Clive Ng
Clive Ng | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Financier, media executive |
| Known for | Founding shareholder of MTV Japan and E*TRADE Asia; CEO of Pacific Media, PLC; Executive Chairman of China Broadband, Inc. and China Cablecom Holdings; Vice Chairman of Dazed Media; co-founder of C Ventures |
Clive Ng is a financier and executive within the media industry, concentrating on business prospects across Asia. He was instrumental in establishing partnerships between American and Asian enterprises during the Internet and e-commerce surge of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ng held founding shareholder positions in several Asian new media ventures, such as MTV Japan and E*TRADE Asia.
Career
Ng co-established C Ventures, an investment firm specializing in "youth culture," founded by investor Adrian Cheng. His involvement in Asian media began in the mid-1990s, a period marked by rapid satellite growth and widespread content piracy, which attracted major media corporations like Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to enter the Asian market.
Wilton Group, PLC
Serving as deputy chairman of Wilton Group, PLC—a London-based firm shifting its focus from consumer goods distribution to media investments—Ng spearheaded its expansion into Asian media sectors.
In 1994, he negotiated a joint venture with Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers Ltd to fund Chinese Channel, the pioneering European Chinese-language satellite television network aimed at Chinese-speaking audiences, broadcasting programs from Hong Kong Television Broadcasting Ltd.
Later that year, Ng acquired a 20% share in the Asian division of Denver-based United International Holdings (currently Liberty Global). Subsequently, he orchestrated a joint venture between UIH and United Artists Theatres—the largest US cinema chain at that time—to develop cineplexes in major Asian urban centers, beginning with Bugis Junction in Singapore and extending to six additional venues.
Pacific Media, PLC
By the late 1990s, Wilton Group had rebranded as Pacific Media, PLC. Ng was appointed CEO in 1999 amid financial challenges. Shortly thereafter, he secured investment from Hong Kong Supernet, an Asian internet service provider, which raised pre-tax earnings by 1.89 million HKP and strengthened the company’s financial position.
Ng converted Pacific Media into a "shell" entity to channel investments into Asian internet enterprises starting in 2000. He arranged funding through American investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston and initiated a £70 million investment strategy.
Asiacontent.com
One significant outcome of these initiatives was acquiring Asiacontent.com, an internet firm that went public on NASDAQ in April 2000, marking one of Asia's earliest IPOs during the dot-com bubble collapse.
Prior to its public offering, Ng secured capital from Goldman Sachs and led Asiacontent into a joint venture with NBC Internet Inc (NBCi) to create websites targeting South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. These platforms integrated search engines, news updates, and shopping features inspired by Yahoo!, following NBCi’s successful expansions in Italy and France.
As chairman, Ng propelled Asiacontent’s growth through substantial joint ventures across various Asian media markets, establishing it as Asia’s largest global content distributor.
Notable collaborations included:
- DoubleClick Inc., forming DoubleClick Asia to leverage the late-1990s surge in Asian internet advertising.
- MTV Asia and MTVi Group, developing new web platforms for MTV’s Chinese and Korean audiences.
- CBS Sportsline, launching sports-related websites throughout Asia including Singapore and Korea.
- CNET, producing localized Asian-language CNET websites.
- Licensing agreements to introduce E!Online and France’s Fashion TV into the Asian market.
By late 2000, amid deteriorating conditions in the technology sector, Ng alongside CEO Chris Justice launched Asiacontent Solutions to provide web development and content management services for clients such as Sun Microsystems, Hachette Filipacchi, and L'Oréal.
Following the dot-com crash and ensuing market instability, Pacific Media encountered financial strain. In 2003, media company MediaXposure invested $20 million to maintain operations until early 2004. After restoring stability, Ng stepped down from Pacific Media’s board in late 2006 to focus on other ventures.
8 Holdings
Following his departure from Pacific Media, Ng established 8 Holdings, an investment firm focused on mergers and acquisitions within the Asian media sector. In 2005, the company executed its most significant transaction when Ng collaborated with Harlan Kleiman, former head of programming at HBO, to lead a group of investors in acquiring China Media Network, a Chinese television advertising enterprise, through Metaphor Corp. Subsequent to this acquisition, Ng took on the role of CEO at Metaphor Corp.
Investment in feature films
Ng provided financial backing for prominent films directed by Oliver Stone, notably Heaven & Earth released in 1993 and Natural Born Killers from 1994.
