ATTENTION EDITOR,
GENERAL DESK
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Mar. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --
Latest industry forum discusses key digital trends in Asia Pacific
Disney engages today''s consumers with the choice, flexibility and convenience
they want
Today at The Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) 4th Digital Media Conference
held this year in Singapore, over 200 leading experts from media and technology
companies from Asia Pacific and the US came together to discuss the continuing
evolution of TV and how it affects the way we look at our businesses and our
consumers. This year''s theme "Media R-Evolution: Engaging the Connected
Consumer" focuses on what forward-looking media companies are doing to stay
engaged with their audiences and address questions fundamental to creating
value and launching the next generation entertainment marketplace. Today''s
audiences not only expect flexibility in when to watch their favorite TV show,
movie or latest sports news, but also access to that content on the platform of
their choice whether at home or on-the-go.
"Audience viewing habits have dramatically changed -- never before has TV
viewing been so personal," said Rob Gilby, Managing Director, Media
Distribution, The Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) Limited. "Our research
tells us that there is a complete shift in consumer expectations and audiences
are looking for greater personalization and customization of how they access
brands such as Disney, ABC and ESPN. The question we are asking is how to
create the most value in delivering the best consumer experience."
What''s your Screen of Choice?
Asia Pacific is home to over 135 million smartphones, 350 million 3G+
Subscribers, 968 million TV sets, 6.5 million tablets, 800 million internet
users and 143 million Facebook Users.(1) A wide scale industry study conducted
last year shows that using multiple devices to watch video content is on the
rise in Asia Pacific. While the majority of people still watch video content on
TV (77%), 63% are watching on a desktop/laptop computer, 38% are watching
content on mobile phones and 19% on other hand held devices. (2) The region''s
access to digital technology coupled with increased consumption of content on
multiple platforms is a great opportunity to provide consumers the best
entertainment experience on the screen of their choice.
"We are seeing the continued evolution of television with a rapid uptake from
consumers who want multiple ways across multiple screens to connect and engage
with their favorite content," says Gilby.
Whilst viewing content on multiple screens is growing, the use of social media
to complement the viewing experience is adding new dimensions to the concept of
co-viewing. No longer do viewers have to watch TV in the same room to share
the experience. Social media provides a platform for viewers to share opinions
and commentary about their viewing experience with peers, family and friends on
digital platforms and in virtual communities.(3)This further deepens the
consumer experience, providing multiple touch points for consumers to interact
with their favorite content, stories and characters.
Primetime is all the Time
Consumers are no longer confined to a scheduled viewing time. Digital platforms
and devices offer flexibility for consumers to watch TV whenever they want.
This is especially appealing to time-poor and younger consumers who require
more flexibility in their free time, preferring to watch TV at a time that
suits their lifestyle.(4)
In 2010 Disney did four major deals in Asia Pacific, including India and
Indonesia- home to 2 of the top 5 populations in the world - to distribute
content to mobile phones, through online and video-on-demand with traditional
terrestrial and pay-TV.
"Technology is a natural part of consumer''s lives and the smart digital devices
that exist today and the ones we haven''t yet seen provide opportunities for us
to deepen our relationship with the viewer. At Disney, incredible content and
innovation go hand in hand and we''re focused on finding new ways to take our
compelling stories and characters to more audiences while enhancing the viewing
experience," adds Gilby.
In Malaysia, Disney Media Distribution works with Astro, Media Prima and TM
Net. Disney Channel is available from Astro via mobile video (loop) services on
Astro Mobile TV. Media Prima offers Disney TV content available for Malaysian
fans to catch-up online via Ton.Ton.com.my, a leading edge video portal. TonTon
comScore ranks 6th in Malaysia, and 32nd overall including international sites
as of January 11, 2011. In addition, TM Net, which launched IPTV service HyppTV
last year, offers Disney feature films available via VOD (video-on-demand).
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its subsidiaries and
affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and
media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and
resorts, studio entertainment, interactive media and consumer products. Disney
is a Dow 30 Company, had annual revenues of over US$36 billion in its most
recent fiscal year. For more information about The Walt Disney Company please
visit: http://corporate.disney.go.com/
About Disney Media Distribution
Disney Media Distribution is responsible for the distribution of The Walt
Disney Company''s program content and channels to free-to-air, cable and
satellite broadcasters and mobile, broadband and VOD platforms across Asia
Pacific. The program portfolio includes quality feature films,
critically-acclaimed scripted and reality series, ABC news programming, live
action and animated kids content, and prestigious specials such as the Academy
Awards(R). Disney Media Distribution also oversees channel distribution of the
much-loved Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney to all major pay TV platforms in
the region.
Note:
(1)Source: IDC Asia/ Pacific Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker Q4/10, Pyramid
Research (Jan 2011, Informa Telecoms & Media, Yankee (Dec 2010),
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm,
http://www.socialbakers.com/facebook-statistics/
(2)Source: Synovate Young Asians Survey 2010- Device to watch video content at
least once a week- universal (sample), 8-24 year olds: 25,612,200 (12,302).
(3)Source: Disney Media Distribution / TNS; The Future of Media 2008, Hong
Kong, Singapore, Korea, Australia
(4)Source: Disney Media Distribution / TNS; The Future of Media 2008, Hong
Kong, Singapore, Korea, Australia
SOURCE: The Walt Disney Company
DATE OF RELEASE:31 MARCH 2011
RELEASED BY BERNAMA MEDIA RELATIONS & EVENT MANAGEMENT (MREM)