MUMBAI: MTV Networks Asia outgoing president Frank Brown has been awarded the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia's (Casbaa) Chairman's Award 2005 for "the outstanding contribution to the Asia Pacific multi-channel cable, satellite and broadband pay-TV industries in the previous 12 months."
Brown was given the award for "fostering the pay-TV business in the region, driving social responsibility initiatives, most recently for the Tsunami, developing youth TV and localising regional networks."
Brown was a Casbaa Board Member for more than five years and president of the Association from 2000 to 2002.
The Casbaa Chairman's Award 2005 was given at the conclusion of the Casbaa Pay-TV Advertising Awards held on the final day of the Casbaa Convention 2005 in Hong Kong.
Casbaa chairman Marcel Fenez said, "Frank Brown's contribution to the Asian pay-TV industry has been outstanding as he has helped to nurture a fledgling business to one which by several different measures can be described as a tremendous success."
The Casbaa Award also recognised Brown's flair for the development and marketing of pay-TV content and distribution.
"Beyond that, Frank's leadership of Casbaa as president of the Association between 2000 and 2002 helped enormously to create the credible industry voice that we are today," added Fenez.
Brown said, "I am honoured to receive this award. But the honour is as much for MTV Networks Asia as it is for me. I am extremely privileged to have been part of a great team over the years."
Brown moved to Singapore in 1994 to establish MTV Networks Asia Pacific, having joined MTV Networks in 1987. Brown recently announced he would be leaving MTV Networks Asia and relocating to Australia where he will be joining his family business.
The five other nominees for the 2005 Award were:
Astro (Malaysia) - "For convincing consumers to subscribe to its service in overwhelming numbers; for a successful IPO and gaining the concerted attention of the investment community; for building a successful pay-TV business in Malaysia under difficult circumstances; and most recently for actively being involved outside their territory in a positive way."
Galaxy - SuperSun (Hong Kong) - "For successfully re-launching and re-branding its digital DTH offering in a highly competitive market."
Karl Rossiter - "For leading the Casbaa Technical Committee standards initiative on digital set-top box outputs."
PCCW - Now Broadband TV (Hong Kong) - "For innovative and pro-active marketing of a secure and advanced pay-TV platform with growing interactive capability culminating in stellar subscriber take up and its establishment as one of the leaders in IPTV globally."
