MANILA, Philippines – AXN, Asia’s home of thrilling entertainment, premiered the latest seasons of hit series “The Voice” and “The Blacklist” to top ratings, winning the night of September 23 among English general entertainment (GE) channels across Southeast Asia.
Collectively in the markets of Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, the seventh season of “The Voice” and the second season of “The Blacklist” both rated as the No.1 show across all English GE channels in their timeslots among pay-TV audiences.
In Malaysia, “The Voice” season 7 won the timeslot among approximately 70 rated English language channels among pay-TV audiences 4 – 54. In addition, “The Blacklist” season 2 was the top rated show for individuals from high income households.
In Singapore, “The Voice” season 7 was the highest rated program among rated English language cable channels for all pay-TV audiences in its timeslot. “The Blacklist” Season 2 proved to be spot on with AXN’s target audience of professionals, managers, executives and businessmen (PMEB), as it was their top rated show of the day across all 73 rated channels on StarHub TV.
In the Philippines, “The Voice” also led the English GE genre for all pay-TV viewers in its timeslot; while “The Blacklist” was the top show in its timeslot among pay-TV audiences ages 35 – 44.
“With two of TV’s most-anticipated returning shows airing on AXN, it was important for us to bring The Voice’ and ‘The Blacklist’ to our audience in line with the US, as well as give it a strong marketing push. We are pleased to see that this strategy has paid off and will continue to build on this success,” said Hui Keng Ang, senior vice president and general manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.
Airing on Tuesdays at 8.05pm first and exclusively on AXN, “The Voice”, which won its second consecutive Emmy for “Outstanding Reality-Competition Program”, features Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams as celebrity musician coaches for the first time. They join Adam Levine and Blake Shelton in search of America’s next Voice.
In promotion of the series, AXN is sending the iconic red chair of “The Voice” coaches on tour to some of Singapore and Malaysia’s busiest locations, where fans can get photo opportunities and engage with the accompanying games and performances. A “The Voice” branded train is also bringing the show closer to commuters in Singapore.
Airing on Tuesdays at 10pm, “The Blacklist” returns to follow the exploits of James Spader’s (“Boston Legal”) criminal mastermind Raymond ‘Red’ Reddington who turned himself in and is working with the FBI to eradicate his ‘blacklist’ of politicians, mobsters, spies and international terrorists, under the condition that he works only with rookie FBI agent Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Keen (Megan Boone, “Law & Order: Los Angeles”).
Lookalikes of ‘Red’ Reddington are taking to the streets of Singapore and Malaysia to engage with AXN viewers and for photo opportunities to drive buzz and sharing on social media platforms.