SINGAPORE: Newly registered as Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia Pvt Ltd, Casbaa is all set to step up its activities in Singapore.

The region's leading non-profit trade organisation for the promotion of multi-channel television and data transmission, via cable and satellite networks, Casbaa founded in 1991, represents over 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than three billion people.

As an integral part of an intensive outreach programme in southeast Asia, Casbaa aims at establishing a base for promoting a better understanding of the cable and satellite broadcasting industry and improve technical and operational standards in India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, states an official release.

"The Singapore government has shown a more aggressive commitment to the pay-TV industry than any other Asian market, which suitably positions Singapore as the gateway to Southeast Asia for the cable and satellite broadcasting industry. This is in line with the government's Media 21 plan for Singapore to become a vibrant, global media city," Casbaa chief executive officer,Simon Twiston Davies has said. "We intend to bolster our research activities in the region and will be holding a series of seminars and briefings in Singapore in 2003, targeted at the satellite communications and advertising industries, with a special emphasis on pay-TV programming development in Asia," he adds.

Singapore is currently the Asia-Pacific headquarters to many Casbaa member companies, such as Channel News Asia (CNA), Home Box Office (HBO), Music TV (MTV), ESPN, Discovery Networks, CNBC, Walt Disney, as well as key info-communications and networking companies in the pay-TV industry, such as StarHub, 4MC Asia, Seagate Technologies and New Skies Satellites.

The release further reveals that Casbaa annual convention scheduled to be held in Singapore from 4 to 6 December 2002, will be formally opened by Singapore Broadcasting Authority, chairman , Dr Tan Chin Nam and will feature keynote speakers such as Zee chairman Subhash Chandra, Liu Changle of Phoenix TV in China, Christie Hefner of Playboy Enterprises in the US, Chris Cramer of CNN International and Bill Roedy of MTV Networks International. .