ASIA-PACIFIC - THE PHILIPPINES, MARCH 7, 2012: Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, home to regional pay-TV channels including AXN and Animax, is rebranding AXN Beyond as beTV across the continent. Beginning April 2, beTV will feature an expanded content line-up and a new on-and off-air look and feel, and a channel “personality” to match.

 

“We have been broadening the appeal of AXN Beyond by introducing a wider range of programming such as Pan Am, Necessary Roughness and A Gifted Man. Renaming the channel to beTV better reflects the broad general entertainment service that it offers,” said Ricky Ow, senior vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, added that they envision beTV as the new entertainment ‘hang-out’ for viewers.

 

The Philippine launch of the channel rebranding was graced by Filipino-American chef Paul Qui of Uchiko Restaurant in Austin, Texas. Qui bested 28 other chefs and was bestowed the honor “Top Chef” in Texas on Top Chef Season 9, one of the shows to exclusively air in beTV.

 

Also included in the new roster of shows are “Rob”, Rob Schneider’s latest sitcom based loosely on his real-life whirlwind romance and marriage and “I Get That A Lot”, which sets up celebrities like Heidi Klum, Martha Stewart, LeAnn Rimes, and Jessica Simpson in everyday jobs such as wait and sales staff, with hidden cameras capturing reactions of unsuspecting customers and passers-by. Scripted favorites like Everybody Loves Raymond and Touched by an Angel starring Roma Downey and Della Reese are familiar additions in the programs list.

 

beTV viewers will also continue to enjoy returning seasons of Sherlock featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Teen Wolf, Supernatural, Chuck, How to be a Gentleman, and Grey’s Anatomy.

 

The beTV rebrand will be seen in 15 markets including Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

 

beTV can be seen on SkyCable channel 35, Dream Satellite channel 36, and Cignal Digital TV channel 37.