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HBO Asia

HBO Asia is the Asian division of HBO, headquartered in Singapore. Originally launched on 1 May 1992 as MovieVision, it was rebranded on 1 June 1995 to its current name upon Home Box Office, Inc. purchase. The Singaporean-based broadcast network offers advertisement-free channels and services – including HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax – as well as HBO Go and HBO on Demand. They also became the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst in Asia.[4]

History

HBO was the first American television network to set up its bases in Singapore in 1992, with its 20000 sqft production facility based at New Tech Park in Lorong Chuan.[5]

HBO signed an agreement with Singapore Telecom in June 1992 in order to deliver its output to Singapore CableVision's MovieVision channel, as well as other broadcasters in the region.[6]

HBO Asia began 24-hour broadcasts on 1 March 1994 to cater to travellers visiting hotels. It also increased the number of programmes to 70 a month.[7]

HBO Asia was originally a joint venture between Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros., and Universal Pictures. On 16 January 2008, Sony and NBC sold their stakes to WarnerMedia (now Warner Bros. Discovery).[8]

Programming

HBO Asia has licensing deals with the "Big Five" of Hollywood conglomerate film studios:

HBO Central is a monthly program giving information about which movies and series will be shown in the coming month.

New seasons of HBO's Original Series or Original Productions air on Sunday nights/Monday mornings.

Original programming

HBO also aired their Original Series or Original Films from Asian creators, which aired on Sunday nights. Some other Asian original titles may also be simultaneously released on other platforms, like Catchplay, which has co-produced some of HBO's Asian titles.

TV series

Drama

Comedy

Unscripted

Co-productions

These shows have been commissioned by HBO Asia with a partner network.

Drama

Comedy

Unscripted

Co-productions

These shows have been commissioned by HBO Asia with a partner network.

Films

TV series

Drama

Comedy

Unscripted

Co-productions

These shows have been commissioned by HBO Asia with a partner network.

Drama

Comedy

Unscripted

Co-productions

These shows have been commissioned by HBO Asia with a partner network.

Films

Censorship

HBO Asia was heavily censored in some Asian countries, with many series such as Sex and the City[28] and Game of Thrones[29] aired in edited versions; with certain programmes are not shown in some territories.

Typically, movies showcasing gestures like the middle finger, nudity, intense intimacy, and profanity are edited out. Scenes revealing attire or exposed skin near private areas are commonly censored, especially in predominantly Muslim regions of Southeast Asia (excluding Vietnam). Additionally, depictions of alcohol or pork are often blurred, as they are considered haram in Islam.

The HBO-made series Entourage was taken off-air for three weeks by one cable operator in the Philippines, pending clearance by the MTRCB. The entire series continued to air without disruption on all other Philippine cable operators.

In Vietnam, programmes broadcast on HBO Asia undergo censorship overseen by the Vietnam News Agency. Any film that is judged to contradict or misrepresent the Vietnam War (such as depicting the US as heroes, which contradicts the state's official stance) or critical of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam, or to contain explicit sexual or gruesome content deemed inconsistent with Vietnamese societal norms, will not be aired. Instead, it will be replaced with another film, accompanied by an on-screen disclaimer indicating that it is a substitute feature replacing a film with sensitive content.[30] Additionally, scenes depicting nudity, violence, or mild profanity are typically toned down.[31]

In China, due to Western product restrictions and the China-United States trade war, HBO was blocked and restricted, and the replacements are currently Tencent Video and iQIYI.[32][33]

Channels

The live channels remain available on selected pay TV providers, as HBO GO no longer provides the live channels in-app and online starting 25 May 2023.[39]

  • Source

HBO South Asia

HBO formerly provided a separate feed with commercial breaks for audiences in South Asia, namely India, Bangladesh and the Maldives. All movie promos in this beam were according to IST. A time-shifted feed for Pakistan was launched in the mid-2000s in partnership with ARY Digital Network.[41] The schedule was the same as the Indian feed, with the difference being the commercial breaks and timings in PST.

