Media & Entertainment: News & Insights

In "Tiger Stripes" 12-year-old girl Zaffan, played by Zafreen Zairizal, goes through carefree puberty until she discovers that her body is morphing in terrifying ways. (Courtesy of Ghost Grrrl Pictures)

Arts

New generation of Malaysian filmmakers wins accolades abroad

Cannes award for 'Tiger Stripes' follows victories at Udine for 'Abang Adik'

27 May 2023

Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN's finances have deteriorated sharply since 2020. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)

Media & Entertainment

Philippine broadcaster, hit by Duterte, pulls plug on news channel

ABS-CBN says decision will help prevent further financial losses

24 May 2023

Blackpink performs at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, U.S., in August 2022. Half of the songs on the South Korean group's latest album have entirely English-language lyrics, while the others are a mix of Korean and English.

Tea Leaves

Has K-pop's global march lost rhythm?

Musical arm of the cool Korean wave is only marking time

24 May 2023

Xiaoguo Culture Talk Show Actor Li Haoshi said he would take responsibility for the incident, stop all performances and reflect deeply in a Weibo post.

Caixin

Chinese comedian canceled for PLA pun

Quip about military sparks debate on boundaries of talk show jokes

19 May 2023

Julie Keiko Fujishima, a niece of the scandal-tainted former president of the company, apologized in a video issued on May 14. (Photo handout by Johnny & Associates)

Media & Entertainment

Johnny's chief apologizes for alleged sexual abuse by late Kitagawa

Famed Japan talent agency's statement follows claim by a singer and songwriter

14 May 2023

Ming Pao, a Chinese-language daily newspaper in Hong Kong, announced the termination of a political cartoon column by satirical cartoonist Zunzi after 40 years. (Photo from Ming Pao)

Hong Kong security law

Hong Kong newspaper ousts political cartoonist after criticism

'Zunzi' booted from Ming Pao after 40 years as press freedom in city wanes

11 May 2023

The Nintendo store in Osaka: The Japanese video game group is celebrating the success of the "The Super Mario Bros Movie" but Switch sales are struggling. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)

Media & Entertainment

Nintendo expects Switch sales to slow further this year

'Mario' blockbuster could help give revenue a boost but console worries linger

9 May 2023

A newspaper vendor in Haridwar, northeastern India. Most mainstream media in the country are now owned by wealthy businessmen with ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Reporters Without Borders.

Media & Entertainment

India media freedom under attack from pro-Modi supporters: report

Reporters Without Borders lists North Korea, China, Vietnam as worst offenders

3 May 2023

The winning article revealed the casino-based underworld operating just outside Thailand’s borders. (Illustration by Michael Tsang)

Announcements

Nikkei Asia wins human rights journalism prize

Human Rights Press Awards honor piece on explosion of online fraud

3 May 2023

A movie theater in Hanoi. Vietnamese movies have grown in popularity back home. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)

Media & Entertainment

Netflix provides 'Furies,' other Vietnamese films with newfound life

First dismissed at home, action thrillers ride wave of international popularity

3 May 2023

Sports

Chinese pro soccer stumbles as new season kicks off

Declining fortunes of owners, sponsors are overshadowing top leagues

1 May 2023

John Poulos, chief executive of Dominion Voting Systems, second from left, leaves Delaware Superior Court with the company's lawyers after reaching a $787.5 million settlement with Fox News on April 18.

Opinion

Murdochs' grip on Australian media can be unlocked

Impact of $787.5 million Fox News settlement felt half a world away

1 May 2023

Interest in the majestic Brihadeeswara Temple and others like it has surged in the wake of a movie that some have called the "Indian Game of Thrones." (Photos by Kalpana Sunder unless specified otherwise)

Life

Epic movie rekindles interest in ancient south Indian empire

Cultural legacy of Chola dynasty draws tourists to region

27 April 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, speaks next to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos during a news conference in Washington.

Media & Entertainment

Netflix to invest $2.5bn in South Korean films, series programs

Streaming service bolsters ties with country's roaring entertainment sector

25 April 2023

Xiao Ming "Bernard" Chang, the protagonist in the Disney movie "Chang Can Dunk." (Photo courtesy of Disney)

Arts

'Chang Can Dunk': More than a Disney teen film

Director draws on childhood to tell Asian American story of trying to fit in

22 April 2023

Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's representative director, joined the production of the new film "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." (Photo by Yo Inoue)

Media & Entertainment

Nintendo is 'talent agent' for its characters: Mario creator

Shigeru Miyamoto sets eye on IP to drive growth, says more video content will come

22 April 2023

Sony's video game unit is focusing on free-to-play live service games.

Business deals

Sony PlayStation unit acquires game developer Firewalk Studios

Japanese company aims to release 12 multiplayer titles by fiscal 2025

22 April 2023

Losses from anime piracy in Brazil alone come to an estimated 200 billion yen a year. (Photo by Akinobu Iwasawa, retouched for copy right reasons)

Media & Entertainment

Japan anime web pirates shut down by Brazil authorities

First-of-its-kind probe targets illegal operations that cost industry billions of dollars

21 April 2023

One of Twitter's two offices in San Francisco. The company's parent is looking to offload the social media giant's unused office space in the city. (Photo by Naoki Watanabe)

Technology

Twitter to sublease over 40% of San Francisco office space

Social media giant looks for tenants after registering headquarters in Nevada

20 April 2023

Netflix shares tumbled in extended trading after the company posted mixed first-quarter results April 18.

Media & Entertainment

Asia-Pacific drives over 80% of Netflix user growth in Q1

Streaming giant delays broad crackdown on password-sharing, ends DVD business

19 April 2023

Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh says in an interview in Kuala Lumpur that there are lots of Asian stories to be told. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)

Arts

Michelle Yeoh says Malaysia's diversity made her 'open, accepting'

Oscar winner wants to help Asians tell their stories

18 April 2023

Nintendo is intent on helping its characters jump from game consoles to movie screens, theme parks and official stores.

Media & Entertainment

Super Mario movie becomes 2023 box-office king

Nintendo succeeds in going Hollywood as it worries about future Switch sales

17 April 2023

"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" grossed $378 million worldwide over its opening weekend. (Photo by Nintendo and Universal Studios via AP)

Media & Entertainment

'Super Mario' movie showcases potential of hit video game content

Animated blockbuster with latest CGI comes on heels of 'Last of Us' success

12 April 2023

Sony Group hopes its new studio in Shanghai will capture demand for TV ads, music clips and short movies for e-commerce. (Photo courtesy of the company)

Media & Entertainment

Sony sets up 'virtual production' studio in Shanghai

Technology eliminates the need for on-location shooting, lowering costs

11 April 2023

Viu announced new titles to be released in 2023, including the Korean hit “Taxi Driver 2”, during the Filmart trade show in March. (Photo by Takeshi Kihara)

Media & Entertainment

Hong Kong's Viu streaming app eyes Thai, Philippine rural users

Locally geared content key for growth in unit controlled by billionaire Richard Li

3 April 2023