Category: Cable TV

Star Group and PCCW to jointly explore IPTV pay-TV business

Bomanbridge Media, Vietnam’s VTV, Sonia Fleck, SkyVision, Secuoya, Earth Touch, PeacepointMUMBAI: Star Group and Richard Li’s Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) will be working together to explore the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) pay-TV opportunities in various markets.

PCCW is the parent company of Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) and it’s broadband network serves all major business areas and 95 percent of Hong Kong households – one of the highest such percentages in the world.

Leveraging PCCW’s expertise in building and operating an IPTV business and Star’s strength and experience in content creation and distribution and the pay-TV business, the two companies will look into opportunities to work with platform operators and media companies in Asia for the rollout of IPTV services.

PCCW’s now TV is the world leader in IPTV with more than 550,000 users, subscribing to the service since its launch in August 2003 and representing over 25 per cent of homes so far in Hong Kong. now TV carries over 110 TV and audio channels including 17 channels provided by Star and its joint ventures.

PCCW executive director Alex Arena said, “PCCW has a wealth of experience in quickly implementing and operating a successful IPTV pay-TV business. Telecom and broadband companies from around the world visit us regularly, to explore how PCCW can share its experience with them. We are delighted to work together with Star to develop these opportunities.”

Star CEO Michelle Guthrie said, “We are excited to expand our working relationship with now TV, a tremendous partner of ours in Hong Kong, to explore opportunities across Asia. It is clear that IPTV will be an exciting distribution platform in the future. Today’s announcement underscores our efforts to help unlock its full potential, enabling Star to deliver content to more people across the region.”

The Star/PCCW cooperation will involve full pay-TV operations and will be in addition to worldwide technical and IT solutions provided by Cascade Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of PCCW. Cascade has built and installed end-to-end technical IPTV solutions in countries as far afield as Thailand and Morocco. Ongoing discussions are in progress with a number of other overseas operators.

May 18, 2006
Pogo comes alive with new original programming

MUMBAI: Turner Entertainment Networks Asia’s (Tena) kids’ channel Pogo, created specifically for the Indian market, has more original programming up its sleeves this year. Game shows, sitcoms, documentaries and fiction shows is what’s on the kiddies’ channel’s agenda for 2006-07.

What’s more, Pogo is now garnering a lot of interest from international markets as well. In April this year, Turner’s Latin American kids channel Boomerang was re-launched with the Pogo branding. While the name of the channel remains the same, a lot of elements in terms of promos and on-air look were borrowed from Pogo.

Coming back to new original programming; taking a cue from the popularity of shows M.A.D (Music Art Dance), Bam! Bam! Bam! Gir Pade Hum, Prime Pogo and Pogo Amazing Kids Awards (2004 and 2005), the channel is now set to launch a new half hour comedy show called It’s Alive! from 21 May. The 13-episodes show, which has been produced in-house, will air Sundays at 11 am and will star Prime Pogo stars Niall and Chinu.

What’s more, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of Sesame Street, is also slated to launch around mid-August and is likely to air from Monday to Fridays. The third edition of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards is also on the cards this year. Apart from this, a new season of M.A.D. coupled with a summer special of the same is also in the pipeline.

“Pogo itself is an original production and we are constantly looking at innovative, smart and fun ideas that will back up the Pogo brand. The success of our original productions on Pogo has inspired us to do more such shows,” says Tena vice president creative and original content Orion Ross.

Plans for the annual Pogo Amazing Kids Awards are also big this time round. The channel plans to film ‘amazing’ kids across the country and develop a 13-week series around the same, which will lead up to the grand finale. “This time on the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards the emphasis is going to be on the kids themselves. Sixty kids across 10 categories will be profiled. We will be finding out their stories and air them every week and towards the last two weeks before the awards, the series will be aired every night,” informs Ross.

Viewers will also be asked to vote for their favourite ‘amazing’ kid via SMS. The winner in each category will be chosen on the basis of the votes as well as the jury for the awards. Ross says, “The aim is to build ways for viewers to be more involved in the process.”

TURNER OPEN TO PRODUCE / COMMISSION INDIAN ANIMATION IDEAS

Until now, Turner’s strategy has been to acquire original animation series from Indian studios and air them on their channels. Some of them are – Akbar & Birbal, The Legend of Buddha, Son of Aladdin, Tenali Rama and Ramayana – The Legend of Prince Ram.

