MUMBAI: AXN, Asia?s home of thrilling entertainment, has premiered its latest original production, Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition, to top ratings in its timeslot across English general entertainment channels in Southeast Asia. [1] Viewership was particularly strong in Malaysia where it was the highest rated program across all English language channels on Astro among PMEB[2] audiences in its timeslot.

Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition is a six-part magic series that was shot on location in Hawaii featuring Japan?s favourite magician and one of the world?s most illustrious illusionists, Cyril. He stars as different members of his ?family? including Grandma Magi, Uncle Richard and Cousin Tiny on a hilarious and magic-filled vacation in Oahu, Hawaii. Hidden cameras pick up on the action as Cyril?s ?family members? amaze unsuspecting holiday makers with their spontaneous magic tricks. The new series follows AXN?s 2009 original production Cyril: Simply Magic, which was seen by more than 11 million viewers across Asia and was also the top rated program in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.

"With the success of Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition, AXN has proven once again that magic is a winning formula with universal appeal. We are proud to have grown our partnership with a world class talent such as Cyril, to thrill AXN audiences once more in our second collaboration. We expect Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition to continue to awe and inspire audiences across Asia on AXN." said Mr Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

The strong premiere of Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition comes off the back of AXN?s publicity tour which took Cyril to key cities across the region including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Mumbai. During the tour Cyril met the local media, AXN?s partners and clients, as well as lucky subscribers of the channel who won the opportunity through a viewers? contest. Not only did attendees of these AXN events get a sneak preview of Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition, they were wowed by the up-close-and-personal interaction with Cyril and his live magic performances, including as Grandma Magi levitating 9 metres above ground in front of the Pavilion shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, seen by thousands of shoppers and was widely reported in the news.

Cyril?s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition is an original production from Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan?s AXN Mystery, Charis Entertainment and Focus Group Limited.

Mumbai: AXN?s latest seasons of CSI and CSI: NY have buried the competition on their way to the top of the ratings charts for ad-supported international channels among pay-TV 4+ and PMEB audiences in South East Asia.

For the past seven weeks since CSI Season 12?s premiere, the series has enjoyed a burgeoning viewership and its appeal has never been greater among AXN?s target PMEB audience. Among ad-supported international channels in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, CSI enjoyed a ratings lead of 148 per cent over programming on the next English General Entertainment (GE) channel among PMEB audiences in its timeslot.

In Singapore, CSI Season 12 performed especially well among pay-TV 4+ and PMEB audiences. In its timeslot, the show drew more than double the ratings of programming on the next English GE channel and even out-performed the movie channels in its timeslot.

This phenomenon extended to Malaysia and the Philippines for the premiere of CSI: NY Season 8 on 16 May. CSI: NY was the highest rated show on international channels during its timeslot among PMEB audiences, rating more than 10 times against programming on the next English GE channel.

?In 2011, CSI was crowned the ?Most Watched Show in the World? at the prestigious Monte Carlo TV Festival for the fourth time in six years, and we are proud that AXN continues to be CSI?s home in Asia. Our stellar ratings are testament to how much fans in the region love the franchise and it continues to be a stronghold for AXN,? says Mr. Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

Long-running police procedurals like CSI have been growing their fan base year after year. Now in its twelfth season, CSI explores a fresh start with Fishburne?s departure and Emmy-winning comedy veteran Ted Danson (Cheers, Damages, Bored to Death) stepping in as new CSI team lead D.B Russell. Danson?s background in comedy has ushered in a lighter tone for the series and his addition has appealed to current followers, as well as drawn new fans to the series.

The premiere of CSI: NY touched on a sentimental note for fans of Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise). In commemoration of 9/11, the series revealed Mrs. Mac Taylor (Jaime Ray Newman) for the first time, and through flashbacks, showcased Mac?s softer side before he lost her during the terrorist attacks.

Source: AGB NMR Malaysia, Kantar Media Singapore / Philippines