MUMBAI: Scripps Networks Interactive, which has made international expansion a top strategic priority, is strengthening its competitive position in Asia with the acquisition of the Asian Food Channel (AFC), the region?s leading food-focused pay television network.

The Asian Food Channel, which is based in Singapore, reaches about 8 million subscribers in 11 markets. With the addition of the Asian Food Channel, Scripps Networks Interactive now has three lifestyle television brands that it is marketing in the region. Food Network and Travel Channel also are distributed in Asia.

"Asia and the rapid growth in pay television households throughout the region hold great promise for Scripps Networks Interactive and its international ambitions," said Kenneth W. Lowe, the company?s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

"Acquiring the Asian Food Channel significantly expands our presence in key growth markets and provides us with a solid foundation on which to build a growing lifestyle media business in the region. The channel aligns perfectly with our lifestyle programming focus."

The Asian Food Channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and leverages a substantial library of acquired Asian and international video content as well as a growing number of originally-produced programs. The network generates revenues through regional and local advertising sales as well as fees from pay television operators.

"We have built AFC from scratch over eight years to become a well-recognized brand in the region with a top management team that will help Scripps expand its presence across the Southeast Asia region," said Maria Brown, co-founder and chief executive officer of the Asian Food Channel. "As an entrepreneur, I am enormously proud to see our company take this next step in its evolution. I look forward to seeing the Asian Food Channel continue to grow as part of the Scripps Networks Interactive family and as one of their leading lifestyle brands."

Derek Chang, who was appointed recently as managing director of the Asia Pacific region for Scripps Networks Interactive, will oversee the management and integration of the Asian Food Channel. He also will oversee operations of Scripps Networks Interactive?s existing networks in the region.

Scripps Networks Interactive has been expanding its international operations starting in 2009 with the launch of the Food Network in the United Kingdom and other markets in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

In 2012, the company acquired the London-based international operations of the Travel Channel. Food Network and Travel Channel are distributed in selected markets in Asia.

Scripps Networks Interactive is in partnership with BBC Worldwide through its 50-percent ownership of UKTV, which operates a suite of 10 general entertainment and lifestyle channels in the U.K. The company also is in partnership with Shaw Communications, which operates HGTV, Food Network and DIY Network in Canada.

MUMBAI: Percept Live?s one of the most happening property Sunburn has announced its entry into the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UAE will be hosting the first Sunburn Arena tour in Dubai featuring Tiesto.

The UAE foray marks the third international expansion undertaken by the Indian music and lifestyle festival brand in less than a year. Sunburn has previously organised festivals in Sri Lanka and participated in the International Music Summit, Ibiza, being the first Indian brand to feature in a global music apex.

Percept joint managing director Shailendra Singh said, ?The international expansion of Sunburn continues to be a big focus for the company. The brand is already Asia?s most aspiring music and lifestyle brand. We genuinely believe Sunburn is more than just a music festival or lifestyle brand, it?s a social movement without boundaries and we want to take the Sunburn experience to as many countries as possible. Percept is very pruod to create India?s most exciting glocal brand, produced locally and now, consumed globally.?
 
The company further plans to expand Sunburn to Singapore, Thailand and Mexico.

In India the brand has introduced a number of different formats such as Sunburn Goa festival, Sunburn Superstar, Sunburn Arena and Sunburn Campus Tours to reach out to young Electronic dance music (EDM) fans across the country.

MUMBAI: This month Singapore pay TV service provider StarHub TV will be giving customers more control over their TV viewing with six new channels, including five On-Demand channels.

To be launched on 9 November 2012, the five new On-Demand channels are National Geographic Play, Star World Play, FoxCrime Play, Fox Play and FX Play (StarHub TV Ch 508). Each On-Demand channel will be assigned a channel number after its linear version.

In addition, KBS World HD a high definition simulcast of KBS World launched on 1 November 2012 bringing the number of HD channels on StarHub TV to 29 in total. KBS World HD will be available to all StarHub TV customers on free preview until 31 December 2012.

StarHub VP home solutions, content Iris Wee said, "We are always looking to broaden our viewers? entertainment options through our offerings. The introduction of these five On-Demand channels will empower our customers to dictate their viewing schedules while the addition of KBS World HD offers viewers an additional option to catch 0Korean entertainment programming.

The five On-Demand channels will allow viewers to catch education and entertainment content at their convenience. National Geographic Play will feature the best of National Geographic Channel?s signature edutainment programming from the previous month. Notable highlights include episodes of Mega Breakdown and Monster Fish of The Congo.

In addition, general entertainment channels Star World Play, FoxCrime Play, Fox Play and FX Play will each showcase selected highlights from their respective linear channels.

StarHub TV subscribers who currently receive National Geographic Channel, Star World, FoxCrime, Fox and/or FX will be able to enjoy the respective On-Demand channels for free. Viewers will require a HubStation, HubStation HD or HD Interactive set-top box to access the On-Demand channels.

KBS World HD will present fans of the Korean entertainment scene with hours of Korean dramas, variety shows and documentaries. The channel is a family entertainment channel provided by KBS, the flagship public service broadcaster in Korea.