Animax Mobile spreads festive cheer in Malaysia and Singapore

4 December 2008, Malaysia – As 2008 draws into the festive cheer of Christmas and the New Year, anime fans in Malaysia and Singapore have more reason to rejoice as they will be able to catch their favourite Animax shows even while on the move, with Animax Mobile debuting November 2008 on Astro Mobile TV and 1 December 2008 on StarHub!

Animax Asia is partnering Malaysia’s Astro and Singapore’s StarHub, pay-TV operators carrying top anime and youth entertainment channel Animax, to launch the monthly subscription-based Animax Mobile 3G video streaming service. The two launches bring Animax Mobile to a total of seven markets, adding to successful roll outs in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Brunei in 2007.

“Animax’s expansion to mobile is a natural progression for the channel which already enjoys a strong following in Singapore and Malaysia. Animax Mobile adds a new platform beyond TV where viewers can enjoy their favourite shows whenever and wherever they want, especially as they go on shopping trips and gatherings during this busy festive season,” said Gregory Ho, Vice President & General Manager, Animax Asia.

In Malaysia, Animax and Astro are already offering Animax Mobile on the newly launched 3G Astro Mobile TV service, currently available to Maxis and Hotlink customers with activated 2.5G and 3G phones. As a start, subscribers may pick Animax Mobile for a single day trial at just RM1 per day; subscribe to only Animax Mobile at RM5 a month; or take up Animax Mobile with two other channels to form the customizable Basic Pack at just RM9.99 monthly, with no additional data charges. Further details on Animax Mobile and Astro Mobile TV services including subscription information are available at www.astro.com.my/mobiletv.

In Singapore, Animax Mobile will be available from 1 December to StarHub Mobile customers on a FREE trial all the way till 31 March 2009, also with no additional data charges applicable. StarHub will announce pricing of Animax Mobile service after the free trial as it becomes available. Visit www.starhub.com/portal/site/mobile for more information.

With Animax Mobile, Singaporean and Malaysian users can enjoy full-length anime episodes in two-hour loops that are refreshed weekly, along with bite-size clips of five to seven minutes length which are perfect for youths and young adults who are always on the go.

Designed with the youth market in mind and specifically targeting the 15–35 demographic group, Animax Mobile will serve up four popular Japanese anime series in its English dubbed versions for mobile users to enjoy. Titles at launch include the award-winning Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, the sci-fi retelling of Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo which was named ‘Best Animation’ in the TV category at the Tokyo Anime Awards 2005, action-packed supernatural thriller Blood+, action and adventure series R.O.D. the TV, along with fantasy anime Last Exile.

“With the high mobile penetration rates in Malaysia and Singapore, coupled with Animax’s popular and world-class anime content, Animax Mobile represents the perfect platform to engage Animax’s tech-savvy and highly mobile youth and young adult audiences. The service is an integral part of Animax’s efforts to offer audiences a 360-degree entertainment experience across all media platforms and seamless interaction with the Animax brand,” added Ho.