MDA enhances collaboration between media companies in Korea and Singapore

Singapore, 21 June 2007 – In a move to pave the way for more collaborations among broadcasters and media companies in Korea and Singapore, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) has entered into an arrangement for the co-production of broadcasting programmes with the Korean Broadcasting Commission (KBC) today.

The Arrangement -- signed between the Chairman of KBC, His Excellency, Dr Cho Chang Hyun and MDA Chairman, Dr Tan Chin Nam -- took place at the fringes of BroadcastAsia 2007, an event under the Infocomm and Media Business Exchange (imbX) event in Singapore.

The co-production arrangement between KBC and MDA ensures approved television co-productions between producers or broadcasters of Korea and Singapore would be considered as national productions of the countries, and hence qualify as local content in fulfilling local content programming hours by broadcasters and for schemes of assistance for co-productions.

Both countries have also committed not to impose discriminatory restrictions on the import, distribution and exhibition of television programmes. The scope of the agreement covers television programmes, including animation, dramas and documentaries and provides for new forms of broadcasting and audio-visual production to be subsequently included through an exchange of letters.

Said Dr Cho: “This is a win-win partnership for media companies and broadcasters from both sides as they are now able to pool resources and talents for co-productions easily. This, in turn, creates a larger distribution network for quality exportable media content in each other’s domestic markets as well as for the international market.”

Dr Cho further explained: “The co-production arrangement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MDA and KBC on 19 January 2005, and will come under the framework of the Trade in Services Agreement, under the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to be concluded soon and signed at the 13th ASEAN Summit in November 2007 in Singapore.”

Noted Dr Tan: “Our ongoing collaborations underscore Singapore’s long-standing relationship with Korea. The co-production arrangement on broadcasting programmes between KBC and MDA will further cement the strong ties between our governments and media industries. The arrangement is expected to generate new opportunities for our media industry to enter into television co-productions with their Korean counterparts to leverage on each other’s talents, resources, scripts, technical expertise and financing to come up with engaging television programmes for each other’s audiences as well as for the international market.

“Our efforts do not stop here and we expect to sign more media co-operation MOUs later this year with various Korean agencies such as Korean Culture and Content Agency (KOCCA), the Korea Games Development and Promotion Institute to facilitate industry collaborations in the area of games and animation for co-productions, training exchanges and attendance at each other’s trade events and festivals,” he added.

This latest arrangement between KBC and MDA joins the growing list of Government-to-Government co-production agreements which Singapore has entered into with other countries, including Canada, Japan and New Zealand and have reaped results in the form of projects such as The Tattooist, a co-production between Eyeworks Touchdown (New Zealand) and MediaCorp Raintree Pictures (Singapore); The Future is Wild, a 3-D animated TV series by Nelvana (Canada) and ST Electronics (Singapore) and Clang Invasion, an animated TV series by DECODE Entertainment (Canada) and Scrawl Studios (Singapore). Similar agreements with Australia and Italy are expected to be signed later in the year

For more information, please contact:
Ms Sharon Tan
Manager, Communications
Tel: +65 6837 9011
Email: sharon_tan@mda.gov.sg

Ms Phoebe Seow
Assistant Director, Communications
Tel: +65 6837 9369
Email: phoebe_seow@mda.gov.sg

About Media Development Authority of Singapore
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) was formed on 1 January 2003 to champion Media 21, a blueprint to transform Singapore into a global media city. Media 21 seeks to create a vibrant media environment by establishing Singapore as a media exchange, exporting Made-by-Singapore content, internationalising local media companies, nurturing local media talent and developing digital media. More information on MDA can be found on www.mda.gov.sg.

About Korean Broadcasting Commission
The Korean Broadcasting Commission (KBC) is an independent, governmental agency, sole policy-maker and regulatory authority for the broadcasting industry of Korea. The Commission administers all entities in the broadcasting industry that includes terrestrial, cable, satellite broadcasting, digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) and all program providers. KBC promotes the Korean broadcasting industry by initiating and expanding broadcasting cooperation and exchange on the international level. The Commission takes part in various bilateral FTA Agreements and multilateral service trade negotiations such as the WTO DDA. KBC makes efforts to strengthen global networks with regular media delegations. KBC also hosts the annual BCWW Conference in Seoul, participates in international organizations, conferences, and exhibitions.
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