MUMBAI: Hong Kong based communications provider PCCW and Star have announced that Star Chinese Movies and Xing Kong will be available to Now Broadband TV customers from 15 December. The Now Broadband TV platform brings Star’s flagship Chinese channels to Hong Kong television screens for the first time.
Star Chinese Movie features over 100 movies including at least 20 exclusive premieres a month. The movies are commercial-free. To celebrate the launch, the channel will showcase the exclusive premiere of Running On Karma, the Andy Lau blockbuster which was a cinema success a month ago.
The other channel that will be available is general entertainment channel Xing Kong. It offers comedies, talk and game shows, drama series and variety. The Rupert Murdoch broadcaster claims that Xing Kong’s groundbreaking programming and style have catapulted it to become Guangdong Cable’s leading mandarin channel.
An official release informs that each year, Xing Kong features over 700 hours of original programming including Woman In Control which is Chinese television’s first male beauty contest. The Xing Kong Cave is a game show in which contestants test their wits while hanging nine meters in the air, upside down by their ankles.
Star CEO Michelle Guthrie added, "Our goal at Star is to connect with the audiences in each market in which we operate. The launch of two local channels, Star Chinese Movies and Xing Kong, reinforces our commitment to local programming and Hong Kong audiences, and takes the number of our channels in Hong Kong to 11. When Hong Kong viewers sample this exciting programming, they will see it as a great addition to their TV entertainment."
PCCW’s Consumer Group executive VP Dominic Leung said, "The announcement underscores the commitment we made to our customers when we said we would continue to bring quality and innovative programming to Hong Kong’s TV screens. now Broadband TV has been exceptionally successful, with 150,000 customers signing up within the first two months of launch. It is a clear demonstration of our dedication to continue revolutionising the home entertainment scene in Hong Kong."
The release adds that what is of great interest is now Broadband TV’s unique 'a la carte' pricing model. This allows the flexibility to subscribe only to channels customers wish to receive. There is no basic monthly service fee.