Bangkok--7 Aug--Total Quality PR (Thailand)
Over 100 teams applied for experiencing the adventurous time of incredible action-packed activities and fun-filled challenges, like never before!
Leading international action and adventure cable channel, AXN (Ch.19, UBC), today held the B!G event, “THE AMAZING RACE ASIA PROMOTIONAL TOUR” at Center Point, Siam Square, in downtown Bangkok, the first time for everyone to experience the fun and adventure of the new milestone in the biggest AXN’s B!GGEST Original Production to date — The Amazing Race Asia, slated to air later in 2006 on AXN.
Creating the first-ever Asian edition of three-time Emmy award-winning reality series “The Amazing Race”, AXN aims to build up awareness for AXN, generate buzz for its original production, The Amazing Race Asia, and to drive viewership for the broadcast of the programme when it is aired later this year on AXN. The B!GGEST Amazing Race Fan Tour is going from July to October moving to Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Delhi. THE AMAZING RACE ASIA PROMOTIONAL TOUR is brought to you by AXN and sponsored by Sony, Caltex, AirAsia, and Nokia Nseries.
A fun-filled day that gives public the chance for free participation based on teams of 2, teams are required to go through a qualifying round, with the 10 fastest teams will be selected to complete 4 challenges in a row. The fastest team will walk away with sponsors’ products such as a Sony Cybershot camera or Walkman, AirAsia return tickets to various Asia destinations, Caltex StarCash, and a Nokia Nseries mobile phone.
About AXN
Delivering top rated series, blockbuster features, adventure-reality and first-run lifestyle sports programming, AXN is a leading international television destination among young adults 18-34. AXN is seen in 50 countries across Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, and is part of Sony Pictures Television International’s diverse portfolio of over 40 global networks. Sony Pictures Television International is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
AXN Asia is available to more than 37 million households 24-hours daily throughout Asia in Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, South Korea, Macau, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Maldives, Mongolia and in hotels and VIP compounds in China. AXN can also be seen in 40 million cable television households on time-block basis in China. More information about AXN Asia can be found online at www.axn-asia.com .
About Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
Based in Singapore, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (SEAP) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. Operating since 1 July 1999, SEAP serves as the regional management and marketing headquarters for Sony’s consumer electronic products serving S. E. Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa regions. For more information on Sony’s products and services in Asia Pacific, please visit www.sony-asia.com
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $64 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. For more information on Sony Corporation, please visit www.sony.net
About AirAsia
The multi-award winning airline, AirAsia is no stranger to charting milestones throughout its 4? year old operations and has made it possible for everyone to fly with its incredibly competitive low fares. A winner of the prestigious ATW’s Market Leadership Award and Euromoney’s Best Managed Company in the Airlines and Aviation sector, AirAsia revolutionized air travel in the region to become the leading and largest low fare airline in Asia. AirAsia together with its associates Thai AirAsia and Indonesia has to date carried over 19 million passengers. The airline’s extensive network presently serves 60 domestic and international flights to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, China (Xiamen), Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. For more information, log on to www.airasia.com .
About Caltex
Chevron Corporation is one of the world's largest integrated energy companies. With more than 53,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, California. Chevron sells petroleum products around the world under the Chevron, Texaco and Caltex brands, as well as a number of other brands, including Havoline? and Delo? oils. Caltex products and its associated brands are sold in approximately 30 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
About Nokia Nseries
Nokia Nseries is a range of high performance multimedia devices that delivers unparalleled mobile multimedia experiences by combining the latest technologies with stylish design and ease of use. With Nokia Nseries products, consumers can use a single device to enjoy entertainment, access information and to capture and share pictures and videos, whenever and wherever they want. www.nokia.com/nseries
About Nokia
A market leader in the cellular industry in Asia Pacific, Nokia provides innovative, industry leading and market-relevant technology and products to around 20 diverse markets in the region. Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
You may visit the Nokia Asia-Pacific website at http://www.nokia-asia.com or the Nokia Group website at http://www.nokia.com .
For more information as well as pictures, please do not hesitate to contact:
Tom Van Blarcom / Ruthaiwan Tanwongwan
Total Quality PR (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Tel: 0-2260-5820 Ext. 114 Fax: 0-2260-5847-8
Mobile: 0-6633-8171 Email: [email protected]
THE AMAZING RACE ASIA FACT SHEET
ABOUT THE SHOW
Teams:
- Each team to comprise 2 people with a pre-existing relationship
- Both participants to be 21 years and above, with a valid driving license and international passport and/or travel documents.
- All participants must be able to speak English.
- A total of 10-12 teams will be selected for the race
- Contestants must be working or living in Asia (excluding Japan, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand).
Prize Money:
- US$100,000.
Race Route:
- As with the US version, participants will be perpetually guessing their next destination as venturing into the unknown has always been the entertaining hallmark of past programs. This sense of unknown also adds to the thrill for participants and puts everyone on a level playing field.
THE AMAZING RACE ASIA — ANNOUNCEMENT
The announcement for The Amazing Race Asia was made on 17 October 2005 after Sony Pictures Television International’s (SPTI) AXN Asia signed a format deal with Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP). With this, AXN Asia acquired the rights to localize BVITV-AP’s three-time Emmy Award? winning reality-competition series The Amazing Race.
AXN & THE AMAZING RACE ASIA
AXN — the destination channel for adventure-reality programming
AXN has been a leading international channel in Asia, enjoying great success with its unique blend of action and adventure programming. Pioneering the reality genre in Asia, AXN has brought to Asian viewers some of the world’s most highly rated reality programs like Survivor, Fear Factor, The Contender and of course, The Amazing Race.
With a total household reach of over 77 million across Asia (including 40 million on time-block basis in China), The Amazing Race has become a signature series on AXN that is watched by millions of viewers during every episode.
Success of the franchise on AXN
AXN has been airing all seasons of The Amazing Race in Asia since the very first season. Consistent high ratings across Asia underscores the tremendous success that the channel has been experiencing with the franchise.
Not only have AXN viewers been glued to the show, they have become such huge fans that they have sent in many written requests to AXN, highlighting their desire to be given the chance to participate in the show! Even partners and advertisers have expressed expectations for AXN to produce an Asian version, and to fulfill the aspirations of millions of die-hard Asian fans.
AXN’s truly “WOW” project!
In line with AXN’s key objective of inspiring the “WOW”, several initiatives are in the pipeline to boost a new key pillar, AXN Original, in its programming strategy. AXN original, as its name suggests, refers to original productions by AXN, including ideas conceptualized from scratch. Original productions such as “AXN Challenge” and “AXN Xtreme” involves on-ground events created specially for TV, including shows which AXN has acquired format rights to adapt into Asian productions, such as “Mondo Magic Singapore”, “Who Dares Win India Special” and “The Amazing Race Asia”.
The Amazing Race Asia is set to be the B!GGEST AXN Original initiative to date — a project that will span the width of AXN’s footprint which is the whole of Asia, not only in terms of production efforts, but also in terms of level of participation by Asia and the overall sales and marketing, advertising and promotion campaign. The Amazing Race Asia will be the signature project driving the buzz for AXN Original. This “WOW” project will definitely be key in propelling the AXN brand to the next level.
Primed as a “made in Asia for Asia” production coupled with the magnitude undertaken by any broadcaster in Asia, this initiative clearly highlights the mark of AXN’s innovation and leadership in the industry.
AXN is injecting a lot of resources behind this project to ensure that it will be a huge success and highly entertaining for its viewers. The production will be handled by some of the best talents in Asia combined with a core team that has worked with previous Amazing Race productions (US versions), to ensure a high quality production.
Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net