Ricky Ow joins Turner Broadcasting as APAC president

Ow was EVP and GM for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks Asia. Based in Hong Kong, Ow will lead Turner International's portfolio in the Asia Pacific region.

International television executive Ricky Ow will join Turner International as president of Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, effective January 2014.

Ow joins Turner after a 14-year career at Sony Pictures where most recently, he was designated as EVP and GM for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks Asia.

Based in Hong Kong, Ow will lead Turner International's portfolio in the Asia Pacific region. He will have executive oversight for all entertainment and kid's networks, the digital and media services offered in the distribution of CNN's services in the region, and all licensing and merchandising activity in APAC.

Gerhard Zeiler, president of Turner Broadcasting System International, says, "We are delighted that Ricky is joining us and look forward to the leadership and wealth of international media experience he will bring to one of the most strategically important areas of Turner International. His vast experience in the region, his successes in launching and establishing channel brands both locally and regionally, his experience in local content production, as well as his deep understanding of sales and marketing, make him the ideal choice to lead our business in the Asia Pacific region into the next stage of growth. Looking with fresh eyes at our business as a true leader, he will be a strong addition to Turner International. We all look forward to working with him to extend our core brands and build international scale."

"I am very excited to join Turner and it is an honour to work with Gerhard and the team that has built some of the most valuable media brands in the world including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Pogo and Turner Classic Movies," says Ow. "This is an opportunity to leverage on our incredible heritage of creativity and innovation to grow a dynamic portfolio of iconic brands, to develop new ventures and to strengthen relevance and value for our viewers, partners and the business community."

At SPT, Ow was responsible for overseeing the network's business across Asia as well as developing new channel opportunities in the region. Earlier, Ow was senior vice-president and general manager, Networks Asia, overseeing the company's channel brands, including AXN India and Animax India. He joined SPT in 1999 as head of sales and marketing.

For the record, Turner Broadcasting System International currently broadcasts more than 150 channels showcasing 33 brands in 36 languages in over 200 countries. It broadcasts 41 channels in 12 languages in 40 countries throughout Asia Pacific.