[December 15, 2005]

PCCW's IPTV User Broke Half Million

(Comtex Business)HONG KONG, Dec 15, 2005 (SinoCast China IT Watch via COMTEX) --PCCW Limited (PCCW, SEHK: 0008, NYSE ADR: PCW), the premier telecom services provider in Hong Kong, lately announced that the user number of its local broadband IPTV service, "now TV", has just topped half a million, which was originally planned to be reached by this yearend.

"This is a major achievement - making now TV the first IPTV platform in the world to have achieved this scale - and this quickly," said the company in a statement. PCCW also announced the addition of major new channels on now TV, in line with its aim of providing a comprehensive range of top quality viewing options for subscribers.

"In pursuing now TV's mission of offering customers a total viewing experience, a range of new content will be introduced," noted Alex Arena, PCCW Executive Director.

The new contents will consist of three programs. First will be the award winning global 24-hour news network CNN International in January 2006, offering comprehensive news coverage, business, lifestyle and feature programming and documentaries.

Second comes the HBO Family and HBO Hits, two new HBO channels premiering only on now TV in February 2006, will offer subscribers an even greater choice of commercial-free movies, 24-hours a day. In addition, enabled by now TV's unique capability and flexibility, it will exclusively broadcast two versions of the brand new USD100 million HBO Original Series, ROME, including an Uncut version in its original format as seen in the US starting November 27, 2005.

And the third, in addition to the existing 24-hour movie channel, Star Chinese Movies will be enhanced with a Video on Demand (VOD) service in January 2006. Through the interactive VOD service, subscribers of Star Chinese Movies can pick any movie they want at their convenience.

"The selection of top quality programming from around the world and locally reflects now TV's customer-driven approach," said Alex Arena. "Together with the innovative pricing policy that allows customers to choose only those channels they want to watch, now TV clearly offers the best value for money - the best possible content, the best interactivity and the most flexible subscription system."

"We are delighted that CNN's award winning newsgathering coverage, lifestyle and feature programming is to launch on the now TV platform", said Ian Carroll, Senior Vice President and General Manager Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. "As a recent survey revealed, CNN represents the region's most impartial, credible and trustworthy news provider so we look forward to now TV viewers experiencing the channel in their homes."

Hong Kong is acknowledged as the fastest growing pay TV market in the Asia Pacific region and financial-publishing group Dow Jones has identified now TV as the primary engine powering this growth.

PCCW intends to enhance Hong Kong's role as a regional center of technological excellence through innovative services in new generation fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband, information technology, wireless communications, and IPTV, through its successful now Broadband TV network operated by PCCW subsidiary PCCW Media Limited.

Besides, PCCW is expanding opportunities in Mainland China in its partnership with China Network Communications Group Corp., one of the country's major telecom carriers. However, analysts indicate that Mainland China is a different market, where many fine American TV programs are restricted and IPTV users often live in areas with a less residential density (which may cause higher networking costs).

Internationally, PCCW is proceeding with the phased rollout of a sophisticated wireless broadband network in the United Kingdom. PCCW also provides cutting-edge technical services to network operators worldwide. PCCW subsidiary Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited is engaged in property development.

From Communication Industry Weekly, Page 1, Wednesday, December 14, 2005
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