Voyages television

Voyages Television is a global platform for the marketing of luxury travel destinations and the distribution of luxury travel products across television, the Internet, Internet television (IPTV) and Video on Demand. The Company’s focus is on the six major markets (China, India, Japan, USA, UK and Germany) which account for a large percentage of the luxury travel market.

Voyages' point of difference is that each of its programs contains a holiday offer that can be booked by the viewer on Voyages web site or via a call center. Thus, the business earns revenues from the sale of travel holiday packages to its audience, in addition to advertising and sponsorship revenue. Voyages’ believes that it is the first channel on television to enjoy both advertising and “retail” sales revenue.

Headquartered in Hong Kong with production operations in Hanover, Shanghai, Mumbai, Taipei and New York, Voyages is currently available to over 40 million cable and satellite television homes on a 24 hour a day basis, as well as via the Internet. The Company plans to launch a Video On Demand product in 2007 and broadband television product (IPTV) in early 2008.

Company History

Television Voyages Ltd. was established in late 2001 by a group of Hong Kong based investors. The initial production operations were centered in Taipei, in line with the Company’s strategy of targeting the Chinese speaking markets of Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. The original service was launched in TaiChung on the 4th of April 2002 to 520,000 cable television homes.

In early 2003, based on the success of the initial Channel, Voyages increased distribution in Taiwan to include Taipei city and Taipei county, as well as to expand the Channel to other countries. The Company’s plans for expansion were interrupted by the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Asia in 2003. After the resolution of the SARS epidemic and the travel industry returning to a normal state, Voyages established operations in Hong Kong (2004), India (2005) and Germany (2006). In 2007, the Company plans to launch the Voyages Channel in North America, followed by the United Kingdom in 2008.

In line with the development of the Voyages Channel, the Company has launched local language travel web sites, and is preparing for the pending launch of a broadband-based product where the Channel’s over 2000 hours of high quality destination and lifestyle programming will be available.

Voyages offers a balance of travel and lifestyle programs. Program strategy is to provide viewers with quality programs that include a travel purchase option and that provide a vehicle for advertising sales. The objective is to cater to the audience’s interest in specific luxury destinations, as well as lifestyle interests. Common lifestyle interests associated with travel include wellness, adventure, gourmet & wine, shopping, romance, and competition (diving, golf, skiing, etc). This mix of both destination based and lifestyle programs maintains the breadth required to maintain viewer interest. All Voyages programs, regardless of the format, include at least one holiday package that relates to the destination or the lifestyle interest that is the subject of the program, in line with Voyages’ philosophy.

The program schedule is organized around a series of “cycle themes” that change on a monthly basis and that serve as a focal point for the consumer and for the Channel’s marketing and communications programs. These themes can be based on a destination (Caribbean: Islands in the Sun) or a lifestyle theme (Spa Retreats). The objective is to create a channel that is varied, visually stunning; yet relevant to the interest of the audience and to advertisers.

Channel Reception

Europe

*Digital 24/7 via satellite: Astra 19.2° E, 12,148.50 MHz, transponder 87, horizontal polarity

Germany

*Via analog cable:
#In Bremen: channel sharing, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily (with BBC World) channel S 24
#In Lower Saxony: channel sharing, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily (with Nickelodeon) channel varies locally
#In Hamburg: Program window Sunday 2 a.m. – 4 p.m. (with Tide TV) channel K 21
#Germany-wide (network level 4): 24/7, small to medium-sized regional networks (Deutsche Netzmarketing, ewt Multimedia, Tele Columbus)

*Via digital cable, 24/7:
#Germany-wide except Baden-Württemberg, NRW, Hesse (Kabel Deutschland)
#In Baden-Württemberg (Kabel BW, channel K 56, sequence 754)
#In NRW/Hessen daily (Unity Media)

*DVB-T in Brunswick, Bremen, Lower Weser, Hanover, Kiel, Lübeck, Nuremberg on Mona TV. Program window: Mon – Sun daily. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

South Asia

*Digital 24/7 via satellite: Thaicom 78.5 E,3960 MHz,vertical polarity,symbol rate 30000,FEC 5/6
*Via analog cable: In South Asia:24 hrs channel VOYAGES TV.
*Via digital cable,24/7: Delhi & Mumbai(channel no 198 IN CABLE, no 863 SITI CABLE,no 505/821 HATHWAYS)
*Via DTH: DISH TV 24/7, channel no 435

Web Sites

* [http://www.voyagestelevision.com Corporate website]
* [http://www.voyages.tv German website]
* [http://www.voyagesindia.com Indian website]

References

*http://www.voyagestelevision.com
*http://www.voyages-reisen.de/uebervoyages.html
*http://www.voyages-reisen.de/voyages_weltweit.html
*http://www.voyages-reisen.de/empfang.html
*http://www.voyages-reisen.de/pressemeldungvom100407.html