29 February 2000 - Cathay Cathay Pacific First Airline To Provide Cantonese News Inflight
Cathay Pacific Airways will become the world's first airline to provide daily Cantonese news to its passengers starting on 1 March 2000. The news will be supplied through a partnership with TVBI, a unit of Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). The first two Cathay Pacific routes to introduce the Cantonese news will be from London and Los Angeles to Hong Kong.
The Cantonese news bulletins are each 15 minutes long and will be screened on Cathay Pacific's Asia Channel. They will be transmitted daily via satellite from Hong Kong and be shown with Chinese subtitles. CNN will remain the exclusive English language international news provider on all Cathay Pacific flights.
"We are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement with TVBI enabling us to give our passengers a choice between Cantonese and English news," said Peter Buecking, Cathay Pacific's Director of Sales and Marketing. "Hong Kong passengers returning home from London or Los Angeles will now be able to watch the latest news and financial updates before they arrive."
TVBI have also agreed to provide a range of other Cantonese-language programming to Cathay Pacific. Passengers flying with the airline from Hong Kong to Taipei will be able to view entertainment programmes such as "Life vs Dessert". Passengers from Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa can enjoy entertainment programmes like "Star Profile" and "Happy Talk Show". In addition to the above, First Class passengers can view popular infotainment and variety programmes such as "Over Everest".
Cathay Pacific's inflight entertainment services includes a wide choice of inflight programming including international blockbusters, cinema classics, news programmes, and documentaries in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean. Personal Televisions are provided for all First Class and Business Class, and most Economy Class passengers.
Hong Kong's airline Cathay Pacific offers passenger and cargo services to 48 destinations worldwide. The airline is a founder member of the global alliance oneworld, which serves over 650 destinations.
TVBI was established in 1976 to provide original Chinese-language television programming. It is the international operating and distribution arm of TVB which has been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diana Fung, Corporate Communication Manager, Product, (852) 2747-5378
May Lam, Asst Corporate Communication Manager, Product, (852) 2747-5376
