Rapid online growth in Asia Pacific means that now three-quarters of the world's population are accessing social media websites, according to Nielsen. The Asia Pacific Social Media Report has found that internet users now spend as much as six hours per month on social media services.
Smartphones are dominating the Hong Kong mobile market with a penetration rate of nearly 50%, according to the latest research from TNS. The number of smartphone users in Hong Kong is almost double the global rate of 23%.
The Vietnam pay-TV market is being held back by signal piracy, warned CASBAA at its Vietnam pay-TV industry seminar in Hanoi last week. According to CASBAA, the cost of pay-TV piracy in Vietnam in 2009 was $15m, up by 17%. That figure is expected to substantially increase in 2010.
Asia Pacific and Africa are benefitting from a rise in global tourism during early 2010, according to a report from The World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) . Figures for the first two months of the year show global arrivals rose 7% to 119 million in January and February with Asia Pacific seeing the biggest rise of +10% followed by Africa +7%. Europe and the Americas also saw growth but on a smaller scale with both registering +3%.
The CASBAA has added four corporate members to its ranks.
Hong Kong based Asia Media Solutions and APT Group have joined, as have Vietnamese content distributor Q.net and UK channel operator Travel Channel International. It marks the second time this year that the organisation has added four members.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is evolving his destination brand from 'Uniquely Singapore' to 'YourSingapore'. The new 'YourSingapore' brand aims to market Singapore as a destination that can be easily personalised to each travellers needs. The promotion of the new tagline will be centred on a new digital approach for the country.
The interim Thai government is to submit a public television bill to the National Legislative Assembly by 11th May in order to turn Thailand's Independent Television (TiTV) (website in Thai) into the country's first public broadcaster.
Government spokesman Somkiat Tangkijvanij said that the proposed station would get a fixed tax revenue by law, so that its finances would be independent of government interference. A public organisation is to be set up to operate the station, the total budget for which is expected to run to somewhere between 1.1bn and 1.7bn baht per yesr, around half of which will derive from taxes, the rest from subsidies from other public funds. There would be no advertising, unlike at present.
The government claims that public opinion supports the move, with 70% of respondents to a public hearing in favour of the model, although there have been complaints from the TiTV bosses themselves.
