Asia-Pacific Broadcasting (APB) January 2015 Volume 32, Issue 1 | Page 9

January 2015 NEWS & VIEWS 9

New alliance brings OTT platform to the Philippines

MANILA – Singapore ’ s Brand New Media ( BNM ), a digital media and content marketing company , is working with the Philippines ’ TV5 to launch an online TV network in the Philippines , which is expected to go live next month .
Named 4ME , the new digital network will feature original content , produced both in the Philippines and internationally , for a network of channels covering food , health , fashion , technology , comedy , travel , home , entertainment , celebrity , sport , outdoor adventure and music .
4ME can be viewed via the TV4ME . ph domain on any Internetconnected device , and will be powered by BNM ’ s ChannelPLAY technology platform for over-the-top ( OTT ) broadcast . 4ME will eventually assume a “ dominant position ” in the emerging digital media landscape in the Philippines , declared Damien Bray , global director at BNM .
He added : “ Audiences are converging to digital and social media in large numbers , particularly the early adopters and opinion leaders so coveted by advertisers . The content offering on 4ME will be the most comprehensive in the market , with a mixture of new channels for audiences to discover , along with well-known and most-loved content brands . Best of all , it will be a free service , bringing compelling content to all Internet-connected Filipinos .”
The new partnership will also see the establishment of a state-ofthe-art digital production studio , which will cater to the “ high volumes of specialty content required for the emerging digital media industry in the Philippines ”.
President and CEO of TV5 Emanuel Lorenzana added : “ Given
The Philippines ’ TV5 is working with Singapore ’ s Brand New Media to bring an online TV network to the Philippines next month .
TV5 ’ s capacity to produce highquality content , the programmes to be shared around the world via the 4ME multi-channel Internet TV will surely benefit more Filipinos , especially as media consumption skews increasingly towards multiple devices . Aside from being one of the biggest industry milestones in Philippine broadcast history , it is also a key component towards delivering on the multi-platform promise of the group .”

Australian broadcasters brace for budget cuts

CANBERRA – Beginning this year , Australian public broadcasters , the ABC and SBS , will reportedly see their budgets slashed by A $ 308 million ( US $ 253 million ) over the next five years .
The ABC ’ s budget has been reduced by 4.6 %, while SBS will see a reduction of 1.7 % for its budget allocation . Justifying the move , Malcolm Turnbull , Australia ’ s Communications Minister , said that the budgets cuts would ensure the ABC and SBS “ eliminate inefficiencies in their back-office operations , ensuring they deliver Australians even better value ”.
Turnbull added : “ The government ’ s highest priority is to repair the budget and build a stronger and more prosperous economy . The ABC and SBS have been asked , like all other government agencies ,
JAKARTA – Indonesian mobile operator Telkomsel has launched a commercial Long-Term Evolution ( LTE ) service operating in the 900MHz spectrum band , making it the “ first ” cellular operator in Indonesia to dip its toe into the 4G market .
While the telco ’ s LTE network was only available to subscribers in Jakarta and Bali when it was launched last month , Telkomsel has indicated that plans are already in train to roll out the 4G LTE service to 22 other provinces in Indonesia by 2019 .
Following Telkomsel ’ s announcement , the archipelago ’ s two other major telecom players , Indosat and XL Axiata , have followed suit with their own separate 4G announcements , CNN Indonesia reported .
Indosat revealed that its commercial 4G network — currently in the preparation phase — “ will launch soon ”, while XL Axiata was expected to have launched its 4G service last month after completing beta tests of the network .
Australia ’ s Communications
Minister Malcolm Turnbull commenting on budget cuts for Australian public broadcasters , the ABC and
SBS : “ The government is confident that these savings can be achieved without affecting the diverse range and quality of programmes provided by the ABC or SBS .”
to contribute to this effort .”
Turnbull advised the ABC and SBS to reduce costs and modernise their business , learn from other broadcasters ’ practices in adjusting to rapidly changing technology and implementing structural change across the media sector .
He continued : “ The government is confident that these savings can be achieved without affecting the diverse range and quality of programmes provided

Indonesian operators launch LTE services

Henry Vitello , public relations manager of corporate communications at XL , said : “ We want to ensure that the 4G [ service ] is beneficial to all , from the service to the tariff .”
Customers looking to tap into the 4G network must ensure that their mobile devices operate within the 900MHz spectrum band . This spectrum band will be the first to run the nation ’ s 4G service , followed thereafter by the 1800MHz spectrum band .
Telkomsel and XL Axiata each has capabilities of up to 750MHz , while Indosat ’ s has resources in the 1000MHz spectrum band . As it stands , 1800MHz frequencies are used exclusively for 2G network delivery in Indonesia , Adita Irawati , VP of corporate communication at Telkomsel , pointed out : “ Currently , 90 million Telkomsel 2G subscribers use the 1800MHz range . These existing users must be placed into consideration should the 1800MHz spectrum be neutralised ”. by the ABC or SBS . Suggestions that popular programmes or services are at risk because of budget savings are not credible .”
As part of the announcement , a legislative change will also be implemented to enable SBS to increase the amount of ad time it can sell to 10 minutes per hour , a move that has incurred the dissatisfaction of Australia ’ s commercial broadcasters .
Throwing its weight behind the debate , Free TV Australia , an industry body that represents Australia ’ s commercial free-to-air TV licensees , warned in a media statement that the move will have “ a direct impact on the continued production of quality Australian content ”.
Following Telkomsel ’ s 4G announcement , two other major Indonesian telecom players , Indosat ( above ) and XL Axiata , have announced the launch of their own 4K LTE services in Indonesia .

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