FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL BRINGS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BABY TO MALAYSIA
Asia’s First Life-Size Baby Blue Whale Sculpture Unveiled in Kuala Lumpur in Stunning Exhibition to Unlock the Secrets of an Endangered Giant Kuala Lumpur, 3 April 2009 – National Geographic Channel today unveiled Asia’s first life-size sculpture of a baby blue whale in Kuala Lumpur – its first stop on an Asian tour that aims to further public understanding of the world’s largest animal, now one of the most endangered species in the sea. Partnering National Geographic Channel to host the Big Blue exhibition in Malaysia, Astro and Mid Valley Megamall are supporting the channel’s efforts to encourage Malaysian’s to care for this beautiful creature and to raise awareness of marine conservation in Malaysia. From today until Monday, 13 April 2009 (10am – 10pm daily) at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition will take visitors into the world of the magnificent blue whale. The sophisticated sculpture will be a highlight of the event. It is a life-like rendering of a nine-metre long, two-month old, female blue whale that was created specially for this show over six months by a team of professional model makers in Australia. The exhibition also includes expert sharing sessions, conservation and education activities, and multimedia exhibits that employ sophisticated satellite imaging and computer generated graphics. It also features footage from National Geographic’s groundbreaking documentary Big Blue, which will show on National Geographic Channel on 5 April 2009 (12pm) and 12 April 2009 (8pm) exclusively on Astro Channel 553. As a pledge of support for National Geographic’s continued conservation mission, a limited collection of National Geographic blue whale souvenirs will be available for sale during the exhibition. Part of the proceeds will help fund National Geographic Society’s on-going scientific expeditions. “National Geographic Channel is delighted to launch Asia’s first blue whale exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, in partnership with Astro, Mid Valley Megamall and Samsung and with the support of Malaysian Nature Society. We hope that this inspiring encounter with this majestic, endangered creature will spark imaginations and further interest in marine conservation,” said Basil Chua, Territory Director, National Geographic Channel Asia.
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Henry Tan, Chief Operating Officer, Strategic, Content & Marketing of Astro says, “Astro is deeply committed to the continuous development of its value proposition in order to be relevant to all Malaysians. Continuous lifelong learning is close to the heart of all Malaysians and this is reinforced on Astro’s platform where 73% of our customer base is on the learning package. As such, we are honored that National Geographic has selected Kuala Lumpur to roll out its Big Blue Exhibition Asian tour.” Whale Expert Takes Visitors into the Kingdom of the Blue Whale National Geographic has invited Dr. Bruce Mate, a world-leading whale expert who has conducted marine life research since 1973, to host two special sharing sessions organized by Astro. As part of the National Geographic Society-funded expedition featured in the Big Blue documentary, Dr. Mate enjoyed amazing up-close encounters with blue whales and, along with his fellow scientists, made a number of startling discoveries. He will share his experiences with local audiences and answer questions. Samsung Tells the Big Blue Story with its LCD TV Technology Empowered by Samsung’s latest LCD TV technology, the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition tells the extraordinary story of the blue whale with sophisticated satellite imaging and computer generated images of the documentary using the latest Samsung LCD TVs, Plasma TVs and Large Format Displays (LFDs). Samsung has been in partnership with National Geographic Channel since 2007 to educate consumers and promote highdefinition (HDTV) across the Southeast Asia and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) regions. Big Blue Colouring, Drawing and Trivia Contests Offer Kids Exciting Prizes Young visitors to the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition can take part in a series of contests organized by Mid Valley Megamall. They will learn more about the endangered blue whale and how they can help to protect the marine environment, while having a chance to win exciting prizes. First Blue Whale Documentary with a Unique Whale’s View Shows on Sunday Showing on National Geographic Channel on 5 April 2009 (12pm) and 12 April (8pm) exclusively on Astro Channel 553, the two-hour Big Blue special is the first documentary to uncover the mysteries of the blue whale. It follows a recent National Geographic expedition to the Costa Rica Dome, where, for the first time, scientists discovered the feeding grounds and migratory paths of these endangered behemoths. The special also shares many major but never-before-seen moments in the life of blue whales, with
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stunning first-time footage of a blue whale calf and its mother and amazing shots of an adult blue whale singing. Audiences will also get a unique whale’s view through National Geographic’s advanced CRITTERCAM® technology. Invented by National Geographic scientist and filmmaker Greg Marshall in 1986, CRITTERCAM provides unprecedented access into the animal kingdom without human interference, using a unique research device comprising a video camera and microphone, temperature and pressure gauges, headlights, a remote release mechanism, a microprocessor and tracking systems – all streamlined into a small case and comfortably worn by the animal. It records footage of animals for several hours before it detaches itself for quick retrieval by scientists tracking its radio signal. The robust research device has been used to gain valuable insights into animals such as leatherback turtles, humpback whales, emperor penguins, leopard seals and hammerhead sharks. In this particular application, scientists were able to travel deep into the ocean with a blue whale, which carried the CRITTERCAM on its back with suction, to unveil its little-known behaviours. For more information about the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition and the Big Blue documentary, please visit http://www.ngcasia.com/programmes/blue-whale
About National Geographic Channel National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) invites viewers to re-think the way they see television - and the world - with smart, innovative programming. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Television (NGT) and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education through its five channels: National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Music. Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S. which is a joint venture of NGT and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in more than 305 million homes in 165 countries and 34 languages.
