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Tag: movie

  • Bulla Teams Up With Hoyts For Exclusive Cinema-themed Ice Cream At Coles Supermarkets

    Bulla Teams Up With Hoyts For Exclusive Cinema-themed Ice Cream At Coles Supermarkets

    Bulla Dairy Foods, in collaboration with Hoyts Cinemas, has introduced an exclusive cinema-themed treat for Australian households, called Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops. These special frozen desserts will be sold only at Coles supermarkets.

    Availability and Flavours

    The limited-edition Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops will be available for purchase between the 16th of July and the 30th of September. These ice creams will be sold in select Coles stores across Australia in packs of four. Customers will have the option to choose from two delicious flavours, Vanilla and Salted Caramel.

    In addition to the frozen treat, each pack will also contain a $12 Hoyts movie ticket voucher. Valid until the 30th of July, 2026, this serves as both a sweet indulgence at home and an incentive for movie-goers to return to the cinema.

    A Staple Cinema Snack

    According to Michael King, Hoyts’ General Manager of Food & Beverage and Retail, the Choc Top ice cream is an integral part of the movie-going experience, with millions being sold at Hoyts cinemas each year.

    King expressed his excitement at the launch of this initiative, noting the popularity of the combination of a movie and a Bulla Choc Top among cinema patrons. He said, “While nothing beats biting into a Bulla Choc Top at the cinema, we’re excited to give people a taste of the Hoyts experience at home.”

    Previous Ice-Cream Collaborations

    The introduction of Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops follows Bulla’s recent partnership with Hershey’s. Earlier this year, this collaboration resulted in the release of two new one-litre ice-cream flavours.

    Questions & Answers

    Who are the collaborators for the Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops?
    Bulla Dairy Foods and Hoyts Cinemas have partnered to create the Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops.

    Where can Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops be purchased and what are the available flavours?
    The Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops can be purchased exclusively at select Coles supermarkets. The available flavours are Vanilla and Salted Caramel.

    What is the additional benefit provided with the purchase of the Bulla Hoyts Choc Tops?
    Each pack includes a $12 Hoyts movie ticket voucher, valid until July 30, 2026.

  • No entertainment shows, only movies for Netflix in Vietnam

    No entertainment shows, only movies for Netflix in Vietnam

    Starting Monday Netflix will remove all entertainment and reality shows from its platform in Vietnam and only distribute film-related content to comply with local laws.

    The U.S.-based streaming service would only show films that have been classified, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information said in a recent release.

    In Vietnam, film and entertainment shows fall under different categories and are subject to different regulations.

    Distributors of entertainment shows need to set up a company in Vietnam, but film distributors do not.

    Netflix has to remove content entertainment and reality shows such as “Love on the Spectrum,” “Longest Third Date” and “Down For Love.”

    After the decree on entertainment shows came into effect in 2023, some platforms withdrew from Vietnam, including U.S.-based Amazon’s Prime Video service which shut down in October after a seven-year presence.

    China’s Iqiyi was flagged the same month for distributing entertainment shows since it has registered only to provide film-related content.

    The broadcasting authority said last year that the enforcement of such regulations aims to ensure fair competition between domestic and international television businesses.

    Earlier foreign platforms benefited from regulatory gaps, with some avoiding taxes or distributing prohibited content, it said.

    “New regulations, issued to ensure fairness, have caused some companies to cease operations in Vietnam,” Le Quang Tu Do, the authority’s director, said at the time.

    “Adjusting business models to comply with local laws is a routine part of doing business.”

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  • Netflix uses dubious method to get some subscribers to switch plans

    Netflix uses dubious method to get some subscribers to switch plans

    A change is coming to Netflix subscription plans in some markets starting on July 13th. That’s when the video streamer’s $11.99 ad-free plan will be discontinued in two countries. This is the cheapest ad-free subscription option that Netflix offers and eliminating it will force subscribers to move to one of three plans. These subscribers can choose the $6.99 per month plan that subjects them to viewing ads, or they can sign up for one of two ad-free plans that are available. There is an ad-free plan that costs $15.49 per month and a plan that offers ad-free 4K streams for $22.99 per month (more on this later).

