ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Comcast Corporation acquires Susquehanna Communications

    Comcast Corporation acquires Susquehanna Communications

    MUMBAI: Comcast Corporation has announced that it has completed the previously announced purchase of Susquehanna Communications, the cable television and broadband services division of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff.

    In the transaction, according to an official release, Comcast is acquiring systems primarily in Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, and Mississippi for a net cash investment of approximately $540 million or $440 million after taking into account certain tax benefits. Comcast previously owned approximately 30 percent of Susquehanna Communications.

    Comcast chairman & CEO Brian L. Roberts said, “These systems geographically complement our existing service areas, and have been very well managed and fully upgraded. We look forward to serving our new customers with our advanced products and services.”

    “Our employees are looking forward to providing advanced telecommunication services from Comcast for years to come with the same high level of quality and service that our customers have become accustomed to,” said Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff president and CEO Bill Simpson.

    With the addition of Susquehanna’s approximately 230,000 basic cable customers, 71,000 digital cable customers and 86,000 high-speed Internet customers, Comcast now serves a total of 21.7 million basic cable customers, 10.2 million digital cable customers and 9 million high-speed Internet customers.

    Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as exclusive financial advisor to Comcast Corporation and UBS Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial advisor to Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff.

  • Zoom rolls out red carpet for ‘Glam Awards’

    Zoom rolls out red carpet for ‘Glam Awards’

    MUMBAI: Zoom, the lifestyle channel from the Times group has brought glamour to the forefront. The channel held the Tuscan Verve Zoom Glam Awards where it succeeded in letting subtle elegance take over from the flaunt-it attitude. Taking a step forward from two of its successful shows, Page 3 and Popkorn, the Glam Awards is a channel positioning statement.

    Hosts Kamal Sidhu & Ash Chandler

    Hosted by Kamal Sidhu and Ash Chandler, it was one of the glitziest nights for the glamour industry as local celebrities went for understated elegance in gracing this first time held event. Colours were everywhere with many opting for sophistication and class, emphasising a confident attitude as opposed to brashness.

    Zoom looked to redefine the red carpet business by inviting a select gathering of people who epitomized personal style.Although the show looked to the past and present, it was also a powerful statement for a return of grace and sensuality in today’s fast paced life.

    An anticipated 200 odd guests including celebrities, very limited media presence, socialites and trend-setters walked the red carpet into a world of glamour and prestige.

    The celebrity culture has coined a phrase for its high profile glamour red carpet dressing. And, Indian style icons seem to be backing away from glitter. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com COO Upen Roop Rai said, “There has been incredible anticipation to this event. It went off even better than imagined.”

    The event had international standard performances by Shibani Kashyap, Shaheen Shaikh, Carol Gracias, Anchal Kumar and Diandra Soares. The finale act was performed by ex Miss India and Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia. The fresh new look at the glamour and glitz of Bollywood dance extravaganzas seen in the performances by the models is set to have the town talking.

    Models Carol, Diandra & Anchal dancing to “Kaisi paheli”
    A select gathering of guests graced the sit down function and all the awardees created a version of silver-screen stardom with amazing grace, in accepting the honour bestowed on them.

    Suave industrialist Gautam Singhania when accepting the Most Stylish Businessman Award said, “India is on the move. Zoom has helped change the image that businees people are boring. This award reveals our glamourous side.”

    Pooja Bedi, Bipasha Basu & Ritu Kumar
    Bollywood actor John Abraham said, “It feels nice to know that my simplicity is recognised as a glam quotient today.”

    Young designer Gaurav Gupta said, “Glamour is relative to time and perception. It is an honour to be recognised for how I present myself.”

    “People are fascinated by the world of glamour that is almost attainable – which is what celebrities are about,” Rai said. “The whole pageantry of dressing up is such an indulgence for our niche gathering. And, getting recognized for it is part of the emotion of the event.”

    The winners seem to be forging a new low-key evening look that blurs the boundaries between day and night where comfort is key. Among the celebs present were Mandira Bedi, Bipasha Basu, Anil Chopra, Hariharan, Bappi Lahiri, Neena Gupta, Dipannita Sharma, Pooja Bedi,, Nethra Raghuraman, Shruti Seth, Ashish Raheja, Art Surendranath, Shiny Ahuja,Kelly Dorji and Times Group MD Vineet Jain.

