- StarHub and MTV Asia team up to offer new mobile service plan -

 

Singapore, 21 February 2003 - StarHub and MTV today launched MTV Code, a new mobile service designed for the MTV Generation in mind.

 

Today's launch marked another major collaboration between the two companies and builds on the momentum of StarHub's recent successes in the youth market.

 

Last October, StarHub and MTV Asia announced that they would launch an all-new mobile and entertainment lifestyle package targeted at youths and the young-at-heart, in early 2003.

 

Today, that plan is a reality. MTV Code is the plan that allows youths to enhance and enjoy their mobile lifestyle to the fullest. With this new mobile plan, they not only keep in touch with their friends over the phone, but also stay tuned to something else that is close to their hearts - music.

 

Apart from an attractive mobile pricing plan, MTV Code also provides access to the latest MTV events, parties, concerts, movies, discounts and privileges! To ensure that subscribers stay one step ahead, MTV Vibez - another benefit under the plan - will ensure that they receive the latest information on their favourite singers and songs via SMS quickly.

 

"With the MTV Code mobile plan, we continue to leverage on our close partnership with MTV. MTV has been a long-standing partner of StarHub CableTV, where we carry three of their channels, MTV S.E.A. and MTV Mandarin and Nickelodeon. In our last collaboration with MTV, our customers were able to access the 2003 MTV Asia Awards across multiple dimensions - on TV, online and on the move," said Ms Tham Loke Kheng, Senior Vice President, Consumer Marketing, StarHub.

 

"StarHub believes in offering our customers a total experience of their favourite subjects by 'hubbing' it to them across different platforms," added Ms Tham. "The success of Hub TV, launched earlier this month, is another fine example of our unique position to marry popular content with telco interactivity. In the same vein, we believe that MTV Code will become the coolest and most relevant mobile plan for youths today as we offer them much more beyond the traditional mobile package."

 

"With mobile technology at the very core of the Singaporean youth lifestyle, MTV is thrilled to have this opportunity to further our existing partnership with StarHub by introducing MTV Code. The new mobile plan brings us one step closer to being in the pulse of the local youth culture, and furthers our commitment to remain the first-choice, music-based youth entertainment brand in all walks of everyday youth lifestyle, be it on-air, on-line, on-the-ground or via our extensive licensing and merchandising products. We are confident that MTV Code will strike the right chord among the young StarHub customers, making it a Most Wanted package," said Mr Christopher James, Vice President, Network Development and Licensing & Merchandising, MTV Networks Asia.

 

Cool features, great benefits

Priced at an affordable S$33 ($34.32 after GST), MTV Code is packed with features, including:

  • regular SMS updates on the latest in the music scene via MTV Vibez
  • free MTV Code membership card
  • free monthly movie passes and free concerts
  • 650 free local SMS per month (worth $33.80 after GST)
  • one megabyte of free Gee! mobile data usage per month (worth $5.20 after GST)
  • free incoming day or night calls* and airtime rollover**
  • other StarHub Mobile benefits such as per second billing, all-day flat rates and no IDD 018 charge to Malaysia***

Growing the youth market

"StarHub recently ended 2002 with a 20% market share in the mobile front with most new subscribers coming from the youth market. We grew our market share of the youth market to 16% at the end of last year. We strongly believe that our continual roll-out of innovative services played an important role in expanding our market share. These services include the PowerChat plans, compelling MMS applications like MMS Music and Hub TV, over 60 colorful JAVA games, and SMS downloads and games. Today's launch of MTV Code is the result of us keeping in sync with what the youths want. MTV Code is not just another mobile plan; it is a lifestyle plan to offer all that our youths need for their mobile lifestyles," said Mr Chan Kin Hung, Senior Vice President, StarHub Mobile. "We are confident that the young and the young-at-heart customers will be enthusiastic about MTV Code."

 

StarHub launched two price plans - PowerChat 100 and PowerChat 300 - in August last year. Geared for the SMS/MMS youth market, the plans were personified by Mr Unstoppable. Both plans offer 600 free SMS per month.

 

- End -

 

Editor's Notes

MTV Code: Priced at an affordable S$33 ($34.32 after GST) monthly.

 

MTV Code Benefits include:

  • MTV Code member card: Provided free of charge to all MTV Code subscribers. The cardholder enjoys benefits and discounts at merchants in Singapore.
  • MTV Vibez: Get the latest news and SMS updates on entertainment, promotions, events and contests from MTV.
  • MTV Popcorn: Enjoy free movie screenings and premieres.

*Free Incoming Day or Night Calls: The mobile customer gets to choose either the Day (7am - 7pm) or Night (7pm - 7am) to receive free incoming local calls. This promotion ends on 31 March 2004.

 

**Airtime Rollover: The mobile customer gets to rollover his unused minutes to the next month. The maximum airtime he can bring over to the following month is the current month's given free airtime.

 

***No IDD 018 Charge to Malaysia: The mobile customer gets to make free IDD 018 calls to Malaysia on his mobile phone. He is only charged the local airtime of S$0.0025 per second. This promotion ends on 30 June 2003.