TransAsia's unique advertising practice developed as a result of our work for media and retail clients. We routinely advise on both traditional and new media advertising issues across a wide range of highly regulated industries, such as media, IT and telecoms.

Client Services

• Establishment of advertising agencies
• Licenses, permits and other regulatory matters
• Compliance and censorship issues
• Television advertising, including commercials, infomercials, and TV shopping
• Public advertising, including airport billboards and office building advertising screens
• Digital advertising
• Sponsorship and promotional tie-in arrangements
• Commercial agreements, including advertising agency arrangements and product endorsements

Representative Transactions

• Advised Business Week on its local advertisement censorship policy
• Assisted Gruner+Jahr in setting up its advertising agency in China
• Assisted Bertelsmann on advertising issues relating to its public relations campaign upon the termination of one of its business lines
• Advised IMG on general legal issues stemming from its advertising initiatives in China
• Advised Time Inc. on its advertising sales agency arrangement in China
• Advised Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) and TVSN on television advertising
• Advised Sohu.com on the establishment of an online advertising subsidiary
• Advised AirMedia on the restructuring of its nationwide operations for advertising in airports nationwide
• Represented China's main sports broadcasting channel, CCTV-5, in a US$ 1 billion arbitration case against an advertising agency

Relationships with Regulators

We regularly consult and work with key government authorities, including the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), the Ministry of Industry and Information, the Ministry of Culture, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the Ministry of Commerce.

We have assisted the SARFT with various research and policy initiatives, including those relating to IPTV and broadcast copyright licensing.  In late 2006, the SARFT also invited TransAsia  to conduct workshops for senior officials on the international regulation of advertising and TV shopping.

Publications

China's Media and Entertainment Law

With contributions from senior government officials and the endorsement of the SARFT and other key regulators, in 2003 and 2006 we published the first and second volumes of China's Media and Entertainment Law, respectively. This book is the first and only publication of its kind, and serves as an authoritative reference guide. It contains translations of key legislation, and in-depth commentaries. Among the industry segments highlighted is China's advertising industry, with an analysis of the regulatory environment, foreign investment and ongoing industry challenges. A third edition is currently being produced and is due to be released in 2012.

Other Publications

Cable TV in China

TransAsia contributed to the Financial Times report on Cable TV in China. The report explains the complex Chinese cable television sector, and its regulatory development.

Representative Clients