Turner Broadcasting's Korean entertainment channel Oh!K launched in Malaysia on Astro. The high-definition channel secured carriage in Singapore on Singtel TV last month and on StarHub TV on Oct. 20, 2014, when the channel officially launched in the region (see "Turner Launching Oh!K Channel In Southeast Asia").

Phil Nelson, Turner’s senior vice president and managing director of North Asia and Southeast Asia Pacific, said in a release: “Turner’s leading brands – CNN and Cartoon Network – have been key news and kids channels in Astro’s portfolio for years, so we can’t wait to delight Malaysian audiences with Oh!K, our latest general entertainment channel. Since its regional debut last year, Oh!K has already gained strong popularity, with some of the very best Korean drama and variety series airing within 24 hours of their original telecast.”

Oh!K is powered by content from leading Korean broadcaster, MBC, best-known for its popular drama productions. Astro is running the channel as a free preview (Channel 394) until the end of February. It will be available on Astro’s Korean Pack from March 1 onwards.

Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific signed a volume deal with Korea’s leading broadcaster, MBC, locking in content for Oh!K, a new general-entertainment channel launching in Southeast Asia.

Ricky Ow, president of Turner Asia Pacific (pictured at left), and Kwang Han Ahn, president of MBC, praised the partnership in a release that said “Oh!K combines the best in content with Turner's proven history in curating some of the most successful channels in Asia Pacific.” A Turner representative said the channel had not announced any carriage deals yet.

Oh!K will have first pick of MBC content, including first-runs and exclusives soon after their initial transmission debut in Korea, with some shows airing within a week. The broadcaster has a proven track record, including the epic royal court series Jewel in the Palace, that have dominated the market over the past five decades, Turner said.

MBC produces 1,400 hours of content each year distributed in more than 100 countries. Current hit shows include drama series Diary of a Night Watchman, You Are My Destiny, Triangle and the long-running variety show, Infinite Challenge, and reality show Dad, Where Are We Going?.

The launch of Oh!K launch follows Turner's April announcement that it will assume full operational and programming control of WarnerTV, the No. 1 English-language entertainment channel in Singapore.