ITV

Category: DTH Operator

  • TCS wins Qualcomm wireless reach Brew application funding

    TCS wins Qualcomm wireless reach Brew application funding

    MUMBAI: Qualcomm, a developer of code division multiple access (CDMA) technology for mobile communications, has announced the selection of winners for its $ 1 million wireless reach Brew application funding program.

    The program challenges developers to create the most innovative Brew public service application in one of five areas: healthcare, education, public safety, governance and the environment.

    The grand prize winner is Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). TCS will receive a grant for $ 100,000 for development of its proposed application. The application development team, led by TCS’ head of advanced technology and applications, Dr Arun Pande, will demonstrate how CDMA networks can help provide specific and useful advice to farmers and spread the benefits of technology deep into rural India at an affordable cost. For the grand prize, Qualcomm will also apply additional funds to put TCS’ proposal into action through a new or existing wireless reach project.

    The other grant recipients include Bandung Institute of Technology, Beijing InfoQuick SinoVoice Speech Technology Corp, BeWell Mobile Technology and University of California, Berkeley.

    “Qualcomm is very proud to recognize these organizations and their creative efforts to develop Brew applications that will serve the public interest,” said Qualcomm CEO Dr Paul Jacobs. “The innovative applications they’ll design hold great potential to enhance the quality of life for all who use them. As mobile broadband services expand into underserved communities, we’re pleased to support these developers in our shared commitment to improve the way people communicate and access information around the world.”

  • France to set pace for digital TV in Europe: Study

    France to set pace for digital TV in Europe: Study

    MUMBAI: France has set a new benchmark for European digital television (DTV) policy.

    Strategy Analytics Broadband Media and Communications service has come out with a study Digital TV Transition: Europe Watches France’s Mandates As Terrestrial HDTV Arrives.

    France’s new ‘TV of the Future’ law has taken an important step towards high definition television (HDTV) on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform by allocating capacity for HD channels and mandating HD tuners in HD-Ready TV sets.

    These decisions will have ramifications for other countries in Europe, which will watch these developments with interest. There will also be important lessons from the French approach to licensing HD channels that takes place over the next few months.

    According to this report, the decisions made in France will put increased pressure on other European countries to accelerate their own policies towards HD on DTT platforms.

    Strategy Analytics principal analyst David Mercer says, “Most other European countries are still at the discussion stage regarding the introduction of HDTV on their DTT platforms.

    “France has taken an important lead by allocating the capacity for HDTV and ensuring that future HDTVs will be able to receive these new channels. The industry will be satisfied that France has set clear policy goals on these important issues.”

    Also according to the report, France’s plan to switch off analogue television broadcasts by 30 November, 2011 remains an ambitious goal, given much of the country’s still heavy dependence on those signals. But the country’s aggressive top-down approach to policy setting gives much-needed clarity to industry decision makers, which will allow technology vendors and service providers to plan with confidence.

  • BBC in content deal with Chinese portal

    BBC in content deal with Chinese portal

    MUMBAI: Users of Chinese web portal QQ.com can now learn English directly from the site thanks to a partnership deal with BBC World Service. It is the first Chinese portal to enter content partnership with the BBC.

    From today 14 February 2007, users of the portal will be able to access BBC Learning English content specially tailored for Chinese speakers.

    BBC Learning English teaches reading, listening and comprehension. It explains various points of the English language through human interest stories and topics including UK lifestyle and culture.

    The BBC will start English teaching on QQ.com with two popular features, Take Away English and Quizzes. Take Away English the BBC says has been a hit with Chinese users as it offers MP3 audio and pdf text downloads, so the learner can quite literally take away the BBC’s English lessons.

    Topics range from the latest Harry Potter book and online gaming to Chinese football players, and include listening, reading, exercises and an audio glossary. Quizzes offers learners an interactive test of their English vocabulary and grammar and helps them with teacher feedback.

    Looking ahead at what BBC Learning English has in store for Chinese online users, Alison Konieczny, who is the editor of BBC English Language Teaching China team said, “We are planning to treat Chinese learners to two more features which will enrich their English vocabulary in fun and entertaining ways. Real English teaches words and phrases learners won’t necessarily find in their dictionaries, and Word Master is an interactive game which tests and teaches vocabulary common in English proficiency exams.”

    “I can’t think of a better day to launch our partnership with QQ.com than 14 February, which of course is Valentine’s Day. It’s a memorable day for a lot of people, and I hope Chinese learners will fall in love with our BBC pages and make us a regular date!”