About Astro Astro is Malaysia’s leading multimedia broadcaster and producer of Malay, Chinese, Indian and English language programming content. It owns and operates the only directto-home satellite TV service with access to some 11 million viewers in over 2.6 million homes, representing 45% of TV homes in Malaysia, making it one of the largest multichannel TV businesses in Asia. It currently offers over 113 TV channels, including 29 Astro-branded channels of original and aggregated content of various genres in multiple languages. Astro is deeply committed to content localisation through subtitles, 3
voiceovers, local talents and programs that will promote Malaysia on Astro’s global platform. Reflecting our commitment to local content, Astro increased our in-house production to over 1,700 hours of entertainment, information and news programmes in 2007. The service also provides a range of interactive TV content and services. Astro is the trademark of Measat Broadcast Network Systems, a subsidiary of ASTRO All Asia Network plc. The Group operates out of the All Asia Broadcast Centre, a fullyintegrated digital broadcast and production complex in Kuala Lumpur.
About Mid Valley Megamall Opened in November 1999, Mid Valley Megamall is one of Asia’s largest shopping malls, attracting over 30 million local and foreign visitors per year. With a gross area of 2.45 million sq. ft. (1.7 million sq ft of retail space) spread over five spacious shopping floors, the Megamall offers a comprehensive mix in shopping, dining and entertainment. The Megamall is situated adjacent to the exclusive shopping centre, The Gardens Mall – offering over 200 retail shops; a 390-room Boulevard Hotel; 646-room Cititel Mid Valley hotel; a 627-premier accommodation 5-star Gardens Hotel & Residences. The Mid Valley Megamall has become one of Malaysia’s most popular shopping destinations. Always abuzz with activity, it has four anchor tenants under one roof – Carrefour, Jusco, Metrojaya and Golden Screen Cinemas. In addition, there are 23 junior and mini anchor tenants, and 430 speciality shops, making it a shopper’s haven. About Samsung Electronics Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$105 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two main business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFTLCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com
For further information (media only), please contact: Arcis Communications Michele Malini Mahendra Tel: +603 7805 7133 Email: Michele@arciscommunications.com National Geographic Channel Asia Fina Wong Tel: +852 2621 8875 Mobile: +852 9121 1352 email: finawong@ngcasia.com
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FACT SHEET – NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S BIG BLUE MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION
Launched in Malaysia, National Geographic’s Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition is Asia’s first blue whale exhibition. Visitors here will be among the first to see an accurate replica of a two-month-old blue whale calf, and enjoy a series of fun-filled activities that will enhance their appreciation of blue whales and their knowledge of marine conservation. Date: Time: Venue: Entry fee: 3 – 13 April, 2009 10am – 10pm daily Mid Valley Megamall, East Atrium (Ground Floor) Free of charge
For more information, please visit http://www.ngcasia.com/programmes/blue-whale CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES – Meet the Whale Expert: Dr. Bruce Mate Date: Venue: Session 1: Session 2: Saturday, 4 April, 2009 Mid Valley Megamall, East Atrium (Ground Floor) 11am – 12 noon 2pm – 3pm
For more information on the “Meet the Expert” sessions, please visit www.astro.com.my - Big Blue Colouring, Drawing and Trivia Contests for Kids Colouring and Drawing Contest Date: Time: 4-5 April 2009 and 11-12 April 2009 11am – 2pm
Trivia Contest Date: 3-13 April 2009 (Available on weekdays only) Time: 12pm, 3pm, 6pm For more information on these contests, please visit www.midvalley.com.my
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