Asia Now

Asia Now
Name	Asia Now
Launch date	2020
Owner	Mediawan
Country	France
Headquarters	Paris
Language	French
Website	Asia_Now

Asia Now

Asia Now is a French-language television channel and streaming brand dedicated to contemporary and historical coverage of Asian cultures, societies, and affairs. Launched in 2020, the channel positions itself at the intersection of documentary, reportage, and cultural programming, seeking partnerships across France Télévisions, Arte, and independent production houses such as Mediawan and Groupe Canal+. Asia Now commissions work from filmmakers and journalists with experience at outlets including BBC, NHK, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, and Le Monde.

Overview

Asia Now broadcasts documentaries, newsmagazines, and cultural series focused on regions spanning East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia. Its catalogue features productions on topics ranging from urban development in Tokyo and Seoul to historical treatments of the Mughal Empire, contemporary profiles of entrepreneurs in Shenzhen and Bengaluru, and arts showcases from Beijing to Jakarta. Programming is presented in French with subtitles and dubbed options, often featuring collaborations with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the British Museum, and university centers like SOAS University of London.

History and Development

The channel was conceived amid growing European interest in Asian affairs following diplomatic and economic shifts involving China's Belt and Road Initiative, the United States–China trade tensions, and strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific region. Founders with backgrounds at TF1 Group, Vivendi, and France Médias Monde structured Asia Now as both a linear channel and a streaming platform to reach diasporic communities in Île-de-France and across Europe. Early co-productions involved broadcasters such as NHK, ZDF, and Rai and festival premieres at Cannes Film Festival sidebars and the Busan International Film Festival. Expansion phases included partnerships with the European Broadcasting Union and content syndication deals with platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for select titles.

Programming and Content

Asia Now's slate mixes historical documentaries, investigative reports, culinary series, and arts programming. Series topics have included the architectural history of Angkor Wat, investigative reporting on supply chains tied to Yangtze River manufacturing, profiles of political figures referenced in Sri Lankan Civil War retrospectives, and music documentaries spotlighting scenes in Seoul, Mumbai, and Taipei. Regular programs have featured contributors formerly associated with France 24, CNN International, and Reuters. The channel commissions filmmakers who have worked on award-winning projects at festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Locarno Festival. Asia Now also runs an annual short-film competition judged by critics from Cahiers du Cinéma and curators from institutions including the Asia Society.

Reception and Impact

Critical reception in French and international press has ranged from praise for nuanced cultural profiles to debate over editorial framing in geopolitical reports. Reviews in outlets like Le Monde, Libération, and The Guardian highlighted documentary series exploring migration patterns between Myanmar and Thailand, and investigative pieces on e-waste routes through Vietnam. Academic commentators at Harvard University, University of Oxford, and National University of Singapore have cited Asia Now content in discussions of media representation and soft power. The channel has gained traction among diasporic viewers in communities from Ho Chi Minh City to Paris and has been featured at cultural events hosted by the Institut Français and local consulates.

Distribution and Availability

Asia Now is available as a linear channel via satellite and cable packages in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, and as an OTT streaming service accessible across the European Union and select countries in North America. Aggregation deals placed titles on third-party services operated by Roku, Apple TV, and Google Play. The service offers curated thematic collections—such as retrospectives on Aung San Suu Kyi, dossiers on the Kashmir dispute, and tributes to filmmakers like Apichatpong Weerasethakul—and provides subtitling in languages including English, Spanish, and Arabic.

Controversies and Criticism

Asia Now has faced controversies related to editorial balance and licensing. Critics in Taiwan and Hong Kong accused certain geopolitical reports of echoing narratives aligned with Beijing's stances, prompting public responses and calls for clearer sourcing. Rights disputes arose with production companies from South Korea and India over distribution terms, which were mediated by organizations such as the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. Journalists' unions in France and advocacy groups including Reporters Without Borders have urged greater transparency in funding links with corporate entities tied to state-owned enterprises in Asia. In response, Asia Now instituted editorial guidelines and an ombudsman process involving academics from Sciences Po and EHESS.

Category:Television channels in France Category:Documentary television channels Category:Media about Asia