Channel Kicks Off With 18-Day F4 Event
Singapore, 6 February 2003 - StarHub launched Singapore's first MMS/SMS channel today. Aptly named Hub TV, the channel will be available to all local homes from 8 February 2003.
Viewers of Hub TV can take part in interactive activities such as polling, chatting and participating in contests via SMS while watching TV programmes. They can even send in pictures to share with the other viewers via MMS.
Hub TV will kick off with an 18-day event featuring the popular Taiwanese group F4, from 8 to 25 February 2003. All customers of StarHub CableTV will enjoy Hub TV on Channel 26 from 4pm to 2am daily during this period. Homes who do not subscribe to Cable TV will also be able to catch Hub TV from 10pm to 2am, by tuning their TV sets to StarHub CableTV's Preview Channel.
"With Hub TV, StarHub will bring hubbing to the next level. Recently, we have 'hubbed' content such as the MTV Asia Awards 2003 and English Premier League, across our Cable TV, Mobile and Online platforms. Our customers were able to indulge in their favourite subjects across more dimensions than before," said Ms Tham Loke Kheng, StarHub's Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing.
Ms Tham added, "Now with Hub TV's F4 event, our customers can enjoy the pop phenomenon F4 to the fullest, and interact with the larger F4 fan community like never before. We chose F4 as the subject of our first Hub TV event as it is currently the most talked-about and hottest group in Asia. This is also in conjunction with the exclusive telecast and TV premiere of F4's latest drama series Meteor Garden II on StarHub CableTV, and the group's upcoming concert in Singapore, which is presented by StarHub."
The Hub TV screen is divided into four main sections: the video panel for TV programmes, an SMS 'live' Chat panel, MMS Board and the Contests/Polls panel.
On the video panel, F4 fans can look forward to a host of programmes featuring F4 members including drama series, variety shows, TV specials, exclusive interviews and music videos. Among the titles that will be aired are The Meteor Garden, Meteor Rain, Meteor Dreamland, Rich Boy Taro and F4 TV Specials. StarHub Mobile customers have an additional incentive to tune in to Hub TV, as they will be able to download ringtones as their music videos are being aired on the channel as well.
On the SMS 'live' Chat panel, viewers can participate in an interactive chat by sending their SMS which will be displayed on the TV screen. This chat is open to both StarHub Mobile and M1 customers, and each SMS will be charged at 30 cents. StarHub Mobile customers can SMS their messages to 8000, while M1 customers can send their messages to 78000.
StarHub Mobile users can also share their pictures and messages with the other viewers by sending their MMS to 8000. These MMS will be displayed on Hub TV's MMS Board. StarHub Mobile customers will not be charged for all MMS sent to Hub TV, during this 18-day F4 event from 8 to 25 February 2003.
Fans of F4 will be delighted to know that they stand to win F4 collectibles such as notebooks, postcards, magnets and limited editions of F4 Fantasy Forever albums, by taking part in contests. There will be 21 lucky winners each day - one overall winner, five MMS senders and 15 others who take part in the contests. In addition, StarHub will be giving away as many as 21 mobile phones to participants of Hub TV.
"StarHub has been making inroads into the youth market with our innovative range of services including our PowerChat plans, SMS/MMS ringtones and logo downloads, colourful JAVA games and compelling MMS applications. With Hub TV, another youth-oriented service, youths no longer play the passive role and just sit in front of the TV screen. They are empowered by StarHub to actively influence the contents on Hub TV by sharing their thoughts and chatting via SMS or expressing themselves visually by sending pictures via MMS. Best of all, they can do all these activities simultaneously while watching their favorite artiste like F4," said Mr Chan Kin Hung, Senior Vice President, StarHub Mobile. "Hub TV has become a powerful two-way interactive medium for our young customers to share, express and be entertained!"
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