[SatNews] A complete one-stop broadcast service will be handled out of Tai Po, in Hong Kong...

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) has entered into a contract with FOX International Channels (FIC), Asia’s largest pay-TV network, to provide one-stop broadcast service including compression, uplink, play-out service, monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting for all of the FIC’s top-rated HD and SD channels at AsiaSat’s state-of-the-art Earth station in Tai Po, Hong Kong. A new broadcast centre, staffed by AsiaSat, was established to host FIC’s equipment and to provide 24x7 broadcast operations for the strong FIC channel bouquet available across Asia and the Middle East. The top-rated channels in the FIC network, which feature Asia’s leading Chinese and Hollywood movies, U.S. TV series, documentaries and Asian entertainment, are delivered in both HD and SD formats to 13 markets in these two regions, reaching more than 550 million cumulative viewers. The operations were previously handled by FIC out of its Hunghom location.

By outsourcing the broadcast operations to AsiaSat, FIC can focus more on its core business of expanding its channel portfolio across genres, and launching channels and services faster in current and emerging markets in Asia. “Outsourcing our broadcast operations to a capable service provider like AsiaSat improves FOX International Channels’ operational efficiency, and enables us to focus on our core competency by taking first-to-market advantage to launch and market channels. AsiaSat is our long-term partner in Asia. This agreement further expands our existing collaboration in achieving total reliability and quality control in the broadcast of our services across the regions,” said Mr. Victor Chan, Vice President, Broadcast Technical Operations in FOX International Channels.