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Leveraging PCCW’s expertise in building
and operating an IPTV business and Star’s
strength and experience in content creation
and distribution and the pay-TV business,
the two companies will look into opportunities
to work with platform operators and media
companies in Asia for the rollout of IPTV
services.
PCCW's
now TV is the world leader in IPTV with
more than 550,000 users, subscribing to
the service since its launch in August 2003
and representing over 25 per cent of homes
so far in Hong Kong. now TV carries over
110 TV and audio channels including 17 channels
provided by Star and its joint ventures.
PCCW
executive director Alex Arena said, "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
CEO Michelle Guthrie said, "We are
excited to expand our working relationship
with now TV, a tremendous partner of ours
in Hong Kong, to explore 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.
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