    A photo posted on a social media site shows that a Netflix subscriber, even though he still has a valid subscription for a couple of weeks, is not being allowed to use the platform until he subscribes to another plan. While this user was trying to view content on Netflix, he sees a sign on his television that said, “Your last day to watch Netflix is July 13. Choose a new plan to keep watching.” Underneath that heading Netflix writes, “Your Basic Plan has been discontinued, but you can easily switch to a new one. Plans start at $5.99 with upgraded features.”

    This is unfair to the subscriber who is being forced to decide which plan to subscribe to right away if he wants to enjoy the remainder of the subscription that he pays for monthly. On Reddit, several people called out Netflix for doing something that they felt bordered on illegal. “There’s no option to continue watching without selecting a new plan,” one Netflix subscriber said on Reddit. Still, this shouldn’t be too surprising to Netflix subscribers since the company said this past January that it would push customers to less-expensive or more-expensive plans.

    Those receiving the notice telling them that their current plan expires on July 13th can choose from one of three aforementioned options. Standard with ads is $6.99 per month and features Full HD (FHD) resolution streams with no more than two devices allowed to stream at once. This plan supports downloads and up to two devices can download content.

    Ad-free options include Standard for $15.49 per month which has all of the same features as the Standard with ads plan, but without ads. The Premium plan is $22.99 per month and streams in Ultra HD resolution. Four devices can stream at once and up to six devices can  download content for viewing when offline.The notices about the discontinuation of the Basic plan is being seen by Netflix subscribers in Canada and the U.K. with U.S. users expected to be targeted soon. American Netflix subscribers should remember the saying, “To be forewarned is forearmed.”

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  • Amazon tells its Prime Video subscribers that ads are coming on January 29th

    Amazon tells its Prime Video subscribers that ads are coming on January 29th

    Get ready for a dose of reality (and advertisements) between your binge sessions: Amazon Prime Video officially joins the ad-fueled streaming party. After announcing what was coming a few months back, Amazon has now confirmed via an email sent to its Prime members, that their favorite movies and shows will be punctuated by ads starting January 29, 2024.

    This shift significantly departs from Prime Video’s ad-free haven, a perk previously bundled with the $139/year (or $14.99/month) Prime subscription, known primarily for its free two-day shipping. But for those averse to mid-episode interruptions, Amazon is offering an option that will cost you: an ad-free tier for an additional $2.99/month, plus applicable taxes.

    Justifying the move, Amazon cites the need to fuel its ever-expanding content library. “This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long time,” their email reads, assuring us of “meaningfully fewer ads” compared to traditional TV.

    Interestingly, Amazon is already pre-selling the ad-free tier, giving Prime members a head start on securing uninterrupted viewing. This change, of course, does not apply to rented or purchased content from the streaming service. However, note that certain types of content, such as sports or Freevee titles, will continue to include ads even when the viewer is subscribed to the ad-free tier.

    While some appreciate the “investment in compelling content” reasoning, reactions by long time Prime subscribers show that they feel betrayed by the broken promise of ad-free streaming. The price hike adds fuel to the fire, leaving members questioning the true value proposition of Prime Video.

    Will Amazon’s ad-spiked strategy pay off? Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain: the golden age of ad-free streaming seems to be fading, leaving viewers with a choice – pay more, pay less with ads, or seek greener (and ad-free) pastures elsewhere.

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  • Vietnam says no more drinking scenes in movies

    Vietnam says no more drinking scenes in movies

    Scenes of actors drinking alcohol in films will be restricted under a new decree guiding the alcohol law.

    Cinemas will only show actors drinking if they are playing historical characters or acting in scenes that criticize alcohol addiction, Decree 24, which took effect on Monday to guide several provisions of the Law on Preventing Alcohol’s Harmful Effects, lays down.

    Movies are not allowed to admire or praise individuals and organizations achieving success by producing alcohol or doing any business related to alcohol.

    In June last year lawmakers approved time restrictions for advertising liquor on television and radio. According to the decree, advertisements for alcoholic drinks will be banned from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and immediately before and after and during children’s programs.

    Decree 24 relaxes it slightly and permits beverages with an alcohol content of under 5.5 percent and made by sponsors of regional, continental or global sporting events held in Vietnam to be advertised between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

    Producers of drinks with less than 15 percent alcohol must add warnings saying drinking alcohol can lead to traffic accidents, affect the fetus and those under 18 are not allowed to drink under the law.

    If an advertisement appears on TV or radio, the warning must be read out aloud at a speed equivalent to that of other content.

