26 November 2013

New entertainment channel HITS makes its Asia debut on StarHub TV

Catch some of the best shows ever created including mega hit series Seinfeld, Lost, The Cosby Show, Diff’rent Strokes and Moonlighting

Accessible on multiple screens via StarHub TV Anywhere

Singapore, 26 November 2013 – StarHub and Rewind Networks have announced the launch of HITS (StarHub TV Channel 519), Asia’s newest branded entertainment channel, on 9 December 2013, 7pm. Celebrating the best international TV ever made, HITS brings a carefully curated selection of the finest dramas and comedies in high definition (HD) quality for the first time in Asia.

At launch, HITS’ select lineup of shows will include Seinfeld, The Cosby Show, Criminal Minds, Lost, Moonlighting, Diff’rent Strokes and Golden Girls. In the months to come, TV viewers will be treated to major blockbuster series like Cheers, A-Team, Grey’s Anatomy, Mad About You, Married…with Children, Taxi, Law & Order, Star Trek – The Next Generation, M*A*S*H, The X-Files, The Wonder Years and Murder, She Wrote.

The shows in HITS’ portfolio launched the careers of A-list stars including Bruce Willis in Moonlighting and Katherine Heigl in Grey’s Anatomy. Other shows reinvented their genres such as The Cosby Show, starring Bill Cosby. 

These multi-award winning series will bring the greatest stories and famed characters to a new generation of TV viewers while enticing older audiences by breathing new life into iconic shows.

“We are delighted to be the first in Asia to bring HITS to viewers’ screens," said Ms Lee Soo Hui, Head of Media Business Unit, StarHub. “StarHub is synonymous with providing the best entertainment channels to audiences in Singapore which makes HITS a perfect addition to our offering. In addition, by securing the broadcast rights for HITS’ delivery over multiple platforms, we are affirming our commitment to provide customers with a best-in-class viewing experience, anytime, anywhere.”

“We are excited to partner with StarHub for the launch of HITS – making Singapore our debut market in Asia” said Mr Avi Himatsinghani, CEO, Rewind Networks. “HITS is a superbly packaged entertainment destination with some of the best TV shows of all time, all in one place. HITS is sure to strike a chord with viewers who can now at any time tune-in to award-winning stories and iconic characters in HD like never before. With amazing content and a TV anywhere accessibility there’s nothing like HITS in the market currently, making it a must have for Pay-TV platforms looking to thwart the threat of online piracy and pure over-the-top digital services.”

“The selection of shows have been carefully picked and programmed in a manner to appeal to audiences of today,” added Ms. Sandie Lee, VP & Channel Head, Rewind Networks. “We have put together a simple and intuitive viewing schedule, making HITS very easy to watch. Audiences can catch their favourite shows at the same time every weekday or binge view back-to-back episodes during the weekend.”

To give viewers a taste of content on the channel, a three-week free preview will be open to all StarHub TV customers from launch to 2 January 2014. Available on the Entertainment Basic Tier, HITS will launch on StarHub TV Channel 519 in both HD and SD. Customers need to subscribe to the Basic HD Upsize in order to view the channel in HD.

Entertainment Basic Tier subscribers can also watch HITS on their laptops, smartphones and tablets via StarHub TV Anywhere. This multiscreen service is available through starhubtvanywhere.com and StarHub TV Anywhere Apps from the Google Play and App Store.

HITS Replay, the channel’s on-demand service will launch in early 2014 and will allow viewers to catch up on some of the HITS’ shows they may have missed. HITS Replay will be available on StarHub TV Anywhere as well.

HITS is Rewind Networks’ maiden venture and will expand into other Asian markets with new launches announced in the first half of next year.