The Weekly News Update is a weekly roundup of business news from around the Asia-Pacific region, covering Fusion Consulting's core industry practices: chemicals, consumer & retail, financial services, industrial & logistics, information & communication technology, life science and media & leisure. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.     2008 Asia-Pacific pay-TV operators survey, 4th edition   Programmers, find out what the major cable, satellite and IPTV platforms in Asia  and Australia think about your channels and support, their programming plans and  their hopes and fears for the future of the industry. This survey targets  programming managers at 50 major carriers in 16 countries across the region,  focusing on the largest players in each country. In cooperation with ContentAsia.  Request more information. Media & leisure

Asia - Tourism revenues to top US$4.6 trillion by 2010 Source: ASAP.co.uk, 24 March 2008 Tourism revenues in the Asia Pacific are forecast to top US$4.6 trillion by 2010 with visitor arrivals hitting 500 million. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is forecasting the tourism industry in the region to grow by an average annual rate of 7-8% over the next two years. By 2010, international tourist arrivals to the Asia Pacific are expected to hit nearly half a billion - almost double the figure in 2000. PATA says growing Asian economies and liberalisation in the aviation sector means intra-regional travels will account for much of the rising numbers. The upcoming Beijing Olympics is also seen as a strong boost for the industry. China - Time-Stanton JV signs IPTV on mobile pact with Chinese operators Source: exchange4media News Service, 24 March 2008 Time Broadband Services (TBSL) with its joint venture partner, Malaysia's Stanton Technologies, has launched the world's first IPTV over 2.5G mobile platform to target the estimated US$4 billion mobile IPTV market. The JV also announced signing of contracts with DiGi in Malaysia, and China Mobile and China Unicom in China. The Time-Stanton JV would provide IPTV service to over 500 million mobile subscribers in China, the largest in the world. TBSL recently got funding from Dubai Ventures, the equity investment arm of Dubai Investment Group.  Malaysia - Astro no more in race for Virgin Radio Business Times Malaysia, 25 March 2008 Pay TV operator Astro All Asia Networks is no longer in the running to buy radio broadcaster Virgin Radio from British media group SMG Plc. It is believed that the company fell out of the race in the second stage of a bidding process. UTV Media and Absolute Radio International were the two final bidders. Analysts were not surprised that Astro didn't make it to the final list given that competition was tough. Analysts believe that Astro may go after other radio broadcasters in markets closer to home, given that radio is an expanding business. Astro had only last year purchased its first foreign radio broadcaster, India's Sun Radio Networks. View an example of our experience in this industry. Back to list of articles.  Visit our website to sign up for free intelligence on Asian markets.

This Weekly News Update is a free newsletter, providing a round-up of the week's Asia-Pacific news from our core industry practices. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.

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