMA 7 and QTV 11, our programming still comprises of more local productions, especially for primetime. There is therefore no need to increase the percentage of foreign acquisitions for GMA. Overall, we are interested in getting dramas, anime and formats this year, especially from U.S., Japan and Korea as programmes from these territories have traditionally worked well in the Philippines. In addition, we are expanding the worldwide reach of our international channel GMA Pinoy TV to not only North America and Middle East, but also to Europe and Australasia. Our subsidiary GMA New Media, Inc. is looking into development of mobile and internet-based content.

Deblina Chakrabarty Manager, Acquisitions for Zee Café, Zee Studio, Zee Trendz, Zee Network

All acquisitions in the genres of fiction, light entertainment and movies were successful for Zee in 2006. In terms of English programming, the larger trends usually emerge from the US and Europe. Zee will observe these trends and consider local tastes and culture in selecting and acquiring programmes. We expect some levels of increase in acquisition for 2007 as our channels are expanding in natural progression. Comedy, light entertainment and drama are the genres we are definitely looking out for, with all English speaking territories falling within our ambit of acquisitions. Currently, Zee Network channels are available on the DTH platform, and being platform-agnostic as a content provider, we will certainly be keeping track of emerging platforms.

Jay Ju-Yeun Kang Senior Manager in Content Development & Acquisition, Media Division, Korea Telecommunications

Korea Telecommunications (KT) has provided IP-based VOD service, Megapass TV, to a limited number of subscribers since September 2006. Historical dramas, comedies and children's programmes that did well on domestic terrestrials were successful for us. In 2007, domestic and US dramas should emerge as key content. The boom of user created content (UCC) should also encourage newly formatted shows that feature UCC. While IPTV regulatory issues should be resolved this year, we will acquire content to cater to the full launch of Megapass TV by the early part of next year. We expect to provide some 12,000 hours of programming in movies, dramas, children and educational programmes, sports, documentaries and reality. Shows that performed well on domestic channels are our first priority; movies, dramas and reality shows should come from US and UK, while China, Taiwan and Japan will be our choices for dramas. KT is working on commercial launches of platforms including IPTV (Megapass TV), PC and mobile (WIBRO and NESPOT), digital cinema and premium DVD

Seiji Miyamoto Senior Producer, Acquisition and Program Development Division, NHK

NHK's broadcast of MBC's Jewel in the Palace early 2006 was very successful in Japan with average ratings of 12.09% in terrestrial broadcast. Also, we have acquired relatively more from BBC andNational Geographic last year. We expect more HD feature-length documentaries to be available in the international market, while existing production methods should evolve with the uptake of multi-platform approaches. As Japan's public broadcaster and an advocate of HD, NHK offers fresh HD documentaries, having launched Frontier, a package of feature-length and mini series documentaries on NHK satellite's HD channel in January 2007. The Planet from Charon Film and Exodus Decoded from Alliance Atlantis were aired in the first month. We do not expect a big jump in acquisitions from 2006, but we will look to bring in more documentary titles. The origin of production is not our priority in selection as we focus on quality and relevance. Apart from acquiring, NHK is looking to produce Asian content, having collaborated with MediaCorp subsidiary Caldecott Productions International to established "The Asian Pitch", an international pitching event for producers and directors to produce HD documentaries in Asia.

Janice Cheng General Manager, Brand Management Group, ntv7

Successful acquisitions for ntv7 in 2006 were the Survivor series, comedy Phua Chu Kang and The FIFA Football World Cup. We see content that works across different media platforms and Chinese shows with local relevance to be important for ntv7 this year. Reality and game shows together with adult anime will continue to be popular. While we expect to spend over RM30 million (US$8.5 million) on acquired content in 2007, we will try to balance between local and syndicated content. We will be looking to buy from US, UK, Taiwan and Korea. The three genres performing well have been reality and game shows, as well as dramas. One of ntv7's highlights for 2007 is Deal or No Deal Malaysia, which we expect to follow in the success of another Endemol franchise Fear Factor Malaysia. ntv7 is starting at a smaller scale for new media with 3G downloads and video streaming available at this juncture. We want to produce content suitable for both TV and new media platforms and will look into the technology to achieve this, and possibly even collaborations with operator(s) of new media platforms.

Ngo Thi Bich Hanh Vice President of Sales and Acquisition, Vietnam Media Corporation

Vietnam Media Corporation has acquired successful game show formats from different companies including the third season of The Price is Right from Fremantle Media, the third season of Catch Phrase from Granada International, the fourth season of Name that Tune from Sandy Frank Entertainment, and the second season of The Lyrics Board. For 2007, we have acquired ITV1's PokerFace and will produce the series by the third quarter, and 169 episodes of telenovela Betty La Fea. In Vietnam, game shows and dramas are popular and that has not changed much in the last few years. Although we hope to make more acquisitions, it will depend on the quality of the new offerings. As advertising in Vietnam is female oriented, the content available will select have to meet that requirement. We are looking to US and UK for formats while China, Hong Kong and Korea will be our targets for dramas due to the Vietnamese's affinity to Asian cultures. We are looking into possibilities in new media but have yet to pursue any specific plan.

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