BRIEFINGS: NatGeo distributes on Korea's JBC

National Geographic has signed a deal with Joong-Ang Broadcasting

Corporation (JBC) to air 200 hours of programming blocks on the

station's Q-Channel next month. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the documentary

network has launched a 24-hour Chinese subtitle service on Singapore

Cable Vision, going out to 200,000 homes. Cable TV subscribers grow 12

per cent iCable, Hong Kong Cable TV's holding company, grew its

subscriber base by 12 per cent to more than 450,000 households last

year. Turnover for iCable increased by seven per cent in 1999 to

HK$1,346 million (US$173.5 million), buoyed by the solid

growth in pay-TV and Internet subscribers. Nevertheless, Hong Kong's

only pay-TV operator recorded a loss of HK$387 million (US$49.9 million) in 1999, an improvement of 46 per cent over 1998.

Meanwhile, Cable TV will enhance its sports coverage from May, when its

Sports 2 Channel expands to a 24-hour service.