    If it is advertised on a website, social media or print publications, the warning must make up at least 10 percent of the advertisement’s content and be in a color that makes it easy to read.

    A ban on advertising hard liquor has been in place for long.

    The new drunk driving law, which came into effect on January 1, doubled existing fines and revokes driving licenses for up to two years.

    There are fines for the first time for cyclists and electric bicycle riders, and anyone caught driving under the influence will have to pay VND400,000-600,000 ($17-26).

    Motorcyclists and car drivers could be fined VND6-8 million and VND30-40 million (VND1,730) and lose their licenses for 22-24 months.

    The country consumed some 4.6 billion liters of beer in 2019 after rising 10 percent from 2018, but growth could fall to 6-7 percent this year due to the tough new penalties, top brokerage SSI Securities Corporation (SSI) said last month.

  • Netflix adds new feature that lets you see most popular series and movies

    Netflix adds new feature that lets you see most popular series and movies

    The most popular movie streaming service, Netflix is adding a new feature that will allow its users to pick what to watch based on the popularity of the shows. A long-overdue feature is now making its way to Netflix users on all platforms – top 10 list.

    Those who already got it should see a new row that will feature the top 10 list in their respective countries. Netflix mentions that the names on the list will be updated daily and that the position of the row will vary depending on how relevant the shows and films are to each user.

    In addition to the top 10 list row, Netflix is adding two other features – the top 10 most popular series and the top 10 films. Both will be available when you click on the movies and TV shows tab, so they’re not immediately visible when you open Netflix.

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  • Lucasfilm to launch LEGO Star Wars Battles mobile game

    Lucasfilm to launch LEGO Star Wars Battles mobile game

    To be successful, you’ll have to collect and upgrade characters and vehicles, build LEGO towers to combat, defend and capture territory, as well as create both light and dark side armies.

    LEGO Star Wars Battles includes heroes and villains that have never been featured in any other LEG Star Wars game, such as Rey and Kylo Ren, the First Order’s BB-9E, and a Duros rebel trooper inspired by Star Wars Battlefront.

    There will be more than 40 units featuring characters, vehicles, and troops from Star Wars films and animation that can be collected in LEGO Star Wars Battles. Now, the bad news is the game won’t be available any time soon, as Lucasfilm announced LEGO Star Wars Battles will be available in 2020 on the App Store and Google Play, so we’ll just have to wait at six months.

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  • Apple TV+ will allow users to download content for offline viewing

    Apple TV+ will allow users to download content for offline viewing

    A report revealed that Apple’s video streaming service will be coming our way by November of this year, starting at $9.99 a month and likely with a trial period of some sorts to kick things off. Information about the features of Apple TV+ is scarce right now, but a fresh new leak may have revealed one of them – the ability to save offline content.

    New information was discovered in macOS Catalina (the latest version of Apple’s Mac operating system) that suggests that Apple TV+ will allow users to download content for offline viewing. While digging through the code of macOS Catalina, MacRumors discovered lines that refer to Apple’s upcoming TV streaming service. The code suggests that the platform will offer offline viewing, but “with limitations on the total number of downloads, downloads per show or movie, or the total number of times a show or movie can be downloaded.”

    As with most other streaming services, Apple TV+ will also have a limitation on the number of simultaneous streams. If a user attempts to stream on more than the allowed number of devices at once, they will be greeted with a notification to first stop one of the other streams.

    With TV+, Apple is entering a very crowded and competitive field, dominated by the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. It’s going to be an uphill battle for the iPhone maker, but the company has already reportedly invested around $2 billion in its streaming effort, so it evidently has faith in this endeavor.

    Sources with knowledge of the work claim that the company is considering a release model that offers “the first three episodes of some programs, followed by weekly installments,” in contrast to Netflix’s “all-at-once” strategy, where entire seasons are released on the same day for binge-watching.

    Services are among the biggest money-makers for Apple, so it comes as little surprise that the company was so eager to dive into video streaming. In fact, while Apple’s biggest cash cow is still the iPhone, services are right behind it, making Apple more money than the iPad and Mac. Apple TV+ is an integral part of the company’s drive to reach $50 billion in services sales by 2020.