Fashion Networks International LLC
In 2009, Ng assumed the position of chairman and became the primary shareholder of Fashion Networks International LLC, a digital media platform encompassing various fashion-related websites and blogs such as NowManifest and Freshnet. NowManifest showcases influential bloggers including Vogue Japan’s Anna Dello Russo. In May 2012, Fairchild Fashion Media acquired Fashion Networks International.
China Broadband, Inc. and YOU On Demand (CBBD.OB)
Ng was a founding partner and served as Executive Chairman of China Broadband, Inc., which later rebranded as YOU on Demand Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:YOD). This entity operates a nationwide pay-per-view and video-on-demand platform in China. The company’s common stock gained approval for OTC Bulletin Board listing in December 2007 and adopted the YOU on Demand Holdings name in February 2011.
YOU on Demand was a pioneer in introducing Near Video on Demand (NVOD), Video on Demand (VOD), and Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services within the Chinese market. Its subsidiaries offer value-added solutions catering to cable operators, broadband providers, and publishers. Headquartered in New York with operational facilities in Beijing, Ng stepped down as Executive Chairman in 2010 to focus on other business opportunities.
China Cablecom
Clive Ng is the Founder and Executive Chairman of China Cablecom Holdings, a joint-venture cable television operator based in the People's Republic of China. Established in October 2006, the company went public on the NASDAQ Capital Markets on 30 July 2008.
In September 2007, China Cablecom secured the operational license for the Binzhou Broadcasting network located in Shandong Province. It entered into asset acquisition and service contracts with State Owned Enterprises ("SOE") affiliated with local branches of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television ("SARFT") across five municipalities, creating holding companies to manage these operations.
On 9 April 2008, Jaguar—a special purpose acquisition company—merged with China Cablecom Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in the British Virgin Islands to facilitate Jaguar’s re-domiciliation to the British Virgin Islands; this marked a first for a publicly traded US entity.
In May 2008, China Cablecom issued $43.2 million worth of convertible notes alongside 1.5 million ordinary shares to investors. The company also attained "Foreign Private Issuer" status under US Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and finalized a framework agreement with Hubei Chutian Broadcasting and Television Networks Co., Ltd., establishing a cable television joint venture.
By June 2008, phase one of the agreement with Hubei Chutian was completed with China Cablecom acquiring a 60% ownership stake in Hubei Chutian Video & Information Network, thereby adding over 800,000 paying subscribers. The subsequent phase planned to add an additional 800,000 subscribers pending completion of due diligence.
On 9 October 2009, China Cablecom restructured its debt arrangements with holders of its Hubei assets and securities, reducing long-term principal liabilities while eliminating cash interest payments. Concurrently, it issued $33 million in senior secured notes to fulfill outstanding obligations toward the Hubei SOE under the revised framework agreement.
On 3 April 2012, China Cablecom announced that its joint venture partner Hubei Chutian Radio & Television Information Network agreed to acquire its Hubei assets for RMB 374 million; an initial payment of RMB 50 million was received by China Cablecom. A Joint Venture Termination agreement was executed with Hubei Chutian Shi Xun Network Company Limited. Funds from this transaction were allocated toward debt reduction and enhancing shareholder value.
Prior to this agreement, on 20 October 2011, China Cablecom accepted an offer from its joint venture partners to purchase its Hubei assets as required by SARFT regulations at the provincial level.
On 15 November 2012, China Cablecom completed repayment of principal note obligations amounting to $39.5 million across senior secured, junior secured, and unsecured notes. Following this repayment milestone, three Board members—Robi Hartman, David Kratochvil, and Jacob Weiss—resigned from their positions. CEO Pu Yue expressed appreciation for their significant contributions during their oversight of the Hubei asset liquidation process.
C Ventures
Established in 2017 by entrepreneur Adrian Cheng alongside investor Clive Ng, C Ventures operates as an international venture capital firm bridging markets between the West and East. The company specializes in investing in innovative technology, lifestyle, and media enterprises that primarily appeal to Millennials and Generation Z. Its portfolio encompasses more than 20 global investments, including Moda Operandi, Bandier, DayDayCook, Dazed Media, Beautycon, Armarium, Threads Styling, Aibee, YOHO, GoLong, and Gritworld.
Clive Ng holds the position of Vice Chairman at Dazed Media and also serves on the boards of Bandier and Armarium.