HBO Asia - History

History

  • 1 May 1992
    • HBO Asia was backed by Paramount and Warner Bros is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), officially inaugurated to grand launched of cable television an 18-hour in daily and featured 30-home movie channel in Southeast Asia, securing carriage on SCV in Singapore.
    • The Singapore English-language service is distributed via Palapa B2P.
  • 1993
    • HBO's regional headquarters is officially opened at New Tech Park by Singapore's Minister for Information and the Arts, Brigadier-General George Yeo. HBO, TVB, ESPN, Turner Broadcasting System and American Broadcasting Company announce a broadcasters' alliance.
    • HBO becomes available in Thailand and the Philippines.
  • 1994
    • HBO launches in Republic of China.
    • After 20-months on air, HBO shifts to a fully programmed 24-hour service.
    • In a landmark deal, HBO concludes exclusive licensing deals with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Studios, who also become equity partners. The 4-HBO Asia partner studios jointly claim 19 of the top 25-films released in the United States during 1993 and 1994.
    • HBO becomes available in Indonesia.
  • 1995
    • HBO adds Indonesian language subtitles to its full broadcast schedules in addition to closed-captioned subtitles for Thailand and Republic of China that were made available in 1994.
    • HBO becomes available in Hong Kong and Malaysia and launches in 3-star and above standard hotels and foreign housing compounds in People's Republic of China.
    • HBO launches on Mrga TV in Malaysia.
  • 1996
    • The Walt Disney Company subsidiaries, Hollywood Pictures and Touchstone Pictures become exclusive HBO Asia suppliers.
    • With its lead movie channel in a strong position, HBO Asia launches Cinemax, a channel for a wide range of entertaining movies. Agreements are soon signed with operators in Singapore, Republic of China, Thailand and the [[Philippines.
    • HBO launches on Astro in Malaysia.
  • 1997
    • Dan Murrell becomes HBO Asia's Managing Director, replacing CEO and President Bill Hooks who returns to HBO in New York City after five years at the helm.
    • HBO Asia celebrates its 5th anniversary.
    • HBO expands to 18 Asian countries.
  • 1998
    • HBO Asia is granted Ministry of Radio, Film and Television approval to distribute its Cinemax channel in People's Republic of China to three-star and above standard hotels and foreign housing compounds.
    • Cinemax Asia launched on Astro in Malaysia it was transformations form Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
    • HBO Asia signs an exclusive deal with DreamWorks.
    • HBO Asia and Cinemax Asia launch in Sri Lanka.
  • 1999
    • HBO Asia opens a representative office in Republic of China.
    • Dan Murrell is appointed CEO and President of HBO Asia.
  • 2000
    • Cinemax Asia launched in Hong Kong as a premium service, alongside HBO.
    • HBO South Asia service is launched in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Maldives. The HBO channel in India and Maldives is ad-supported.
    • James Marturano is appointed Executive Vice President of HBO Asia and HBO South Asia’s Managing Director.
  • 2001
    • HBO premieres the most expensive HBO Original Production ever, Band Of Brothers, across Asia. Based on the best-selling novel by the late-historian Stephen Ambrose, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were executive producers for the ten-part World War II miniseries.
    • For the second year in a row, HBO sweeps top honors in a trade survey reinforcing HBO as cable operators’ top choice for programming, sales and marketing, on-air look, viewer feedback, value for money and most popular channel.
  • 2002
    • HBO Asia celebrates its 10th anniversary.
    • HBO Asia launches Asian's first fully 'tapeless' system, one that fully digitalizes and archives its extensive library of movies and promotional on-air materials.
  • 2003
    • Cinemax Asia relaunches to be Asia's most exciting movie channel for hits, action and suspense movies, complete with new tagline of 'Get Into The Movies' and a brand-new on-air identity.
    • HBO is voted as Asia's best cable and movie channel by cable operators across the region.
  • 2004
    • Jonathan Spink becomes HBO Asia's Chief Executive Officer, replacing CEO and President, Dan Murrell after six years at the helm.
    • PCCW, the largest communications provider in Hong Kong announces the launch of HBO Asia and Cinemax Asia on Now TV.
    • HBO Asia adds Cambodia to its territories.
  • 2005
    • HBO is the first movie channel to broadcast to residential homes in People's Republic of China on China Central Television.
    • As part of its multi-channel strategy, HBO Asia launches its first additional HBO channel - HBO Signature, in April 2005.
    • This is the first additional HBO channel that will be offered to subscribers in premium markets as a cluster of multi-channel services.
    • HBO Asia signs an exclusive deal with PCCW's Now TV in Hong Kong.
    • HBO launches into residential homes in Vietnam through distributor, Q.net.
    • HBO premieres the second most expensive series in television history, the HBO Original Series Rome that was produced at US$100 million.
  • 2006
    • HBO Asia increases the number of channels under its multi-channel bouquet with the launch of HBO Family and HBO Hits, which are distributed first through Now TV in Hong Kong.
    • HBO Signature, HBO Family and HBO Hitd are launched in the Philippines as part of The HBO/MAX Pak through SkyCable.