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  • Pantene’s latest #WANITABESI film encourages women to stay in sports

    Pantene’s latest #WANITABESI film encourages women to stay in sports

    Pantene Malaysia wants to change consumers’ mindsets on sports as a boys’ playground by highlighting in its latest “Braids of Strength” films that sports also plays a key role in moulding the next generation of strong women.

    The films are part of the brand’s WanitaBesi campaign (Iron Lady campaign) and were produced in collaboration with Grey Group Malaysia and Directors Think Tank. They tell the stories of two Malaysian athletes – Farah Ann and Nur Suryani – who remained in sports despite the challenges they face. Throughout both films, the tying of a hair braid is used to symbolise the strength to stay in sport.

     

    In celebration of the upcoming International Women’s Day, customers who purchase any of Pantene’s range of shampoos will receive a golden ribbon, and any woman wearing a braid during the month of March can gain nationwide free access to Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness.

    Anggia Pulungan, haircare commercial director of P&G Malaysia, said Pantene is rooted in the belief that strong is beautiful. For a woman, her hair is both a personal and a public matter; it is a big part of her confidence. Through Braids of Strength, Pantene wants to encourage more women to embrace the #WANITABESI spirit, pursue any sport of their choice and eliminate their worry of self-image, Pulungan added.

    “By showcasing the perfect way to braid their hair, women get the confidence boost they need to look good, and it positively helps them to perform in sports,” Pulungan said.

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  • HMV saved by Sunrise Records, but some stores will close

    HMV saved by Sunrise Records, but some stores will close

    Canadian firm Sunrise Records has emerged as the buyer of collapsed music chain HMV, beating competition including Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley. The firm will buy 100 stores out of administration, securing 1,487 jobs. But 27 stores will close, resulting in 455 redundancies. Sunrise Records chief executive Doug Putman said he was “delighted to acquire the most iconic music and entertainment business in the UK.”

    No price was given.

    Canadian entrepreneur Mr Putman, 34, bought the retail chain Sunrise Records in 2014. He previously bought HMV’s Canadian business in 2017, expanding his small chain into a national operation with 80 outlets.

    Mr Putman is also President of Everest Toys, the largest toys and games distribution company in North America. He said that HMV was a “fantastic, heritage brand”. He also said the chain would be looking to stock more vinyl records, in response to customer demand.

    HMV owner Hilco, which took the company out of its first administration in 2013, has blamed a “tsunami” of retail challenges for the latest collapse.

    These include business rate levels and the increasing use of streaming services to deliver music and movies.

    HMV sold 31% of all physical music in the UK in 2018 and 23% of all DVDs, with its market share growing month by month throughout the year.

    However, the music industry expects physical entertainment sales to shrink by another 17% this year.

    Will Wright, partner at KPMG and joint administrator said: “We are pleased to confirm this sale which, after a complex process, secures the continued trading of the majority of the business.

    “Our immediate concern is now to support those employees that have unfortunately been made redundant.”

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  • Korean Netflix shows target a global audience

    Korean Netflix shows target a global audience

    Ahead of the launch of Netflix’s first original Korean drama series today, executives from the streaming giant expressed confidence in the global popularity of Korean content at a press briefing in Seoul, Thursday. Kim Min-young, the director of content at Netflix in Korea, said that she expected to win over fans with the company’s first-ever original Korean drama series “Kingdom,” a highly-anticipated zombie series that launches on the streaming platform.

    “‘Kingdom’ will launch in 190 countries in 27 languages at the same time, with dubbing provided in 12 different languages,” Kim said.

    “We expect many users will want to watch it, as it can appeal to both people who like zombie thrillers or just Korean content … I believe in our creators and [the popularity] of Korean media, which is also the reason why Netflix launched Korea’s own content team in the country last year.”

    Before last May, the team that produced and licensed content to Netflix for the Korean market worked from Singapore at the company’s Asia-Pacific headquarters. Following the relocation, the Korean content team has been pursuing licensing and production activities more actively, working with domestic content producers like JTBC and Studio Dragon.

    Regarding original production in Korea, Kim said she benchmarks successful foreign Netflix original dramas like Spanish title “Elite” and Turkey’s “The Protector” that became huge hits with users across the world.

    “Our ultimate goal is to present entertainment to consumers, and from our experience, we found it necessary to give creators the freedom to tell the story they want to share,” said Kim.

    “As you can see with ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,’ we will help producers to not be hindered from doing what they want because of technological limits.”

