MUMBAI: The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has appointed Henry K. Middleton as CASBAA general manager, Singapore & Southeast Asia.
This new position will encompass the Association's relationships with government, member organisations and the multi-channel television and broadband industries as a whole, as well as building on a CASBAA decision in 2003 to formally open an office in Singapore, says an official release.
"This is a big step forward for the Association. It reflects general industry growth and the ever-growing importance of Singapore as the region's communications hub," said CASBAA chairman Marcel Fenez. "Henry's breadth of knowledge of the pay-TV industry, including regulatory, business development and promotional issues, will be invaluable."
The appointment of Mr. Middleton comes as CASBAA announces new memberships and upgraded participation in the Association by 13 companies, adds the release.
Patron memberships taken out by Taiwan-based cable TV MSO Eastern Multimedia Corp. and broadcaster SPE (AXN/Animax), plus upgrades to Patron status by HBO Asia and Walt Disney Television International, have added four new seats to the CASBAA Council of Governors and adds significant weight to the Association's role as an influential industry spokesman. The next meeting of the policy-driving CASBAA Council will be on Tuesday, 15 June in Singapore.
The two new Patron memberships -- and new Corporate memberships taken out by Harmonic Asia Pacific, Bird & Bird, International Launch Services, iMediaHouse, Music Choice and Clifford Chance, plus upgrades to Corporate level by SkyCable of the Philippines, Synovate of Hong Kong and BT of the UK -- are an endorsement of the Association's role in promoting and growing the cable and satellite industry in Asia, says the release.
"These additional memberships strengthen CASBAA's position as an umbrella organization acting for the common good of the multi-channel cable, broadband and satellite industries and assists with our representation to the public, customers and policy makers," said Mr Fenez.
"With our enhanced services, including the on-going dialogue with the advertising industry, our anti-piracy activities, the drive towards the further deployment of digital services, our research initiatives and the greater participation of individual members via our committee system we see CASBAA playing an ever more important role on behalf of the industry and its constituents," said CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston Davies.