Now the network is planning on something big and a first of sorts. “We are open to hearing animation script ideas from individuals as well as studios in India and then develop the series for Cartoon Network and Pogo. They could be series, feature films or pre-school shows,” says Ross.

Ross is in charge of overseeing the overall strategy for Tena’s two existing teams – the Hong Kong based Creative Services as well as the India based Original Productions. One of Ross’ mandate at Tena is to set up and manage a new Asia Pacific animation development structure in India, which will focus on new Indian animation projects.

The network will decide whether to produce the new series in-house or commission it to Indian studios. Tena will be funding the production for the series.

“The approach is creative driven. We are looking for the big idea in Indian animation. We are open to talking to people who have a distinct creative vision. The aim is to find the next William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Chuck Jones or Craig McCracken,” says Ross.

However, whether the series will be solely for the Indian market or will be aired in the international markets as well is a decision the network will take at a much later stage. Ross’ 12-member team will look to set the ball rolling in this direction.

This surely could be music to the ears of aspiring animators in India… provided they have the Big Idea!

May 17, 2006
Hong Kong’s PCCW to broadcast real-time TV over 3G network

MUMBAI: The Hong Kong-based PCCW Mobile announced it has become the world’s first mobile provider to broadcast real-time TV over its 3G network, using Cell Multimedia Broadcast (CMB) technology.

The service was demonstrated today by PCCW executive director Alex Arena at a keynote address at the 2006 Broadband World Forum Asia, being held in Hong Kong.

PCCW will begin broadcasting programming from its IPTV service, now TV, to its 3G mobile trial customer base, using the CMB technology. The technology, developed by Huawei Technologies, allows broadcasts of television programming to 3G phones, states an official release.

The service is being progressively rolled out throughout Hong Kong, with deployment begun in Hong Kong’s MTR underground railway system nearly complete. Deployment throughout Hong Kong will be completed by end-June, making mobile TV available to all 110,000 users on PCCW mobile’s 3G trial, the release adds.

“This is a significant innovation by PCCW, allowing us to leverage our extensive content line-up to more people, across more of our platforms, fixed and mobile,” PCCW executive director Alex Arena said. “We are excited to bring this groundbreaking 3G technology to our customers – another world first for us.”

CMB technology allows continuous broadcast feeds of TV programming over the 3G mobile network, reaching many more people simultaneously than other current 3G technologies. The technology is ideal for high density urban areas, including underground railways and other forms of public transport. With broadcast technology, network capacity can support large numbers of concurrent users with minimal impact on the network loading, allowing for cost-effective delivery.

Initial program offers over the mobile network will include now TV’s Cantonese-language Business News Channel and other news and sports content. Other entertainment and infotainment programming will be added in time. Sports content from ESPN STAR Sports will be available in two weeks time, including ESPN’s ever-popular SportsCenter news program. Sports event content from Sportev, including action, from next season’s Barclays English Premier League (2006-07), will be available when the football season begins in August, the release informs.

May 16, 2006
India, China to propel Asia- Pacific broadband revenue to $55 billion by 2011; study

MUMBAI: India and China seem to be the key countries, that are likely to propel the growth and increase of broadband revenues in the Asia-Pacific region and double from 20.7 billion US dollars last year to 55.1 billion US dollars in 2011, as indicated by the Arizona based In-Stat research agency.

The research indicates that the broadband future hinges on developing countries. Thus, Asia’s broadband future depends on countries like Thailand, India, China, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

These findings highlight that the broadband user base stood at 86.6 million in 2005 and the number will set to increase nearly threefold to 235.7 million users in five years.

“In less developed markets like China and India, broadband access services are expected to demonstrate impressive growth through 2011, and constitute the bulk of Asia Pacific’s broadband subscriber expansion,” says In-Stat analyst Bryan Wang.

He added, “Wide availability of low prices in cyber cafes in these markets is allowing people to experience broadband services without a fixed charge, which will stimulate potential new subscriptions.”

Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore have been the key drivers of the growth broadband space in the past.

Tier-1 markets Japan and South Korea contributed more than 60 per cent of total revenue in 2005, followed by Tier-2 markets Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and Singapore contributing around 15 per cent, the research firm says.

The findings also highlighted that the next-generation broadband services strategy in markets like Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong is to promote value-added broadband services, driven by the launch of compelling broadband content (i.e. IPTV and VoIP) and innovative broadband pricing plans.

Various connection technologies will be competing through 2011, with the current dominating technology, DSL, facing price competition from cable modem and satellite. In the long run, compelling content or ‘killer broadband applications’, will be the key to success.

