Rewind Networks is adding a third channel – HITS NOW – to subscription platform StarHub TV+ from 15 December, introducing first-run titles such as Fremantle’s Malaysian pirate drama “Sandokan: The Pirate Prince” along with a live telecast of Golden Globes in January to Singapore’s content options.

The deal, announced today, underscores the buying power – diminished as it may be – of dedicated general entertainment channels in a shrinking acquisitions environment. Although HITS NOW acquires exclusive pay-TV rights only, the network effectively has broader exclusivity on many of the titles in Southeast Asia.

HITS NOW also has exclusive pay-TV rights to the 2026 Grammy Awards airing live on 2 February and the same-day telecast of the BAFTA Film Awards on 23 February, along with “Shark Tank”, “Fire Country” and spin-off “Sheriff Country”, “MasterChef US” and “American Idol”.

The channel, which also offers the latest seasons of “Project Runway”, “Top Chef”, “Survivor”, “Hell’s Kitchen” and “America’s Got Talent”, is free until 31 January.

HITS NOW is Rewind’s third channel on StarHub after HITS, which launched on StarHub in 2013, and HITS Movies, which followed in 2018.

Other platforms in the region are picking up linear/on-demand channel brands.

In Indonesia, Moonbug Entertainment launched its first Blippi & Friends channel with Linknet’s First Media and Onestream platforms and added 1,000+ on-demand episodes on Stan in Australia. Both went live on 10 December.

The 24-hour Indonesia channel carries 500 episodes, including “Blippi”, “Meekah” and “Oddbods”. Stan’s picks include “CoComelon”, “Blippi”, “Little Angel”, “Morphle”, “Gecko’s Garage” and “Little Baby Bum”. This is the first APAC announcement under Moonbug Entertainment’s new regional head, Amrita Sindhu.

Correction: The original version of this story said HITS NOW buys rights for Hong Kong and Taiwan. This is incorrect. HITS NOW rights currently are for Southeast Asia only. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.