    BBC World Service’s Business Development Manager for China and North Asia, Raymond Li said, “We are delighted to partner with one of the leading national portal sites in China to provide quality English learning content to many learners in China. Internet has become an increasingly popular and effective learning platform among young people, and the BBC has been building up successful partnership with China’s local portal sites over last few years. Our new partnership deal with QQ.com will help us reach more online learners in China, therefore bringing more benefit to them, too.”

    BBC Learning English offers English language teaching programmes and online content for a global radio and online audience.

    English learning materials are available online at bblearningenglish.com and, for Chinese speakers, on bbcchina.com.cn.

  • MSN survey reveals softer side of male gamers

    MSN survey reveals softer side of male gamers

    MUMBAI: According to a recent survey commissioned by Microsoft’s MSNGames, a casual gaming site, Americans are feeling more stressed out and starved for time than ever.

    56 per cent of men (age 18 to 34) and 71 per cent of women (age 18 to 34) spend less than an hour on themselves a day engaged in activities that provide downtime or alone time and are pampering or relaxing to them.

    Once considered a simple leisure pursuit, playing casual games – including action and arcade, puzzle, word and trivia, and card and board games — is among the activities men and women said they like to engage in when they have just 20 minutes to ‘recharge’ during the day.

    Although stress reduction and mental dexterity are often cited as reasons people of all ages play casual online games, males in the 18 to 34 age bracket are most likely to list playing games as a daily escape – a chance to indulge in some “me time.” Men are also more likely than their female counterparts to play a game at work, with males age 18 to 34 most likely to sneak in a quick game during their day.

    With many people indicating they have a mere 60 minutes a day to spend on relaxing activities, it is no wonder U.S. men and women are seeking easy, quick stress-reduction techniques. As a result, MSN Games has teamed up with Dr. Kathleen Hall, the founder of the Stress Institute, to urge Americans to resolve to “Take Back Your Time” this year and engage in activities that help reduce stress and give the brain a boost.

    Dr. hall says, “Reclaiming just 10 minutes of ‘me time’ each day can greatly improve your sense of well-being. Stress can have a catastrophic effect on our mental, physical and spiritual health. In today’s harried and hectic world, taking time out for stress-reducing activities is no longer a luxury, but a 21st-century necessity.”

    More than 13 million people each month play ‘brain food’ games on MSN Games, such as the numeric logic game “Sudoku,” virtual aquarium “Fish Tycoon,” gem-swapper “Bejeweled 2” and the family favorite card game “UNO.”

    “There is a growing body of medical research that shows stress can cause the memory to become impaired. But playing online casual games, such as brainteasers, crossword puzzles, trivia titles, and any variety of mentally challenging and fun games, can actually stimulate the brain and stimulate new connections between cells” says Dr. Hall.

    The MSN Games survey found that nearly two-thirds of US adults who have played a quick, fun online game in the past 12 months say that they feel less stressed afterward, indicating that arcade-style games are an excellent destination on the road to wellness.

    “We know that ‘play’ de-stresses the body and actually lowers our blood pressure and heart rate. Taking a break to solve a brain-teasing puzzle or take on a fun vocabulary challenge on MSN Games is a perfect way to clear your mind of the clutter and stress that can pile up during the day,” Dr. Hall adds.

  • Govt targets 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010

    Govt targets 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010

    NEW DELHI: Even as President A P J Abdul Kalam declared that the year 2007 will be the ‘Year of Broadband’, there are plans to increase to more than two-fold the broadband and internet users in the country over the next three years.

    In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session, Dr Kalam had said yesterday the government was committed to bridging the digital divide by providing broadband coverage throughout the country. ‘Our information technology sector continues to develop and remain globally competitive’.

    According to the Broadband Policy 2004, there were approximately six million internet and three million broadband subscribers in 2005, and this figure is estimated to rise to 18 million and nine million respectively this year. By the year 2010, India hopes to have 40 million internet and 20 million broadband subscribers.

    Plans are on the anvil to provide broadband services in 400 cities and service providers have plans to reach 1000 cities by the end of 2007. These cities include the 63 cities identified under the National Urban Renewal Mission. The real challenge is to connect the remote villages unconnected so far due to various reasons. One of the viable options for providing connectivity is through wireless mode.

