PCCW reveals partners for September broadband service launch
Aug 8, 2001
HONG KONG -- Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) yesterday unveiled content partners for its downscaled consumer broadband Internet service, a subscription-based offering that will launch in mid-September and focus on the embattled firm's home market of Hong Kong.
As expected, PCCW's "walled-garden" service model -- a format similar to that used by America Online -- will include content provided by the TVB.com unit of Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Ltd.
PCCW, which is Hong Kong's dominant telco, did not immediately provide pricing information for the Chinese-language service, nor terms of revenue-sharing pacts with its partners.
PCCW, headed by 34-year-old tycoon Richard Li, said last month it hopes to more than double its broadband and interactive TV users to 500,000 in 2003. The new service will feature movies, music, games and news and is targeted toward customers of PCCW's Netvigator Internet service provider (ISP).
Other content partners include Hong Kong's Commercial Radio; movie content providers Mei Ah Entertainment Group and Intertainer (Asia); music suppliers HMV and EOL (Entertainment Online); Billybala iGame and PCC Skyhorse, which will supply gaming content; and multimedia firm Era Information and Entertainment.
Early last month, PCCW said it would narrow its once-global consumer Internet focus -- the grandly-named Network of the World (NOW) -- to its home market and limit spending to US$190 million in 2001 and a combined US$100 million for the following two years.
Before PCCW's US$28.5 billion purchase last year of Cable & Wireless HKT, Mr. Li had said the firm would spend US$1.5 billion over five years developing content for the NOW TV and Internet service.
However, the company posted a year 2000 net loss of US$886 million and market sentiment has turned strongly against investment in the Internet.
Consumer adoption of broadband connections has also lagged industry expectations. -- Reuters
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