This research is part of In-Stat’s Asia Consumer Convergence Service, which takes an in-depth look at digital home networking related products by country as well as applications markets. This makes it an unique service for anyone interested in consumer markets, in extremely dynamic Asian markets such as China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

May 16, 2006
DirecTV signs deal for Viacom’s new jazz channel

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom’s subsidiary Bet is launching a jazz channel Bet J.

Bet has signed a deal with US pay-TV platform DirecTV for carriage. The broadcaster says that jazz, the purest and oldest form of American music, has both chronicled and celebrated the African-American journey. Today jazz is seen, heard and felt in a number of related genres including blues, soul, R&B, Caribbean and neo-soul music.

Bet chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee says, The African-American community looks to Bet to reflect the culture, and in doing so they have come to expect innovation and diversity in programming under our Bet Networks brand. We are happy to respond and to evolve to meet their needs.

Bet Digital Networks executive VP and GM Paxton Baker says, Our new chapter under Bet J will be even more exciting, enticing and multicultural. In fact, the J in our new network name is now more indicative of the complete musical and cultural Journey rather than only jazz.

DirecTV is launching Bet J to continue its tradition of providing the most exciting and unique programming for its customers. Bet J is available on Channel 330 on DirecTVs Total Choice Plus programming package. MTV Networks negotiated this carriage agreement as part of its affiliate sales and marketing representation of Bet Networks.

With the DirecTV launch, Bet J has built a total distribution platform that reaches approximately 21 million homes. In addition to DirecTV, other distributors already carrying Bet J, will now offer the revamped channel for viewers include Charter Communications, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable.

May 13, 2006
Viacom’s Q1 revenues up 12 per cent to $2.37 bn

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has reported a 12 per cent rise in revenues at $2.37 billion for the first quarter ended 31 March 2006.
Eight per cent of the revenue increase was attributable to the acquisition of DreamWorks on 31 January 2006. The growth in revenues reflects a seven per cent increase in the cable networks segment, and a 25 per cent rise in the entertainment segment, including DreamWorks.

Ad revenues, which accounted for 36 per cent of total revenues in the quarter, increased three per cent versus first quarter last year, while affiliate fees, representing 21 per cent of total revenues, increased by nine per cent.

Feature film exploitation accounted for 34 per cent of total revenues, an increase of 26 per cent. Ancillary revenues, which accounted for nine per cent of total revenues for the quarter ended 31 March 2006, increased 14 per cent versus 2005 first quarter results.

In the cable networks segment, US channels revenues were up six per cent. This was partially offset by a decline in international ad revenues of 13 per cent due principally to lower ad spending and change in channel format in the first quarter of this year in Germany.

Affiliate fees were up nine per cent in the first quarter of 2006 with subscriber increases and rate increases both contributing to the growth. Subscriber increases were led by distribution growth at domestic channels including Digital Suite, MTV2, Tempo and Noggin, which added an aggregate of over 40 million subscribers.

In addition Logo, which launched on 30 June 2005, now has 20 million subscribers. Rate increases were strongest among MTV Networks core channels, led by Nickelodeon and MTV. Ancillary revenues were up 15 per cent in the first quarter of 2006, driven primarily by a 36 per cent increase in home video/DVD sales, higher syndication fees resulting from the availability of South Park as well as other licensing and merchandising revenues contributing to the improved performance versus 2005.

Operating income in the cable networks segment rose by eight per cent to $621.1 million in the first quarter of 2006 from $577.5 million in the first quarter of 200. Higher revenues were partially offset by a seven per cent increase in operating expenses.

The increase in operating expenses primarily reflected higher programming costs across domestic channels for shows including The Daily Show and The Colbert Report which air on Comedy Central; acquired movies and Fresh Baked Video Games at Spike; Next, Making the Band and Laguna Beach at MTV; Miss America Pageant on CMT and Lil’ Kim, Countdown to Lockdown and CollegeHill at BET.
Increases for these shows were partially offset by the non-renewal of the WWE package at Spike and the ending of Osbournes and Newlyweds – Nick and Jessica on MTV.

Home entertainment revenues increased by $48.5 million, or 13 per cent to $421.8 million, inclusive of DreamWorks library titles contribution of $74.4 million. Other home video releases for the first quarter 2006, such as Hustle & Flow, Yours, Mine & Ours and Elizabethtown underperformed 2005 releases including Collateral, SpongeBob SquarePants and Without A Paddle.