    According to the Sub-Group on ‘Going Digital’ set up by the Planning Commission and headed by Rajeeva Ratna Shah, Member Secretary in the Planning Commission and a former Prasar Bharati CEO, introduction of broadband connectivity opens up new market for providing value added services which can be derived from the digitization.

    The Sub-Group noted that penetration of TV is much higher than PC in the industrialized countries, and provides interactive services including internet on TV and TV on internet. These services can potentially benefit especially the ‘information poor’ and thus reduce the information gap in the society, which is an important implication of the convergence.

    Internet on TV can be provided using Out Of Band (OOB) and In Band (IB) structures. In the IB structure the internet is transmitted alongside with the broadcasting signal. Here the characteristics of the broadcasting infrastructures will have a decisive role on the available services.

    It noted that TV on internet which is also known as WEB TV/Cyber TV will be the future of broadcasting. A precondition for the WEB TV to be able to replace digital TV is the transmission capacity at the end users site increases to such level that it can be possible to provide digital TV services. WEB TV needs to be co-evolved with digital TV and act as complementary for delivery of services.

    The Sub-group has accordingly drawn up a roadmap of digitalization through a a phased approach should be taken for going digital covering all the seven mega cities by 2011 in the first phase and the rest of the country by 2013.

    The Sub-Group comprising seventeen members was set up by the Committee on Information, Communication and Entertainment (ICE) that has been examining the larger issue of convergence and advent of modern technology. Members include the secretaries in Information and Broadcasting and Department of Telecommunications, the Prasar Bharati CEO, the Presidents of CETMA, MAIT, NASSCOM, and ISP Association of India, Co-chairman of the FICCI Entertainment Committee, Chairman of the CII Entertainment Committee, Chairman of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, President of the Cable TV Operators Association, Mr Rajiv Mehrotra who is the Managing Trustee of the Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Mr Virat Bhatia from AT&T Communications Services, Zee Telefilms President Abhijit Saxena, Mr Sameer Rao who is Vice-President in charge of Strategy, Planning & Regulatory in STAR India, and a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office.

    It was also agreed that a group chaired by Mr B S Lalli, the CEO of Prasar Bharati who is also Chairman of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, and some private broadcasters like Star, Zee, Sony, Eenadu etc. and their major MSOs will examine an eleven-stage process and firm up their sequencing and put the entire process on a “digital upgrade timeline”.

    The Sub-group has accepted a recommendation for an eleven-stage process for laying down the migration path for migration from analogue transmission to digital domain:

    i. Testing, publication and adoption of technical standard for digital terrestrial transmission.

    ii. Publication and adoption of national standards for digital cable television.

    iii. Prasar Bharati’s roll out of transmission conversion from analogue terrestrial to digital terrestrial both for radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).

    iv. Introduction of addressability and conditional access system in cable and satellite TV environment.

    v. Road map and commencement of indigenous production of STBs containing features such as (a) digital analogue convertors for delivery of digital signal at subscribers’ end and (b) conditional access and addressability features.

    vi. Publication and adoption of national digital television standards for manufacture of digital receivers.

    vii. Commencement of indigenous production of digital receivers.

    viii. Commencement of digital terrestrial broadcast in selected cities by Prasar Bharati staring with Delhi by 2010 and covering all areas by 2013 in four steps.

    ix. Commencement of HDTV broadcast for Commonwealth Games 2010 by Prasar Bharati.

    x. Commencements of digital signal delivery at subscribers end in Cable and Satellite (C & S) homes.

    xi. Nationwide switch off of analogue broadcast both for terrestrial and C & S homes (2015).

  • Dishtv, Tata Sky plan schemes for World Cup

    Dishtv, Tata Sky plan schemes for World Cup

    MUMBAI: DTH service providers Dishtv and Tata Sky will use the upcoming cricket World Cup to entice their viewers and increase subscription numbers.

    Dishtv has come out with a World Cup For Free offer. It has come out with a special world cup promotional pack at Rs 3990, all inclusive with six months subscription free. This also includes dishtv’s sports active services free for the same six-month period. The offer is being introduced by the dishtv mascot who entices the viewer with his histrionics and invites them to this unique experience only on dishtv.

    Dishtv is positioning itself as offering active services that enable a better than stadium experience for the viewer. Besides digital picture quality and stereophonic sound, viewers will have value added controls.

    The matches can be viewed with multi-camera angles. Subscribers can watch a match through three different camera angles – the main feed, the square leg and the third which will be a mix of stump cam/high wide shot.

