EURO TRAIL: PCCW to withdraw from Asia interactive TV market
(28 June 2001) Network of the World (NOW), the broadband content service with at least HK$1.4 billion (US$179.49 million) worth of investments from Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd. (PCCW), plans to gradually leave the Hong Kong and other Asian markets behind.
Starting June 26, NOW broadcasts will not be shown on interactive TV.
A source at PCCW said that content from NOW is relatively more attractive to Internet surfers and viewers in Europe and North America, whereas NOW’s ratings in Hong Kong and even the greater Asian region have been very low, the June 26 Hong Kong Ming Pao reported.
Therefore, PCCW has decided to stop broadcasting NOW content on interactive TV, whose core viewers are mainly local residents. However, NOW will continue its operations, with its key efforts targeted at the European market. Originally, Hong Kong residents could watch NOW programs via three channels—broadband Internet, interactive TV and satellite signals.
The source also said that PCCW has not completely given up on producing NOW’s Chinese content. Because PCCW holds restricted broadcasting and satellite licenses issued by the mainland, it does not want to entirely abandon the production of Chinese content, the article noted.
Therefore, the company currently does not have any specific plans to unplug NOW from the satellite-broadcasting channel in the near future, the story said.
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