Television license fees increased by 30 per cent to $220.4 million, including $55.6 million of DreamWorks related revenues which accounted for all of the increase. Worldwide theatrical revenues in 2006 increased by 50 per cent or $39.5 million to $118.9 million. DreamWorks titles She’s the Man, Munich and Match Point added $42.6 million in the quarter, partially offset by declines as Failure to Launch and Last Holiday, in theaters in the first quarter of 2006, underperformed 2005 titles including SpongeBob SquarePants, Lemony Snicket and Coach Carter.

Ancillary revenues increased by 78 per cent to $63.8 million driven primarily by increased revenues related to the rental of studio space.

Commenting on the result, Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone said, “The exceptional businesses and strong brands of Viacom are very well-positioned as we move into an increasingly multi-platform environment. Looking ahead, we believe we can create long-term value for our shareholders and outperform the industry as we deliver our content in more ways than ever before to even larger audiences.”

Added Viacom president, CEO Tom Freston, “There’s great excitement and momentum at Viacom. First off, we completed our first quarter as a new, focused and more nimble company. We closed the acquisition of DreamWorks and sold the library, continued to make strong progress in the execution of our digital strategy and hit many all-time viewership highs at MTV Networks and Bet Networks. We did face some challenges in the overseas ad market, but we have already taken steps that we believe will put that business back on track to deliver on its growth potential.

“Overall we’re pleased with the way our company performed, and are continually working to ensure that investors fully realize the success of our strong brands, film, cable and digital content and multiplatform opportunities. I’m very comfortable with our progress and our outlook, and am confident that we’ll meet our 2006 goals.”

May 12, 2006
Dish TV appeals to govt against MTV, Nick

MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra’s DTH service Dish TV has upped the ante by invoking government help in getting those TV channels on board who have refused to do so till now.

Dish TV’s wrath has been particularly directed at MTV and Nick with which the former has been fighting a legal battle since last year.

In a letter to the information and broadcasting ministry, Dish TV has petitioned that despite sector regulator’s directive on making available content to all platforms and a favourable judgement from disputes tribunal TDSAT, the “conduct of MTV” has been “clearly in violation” of the interconnection regulation of 2004.

Dish TV’s parent ASC Enterprises has contended despite carrying on commercial negotiations with MTV Networks India for several months, the content provider and its distributors in India (One Alliance) have stalled any fruitful conclusion of such talks.

The Dish TV letter to the government states, “We would request you to take cognizance of the consistent refusal of MTV Networks to provide the channels, MTV and Nick, on our DTH platform and non-compliance of the interconnect regulation of Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)
and the order of TDSAT before the registration certificate for downlinking of (the) channels is granted to the broadcaster.”

The government while acknowledging the letter from Dish said it hasn’t taken a view on the issue yet.

In a related development, an executive of Dish TV said it will be “placing the execution appeal” at the TDSAT within few days.

Contacted by Indiantelevision.com, MTV senior vice-president, network development South Asia (licensing and merchandising) Sanjeev Hiremath, refused to comment saying the matter relating to Dish TV was subjudice.

A spokesperson for Discovery-Sony joint venture One Alliance today said that negotiations with Dish TV have been continuing fruitfully and are “likely to be concluded in a few days time.”

ASC Enterprises, the DTH licence holder for Dish TV, had moved TDSAT in 2005 against MTV’s refusal to provide its channels for the DTH platform.

Early this year, TDSAT directed MTV to make available its channels to Dish TV on a commercial basis within 30 days by 10 March, 2006.

MTV Networks appealed against the TDSAT order in the Supreme Court, which admitted the appeal, but did not stay the disputes tribunal’s order.

During the last hearing on 9 May, the apex court said the case would be taken up again on 12 July after the summer recess.

Dish TV has also moved the TDSAT against Star India on similar grounds of noncompliance of interconnect regulations.

May 12, 2006
Viacom completes sale of Paramount Pictures’ DreamWorks film library

MUMBAI: Viacom Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of Paramount Pictures’ DreamWorks film library to Soros Strategic Partners LP and Dune Entertainment II LLC, an affiliate of Dune Capital Management LP.

The companies announced they had entered into an agreement for the transaction on 17 March.

Viacom’s Paramount Pictures announced in February this year that, it closed on its acquisition of DreamWorks SKG for $1.6 billion in cash and assumption of debt. Under the agreement, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen of DreamWorks will remain in their respective roles as producer/director and chairman.

