In preparation for the launch of HBO Max in Asia later this year, WarnerMedia has announced three senior content appointments in the area. These recruitments have reinforced Warner Media’s Asian original production teams ahead of the debut of HBO Max in the area.
About Warner Media
For more than two decades, Warner Media has been the world’s biggest media and entertainment company. They are a major player in the industry. Following the merger of Warner Communications and Time Inc., the company was renamed, Time Warner. It became a subsidiary of AT&T in 2018.
HBO, Warner Brothers, and Turner Broadcasting System are the three principal divisions of the company. Its main products include movie films, as well as programming and distribution for broadcast and cable television.
Recruitments
Mark Francis has been named Group Lead of Production & Development (Scripted and Unscripted) in Singapore, while Wee Shi Ming has been named Lead of Entertainment Content Acquisition for North Asia content.
Saugata Mukherjee, a former SonyLiv and Disney executive, has been named Head of Content – Entertainment, India. This is an entirely new post headquartered in Mumbai, where he will commission original material from India and purchase content from across the country’s many genres.
Francis and Shi Ming report to Magdalene Ew. She is the Head of Content – Entertainment for Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Mukherjee reports to Clement Schwebig. He is the Managing Director of India, Southeast Asia, and Korea.
New plans
Audrey Wee, the division’s physical production head in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, was recently promoted to director of regional entertainment content.
Iflix exec Mark Francis has been designated Group Lead of Scripted and Unscripted Production and Development at the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore. Wee Shi Ming, formerly of Sony Pictures Television Networks, has been named Lead of Entertainment Content Acquisition in North Asia.
Former Disney exec Saugata Mukherjee has joined WarnerMedia as the company’s Head of Content in India.
As the streamer seeks to expand its non-US content offering, Francis, the former Astro Head of OTT Content, will manage a regional team to generate Asian “Max Originals.”
He began work in late 2021 and will be responsible for procuring anime and other Asian material for the streaming service. Wee Shi Ming is a new member of the acquisition team. Previously, Wee served as head of acquisition and programming for Asian content at Viu and Sony Pictures Television Networks.
Wee now reports to Ew alongside Katheryn Lim. She is in charge of content acquisition for International and English-language entertainment.
As of late 2021, Mukherjee has also joined the team and is in charge of procuring original local content as well as purchasing and producing Indian content across all general entertainment categories.
Conclusion
As the company prepares to compete with Netflix and Disney+ for customers in the rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific area, WarnerMedia has made more workforce changes.
HBO Max is yet to be announced in Southeast Asia. However, HBO Go is now available in eight cities in the area as a temporary service. The programme has recently received updates, including the inclusion of all new Warner Bros. films, which will stream on HBO Go after a 45-day exclusive theatrical window.
Jason Monteiro will establish and manage a team of cross-functional executives. He will supervise HBO Go and the eventual launch of HBO Max in the area. His hire comes after the unexpected departure of Amit Malhotra from Warner Media. He was a seasoned streaming executive who arrived from Disney Plus just a few months ago.
