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Playboy boss: Countries with declining birth rates could benefit from our shows for couples

Desire TV

Desire TV

Countries with declining birth rates such as Singapore and China could benefit from pornographic TV programmes designed for couples to watch together, the Asia boss of Playboy has said.

In an interview with Mumbrella, Lanny Huang, the general manager of Playboy Plus said that there was an “important role” for channels such as Playboy’s Desire TV, which to date is only broadcasting in New Zealand.

“Look at the demographic trends,” she said. “In some countries with a falling birth rate, governments could find a serious use for Desire TV.”

Playboy TV, Desire TV’s sister channel, is only permitted to broadcast in five markets in Asia – South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Mongolia – and Desire TV faces similar hurdles.

Huang said of Desire TV content: “It’s romantic as well as erotic, and is less likely offend female viewers because it’s not super-pornographic.”

Huang has worked for Playboy for 12 years, and her duties including building the brand across the region.

“For me, it’s easier to speak to a government about bringing the Playboy brand into their country because I’m a woman. We are very careful in the conversations we have with governments; there is a lot of explaining to do about our intentions,” she said.

Part of Playboy’s strategy is enter markets in Asia via its Lifestyle TV brand, a joint-venture between Mei Ah Entertainment and Playboy Plus Entertainment, which carries non-pornographic content targeted as 18-38 year-old men.

“LSTV would comply with the broadcasting regulations of all countries in Asia, as there is no nudity,” Huang told Mumbrella.

“LSTV is the only lifestyle channel in Asia for men. Others, such as Fox or Star TV, are more suitable for women with dramas, telenovelas and the like,” she said.

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