    “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” is a choose-your-own-adventure film by Netflix that allows users to choose one of many action courses for the characters throughout the movie to determine how the plot progresses. Kim hinted that the impressive technological feats as shown via the interactive video could also be made possible in Netflix’s Korean programs.

    “We were also satisfied with the performance of our original entertainment program ‘Busted!,’ as reflected by our decision to produce a second season,” she said.

    The Netflix team also addressed concerns that Netflix provided limited service offerings and imposed unfair deals on its Korean partners.

    “Although we can’t provide all content available out there, we conduct analyses to discover what content users want,” Kim said. “But we have contents like ‘Friends,’ ‘Walking Dead’ and ‘Kim’s Convenience’ which users can’t access elsewhere.”

    In response to a rumored nine-to-one profit division between Netflix and Korean distributors like IPTV operator LG U+, Nigel Baptiste, director of partner engagement at Netflix, said that he could not “go into the specifics of what the deals are with our partners,” but the goal was to help “everyone in the ecosystem benefit.”

    The team did reassure users that subscription fees will not rise anytime soon in Korea.

    “We did increase prices in the U.S. … but we don’t have plans to do so right now [in Korea],” said the vice president of Asia-Pacific communications, Jessica Lee.

    Netflix is planning to release several new series in Korea this year – the first seasons of “Love Alarm,” “My First First Love,” “School Nurse Ahn Eun Young” and the second season of “Busted!”

    Mobile app research company WiseApp reported that some 900,000 Koreans used the Netflix mobile app on Android phones alone last September.

  • Hong Kong Harry Potter-themed cafe sued by Warner Bros

    Hong Kong Harry Potter-themed cafe sued by Warner Bros

    The 9¾ Harry Potter-themed Hong Kong cafe has been sued by Warner Bros for copyright infringement. The cafe, open since 2017, has never claimed to have a formal relationship with the Harry Potter franchise – although it is festooned with art and props made famous in the popular book and movie series. Trademarks registered by the studio within the territory of Hong Kong, including “Harry Potter”, “quidditch”, “muggles”, “Professor McGonagall” and “dementors” are used liberally at the venue. Iconic features and images from the films are used in the cafe’s interior design, including the Gryffindor coat of arms and the Hogwarts Express train ticket for Platform 9¾.

    Located on Yin Chong Street in Mong Kok, the cafe features wall-mounted wands and broomsticks, stuffed owls, portraits of witches and wizards, and faux candlelight. There is even a half-disappearing luggage trolley, as featured at King’s Cross Station, complete with Hedwig in a cage.

    The drinks menu of the Harry Potter-themed Hong Kong cafe includes some Harry Potter-specific concoctions, such as the Polyjuice Potion, Amortentia love potion, golden Felix Felicis (aka “liquid luck”), and Veritaserum. Visitors 18 years and older can down a pint of Butterbeer.

    For food, the cafe serves Western starters and mains named after mythical creatures and charms from the Harry Potter series, such as the soft-shell crab Aragog salad, Romanian longhorn pumpkin pasta (after one of the dragons from Goblet of Fire), and Prior Incantato cream of mushroom soup.

    Warner Bros is seeking an unspecified sum of damages, a removal order plus multiple injunctions.

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  • Hyundai Motor introduces Kona Iron Man edition

    Hyundai Motor introduces Kona Iron Man edition

    Hyundai Motor said Friday that it will begin sales of its limited Kona Iron Man Edition in the Korean market from Jan. 23. The superhero edition of the SUV was developed over two years with Marvel and is the first production car to feature Marvel characters. The vehicle includes headlamps similar to the Iron Man helmet’s visor, a Marvel logo on its hood and design features from the superhero’s suit.

    According to the carmaker, the new limited edition comes in matte metallic grey, inspired by Iron Man’s original suit featured in a 1963 Marvel Comics series.

    The edition sports a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

    Of the total 7,000 Iron Man edition Kona’s to be sold globally, 1,700 of the units are in Korea.

    For local buyers, the limited-edition model will cost 29.45 million won ($26,420).

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  • Four Korean firms join forces to fight Netflix

    Four Korean firms join forces to fight Netflix

    SK Telecom is teaming up with three major broadcasters to launch a new video content service in a bid to challenge the popularity of foreign services like Netflix. On Thursday, SK Telecom and broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS signed an MOU to combine their current over-the-top (OTT) media service businesses and launch a new and improved service by the first half of this year. OTT refers to content that is delivered directly to users over the internet without going through intermediaries like television.

