MUMBAI: Popular television channel for babies and toddlers, BabyTV, will offer a Mandarin language option for viewers in Singapore, starting 3 September.

Parents will be able to choose between English or Chinese for all BabyTV programmes to suit the learning needs of their little ones.

BabyTV, Fox International‘s 24-hour commercial-free channel for up to 4 year olds, offers a line-up of exclusive programming that blends learning and entertainment for babies and toddlers.

The introduction of Mandarin during children‘s early formative years will enable them to have a better command of the language, especially in Singapore‘s predominantly English-speaking environment. BabyTV‘s new language initiative also aligns with the Singapore government‘s direction in promoting bilingualism, particularly for Mandarin.

"The additional language offering in BabyTV programmes helps to create a bilingual environment for toddlers in Singapore," said FOX International Channels (FIC) Singapore VP and Territory Head Yvonne Tay.

"Television is a great entertainment and educational tool for young viewers when introduced in the right environment. By offering dual language options, we hope to further strengthen the educational value of BabyTV."

Added StarHub VP of Home Solutions & Content Iris Wee, "BabyTV is an instrumental part of our Kids Basic Upsize Group. The new Mandarin language option is a welcome addition and will help improve language skills among our young viewers. This also broadens the channel‘s appeal and provides more options to our StarHub TV customers."

Two new animated series, Big Bugs Band and Stick with Mick, will be airing this September to enhance the new arrangement. Big Bugs Band is an animated programme that introduces musical pieces from different cultures, allowing kids to learn and enjoy music at the same time. Stick with Mick brings children to a world of new vocabulary and concepts of opposites, shapes and colours.

MUMBAI: Singapore pay TV platform StarHub has acquired the broadcast rights to the soccer tourney Uefa Euro 2012.

UEFA Euro 2012 will be jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine. It will kick off with an opening ceremony at National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland on 8 June 2012 (Singapore time). The final showdown will be played in the Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine on 2 July 2012.

StarHub VP of home solutions and content Iris Wee said, "We are thrilled to be the official broadcaster of Uefa Euro 2012 in Singapore. We are looking forward to bringing nonstop ?live? European Football Championship action closer to local fans, and making the Uefa Euro 2012 experience an exciting and immersive one for our customers."

The Uefa Euro 2012 Final Draw, taking place in Kyiv, Ukraine, will be telecast ?live? on StarHub TV?s Football Channel (Channel 222) at 1 am on 3 December 2011. The draw will divide the 16 finalists into four groups, determining which teams will play one another in Group Stage 1 of the tournament.

MUMBAI: Singapore?s pay TV platform Starhub has announced the appointment of Kathleen Syron as its new head of content with effect from September 2008. Syron will report directly to Starhub CEO, Terry Clontz.

Syron and her team will be responsible for leading Starhub?s content strategy across all three of its platforms - pay Television, mobile and online.

Clontz says, "Kathleen brings with her an impressive wealth of international experience in content management. Content acquisition and management, particularly for digital media assets, are becoming even more critical as convergence evolves towards anytime, anywhere access to audio and video content."

Prior to joining the Starhub team, Syron was Astro All Asia Networks director programming in Malaysia. She has over a decade of experience in content management.