    Language Feed: The dish subscriber will have the opportunity to hear the commentary from a choice of five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali along with a live stadium ambient sound.

    Highlights: Match highlights, i.e. all wickets and key shots like – 4’s, 6’s will be available to the dishtv viewers at the press of a button whenever they want

    Statistics: The dishtv subscriber will have access to a stupendous Amount of cricketing data like team line ups, score cards, in-depth history of the players, their past records and so on again on their TV screens merely at the touch of a button.

    The firm says that subscribers will get the Sports Active services at no extra cost that would otherwise cost Rs. 25 per month.

    Dishtv CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor says, “Cricket is like religion in our country and the Cricket World Cup being the biggest opportunity to delight the consumers. With the advent
    of active services and new consumer offers available in the market, the subscribers have a win win situation. dishtv has always worked towards maximising its viewer’s delight and will continue to do so”.

    Commenting on the caricature launched by, dishtv to flag off the World Cup campaign, dishtv VP marketing Anjali Malhotra says, “The mascot lends a face to the brand that is warm, consumer friendly and trustworthy. Moreover he seems to simplify an otherwise perceived technology product apart from adding an element of fun to our communication as we are but, an entertainment provider to Indian homes. We are sure that the consumers will warm up to him.”

    As far as Tata Sky is concerned the company’s MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik says, “Tata Sky is offering free subscription for three months and has roped in actor Hrithik Roshan for its new marketing campaign.”

    He explains that as part of this campaign select viewers who have subscribed before 15 April will get to watch the World Cup final match with him. In adition the company is extending the free pricing policy to the second, third and fourth television set within a consumer’s household.

    “The new marketing campaign is a step to reach one-million subscriber base by the end of this year. We expect phenomenal subscription during the World Cup.”

  • Fox acquires ad tech firm to boost MySpace

    Fox acquires ad tech firm to boost MySpace

    MUMBAI: Fox Interactive Media (FIM) in the US has bought ad technology firm Strategic Data Corporation.

    It is hoping to better leverage the data of its social networking site MySpace from user profiles, blogs and bulletins.

    The acquisition will allow for more-refined audience segmentation and contextual micro-targetting.

    Media reports state that FIM will be able to create lifestyle audience segments and ad packages for performance- and CPM-based ad campaigns. The company has not yet employed user profile information to target display ads, but it has used the data to better target Google sponsored text ads.

    FIM properties generated more than 40.4 billion page views in January, according to ComScore, with the vast majority coming from MySpace. News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch recently said that MySpace is generating about $25 million per month in ad revenue, growing at about 30 per cent per quarter. Yet despite the fast growth rate, the site lags far behind revenue generated by sites of similar size, with generic ad impressions often priced at less than $1 CPMs because FIM has so far not been able to target them to visitor interests.
     

  • Tata Sky files case against Sun TV in Delhi High Court

    Tata Sky files case against Sun TV in Delhi High Court

    NEW DELHI: Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite TV operator Tata Sky has approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions to broadcaster Sun TV to share its feed. TataSky had filed the petition in this regard on 22 February.

    The petition said that though Tata Sky had filed a petition with TDSAT, the Tribunal was delaying issuing the necessary orders, due to which TataSky was not getting the feed from Sun TV, as a cosequence of which it was losing business.

    In its petition in the High Court, Tata Sky has alleged that Sun TV was violating the regulations of broadcast and cable sector regulator Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). A Bench comprising Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice J P Singh asked Sun TV to file its reply and posted the matter for further hearing on 13 March.

    Tata Sky has contended that as per section 3.2 of Trai Regulations, no broadcaster can deny signals to any DTH operator or service provider.

    However, Sun TV has refused to do so by quoting very high rates. This amounted to violation of broadcasting guidelines of Trai, Tata Sky alleged.

    The company also said by such denial Sun TV, controlled by Kalanidhi Maran, was depriving its customers in the southern region from viewing many regional channels.

    It is learnt that TDSAT had asked Tata Sky to file written submissions and the case is still pending with TDSAT, but the DTH player meanwhile decided to approach the High Court.

  • Telecomm ’07 core committee narrows down on themes, issues

    Telecomm ’07 core committee narrows down on themes, issues

    NEW DELHI: The second core committee meeting of the Telecomm 2007, held on Friday, has narrowed down the theme of this year’s Summit and Exhibition (November1-3, Mumbai) as either “Role of telecom and IT: changing lifestyles”, or “Role of telecom and IT as economic multiplier.”