    The four companies will also establish a joint venture that combines the OTT operations of each party. SK Telecom CEO and President Park Jung-ho said he is seeking around 200 billion won ($177.9 million) in investment for the new firm.

    SK Telecom’s subsidiary SK Broadband currently operates Oksusu, a television and movie platform released in 2016. The three broadcasters have Pooq, a joint venture that MBC and SBS both have a 40 percent stake in, while KBS holds 20 percent.

    Videos from over 70 channels are available on Pooq, including drama series from the 1990s and early 2000s.

    All four companies are expected to benefit from the partnership. Pooq has already established ties with Southeast Asian companies, having partners in Hong Kong’s Viu, Malaysia’s iflix and China’s iQiyi.

    During the MOU signing, SK Telecom CEO Park said he hoped to see the new strengthened service launch in Southeast Asia by June.

    In return, the three TV channels will have access to SK Telecom’s financial resources, which can be invested in original content production.

    The partnership is seen as an effort by the domestic companies to combine forces to fend off growing foreign competition, especially that posed by Netflix.

    Oksusu has 9.46 million registered users while Pooq has 3.7 million. Netflix is estimated to have around 900,000 domestic registered accounts, still trailing far behind the local companies.

    These figures only tell half the story, however.

    While Oksusu is the No. 1 OTT service in Korea in the number of accounts, its number of monthly active users is only estimated to be two-thirds of registered users. OTT services from competing mobile carriers like KT’s Olleh TV and LG U+’s Video Portal are also catching up quickly in total users.

    Also, very few original videos produced by Korean OTT service providers have enjoyed success.

    Netflix, on the other hand, saw tremendous growth in the three years it has been operating in Korea.

    As of last September, users spent a total of 283 million minutes a month on Netflix’s mobile app on Android according to WiseApp, which analyzes mobile app usage. Just two years ago, users had spent 14 million minutes a month on Netflix, or 20 times less.

    During the same period, the time that Oksusu and Pooq users spent on the apps increased less than twofold.

    Users spent a total of around 600 million minutes a month on both apps as of last September.

    Experts believe that the content budget is largely to explain for the differences in growth.

    Netflix is estimated to have spent around $8 billion on content production and licensing last year. Oksusu spent only around 10 billion won in content investment, however, a fraction of Netflix levels.

    “Through this partnership, Korean OTT service providers can strengthen the competitiveness of their content, which has been their weakest point,” said Jung Ji-soo, an analyst at Meritz Securities. “[The companies’] goal of becoming Korea’s Netflix will also help in energizing the domestic media ecosystem.”

  • HMV owes US$600,000 unpaid rental, face legal case

    HMV owes US$600,000 unpaid rental, face legal case

    Gadget, movie and music retailer HMV may face eviction from several of its Hong Kong store locations in coming weeks as landlords seek to recover unpaid rents and charges. Separate lawsuits have been filed relating to HMV stores in Causeway Bay, Central and Kowloon Bay, collectively seeking more than HK$5 million (US$640,000), according to court documents.

    The four-story HMV flagship store on Paterson Street in Causeway Bay was leased from Ever Light in July 2015 for four years at a monthly rent of $1.59 million for the first two years and $1.72 million for the ensuing two.

    Another store on Queen’s Road Central was leased in September 2016 from Pridemax for a term of six years at an initial monthly rent of $1 million.

    Those two landlords lodged legal action in the High Court of Hong Kong seeking payment of overdue amounts and vacation of the premises.

    About three weeks ago, MTR Corporation issued legal proceedings seeking to recover $273,300 in unpaid rent and charges and demanded the store vacate its space in Telford Plaza shopping mall.

    HMV was acquired by China 3D Digital Entertainment in March 2016 for $408 million, with the vendor, private equity company AID Partners retaining an approximate 18 per cent share.

    In 2015 AID received widespread acclaim for the restructure of the Hong Kong operations of what was once an iconic international brand name in music and movie retailing, but which collapsed in other markets with the advent of digital streaming undermining the popularity of DVDs and CDs.

    The Causeway Bay flagship, which incorporates a cafe and live music performance space, began specialising in lifestyle items including headphones, toys and even scooters, along with recognising the returning popularity of vinyl records.