HBO, Mei Ah To Launch Asian Movie Channel

Singapore - HBO Asia, a leader in home entertainment, and Mei Ah Entertainment Group (HKSE: 0391) today announced an exclusive agreement to launch a new Asian movie channel across Asia in 2010. This marks HBO Asia’s first foray into a dedicated channel with Asian content.

“We are very excited to be working with Mei Ah to launch HBO Asia’s first Asian movie channel,” said Jonathan Spink, Chief Executive Officer, HBO Asia. “The new channel will have a unique Asian feel, marrying HBO Asia’s renowned on-air presentation and extensive footprint in the region with exclusive access to Mei Ah’s rich library of Asian language movies and acquisition expertise.”

Founded in 1984, Mei Ah Entertainment is a leading Hong Kong-based producer and distributor of Chinese language movies with a content rich library of over 600 titles and operates TV channels with extensive reach.

“We are delighted to be joining hands with HBO Asia and we believe this announcement signals benefits for not only Mei Ah Entertainment, but also the Hong Kong film industry, allowing it to cater to a still wider audience in Asia,” said Mr. Li Kuo Hsing, founder and Chairman of Mei Ah Entertainment. “The announcement is a milestone for Mei Ah Entertainment’s TV business because with access to HBO’s extensive network in Asia, we will be able to take our TV business across the Asia Pacific region. We will continue to produce more Chinese-language movies and TV dramas and other Asian programmes to meet local and regional demands.”

This announcement comes on the heels of other significant milestones for both companies in recent weeks. HBO announced two major deals last month with the distribution of WarnerTV and BabyFirst channels handled exclusively by HBO Asia, while Mei Ah announced in November the distribution of MATV Movies Channel on the Sky Perfect TV System, the largest satellite pay TV platform in Japan.

HBO Asia’s bouquet of channels is currently available in 22 countries across Asia including Bangladesh, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Maldives, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and on military bases in South Korea.