    The theme, either way, would be consumer-centric. This is a broad consensus that emerged at the meeting, which also decided on having eight conference sessions.

    These would be E-governance (including education, health, etc.); two sessions on the more complex issues of New Generation Network and WiMax; another two sessions on the emerging technology of IPTV / mobile TV, with emphasis on content provider; spectrum and infrastructure sharing; need for a new telecom policy initiative; and investment opportunities and challenges in the sectors.

    The meeting, chaired by former BSNL CMD Prithipal Singh, has sent the recommendations to the chairperson, who will finalise the issues and the main theme.

    Most of the speakers followed the initial argument of Satya Narayan Gupta, chief regulatory advisor (SAARC region) of BT Global Services, who said that the theme has been more or less settled by the government, with the I&B minister’s slogans of 2007: Year of Broadband and Trai’s slogan of 2007: Year of the Consumer.

    What emerged at the Core Committee meeting, in which indiantelevision.com was also an invitee, is a fair merger of the two slogans, as is reflected in the theme as well as the special attention, in the form double sessions, for the topics of NGN and WiMax and two for IPTV and mobile TV.

    There was considerable discussion on the lack of enough data and services not reaching the people in the languages they understand. In fact, one speaker pointed out that the Edusat, created at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore, is yet to achieve its basic targets.

    Indra Mohan, president of India-tech, an industry association for international techno-economic cooperation, said that there was need for technology that can bridge the two Indias: urban and rural.

    In fact, Sanjeev Kumar Seth, Deputy Director General (Commercial), BSNL, bluntly asserted that all the talk about teledensity of 11 in India is a distorted image, and especially in rural India, it will not be more than 2.

    NK Mohapatra of Midas Communication Technologies Pvt Ltd said there is a failure in adequate data generation, and held that in the absence of a proper data delivery system, telecom would become a bottleneck.

    Mohaopatra also raised the important point of why financing agencies are not investing in telecom infrastructure business. He said that these institutions have shown a remarkable reluctance in investing, because they must have realised that the returns are much too low.

    Mohapatra raised the issue of ferreting out what ails investment, and this was supported by many industry leaders attending the meeting, leading to the decision on a full session on challenges and opportunities in investment in the sector.

    Prithipal Singh pointed out also to the vast expansion of the telecom sector, and yet, stressed that there were too many problems in customers getting adequate service. “The mobile service quality in the second phase of the mobile sector growth is not at all what the first phase had given,” he said.

    The organisers also announced the rates for sponsorship in four categories: Diamond (Rs seven lakh); platinum (Rs 4.5 lakh); gold (Rs 3’5 lakh) and silver (three lakh).

    The organisers have asked the participants to give written notes on specific topics under the issues for discussion at the conference, and also suggest names of the experts who would head the various discussions.

  • Excel videos line up Oscar Film Festival on DVD

    Excel videos line up Oscar Film Festival on DVD

    MUMBAI: With the 79th Annual Academy Awards around the corner Excel Home Videos in association with Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Home Entertainment and Merchant Ivory Production has launched an Oscar DVD Film Festival.

    The fest titled ‘Oscar Fever 2007’ will continue from 22 Feb tol 15 March. It will feature 46 movies including The Sound of Music, Aliens, The French Connection, Gentleman’s Agreement, Titanic, Tora!Tora!Tora!, Braveheart, Sideways, Great Expectations, Miracle On 34th Street, The Abyss, Walk the line, Boys Don’t Cry, The Full Monty, Independence Day, The Longest Day, Moulin Rouge, Mrs DoubtFire, The Omen, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, Mary Poppins, Cold Mountain, Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, The Chronicles of Narnia, Pearl Harbor, Dick Tracy and, Howards End.

    Says Excel Home Videos managing director M.N Kapasi, “This is the first time in Indian Home Entertainment that multiple Hollywood Studios have come together for a Movie Extravaganza. This is a great opportunity for cinema buffs to expand their collection and also upgrade their VCDs to high end DVDs.”

    The Festival will feature a unique reward point system with movies with more Oscars carrying higher points. There are also opportunities for consumers to win free DVDs.

    The other movies in the fray include Master & Commander, My Cousin Vinny, Patton, Wall Street, Speed, All that Jazz, Cocoon, Planet Of The Apes, Road To Perdition, The Fly, Hello Dolly, How Green Was My Valley, The Incredibles, Tarzan, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Pocahontas, Colour of Money among others