(Hong Kong - November 21, 2006) CABLE TV staged a star-studded ceremony today (Tuesday) to mark the start of the 10-day countdown to the 2006 Asian Games, which will commence in Doha, Qatar, on December 1, 2006.

As the official broadcaster of the Games - for the third consecutive time - CABLE TV will again be sending a strong reporting team to the venue, to bring to Hong Kong viewers the most comprehensive live coverage, broadcasting at least 9 hours of programming daily during the Games from December 1 to 15.

CABLE TV will also be following closely the performance of Hong Kong's 281-strong team, who will be trying their best to top their 21-medal record at the last event in Busan, Korea, in 2002.

Highlights of CABLE TV's 2006 Asian Games programming are:

* LIVE broadcast of the opening and closing of the Games, on December 1 and December 15 respectively;
* Weekday: 9-hour non-stop broadcast (from 6 p.m. - 3 a.m.) during the period December 4 to15, featuring the most important events of the day, and events involving the Hong Kong & China teams;
* Weekend: 12-hour non-stop broadcast (from 2.30 pm - 3 a.m.) on the weekends of December 2-3 & December 9-10; * Real time Games results ticker updates on the i-CABLE Sports Channel (Channel #62), focusing in particular on the Hong Kong and China teams;
* Coverage of Hong Kong soccer team's matches, on November 29 (vs. India), December 3 (vs. Iran) and December 6 (vs. Maldives);
* Special one-hour feature programme rounding up the Games, starting 9:30 p.m., in the evenings of December 16 and 17.

i-CABLE News will also be covering the Games extensively with a dedicated team in Doha. Daily programming will start with a special section in its 6-9 a.m. morning show "Morning CABLE", rounding up the results of the Hong Kong and China teams on the previous day, followed by hourly updates of the medal chart and progress of events throughout the day.

CABLE TV has been the exclusive official broadcaster of this major international sports event since 1998. Its appointment for the third time in a roll is an unequivocal affirmation of CABLE TV's prime position, professionalism and commitment as the leading sports programming broadcaster in Hong Kong, said Mr. Ronald Chiu, Executive Director, i-CABLE Sports Ltd.

He noted that the 2006 Asian Games is the latest of a string of large-scale international sports event broadcast comprehensively by CABLE TV, starting with the 10th National Games in China, the 2005 East-Asian Games in Macau last October, followed by the Torino 2006 XX Winter Olympic Games at the beginning of this year and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in March.

Meanwhile, Musetta Wu, Vice President, i-CABLE Sports Ltd. noted that the five-hour gap in Doha's time zone synchronises with Hong Kong's optimum viewing hours, enabling our viewers to watch most of the final events live.

Asian Games related programming already commenced on CABLE TV's sporting platform in late October. The CABLE TV team will be leaving for Doha shortly to cover pre-Game activities and the arrival and preparation of the Hong Kong team at the venue, she said.

Today's ceremony was officiated by Mrs. Vivien FUNG, Chef de Mission, Hong Kong Delegation, 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006, Mr. Chiu and Ms Wu, who vowed their support together with a strong turn out of Hong Kong's sports stars, including snooker player Marco Ka-chun FU and AU Chi-wai, rower YUNG Ka-yan, bowling player WU Siu-hong, track & field athlete TANG Yik-chun, football player FAN Chun-yip and swimmers Hannah Jane Arnett WILSON & Zento LEE. They received good wishes from past Asian Games Hong Kong delegates, rower HO Kim-fai, swimmer Vivian Wing-sze LEE and football player YAU Kin-wai.

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