    In showcasing an event that highlights glamour among individuals from across different fields in society, Zoom has awarded stylish stalwarts in a glitzy night that will be remembered by all. The following are the winners of the Zoom Glam Awards held at the Hilton, Mumbai:
    Most Glam Actor ( Female) : Kareena Kapoor
    Most Glam Actor (Male) : John Abraham
    Most Talked About Debutant ( Male) : Kunal Kapoor
    Most Talked About Debutant ( Female) : Vidya Balan
    Most Stylish Businessman : Guatam Singhania
    Glam Sports Star : Yuvraj Singh
    Politician With Panache : Prafful Patel
    Glam Music Star : Himesh Reshammiya
    Glam Women’s Wear Designer ( Contemperory) : Sabyasachi Mukherjee
    Glam Women’s Wear Designer ( Indian) : Ritu Kumar
    Glam Men’s Wear Designer : Narendra Kumar Ahmed
    Glam Debutant Designer : Gaurav Gupta
    Glam Model ( Male) : Muzamil Abraham
    Glam Model ( Female) : Neha Kapoor
    Glam Photographer : Atul Kasbekar

    These awards are a logical extension of the Zoom brand identity of being a ‘Glamour & Lifestyle Television’ channel. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com prior to the event, the channel’s national sales head MK Anand said, “This event will emphasize the fact that Zoom is reaching new standards of excellence in the television industry.”

    Gautam Singhania receives his award from Ritu Kumar
    Recognising individuals in areas of fashion, music, business and politics amongst other categories, Zoom focused on the individual’s style and attitude. “The Awards is a step to recognize glam which is such an important quotient in our society today,” said Anand.

    Tuscan Verve, with its inimitable brand, reputation and all-round glamour was the main sponsor to the event. The other sponsors were National Institute of Fashion and Design, Reliance, D’Damas, Flying Cats, Pepsi, Sony Ericcson and the co-sponsors were Chateau Indage, Evian, Seagrams and Bright Advertising.

    Zoom will telecast a curtain-raiser including clips from Behind The Scenes and Red Carpet, on 7 May at 9 pm and the final event will be aired on 14 May at 9 pm.

  • Microsoft beats Google to win Amazon.com account

    Microsoft beats Google to win Amazon.com account

    MUMBAI: Microsoft Corp. has snatched the Amazon.com account from Google. The internet retailer will now be using the Microsoft technology Windows Live to power its toolbar and the A9 online search engine.

    Confirming the development to Reuters, A9 CEO David Tennenhouse said Google search was removed from the site on 30 April, following the expiration of that contract. He added that Windows Live presented a very powerful web search option that had previously been featured on the A9 site.

    Microsoft launched Windows Live to win online advertising pie away from Google and Yahoo.

    Amazon’s search engine A9 breaks down searches into various categories such as web searches, book searches and blog searches.

  • Cable operators black out Star chnls in Kolkata

    Cable operators black out Star chnls in Kolkata

    MUMBAI: A majority of cable networks in Kolkata have blacked out the Star group of channels, protesting against a seven per cent rate hike. Another contention is the forcing of the second bouquet which includes channels like Star One.

    The Star channels including Star Plus are not available to most viewers in the city since Saturday midnight. The decision was taken by the last mile operators (LMOs) who also blamed Tata Sky, in which Star is a 20 per cent joint venture partner, for approaching housing societies with the offer of a central dish antenna through which individual installations could be provided for direct-to-home (DTH) service.

    Indian Cable Net (which was bought out by Siticable) and Manthan Cable Network, the two big multi-system operators (MSOs) in the city, are not having the Star channels on their cable systems. “We were asked by the last mile operators not to carry the Star channels,” says an executive in Indian Cable Net.

    Earlier, Star had switched off signals to Manthan after claiming outstandings of over Rs 20 million. “Manthan owed us money and we switched off signals on 15 March after giving a month’s notice. There is no reason for the other cable operators blacking us out as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has allowed a seven per cent hike,” says a Star India spokesperson.

    Manthan director Gurmeet Singh admits Star was off the network from 15 March, but says the case regarding dues is pending in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

    The protest against carriage of the Star channels was led by the Forum of Cable Operators and Cable Operators Sanjukta, two association bodies of the last mile operators in the city. “Star was asking for a hike, which we couldn’t have passed on to the consumers. Besides, Tata Sky, where Star is a partner, is wanting to grab subscribers by offering housing societies free cabling from a single central antenna,” says Cable Operators Sanjukta spokesperson Papi Banerjee.

