SATELLITE & CABLE: Hallmark raises Asia distribution

<p>Hallmark Entertainment Network has signed a distribution deal with </p><p>Videoland and WENTV in Taiwan and Korea respectively. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Videoland will distribute Hallmark on a 24-hour basis to Taiwan's four </p><p>million cable TV homes and it will represent the channel's advertising </p><p>and sales activities in the island as well. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>WENTV will carry four hours of Hallmark's programming block from 8 pm to </p><p>midnight, reaching one million subscribers in Korea. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In addition, the family entertainment network has won deals with four </p><p>affiliates: Sri Lanka's Grant Cable, Bangladesh's Saarc Media Services, </p><p>Macau Cable TV and Home Cable in the Philippines. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The Taiwan and Korea distribution deal will significantly lift </p><p>Hallmark's distribution base in Asia, said its vice-president and </p><p>managing director Terence Yau. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He said Videoland's involvement in media convergent technologies, such </p><p>as broadband and telecommunications development, is "a source of </p><p>possible synergies" with Hallmark. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Korea's deregulating pay TV potential is immense, Mr Yau added. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>