91Èȱ¬

91Èȱ¬ Worldwide's Global Channels business will be launching its first subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, 91Èȱ¬ HD, to Taiwanese audiences with Chunghwa Telecom, the largest operator of broadband multimedia services in Taiwan, in April.Ìý

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91Èȱ¬ HD SVOD viewers will be able to choose from 10 three-hour multiple genre blocks of programmes at any one time. The blocks will feature drama, comedy, documentary, natural history, music and arts programming.

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91Èȱ¬ HD will be broadcast in English with Traditional Chinese subtitles and will offer for the first time, programme promos and navigational menus in Traditional Chinese.

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Commenting on the launch, Christine Leo-McKerrow, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Channels Asia-Pacific said: "The 91Èȱ¬ HD SVOD launch in Taiwan will be the first time the 91Èȱ¬ HD brand is available outside the UK and in advance of the 24hour linear channel launching later this year.Ìý

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"With plans to produce all of the 91Èȱ¬'s UK primetime content in HD by 2010, the 91Èȱ¬ will be one of the world's largest producers of English language HD programming."

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Chao Min, director of Digital Content Development Department, Chunghwa Telecom said: "We are proud to be the first one in Taiwan, even in Asia, presenting 91Èȱ¬ HD to viewers.Ìý

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"91Èȱ¬ HD SVOD is comprised of high-quality programmes of various genres. We believe our viewers will enjoy watching these HD programmes immensely."

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91Èȱ¬ HD will showcase the critically acclaimed drama, Cranford, set in Victorian England and starring Oscar®-winner Judi Dench.

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Other highlights will include the sumptuous natural history series, Ganges, telling the story of the most extraordinary river in the world; Sensitive Skin, a brand new comedy set in London starring Joanna Lumley; Aida - Verdi's striking opera about the great pharaohs; and Earth:The Power of the Planet, a landmark series about the history of our planet, how it works, and what makes it so special.

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91Èȱ¬ HD is the sixth channel brand in 91Èȱ¬ Worldwide's new Global Channels portfolio to launch.

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The other five channels are 91Èȱ¬ Entertainment, 91Èȱ¬ Knowledge, 91Èȱ¬ Lifestyle and CBeebies – together with the 91Èȱ¬'s 24-hour international news channel, 91Èȱ¬ World – which are already available across Asia and EMEA territories

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Amy Castle-Young

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