HBO Asia

HBO Asia is the Asian division of HBO, based out of Singapore. It was originally launched on 1 May 1992 as MovieVision, later rebranding on 1 June 1995 to its current name after being purchased by Home Box Office, Inc. The Singapore-based broadcast network offers channels and services with no advertisements– HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax – as well as HBO Go and HBO on Demand. HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst in Asia.[4]

HBO
CountrySingapore
Broadcast area
NetworkHBO
Headquarters151 Lorong Chuan, New Technology Park 04-05, Serangoon Gardens, Singapore
Programming
Language(s)English
Chinese
Japanese
Malay
Filipino
Indonesian
Thai
Vietnamese
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific
ParentHome Box Office, Inc.
History
Launched1 May 1992 (1992-05-01)[3]
ReplacedRed by HBO (SatLite Only, Philippines)
Former namesMovieVision (1992–1995)
Links
WebsiteOfficial website (Archive)

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.[5]

HBO Asia was originally a joint veture between Paramount Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Time Warner Entertainment and Universal Studios. On 16 January 2008 Sony and NBC sold their stakes to Time Warner.[6]

HBO is currently the only movie network that has widely available across Asia, as Fox Movies went out of business following Disney decision to closed their Disney-owned Fox channels in favor of Disney+.

Programming

HBO Asia has licensing deals with 5 major 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 title may also simultaneously release in other platform, for example Catchplay, which has co-produce some HBO Asian titles.

Drama
Title Genre Premiere Seasons Runtime Language(s) Status
Grace[7] Horror drama October 17, 2014 4 episodes Un­known
  • English
  • Mandarin
 Miniseries
Halfworlds Dark fantasy thriller November 29, 2015 2 seasons, 16 episodes Un­known
  • English
  • Indonesian (season 1)
  • Thai (season 2)
 Renewed[8]
Folklore Horror anthology October 7, 2018 2 seasons, 12 episodes 60 min various languages Ended
Grisse[9] Epic Western March 6, 2019 1 season, 8 episodes Un­known
  • English
  • Indonesian
 Ended
Food Lore[10] Slice of life anthology November 3, 2019 1 season, 8 episodes Un­known Various languages Ended
Invisible Stories[11] Psychological drama/Anthology January 5, 2020 1 season, 6 episodes Un­known
  • English
  • Mandarin
  • Thai
 Ended
Dream Raider[12] Science fiction mystery drama August 16, 2020 1 season, 8 episodes Un­known
  • Mandarin
  • Japanese
 Ended
Miss S[lower-alpha 1] Period action drama October 5, 2020 30 episodes Un­known Mandarin Miniseries
On The Job Action thriller September 13, 2021 6 episodes 45-63 min Filipino Miniseries
Who's By Your Side[13] Family thriller October 3, 2021 10 episodes 50 min
  • Mandarin
  • Hokkien
 Ended
Scent of Time[lower-alpha 2] Period romantic fantasy October 13, 2023 30 episodes Un­known Mandarin Miniseries
Comedy
Title Genre Premiere Seasons Runtime Language(s) Status
Sent[14] Comedy drama September 17, 2017 1 season, 8 episodes Un­known English Ended
Adventure of the Ring[15] Romantic comedy-drama December 13, 2020 8 episodes Un­known Mandarin Miniseries
Call My Manager![16] Comedy drama TBA TBA TBA Filipino Upcoming
Unscripted
Title Genre Premiere Seasons Runtime Language(s) Status
Traffickers: Inside the Golden Triangle[17] True crime docuseries July 23, 2021 3 episodes Un­known English Ended
Co-productions

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

Title Genre Partner/Country Premiere Seasons Runtime Language Status
Serangoon Road Period drama ABC/Australia September 22, 2013 1 season, 10 episodes 55 min English Ended
The Teenage Psychic Supernatural coming-of-age drama PTS/Taiwan April 2, 2017 2 seasons, 14 episodes 50 min
Ended
The Talwars: Behind Closed Doors True crime docuseries Star World/India November 26, 2017 4 episodes Un­known English Miniseries
Miss Sherlock Crime drama Hulu Japan/Japan April 27, 2018 1 season, 8 episodes 45-50 min Japanese Ended
The Bridge Crime drama Viu/Malaysia November 26, 2018 2 seasons, 20 episodes 60 min
  • English
  • Malay
  • Indonesian
 Ended
The World Between Us Psychological drama PTS and Catchplay/Taiwan March 24, 2019 10 episodes 50 min Mandarin Miniseries
Workers[18] Dark comedy-drama myVideo/Taiwan May 10, 2020 6 episodes Un­known
  • Hokkien
  • Mandarin
 Miniseries
The Head Mystery thriller
June 12, 2020 1 season, 6 episodes 47–65 min.
  • English
  • Danish
  • Swedish
  • Spanish
 Season 2 ongoing[19]
Trinity of Shadows[20] Crime drama
June 13, 2021 1 season, 15 episodes Un­known Mandarin Ended
Twisted Strings[21] Comedy thriller/Anthology
March 27, 2022 7 episodes ~60 min. Mandarin Ended

