MUMBAI: PCCW has announced that its broadband platform in Hong Kong now Broadband TV's customer base has topped the half million mark more than a month ahead of the originally targetted year-end date.

PCCW says that this achievement makes now TV the first IPTV platform in the world to have achieved this scale - and this quickly.

PCCW executive director, Alex Arena said that, in pursuing now TV's mission of offering customers a total viewing experience, a range of new content will be introduced with its aim of providing a range of quality viewing options for subscribers including the addition of new channels.

Arena says, "The selection of top quality programming from around the world and locally reflects now TV's customer-driven approach. Together with the innovative pricing policy that allows customers to choose only those channels they want to watch, now TV clearly offers the best value for money - the best possible content, the best interactivity and the most flexible subscription system."

As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com CNN International launches on now next year. HBO Family and HBO Hits, two new HBO channels launch in February 2006. In addition to the existing 24-hour movie channel, Star Chinese Movies will be enhanced with a Video on Demand (VOD) service in January 2006. Through the interactive VOD service, subscribers of Star Chinese Movies can pick any movie they want at their convenience.