China cable TV’s deal with HBO Asia

MUMBAI: In an effort to improve the quality of movies on cable TV in China China Digital Television Production has signed a contract with HBO Asia.

China DTV is currently the country’s sole digital cable TV package supplier. From 1 January 2005 three HBO movies will be broadcast to cable TV subscribers each day.

HBO Asia will also provide original programming. HBO enjoys broadcast rights for films made by Columbia/TriStar, Paramount Pictures, Universal, Warner Bros, among others.

China Digital Television had launched six subscription-based digital channels in August. They include two sports channels, one each for movies and TV series, and one each for documentaries and music.

A report in Xinhua News Agency indicated that Tom, Cruise’s Mission Impossible, D-Tox with Sylvester Stallone and Mandy Moore’s A Walk to Remember are among the first batch of films that will air.