Star TV for its annual Star Conference, some 300 guests that include members of the press from the Asean countries (
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) and advertisers and cable affiliates in the region.
The conference this year had senior executives from across Star’s network presenting upcoming highlights from around the region. The speakers included
Todd Lituchy, president, entertainment, Star; Keertan Adyanthaya, executive vice president and general manager, Star Plus; Prem Kamath, vice president of marketing, Star India;
Jason Siu, general manager, Star Taiwan;
James Hung, director, Star Chinese Channel; and
Andy Chang, program and production director, Channel [V] Taiwan.
The gathering is meant to be a venue for Star TV to share with its guests and affiliates “the company’s direction and its strength in bringing quality content to its
over 300 million strong viewership in Asia and beyond.”
“Star is a content company and we are committed to making compelling, relevant content that resonates with viewers across the region. With over 60 channels in 10 languages across a number of genres, no other media company can provide consumers with so many choices,” said Paul Aiello, chief executive of Star.
Laureen Ong, chief operating officer of Star, said, “
Star is international and Star is local. While we bring the best of
Hollywood on Star Movies, we also showcase
Bollywood hits on Star Gold and
Chollywood on Star Chinese Movies and Star Chinese Movies 2. While Star World viewers enjoy Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader, our self-produced Hindi version Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hain has been wowing audiences on Star Plus. And while we have an
international version of Channel [V], we also
broadcast a Hindi, Thai, Taiwanese and mainland Chinese version.”
The conference speakers resonated with claims that Star Movies is the no.1 English movie channel in Malaysia, Singapore, India and Taiwan. The channel, we were told, will premiere a number of exciting blockbuster movies this year such as Rocky Balboa, Die Hard marathon (including Die Hard 4.0), The Simpsons Movie, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Enchanted and The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (2008 Year-End Special). Also, viewers will get to go behind the scenes on Star Movies VIP Access for the latest blockbusters including Get Smart, Wall-e and The Dark Knight, just to name a few. Other upcoming movie titles on Star Movies include The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, AVP: Requiem, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, 27 Dresses, Michael Clayton, Meet the Spartans and more.
Star World viewers can also expect new and upcoming programs including the no. 1 game show The Moment of Truth, Emmy winner Jimmy Kimmell in Jimmy Kimmell Live, Lipstick Jungle (based on the best-selling book by Candace Bushnell of Sex & the City) and Knight Rider—a two-hour movie event based on the iconic 1980s hit TV series.
Channel [V] International also promises a whole great new lineup with exclusive first run in Asia including must-see reality programs such as Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, ANTM Cycle 9 & 10, Pageant Place and Parental Control.
Focus on the Philippines
While Star TV is claiming leadership in India and other Asian countries, it can’t say the same for the Philippines.
In an informal meeting with the regional members of the press at the coffee shop of Ritz-Carlton Millennia (where most of us had been booked for the duration of the conference), Laureen Ong acknowledged that Star still has so much to do in the Philippines to make its presence more significant.
“We’re looking at how we can focus more on the Philippines with programs on Star World, Star Movies, and Channel [V] in light of the presence of other content providers in your country,” she said.
Star TV, particularly Star World, is facing tough competition from local content providers like Solar TV group and ABS-CBN with their own cable channels like Lifestyle, Velvet, Maxx, not to mention Studio 23, the free-to-air UHF channel that broadcasts a lot of programs that are also seen on Star World.
Ong said that Star has taken a more aggressive stance with respect to program acquisitions. “We’re pressing for exclusivity, and that should make the difference,” she said.
Meanwhile, Star TV has to share properties with both Solar TV and Studio 23 and other SkyCable-operated channels.
“It’s going to take a little while,” Ong admitted, “but we’re not giving up too easily. We will get there.”
Ong seemed well informed on the present state of cable operations in the Philippines, with SkyCable as the dominant carrier. “We will just have to deal with them as they are also our affiliates,” she said.
On the issue of Channel [V] seemingly losing viewership in the Philippines after SkyCable and other operators dropped it from its basic lineup of channels, Ong said that Star TV is trying to look at how it can bring the music video channel back on track. “We are quite big in Taiwan [and other Asian countries] and we are sure we can address the Philippine audience as well.”
Currently, Channel [V] is only available to SkyCable’s platinum subscribers.
Gala reception
The conference culminated in a gala reception at the Ritz-Carlton Millennia’s opulent ballroom (which earlier during the day was the venue for the conference that had wall-to-wall video screen with seamless projection).
The guests were treated to an elaborate five-course dinner, and entertainment provided for by the rising Taiwanese boy-band Lollipop had everyone in the audience gawking as the six nice-looking boys did a couple of sing-and-dance routines.
A homegrown (meaning Singaporean) comedienne took to the stage after. She was a big hit among the crowd familiar to her brand of humor, as she made fun of the quirks of Singaporeans, Indians, and Malays.
But, it was Anita Sarawak, considered as Singapore’s performing diva, who had everyone mesmerized. Her booming contralto was enough to attract everyone to the center of the stage. Sarawak spiced her performance with a bit of comedy, and she was very good with the audience, in fact discovering for herself that Juno Henares who was in the audience representing SkyCable was also a singer.
Lollipop for lunch 
After breakfast and shortly after lunch the day of the conference, we met Lollipop, the group formed in August 2006, on Channel [V] Taiwan’s brand-new variety show called Lollipop. Hosted by renowned Taiwanese singer-songwriter Fan Fan (Fan Wei Chi), the series introduced viewers to a group of multitalented, energetic youths. The show was an instant hit and Lollipop’s regular cast became famous for their freewheeling brand of humor and up-for-anything sense of fun. Among Taiwan’s teens, the Lollipop boys were instant celebrities.
Weeks after its launch, the show began a talent quest to find a “Lollipop” boy band. After a series of elimination rounds, the final six members were confirmed in November 2006.
We met Owodog, Prince, Brian (Liljay), Fabien, William and Awei who, according to their handlers, had undergone a 100-day training program before they were officially made public. Then they released several hit EPs, such as “Colorful Lollipop” and “Summer’s First Experience.”
In July 2007, the boys starred in their first-ever TV series, Black Sugar Macchiato. With their rising popularity and well-honed talents, the boys released their debut album Lollipop in December 2007. To support the album’s release, the group held their first concert in January 2008 at Taipei Arena, Taipei’s leading concert venue.
Unfortunately, the group hasn’t heard much about the Philippines, and neither we have heard anything about them.
I was surprised that there’s such a group called Lollipop. I asked Owodog, the oldest in the group why they are called as such, he said in Chinese that was later translated for us by the group’s official interpreter, “Because we are young and sweet, like Lollipop.” The answer sent everyone bursting into laughter. So did the boys who later said they hope to visit Manila sometime.
They said they are familiar with F4 and how they became popular around the world, and also Farenheit, the group that is now considered the hottest in Taiwan.
“We’d like to follow in their footsteps,” Prince said, and Fabien added, “only better.” Owodog, William, and Awei chuckled and said, “Oh, joke only!”
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