    Star channels are, however, available on Cablecom and Purvalaya Communications. “Star is also supporting some operators by issuing decoder boxes,” says a last mile operator in Kolkata.

  • IBF board to discuss CAS on 5 April

    IBF board to discuss CAS on 5 April

    NEW DELHI: Even as Siti Cable today made a presentation on conditional access system to stakeholders during a government-sponsored meeting, the broadcasters said the issue of rollout would be discussed at a board meeting before they finalise their stand.

    The Siti Cable presentation basically dwelt on various aspects of CAS, but hinged on the fact that between 180-200 days would be needed as preparation time for final rollout of addressability in Indian cable homes in the metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

    Siti Cable is also in favour of standardization of all contractual agreements that are entered between a broadcaster and MSO; an MSO and a cable operator and a local operator and a consumer.

    Though the six-hour long meeting took up various viewpoints and modalities that could be followed before the government notifies a date for rollout of CAS, representatives from most major pay broadcasters did not attend today’s meeting.

    Those who could be said to be representing the broadcasting community included a senior official from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), an apex body of all broadcasters active in India, and Zee Telefilms’ Jawahar Goel.

    Broadcasters haven’t yet given a formal submission to the government on CAS, which is expected to come through on 7 April when the government will hold another round of meeting with industry stakeholders.

    Meanwhile, Indiantelevision.com learns that the board of IBF will discuss addressability in a meeting on Wednesday (5 April).

    Some of the issues relating to CAS implementation, which have been informally raised by broadcasters with the government, include piracy, quality of service and parameters to decide standardized agreements amongst industry stakeholders.

    It is also learnt that the broadcasters are averse to supplying maximum retail price for a TV channel for the end consumer.

    The pay broadcasters, yet to articulate their final stand on this issue, feel a mechanism could be evolved whereby wholesale price of individual channels and bouquets could be supplied to MSOs who then could decide what a channel should cost to the consumer after including their margins for providing a service.

    After today’s meeting, an independent cable operator of Delhi, Dr. AK Rastogi, said, “We have been discussing CAS for few days now. But to me, it seems, final implementation, as directed by the Delhi High Court, will take more time than what had been envisaged.”

  • In the brave new digital world, content could really be king

    In the brave new digital world, content could really be king

    “If content is King and distribution is God, then God save the King!” That was Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma speaking at a recent industry seminar.

    In these times of increasing channel influx onto already overloaded analogue cable systems, the distribution God is certainly making the content king do the merry carriage dance. Reminds one of the ever-worsening infrastructural mess that is Mumbai actually, where people are paying more and more for less and worse but with a big difference. Mumbai’s is a story that is looking more hopeless by the day, while in this case there is much optimism about the future.

    True, for the short to medium term, it will be the distribution God in whose hands will lie the fate of the content King. But once the dust has settled on all of this and the new platforms like digital cable, DTH, IPTV and mobile TV have reached critical mass, then it will be content that will hold sway, and how.

    True, for the short to medium term, it will be the distribution God in whose hands will lie the fate of the content King
    _____****_____

    Disney’s ABC network is already pointing one of the ways forward with its new online service of free programming. As part of a two-month-long experiment, Disney-ABC Television Group will be offering ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series online at www.abc.go.com.

    What’s the logic working here? Is ABC getting Get ‘Desperate’ and ‘Lost’ as regards its online strategy. Not at all. It all makes sense if we keep in mind that if there is one place where the dominant culture is to access content for free, it is the Web.

    So if ABC is trying to transpose the “traditional advertising driven network model” onto the Web there is already an inbuilt advantage over television. It is that while the whole TiVo, time-shifting, DVR mentality is now carrying over to the Web, the consumer cannot zap out the ads. And since many of the ads will be interactive, advertisers will be guaranteed even greater value.

    The content creators that stay ahead of the curve and the distribution platform providers most alive to the challenges and opportunities that the digital world offers will be the ones who will reap the benefits
    _____****_____

    Closer to home, companies like Reliance and Airtel expect to start IPTV services by the end of this year. And for a basic package they are promising rates as cheap as your current cable TV charges. No one is trying to say there won’t be teething problems (and knowing the ground realities here, these would probably be pretty severe). In India the biggest problem is going to be unbundling of the so called last mile, which basically means that incumbent operators like BSNL or MTNL should allow other operators to use their copper wires.