Films
Title Genre Release Date Runtime Language(s)
Dead Mine Action horror September 27, 2012 1 hour, 27 min. English
Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So Action drama December 25, 2016 1 hour, 33 min. Mandarin
Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying December 26, 2016 1 hour, 40 min.
Master of the White Crane Fist: Wong Yam-Lam February 20, 2019 Un­known
The Garden of Evening Mists Romantic period drama September 13, 2020 2 hour English
Gensan Punch Sports biopic September 27, 2021 1 hour, 40 min.
  • English
  • Filipino
  • Japanese

Censorship

HBO Asia was heavily censored in some Asian countries, with many series such as Sex and the City,[22] The Sopranos,[23] Entourage,[24] The Wire, Hung,[25] Girls,[26] True Blood, Game of Thrones,[27] Boardwalk Empire,[28] True Detective,[29] Westworld,[30] Insecure,[31] Big Little Lies,[32] The Deuce,[33] Succession,[34] Euphoria,[35][36][37][38] I May Destroy You,[39] Perry Mason,[40] Lovecraft Country,[41] Industry,[42] The White Lotus,[43] House of the Dragon,[44] The Last of Us,[45] and The Idol[46] aired in edited versions; certain programmes are not shown in some territories at all. This has been liberalised to an extent in recent years.[47]

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 Philippines cable operators.

In Vietnam, every movie with content which is considered to oppose or distort the American War, the Communist Party of Vietnam or Communism in general is replaced by another film. In addition, if the Ministry of Culture and Information considers a movie has contents of a serious sexual or horrific nature not conforming with Vietnamese society, it will not be aired.

Output that feature visuals such as the middle finger, nudity, passionate intimacy and vulgar language are cut out.

In China, due to Western product restrictions, and the China-United States trade war, HBO was blocked and restricted, and the replacement is currently Tencent Video and iQIYI.[48][49]

Channels
Network Description Website
HBO Hollywood films and HBO original series Official site[lower-alpha 3]
HBO Hits Hits and blockbuster films Official site[lower-alpha 3]
HBO Family Family oriented films and series Official site[lower-alpha 3]
HBO Signature Critically acclaimed and original productions Official site[lower-alpha 3]
Cinemax Action and suspense movies Official site[lower-alpha 3]
HBO On Demand The best Hollywood films and outstanding HBO originals at your control Official site[lower-alpha 3]
BabyFirst 24-hour channel for babies and infants distributed by HBO Asia Official site

The live channels was remained available on selected pay TV provider as HBO GO not longer provide the live channels in-app and online starting 25 May 2023.[50]

HBO South Asia
HBO South Asia
CountryIndia
Broadcast area
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerWarnerMedia International[51] (As of 2019)
Turner International India (earlier)
Sister channels
History
Launched22 March 2000
Closed15 December 2020
Links
WebsiteOfficial website (Archive)

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 are according to IST. A timeshifted feed for Pakistan was launched in the mid-2000s in partnership with ARY Digital Network.[52] The schedule was 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. But then HBO decided it wasn't commercially viable so the South Asia channel was launched in India and also in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives.[53]

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 are commercial-free. The content of both the channels include movies as well as most of HBO Original Programming. When the channels launched, the main HBO channel stopped airing original series.[54]

In 2015, HBO had decided to exit the Indian market and license the channel to Turner International India.[55] The channel was revamped in February 2016 after a survey conducted by the channel team to better suit the masses.[56][57] HBO Defined and HBO Hits would be handled by Star India, however HBO Defined and HBO Hits SD was shut down on 31 December 2015 while HBO Hits HD was replaced by HBO HD on 4 September 2016.[58] It only airs Hollywood movies, as Star India has the rights to HBO Original Programming which are available on Star World and Disney+ Hotstar.[59]

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.[60]

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.

See also

Notes
  1. Acquired by HBO Asia from Tencent Video
  2. Acquired by HBO Asia from Youku
  3. The link has been archived at the Wayback Machine

References
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