(December 4, 2012 – New York/Singapore) – A+E Networks™ will assume full ownership of AETN All Asia Networks, the Singapore-based company formed as a joint venture with Astro Overseas Limited (AOL) in 2007. The move comes as A+E networks looks to expand its footprint and launch new brands, including Lifetime®.
A+E Networks’ portfolio of channel brands, including HISTORY®, Crime & Investigation Network® and BIO®, will continue to have carriage in Malaysia and Brunei through agreements with Astro Malaysia, an affiliate of AOL.
“Five years ago when we were exploring options to launch our brands in South East Asia, Astro was the clear choice to be our partner due to their local expertise and their strong record as a Pay-TV leader in the region,” said Steve Ronson, Executive Vice President, Enterprises for A+E Networks. “Astro has been and will continue to be a very important partner for us, and we are very pleased to see our relationship evolve and grow.”
A+E Networks and AOL will also establish a regional production partnership designed to nurture the production activity across South East Asia. The production partnership will help develop the local talent pool, and to create original content for regional and international audiences.
“As a leading media group in the region, we are happy to continue to our relationship with A+E Networks to develop and create compelling content and help elevate the creative industry in the region through the setting up of the regional production partnership,” said Zainir Aminullah, Senior Vice President, AOL.
AETN All Asia Networks’ management team will report to Alan Hodges, Managing Director, Asia-Pacific for A+E Networks.
“We view Asia as critically important for our international growth, and assuming full ownership of AETN All Asia Networks is a big step,” said Sean Cohan, Executive Vice President, International for A+E Networks. “This new structure will allow us to expand our brand portfolio and grow distribution throughout the region.”
AETN All Asia Networks operates and distributes HISTORY, HISTORY HD, Crime & Investigation Network, and BIO in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Macau, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Palau and Thailand. The group also manages the broadcast of HISTORY and HISTORY HD in Korea.
The transaction is subject to various conditions and approvals. The parties hope to close by early 2013.
About A+E Networks
A+E Networks is an award-winning, global media content company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television networks to websites, to home videos/DVDs to gaming and educational software. A+E Networks is comprised of the following networks and divisions: A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, LMN™, BIO®, H2™, HISTORY en Espaňol™, Crime & Investigation Network®, Military HISTORY®, LRW™, A&E IndieFilms®, A+E Networks International™, A+E Networks Digital™, and A+E Networks Consumer Products™. A+E Networks channels and branded programming reach more than 300 million households in over 150 countries. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.
About ASTRO Overseas Limited
ASTRO Overseas Limited holds investments in a portfolio of companies involved in pay TV, radio, content aggregation, creation and distribution, digital and multimedia services in India, China, Australia, and Middle East. Through Celestial Pictures Ltd, AOL owns and distributes the Shaw Library, the world’s largest Chinese library.
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Contact:
For Press Enquiries:
Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG)
Deborah Dayani Nanayakara
+65 6325 8275
deborah.dayani@sprg.com.sg
AETN All Asia Networks
Hazel Yap
+65 6837 8921
hazel.yap@aetnallasia.com
Regina Yeo
+65 6325 8232
regina.yeo@sprg.com.sg