Before the launch of HBO South Asia, HBO tried replicating the premium model in India. However, HBO then decided it was not commercially viable, so the South Asia channel was launched in India and also in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives.[42]

HBO Asia and Eros International launched HBO Defined and HBO Hits across India on 21 February 2013 on Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV. These channels were commercial-free. The content of both channels included movies as well as most of HBO Original Programming. When the channels launched, the main HBO channel stopped airing original series.[43]

In 2015, HBO decided to exit the Indian market and license the channel to Turner International India.[44] The channel was revamped in February 2016 after a survey conducted by the channel team to better suit the masses.[45][46] HBO Defined and HBO Hits would be handled by Star India; however, HBO Defined and HBO Hits SD were shut down on 31 December 2015, while HBO Hits HD was replaced by HBO HD on 4 September 2016.[47] It only airs Hollywood movies, as Star India has the rights to HBO Original Programming, which is available on Star World and Disney+ Hotstar.[48]

WarnerMedia International announced on 15 October 2020 that HBO South Asia and WB Channel would close down on 15 December 2020. The HBO channel would no longer be available in India and Pakistan, while WB Channel ceased to exist in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Maldives.[49]

HBO India had closed down at midnight with the last movie on the SD channel being Mad Max: Fury Road (completed 1 hour before the shutdown) and the last movie on the HD channel being Memoirs of a Geisha. HBO Pakistan was also closed down at midnight.[50]

