PCCW's 'now TV' IPTV becomes available on PlayStation®3

HONG KONG — PCCW (SEHK:0008), Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications operator, today announced that they are to offer a new entertainment experience by making now TV available on PlayStation®3 (PS3™)*

Announced at the Asia Game Show 2009 exhibition for the computer games industry, this collaboration between now TV and Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Limited (SCEH) is the first of its kind in Hong Kong.

A brand new TV-viewing experience will become available to gamers in Hong Kong, thanks to synergies identified between the expertise and market leadership position enjoyed by the two partners in their respective markets. PS3™ users will soon be able to watch a selection of now TV channels via an embedded now TV decoder application in the popular gaming console. A significant aspect of this move is that now TV broadcasts will broaden the reach of PCCW’s existing quadruple-play capability, by which infotainment and communications are extended to customers via TV, mobile, broadband internet and fixed-line platforms.

Rollout is planned for the first quarter of 2010, when promotional now TV trailers will be extended to Hong Kong-registered PlayStation Network (PSN) users for free. They will get access to now TV channels by contacting now TV for fast and easy subscription.

Ms. Janice Lee, PCCW’s Executive Vice President of TV & New Media, said: “In this era of digital entertainment convergence, we see a growing demand from consumers for seamlessly-integrated and readily available TV services via game consoles. We are very glad to be able to work with Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Limited and believe the synergies we have identified between PCCW and SCEH will benefit both PS3™ game players and now TV viewers alike.”

Mr. Tetsuhiko Yasuda, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia, said, “We’re excited to connect now TV service, the leading pay TV operator in HK, with PS3, enabling players to watch TV programs by using PS3™. Beside existing functions such as enjoy high-definition Blu-ray movies, groundbreaking games and online services etc, very soon, PS3™ users will be able to enjoy fascinating TV programs of now TV. We will continue to deliver fun entertainment experiences for many years to come.”

Serving some 992,000 subscribers, now TV is currently delivered to customers via TV sets, the now.com.hk portal, mobile phones, the PCCW eye Multimedia Service and eye2.

The now TV decoder application will become available for PS3 TM users to download from the PlayStation Network (PSN) service via PCCW’s Netvigator broadband network during the first quarter of 2010. Details of pricing will be announced at a later stage.

*The new service requires users to subscribe to now TV service from PCCW, and to download and install now TV decoder application which enables PS3™ to function as a now TV decoder for service provisioning.