Huayi Brothers International Limited (“Huayi Brothers”), Peter Chan’s Shine Focus, Edko Films Limited (“Edko Films”), and now TV today announce the forming of a joint venture to launch a new movie channel, now Popcorn Movie Channel. The channel is set to be launched exclusively on now TV on March 15 (Ch. 133), and will make its foray into the Chinese-speaking markets in Asia and overseas.
This joint venture of four major media players from Hong Kong and mainland China brings together now TV’s advanced IPTV platform and top-class movie production and distribution experts, to create Hong Kong’s first movie channel from movie professionals:
- Huayi Brothers: Huayi Brothers International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. Huayi Brothers Media Corporation is the leading integrated entertainment conglomerate in mainland China. Huayi Brothers Media distributes and produces a number of box-office hits including “Cell Phone”, “A World Without Thieves”, the “If You Are The One” series, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame”, etc. Apart from movie production, its business areas also include drama production, talent agency, music label, cinemas, games, entertainment sales, cultural tourism and new media.
- Shine Focus / WE PICTURES: Founded by famous Hong Kong director Mr. Peter Ho-sun Chan and his team. Shine Focus will bring a series of splendid movies produced by WE PICTURES to now Popcorn Movie Channel. “Bodyguards and Assassins” (2009) produced by Mr. Chan is one of WE PICTURES’s masterpieces, which earned the company commercial success and 8 wins in the Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2011, the martial arts blockbuster “Wu Xia”, directed and produced by Mr. Chan, was the only Chinese movie to be invited into the Official Selection in the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, “Comrades, Almost a Love Story”, “The Warlords”, “Bodyguards and Assassins”, produced and directed by Mr. Chan, are the top three films with the most awards in the 30 years’ history of the Hong Kong Film Awards.
- Edko Films: In addition to movie production, movie and video distribution, and operation of the Broadway Circuit of cinemas, Edko Films also engaged in print, outdoor and digital media advertising as well as promotional activities for movies. Edko Films has distributed nearly 300 movie titles for HK and China, and produced many internationally acclaimed movies and handled their local and overseas distribution.
- now TV: Being a leading IPTV operator in the world and Hong Kong’s leading pay-TV provider, now TV serves over a million customers with more than 180 channels of world-class infotainment.
now Popcorn Movie Channel will exclusively broadcast first-run blockbusters from Huayi Brothers, WE PICTURES and Edko Films, plus other first-run local and Asian top-class movies acquired from other content providers. Films that have been lined up for now Popcorn Movie Channel include “love”, and award-winning productions such as “Wu Xia”, “The Lost Bladesman”, “Crossing Hennessy”, “Beach Spike”, “Love for Life” and “Dream Home”.
Apart from movies, the new channel will provide information about movie culture, combining entertainment and information in a single channel. The infotainment programmes include behind-the-scene of the latest movies (“Popcorn At The Movie”), exclusive interviews with renowned movie producers and superstars (“Popcorn Movies Talks”), new directors’ productions (“Popcorn Shorts Select”) and movie production programs hosted by accomplished movie practitioners (“Cinema101”).
Subscribers of now Popcorn Movie Channel will enjoy for free, an on-demand service which will allow them to review programs and uncut versions of movies at any time. Moreover, they will be able to view selected programs via the Internet on now.com.
Ms. Brenda Hu, Vice President of Huayi Brothers, said, “Working with now TV allows Hong Kong audiences to learn more about our movie productions and enhance our brand. now Popcorn Movie Channel will become our major platform to reach Hong Kong families and we will bring to viewers the most captivating movies, including the upcoming romance blockbuster “love”.
Mr. Peter Ho-sun Chan said, “We always hope to develop a world-class Chinese movie channel, offering the most diversified movie selection and rich movie related information to viewers. It is not only an entertainment channel but also a platform through which we can share movie production knowledge with viewers especially those young people who aspire to develop a career in movies. We are glad to team up with now TV and two big movie companies, Edko Films and Huayi Brothers, to offer the widest selection of the latest and the best Asian movies to Hong Kong audiences.”
Mr. Bill Kong, Executive Director of Edko Films, said, “now Popcorn Movie Channel represents our first cooperation with a local media company in launching a movie culture channel. now TV and Edko Films share the same vision to foster the growth of the local movie sector. Through this cooperation, we look forward to bringing our movies including big productions starring renowned artistes and those produced by new directors to Hong Kong people’s homes.”
Ms. Janice Lee, PCCW’s Managing Director of TV and New Media, said, “We are delighted to launch Hong Kong’s first movie channel established by three top movie production and distribution companies. now Popcorn Movie Channel will not only bring premiere movies and blockbusters to movie fans, but also features programs hosted by movie professionals, and insightful discussions on film-making, thereby promoting the development of the movie industry in Hong Kong. now TV understands viewer’s demand for quality and premium movies and strives to work with our partners to bring the most exciting and entertaining movies and content to all viewers in Hong Kong.”