See also

External links

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References

  1. HBO Asia grows by almost 100 percent United Press International, 4 March 1996, retrieved 14 July 2022^
  2. For the first time in Nepal, HBO channels can be viewed for free by DishHome users in the mobile app Reviews, 19 July 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  3. Susan Tsang. HBO Asia maps out Sri Lanka launch Variety, 8 September 1998, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  4. HBO Asia strikes agreement to represent BabyFirst, WarnerTV across Asia Television Asia, 1 December 2009^
  5. Three US TV networks eyeing S'pore satellite-link licence The Straits Times, 2 December 1994, retrieved 10 February 2024^
  6. US pay-TV operator seals deal with Telecom The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB), 18 June 1992, retrieved 8 August 2023^
  7. Can't sleep at 3 am? Call the radio deeiay The Straits Times, 14 May 1994, retrieved 27 January 2024^
  8. Janine Stein. Sony, NBC exit HBO Asia alliance The Hollywood Reporter, 2008-01-17, retrieved 2023-10-24^
  9. Tay Yek Keak. TV review: HBO Asia's locally produced horror series Grace is predictable, unconvincing The Straits Times, 23 October 2014, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  10. HBO Asia Renews 'Halfworlds' for Third Season, Relocates Series to Philippines variety.com, 29 November 2019, retrieved 19 January 2020^
  11. HBO Asia's Original Period Drama Series GRISSE Premieres Today Medium, 7 March 2019, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  12. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Food Lore' on HBO, an Asian Anthology Series Winding Food Into the Fabric of Drama Decider, 2 March 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  13. HBO Asia's original anthology drama series INVISIBLE STORIES to premiere in the U.S. on August 3 WarnerMedia, 30 July 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  14. HBO Asia Makes Sci-Fi Debut With 'Dream Raider' Variety, 27 July 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  15. Patrick Frater. Taiwan Drama Series 'Who's by Your Side' Set as HBO Asia Original Variety, 23 August 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  16. Patrick Frater. WarnerMedia Readies Chinese-Language Original Series 'Legacy' and 'Trinity of Shadows' Variety, 20 April 2021, retrieved 21 June 2021^
  17. 周也新戏《为有暗香来》 10月13日于HBO GO独家首播 Oriental Daily News (Malaysia), 12 October 2023, retrieved 3 November 2023^
  18. HBO Asia's First Comedy Series 'Sent' Set To Make Its Debut Deadline Hollywood, 6 August 2017, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  19. Patrick Frater. HBO Asia Falls For Taiwan Romance Series 'Adventure of the Ring' Variety, 11 November 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  20. HBO Asia Original Series 'The Accidental Influencer' Premieres Exclusively on HBO GO February 10 Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific, 16 January 2024, retrieved 18 October 2024^
  21. Patrick Frater. 'Traffickers: Inside the Golden Triangle' to Premiere on HBO GO Variety, 6 July 2021, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  22. Liz Shackleton. Warner Bros Discovery Launches Trio Of Thai HBO Originals; 'Khun Pan 3' & Two Unscripted Shows Deadline Hollywood, 10 June 2023, retrieved 13 June 2024^
  23. Mariel Abanes. Indonesian adaptation of 'The Bachelor' to premiere next month NME, 17 January 2023, retrieved 29 November 2024^
  24. Sara Merican. Taiwanese Drama 'The World Between Us: After the Flames' Sets Premiere Date On Prime Video Deadline Hollywood, April 30, 2025, retrieved May 5, 2025^
  25. Patrick Brzeski. HBO Asia to Produce Taiwanese Original Series 'Workers' The Hollywood Reporter, 14 April 2020, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  26. Stephen McCarty. Murder, corruption and a nagging cold case in HBO's Trinity of Shadows, Taiwan-set police drama with a realistic tone South China Morning Post, 27 June 2021, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  27. Iza Iglesias. New HBO Asia Original series 'Twisted Strings' preems tonight The Manila Times, 27 March 2022, retrieved 15 July 2022^
  28. Singapore lifts Sex and City ban BBC News, 16 July 2004, retrieved 2 July 2016^
  29. Winter is Coming: Game of Thrones on HBO Asia 28 August 2011, retrieved 2 July 2016^
  30. HBO Film on Vietnamese Cuisine Pulled From Schedule Over Racy Sex Scenes Saigoneer, 12 November 2019^
  31. Matthew Clayfield. How exactly do you sanitise Game of Thrones? Find out in Vietnam ABC News, 3 July 2015^
  32. Vivienne Chow. HBO's Website Remains Blocked in China, but Its Shows Aren't Variety, 2018-06-27, retrieved 2021-10-15^
  33. China blocks HBO after John Oliver parody of Xi Jinping the Guardian, 2018-06-25, retrieved 2021-10-15^
  34. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/hboasia.com|title=HBO's Official site|nolink=y}}^
  35. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://hboasia.com/Hits/|title=HBO Hits' Official site|nolink=y}}^
  36. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://hboasia.com/Family/|title=HBO Family's Official site|nolink=y}}^
  37. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://hboasia.com/Signature/|title=HBO Signature's Official site|nolink=y}}^
  38. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://cinemaxasia.com/|title=Cinemax's Official site|nolink=y}}^
  39. From 25 May 2023, Live channels will no longer be accessible on the HBO website and applications. However, the channels are still available on a number of partner-owned and operated platforms. Please connect with your local operators to find out more. 26 May 2023, retrieved 28 May 2023^
  40. Tasmayee Laha Roy. Pogo & Cartoon Network go local with India Originals Exchange4media, 5 March 2020, retrieved 24 September 2020^
  41. ARY Digital Network celebrates 17 years of remarkable journey ARY News, 15 September 2017, retrieved 25 December 2024^
  42. MAGZ OSBORNE. HBO Asia May Expand Ad-Supported Approach Multichannel, 21 August 2000, retrieved 2019-12-22^
  43. HBO Defined and HBO Hits go on-air Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media, retrieved 2018-01-23^
  44. Vanita Kohli-Khandekar. Is HBO giving up on its India market? Business Standard India, 2014-12-19, retrieved 2019-12-22^
  45. HBO India gets branding, packaging revamp afaqs!, 12 February 2016, retrieved 2019-12-22^
  46. Urvi Malvania. HBO moves from niche to mass Business Standard India, 2016-02-24, retrieved 2020-12-17^
  47. #Experience The Magic with HBO HD! Turner, 2016-09-06, retrieved 2018-01-23^
  48. Fox's Star India Strikes Exclusive Deal for HBO Originals The Hollywood Reporter, 2 December 2015, retrieved 2019-12-22^
  49. AnimationXpress Team. WarnerMedia to cease HBO and WB TV channels in South Asia by 2020 end; to invest more on kids channels AnimationXpress, 2020-10-15, retrieved 2020-10-15^
  50. 20 years summed up in a minute. It's not enough, never will be enough. But tell you what, your love for us has always been. 2020-12-14, retrieved 2024-12-17^