    With the imminent arrival of Tata-Sky DTH, Zee’s Dish TV ramping up and the big telecom players aggressively pushing ahead with IPTV and mobile TV, the value of quality content can only go up. We see some sort of shakeout — both on the content as well as the technology side by 2008.

    In the meanwhile, the content creators that stay ahead of the curve and the distribution platform providers most alive to the challenges and opportunities that the digital world offers will be the ones who will reap the benefits.

    There could well be a lesson in this for the cable fraternity too. Market forces could soon make the whole CAS debate irrelevant and the MSOs may well end up “missing the addressability bus”.

    Maybe MSOs should instead be focussing their efforts on attractively packaging and marketing CAS to their direct points to begin with and concurrently convincing their franchisees of the need to get CAS going, government or no government.

    The cable fraternity has a huge first mover advantage vis-?-vis pushing addressability because they own the last mile. Maybe they should as aggressively be chasing market-driven addressability as they are the mandating of CAS. A twin strategy would better cover their bases one would think.

    As for the content game, to quote John Hendricks, chairman of Discovery Communications Inc, from a recent report: “Newly empowered TV consumers will drive networks to improve their offerings, putting a ‘great squeeze’ on ‘marginal quality content’. They’re in control now.”

    Not in India, they’re not. But they will be. Of that nobody need have any doubt.

  • Hathway expands in north, acquires 51% in a Kanpur cable network

    Hathway expands in north, acquires 51% in a Kanpur cable network

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable & Datacom is expanding its cable TV network in the northern region through the acquisition route. After buying a controlling stake in two local cable TV networks in Chandigarh and Mohali, the multi-system operator (MSO) is expanding its footprint in Kanpur.

    Hathway has acquired 51 per cent equity in JMD Sherawali Network, a leading cable operator in Kanpur, for an undisclosed amount.
    “By reaching out to Kanpur, it will be an important start for us into the core Uttar Pradesh market. JMD Sherawali Network has a 60 per cent market share in Kanpur. We have bought 51 per cent stake in the network,” said Hathway Cable & Datacom CEO and MD K Jayaraman.
    The MSOs are selectively expanding their cable networks. Last year, rival MSO Siticable bought out Indian Cable Net from the RPG Group to become the dominant MSO in Kolkata. Hathway has swung into action this year with the first acquisition made in February.

    With this acquisition, Hathway will be operating its cable TV services in 14 cities. Hathway’s cable TV is already available in cities across the nation including Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Nashik, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Vijaywada, Jalandhar and Mysore. The MSO is currently offering digital cable services in New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

    Besides the analogue business, Hathway is also making efforts to rolout its digital services. The MSO will be launching gaming on its digital cable TV services by April-end. For the gaming technology, Hathway has selected NDS. Though available free, the commercial launch is likely to take about a month.

    “The gaming feature will be available to all our digital customers initially on a free of cost basis from end of April. Many more games will be added in the course of the year,” said Jayaraman.

  • CAS: Gloves off as IBF, cable frat hurl charges

    CAS: Gloves off as IBF, cable frat hurl charges

    NEW DELHI: The game of ping-pong being played in the name of Conditional Access System (CAS) took another turn today with the broadcasters and cable fraternity hitting out against each other as the government reserved its verdict on the issue of rollout of addressability.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation today made it clear in a submission to the information and broadcasting ministry that all addressable systems should be mandated like CAS and providing a la carte pricing of channels would not be in the interest of consumers. Indiantelevision.com had reported on Wednesday that this was the stand the IBF would be taking on the CAS imbroglio.

    While the government is yet to firm up its stand from the wide-ranging industry feedback, which, if taken into account, would push CAS rollout to fourth quarter of 2006, the Hinduja-owned IndusInd Media Communication Ltd has said that the government should honour the court verdict in the light of CAS being operational in Chennai since 2003 without any objections being raised by stakeholders.

    The Delhi High Court on 10 March had directed the government to implement CAS in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi within one month’s time, which is about to get over technically this month. But it needs to be seen when the government received a certified copy of the court order.

    Interestingly, at a meeting that the government had with industry stakeholders today on CAS, the issue of registering of CAS operators with the government and the whole process of doing it, is likely to add to the delay.

    A new sequencing of CAS rollout submitted by Siti Cable at the meeting, according to government sources, states the date of implementation should 14 November 2006 with the time in between used for getting ready for a CAS-enabled regime.

    The IBF’s submission has not only created more confusion, but has enraged a certain section of the cable industry too.

