MUMBAI: Celestial Pictures has announced a multi-year renewal of the exclusive carriage agreement on Celestial Movies Asia (CMA), a channel featuring blockbuster movies from across Asia.

The renewal ensures that not only will now TV customers in Hong Kong continue to enjoy Asian movies on CMA, but they may also watch a much bigger exclusive selection of first-run Hong Kong blockbuster movies. 
 
Since its launch in 2008 in Hong Kong on now TV, CMA has won a loyal fan base with a diverse selection of hit Asian movies broadcast in their original language with English and Chinese subtitles. Catering to Hong Kong audience’s passion for Japanese and Korean stars and movies, CMA exclusively premieres blockbusters from Japan and Korea such as Oppai Volleyball, Scandal Makers and the upcoming Nodame Cantabile.

In addition, CMA also features many Hong Kong hits, past and present, such as Stephen Chow’s CJ7 as well as Chinese titles such as The Founding of a Republic.

With the carriage renewal, CMA will now add more first-run exclusive titles from Hong Kong to its programming. One of the titles already confirmed is the recently released mega-budgeted action movie, City Under Siege, featuring an all-star cast including Aaron Kwok, Shu Qi, Wu Jing and Zhang Jingchu, and directed by Benny Chan. 
 
Furthermore, as a new feature under the enhanced cooperation between Celestial Pictures and now TV, a selection of CMA’s movie titles will be made available on now Select video-on-demand service from the first quarter of 2011.

Celestial Pictures CEO Ross Pollack says, “From the increase in first-run Hong Kong blockbusters on the channel to the availability of our movies through now Select video-on-demand service, we