May 9, 2006
Discovery Travel & Living premieres reality show ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ from 15 May

MUMBAI: Taking the Theme Week series forward from 15-24 May, niche channel Discovery Travel & Living premieres India’s first cookery and chef’s life based reality programme Hell’s Kitchen. Host Gordon Ramsay’s name is synonymous with outstanding fine dining, apart from being known as the most the foulest-mouthed chef in Britain.

With Hell’s Kitchen, Discovery Travel & Living brings an entertaining reality series like no other. Watch the Michelin starred chef who gives new meaning to the word rude and gives a whole new dictionary of new and original insults for all who appear on the show. The series will air from 15 – 19 May at 9 pm.

Footballer turned chef Ramsay’s legendary temper precedes him and has made him a favourite with viewers abroad.

For Ramsay, failure is not an option. In this series of Hell’s Kitchen, twelve aspiring chefs compete to impress Gordon Ramsay as he works to open a world-class restaurant and discover the next culinary star who will get to own his or her dream restaurant.

Discovery Networks India vice president – Lifestyle Aditya Tripathi said, “Hell’s Kitchen is filled with a variety of emotions making the programme highly entertaining. Every participant has to display real nerve, mental toughness and great culinary skills to win the restaurant.”

In Hell’s Kitchen, Ramsay is often compared to American Idol host Simon Cowell, but Ramsay actually makes Simon Cowell look very meek. Ramsay is rude and crude not only to his employees and participants but also to his customers.

The participants have varying culinary experience but they all have a passion for food and the ambition to open their own restaurant in common. In the process of achieving perfection, Gordon unleashes on his subjects the utmost degree of battering and pressure.

One has to be as determined and ready to risk their sanity before subjecting themselves to even attempt to cook with Ramsay breathing down their neck. Gordon Ramsay’s serves up helpings of terror, tears, tantrums and triumphs as cameras follow the competing chefs to reveal who will survive the heat of Hell’s Kitchen.

Examples of Gordon’s wrath that makes the programme unique, captivating and entertaining, including rewards & appalling punishments:

>Ramsay passed the two teams to his maitre d’ for a lesson in how to properly set a dining table. The teams then had to replicate a sample table containing over 90 items within a five minute time period. The winning team received an afternoon of spa treatments, while the losing team had to clean and polish all the glass and silverware and set all 100 tables in the restaurant.

>Ramsay gave the contestants 15-minutes to create an original dish out of a tray of 15 different leftovers from the previous evening’s service.

Ramsay became an OBE for services to the hospitality industry in Her Majesty’s New Year’s honours list for 2006. The remaining five episodes of Hell’s Kitchen will air every Monday, from 22 May till 19 June at 10 pm.

May 8, 2006
McDonald’s and Warner Home Video introduce new live action home entertainment DVDs

MUMBAI: Children will be entertained and inspired to achieve happy active lives as McDonald’s and Warner Home Video (WHV) unveil two live-action home entertainment specials, with McKids Adventures Volume 1: Get Up and Go with Ronald and McKids Adventures Volume 2: Treasure Hunt with Ronald. Both will be available on 15 August 2006 and will be available globally.

Produced in association with Dic Entertainment, the worldwide licensor for the McKids brand, The McKids Adventures DVD specials are part of McDonald’s active lifestyle campaign which promotes physical activity.

In each DVD, Ronald McDonald leads a group of children through various adventures that entertain, engage and inspire while providing opportunities for singing and dancing along the way. Volume 1 and 2 will be sold separately and each will retail at $14.98.

“We are pleased to be able to offer parents high-quality videos that not only educate and entertain children, but also encourage them at an early age to develop an active lifestyle. Ronald McDonald is loved and admired by kids around the world. Children look up to him as a wonderful role model and he’s the ideal personality to star in this DVD series,” said Warner Home Video vice president kids and sports marketing Dorinda Marticorena.

“This new high-energy series is another way that McDonald’s is committed to helping families lead active lifestyles. Ronald McDonald makes it easy for kids to learn how much fun being active can be,” said McDonald’s senior director global marketing Cathy Nemeth.

The DVDs are packed with original music videos which are sure to get kids up on their feet and participating in the fun.

WHV will promote the debut of McKids Adventures Volume 1: Get Up and Go with Ronald and McKids Adventures Volume 2: Treasure Hunt with Ronald with a broad consumer advertising campaign that encompasses national television and print media outlets. McKids Adventures will be trailered on all WHV Kids Summer and Fall DVD releases as well as in select McDonald’s restaurants.

May 6, 2006