Rainbow Partners with Leading Singapore Media Company to Produce HD Programs
as part of Worldwide Channel Launch Strategy
CANNES, FRANCE – 17 October 2005 – On the opening day of this year’s MIPCOM, Rainbow HD Holdings LLC (Rainbow), Mega Media Pte Ltd. (Mega Media) and the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) have announced a partnership to create $20 million USD worth of HD programs over the next three years. All the programming produced under the partnership will air on Rainbow HD’s VOOM HD Networks, the world’s largest and most diverse suite of HD channels.
“This collaboration is significant for Rainbow in that it marks the company’s first major international co-production effort which directly supports the launch of VOOM HD Networks in the global arena,” said Greg Moyer, Co-General Manager, VOOM HD Networks. “We have formed an important alliance today with a strong production partner that will help share the economic burden in bringing quality high definition programming to the world marketplace. By combining our resources, experience and talent, Rainbow, along with the MDA and Mega Media, are taking HD to the next level.”
Dr. Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, the MDA says the new collaboration will further add to the development of Singapore’s thriving media scene. “Our growing expertise in next generation HD television production will complement the media infrastructure and talent pool that we have built up in Singapore and allow us to create further synergies. This new collaboration marks our commitment towards positioning Singapore not only a as leader in the production of quality high-definition programs but also as the natural choice for a full range of media activities.”
“We are very pleased to be part of this collaboration to develop HD programs for the global market,” said Jonathan Foo, Managing Director of Mega Media. “We are confident that this collaboration will open up for Singapore-made content and expertise, to be showcased to the rest of the world.”
All high definition programming created through the partnership will be jointly owned by Rainbow, Mega Media and the MDA, growing the programming distribution revenue potential of the organizations.
Mega Media, one of Singapore’s leading long-form media content providers and production companies, will provide production and post-production expertise and facilities in Singapore.
Rainbow Media recently launched VOOM HD Networks as a stand alone HD content service targeting the significant programming void within the marketplace and expanding Rainbow Media’s powerful programming footprint beyond cable and VOD by providing a third tier of content specifically designed for HD. VOOM HD Networks will focus on producing ground-breaking original HD programming, maintaining an unparalleled library of HD content, investing in key HD acquisitions and creating a diverse collection of valuable niche-oriented brands.
About Rainbow HD Holdings LLC
Rainbow HD Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC (Rainbow Media) is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment, as well as on-demand services including Mag Rack and sportskool. Rainbow Media’s other businesses include it’s regional programming services – Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications.
About Mega Media
Mega Media was founded in 1990 and is today one of Singapore’s leading long-form media content producers. Mega Media has produced a wide range of projects ranging from award-winning feature films to international documentaries and drama series. Today, Mega Media boasts one of Asia’s most complete High Definition production and post-production facilities, which includes Singapore’s only Dolby certified mixing sound stage and Southeast Asia’s only Digital Cinema encoding facility.
About the Media Development Authority
The Media Development Authority (MDA) has been created to make Singapore a global media exchange for media products and services. The MDA was formed by the merger of the Singapore Broadcasting Authority, the Films and Publications Department, and the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), on 1 Jan 2003. The setting up of MDA is in response to the convergence of different media that requires a consistent approach in developing and managing the different forms of media. Various initiatives, developments and standards for television, film, video, radio, publication and new media are handled by the MDA. The organization makes its guidelines clear and consistent across all the media so as to create a pro-business environment.