    At one place in its letter to the I&B ministry, the IBF has said that the government should stop the cable industry from charging huge amount of carriage fees, which raised the hackles of cable ops present during today’s meeting.

    In a separate submission to the ministry, the Delhi-based National Cable & Telecommunications Association has, in turn, requested the government to direct the pay broadcasters not to play tough.

    “If the pay channels demand more time for the implementation of conditional access system in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, then it is imperative that they must be directed to immediately stop collecting monthly subscription from the cable service providers till CAS comes into force,” NCTA has said.

    Though the NCTA letter exhorts the government to “exercise its powers” and direct the pay channels to declare rates of their individual channels and fix an upper limit for pricing of individual; channels and bouquets, the I&B ministry representatives at the meeting today did not utter any word on these issues.

  • Amitabh Srivastava quits Walt Disney India

    Amitabh Srivastava quits Walt Disney India

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Television International (India) director affiliate relations Amitabh Srivastava is quitting the company in search of news challenges.

    Today, was his last day in office.

    A company spokesperson confirmed the same to Indiantelevision.com, citing that no replacement had been found as yet.

    As director affiliate relations, Srivastava was mandated with the task of working with Disney India’s distribution partner, Star India, to manage all aspects of cable and satellite distribution and network development.

    For the last couple of months however, Srivastava was working closely with Disney India director business development Shantanu Nalavadi in strategising and executing Disney’s growth initiatives for India across television, licensing and merchandising, radio, on-line gaming, mobile and broadband content, studio, home video, publishing and animation.

    Srivastava joined Disney in January 2005 from the TV Today Network where he was head of distribution and network development. He was an integral part of the team at TV Today, which helped in launching Aaj Tak and Headlines Today.

    Prior to his stint with TV Today, Srivastava was with BBC World’s Indian operation and has also held senior management positions at MTV and The Times of India.

    On being queried as to where his next destination would be, Srivastava said, “I’m taking a break right now and have not yet decided where I am going.”

  • MTV Networks Asia & Motorola to launch digital entertainment platform ‘Mobbed’

    MTV Networks Asia & Motorola to launch digital entertainment platform ‘Mobbed’

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks Asia in collaboration with Motorola, a company involved in wireless and broadband communications, is set to launch a digital entertainment platform ‘Mobbed’.

    Targeting the youth, `Mobbed’ will be available on mobile, on-air and online from tomorrow (1 April). The entertainment platform will be available to Asia-Pacific youths spanning across seven countries – India, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

    At a recent Ficci Frames in Mumbai, Viacom CEO Tom Freston said the company would be ramping up its digital media initiatives.

    Mobbed is the first-ever digitally focused integrated platform MTV Networks Asia has embarked on, the company said in a release. It will feature everything from free downloads to opportunities to control the storylines of ongoing animated segments.

    The various mobbed icons features include Motoalert, Mob Squad, Mobtage, besides contest, games and blogs.

    Mobbed, the on-air show, will be fronted by local MTV VJs. In India, MTV VJ Nauheed will be fronting the show.

    In Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, MTV VJ Max, a new member of the MTV VJ family, will host the programme .MTV VJ Nathan (Australia), MTV VJ Cathy (Indonesia) and MTV VJ Tye (Thailand) will provide audience with the latest Mobbed updates weekly on the respective channels.

    Motoalert will not only provide Mobbers with the latest news, gossips, downloads and activities, but also focus on a new artist each month, allowing the Mobbers with “full-access” and knowledge of this act.

    “Mobbed reinforces MTV’s commitment to connect with our audience on every platform possible. Not only do we create fun and cool branded content that can be downloaded easily at the click of a button, such as the Mob Squad mobile animated series, but we also allow for user-generated content so youth can express themselves and take over MTV via the cutting-edge MMS to TV platform – Mobtage,” commented MTV Networks Asia Pacific president Nigel Robbins. “This expanded development is testimony to the success we have enjoyed with Motorola. With Motorola’s technology and personalization intelligence and MTV’s widespread influence on youth, Mobbed will empower Asian youth to further interact in the wireless world.”

    We are extremely excited about the Mobbed property and our relationship with MTV Networks Asia. MTV helps Motorola to re-energize our brand image and gain greater resonance with our youth mobile users,” commented Neil Stewart, Marketing Director of Motorola Mobile Devices Business, High Growth Markets. “With the launch of Mobbed by MTV and Motorola, we will be providing an even more creative and innovative platform for youth to get branded entertainment via their mobile screens,” he added.