    • HBO Signature, HBO Family and HBO Hits are launched for the first time in Republic of China.
    • HBO Signature, HBO Family and HBO Hits are launched in Singapore as part of THE HBO PAK through StarHub Cable Vision.
  • 2007
    • HBO Asia launches HBO On Demand, the company’s first subscription video on demand service, to The HBO MAX Pak Premium subscribers on Now TV in Hong Kong]
    • HBO Signature, HBO Family and HBO Hits are launched for the first time in Thailand as part of the HBO Package through TrueVisions and also in Sri Lanka on Dialog TV and Lanka Broadband Networks.
    • HBO Asia celebrates its 15th anniversary.
  • 2008
    • HBO takes majority stake in HBO Asia. Previously jointly held by HBO, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment, HBO Asia under the new equity structure is owned by HBO and Paramount Pictures.
    • HBO continues to lead in Asia as the top-ranked channel with the best programming quality, on-air promotions, as well as sales and marketing support, as voted by pay television operators across the region according to the 2008 Asia Pacific Pay TV survey by Fusion Consulting.
    • HBO On Demand is made available to subscribers of THE HBO PAK in Singapore through StarHub TV.
  • 2009
    • Cinemax refreshes as Max, a channel dedicated to action, suspense and science-fiction programs targeted at men.
    • Mandarin subtitling is offered in addition to Malaysian for HBO subscribers in Malaysia. HBO is the first movie channel to offer dual subtitling in Malaysia.
    • HBO is offered on the newly launched direct-to-home pay television operator in the Philippines.
    • Papua New Guinea’s HiTron Pty Ltd and Cambodia's Royal Group add three of HBO Asia’s multiplex channels, HBO Signature, HBO Family and HBO HiTS, to their existing HBO channel offerings.
    • All 5-HBO Asia multiplex channels launch on Mongolia's Dish TV while in Indonesia, Indovision adds HBO Family and HBO Hits to their existing three HBO Asia channel offerings
    • All 3-HBO Asia's multiplex channels, HBO Signature, HBO Family and HBO Hits are added to Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC)’s channel offerings, HBO and MAX in Palau.
    • HBO is the first regional movie channel to broadcast in high definition in Asia in October. HBO HD launches on Now TV in Hong Kong, StarHub TV in Singapore, Cignal Digital TV in the Philippines, and on kbro in Republic of China.
    • The television premiere of Kung Fu Panda is available for the first time in dual audio languages in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
    • HBO Asia becomes the exclusive distributing agent for Warner Channel and BabyFirst in the Asia-Pacific region.
    • HBO HD launches on Astro in Malaysia in December.
  • 2010
    • All movies on HBO during the Chinese New Year weekend are available in dual sound in selected territories. From the weekend starting February 20, all 9:00 pm (SIN) movies on HBO are available in dual sound in selected territories.
    • HBO HD launches in Thailand on TrueVisions in May and in Indonesia on First Media in August. First Media adds RED to their channel offerings in August.
    • Screen Red, Warner Channel and BabyFirst launch on Telekom Malaysia in October.
    • Warner Channel launches in Republic of China on DishHD in September.
    • Screen Red is distributed across various parts of The Philippines with Cable Boss.
    • HBO HD launches in Sri Lanka in December.
  • 2011
    • HBO HD launches in Vietnam.
    • HBO Asia increases its high-definition channel offering to two with HBO Hits HD which delivers Hollywood blockbuster hits 24-hours in daily, commercial-free in 100% true high-definition television. HBO Hits HD mirrors the programming on HBO Hits HD and is available in Indonesia on First Media In this same month, Screen Red is also launched on Global Destiny Cable in the Philippines. In Malaysia, prime-time programs on HBO shift by an hour to 10:00 pm.
    • HBO Hits HD is also available in Singapore on StarHub TV and in Republic of China on several cable and satellite operators. In Malaysia, Sunday prime-time movies are now available in dual language.
    • The prime time for HBO is shifted to 10:00 pm (9:00 pm Thai/JKT) while prime time for HBO Family shifted to 7:00 pm (6:00 pm Thai/JKT). In addition to Sunday prime-time movies, Saturday prime-time movies are also available in dual language in Malaysia. HBO On Demand launches in Vietnam.
  • 2012
    • HBO Asia celebrates its 20th anniversary.
    • HBO Asia strengthens content for 2012 with more than 140 hours of original programming, a 40% increase in original series compared to 2011.
    • The television premiere of The Bodyguard is available for the first time in dual audio languages in United States and Canada while full broadcast schedules in addition to closed-captioned subtitles in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Republic of China.
    • HBO Asia jointly develops Dead Mine, the first original co-production with Infinite Frameworks.
    • In May, HBO Asia migrates all HBO Services on satellite Apstar 2R (also known as Telstar 10) to Apstar 7.
    • In June, HBO Original movie Hemingway & Gellhorn premieres on HBO just days after its US premiere.
    • HBO expands its High Definition Channels by adding HBO Family HD and HBO Signature HD. This services is currently available through First Media subscribers in Indonesia

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