ITV

Category: DTH

  • BT survey encashes big budget Asian weddings

    BT survey encashes big budget Asian weddings

    MUMBAI: It is the ‘Big Fat Asian wedding’ and if the British Telecommunications (BT) survey is anything to go by the wedding industry is just about to get richer.

    British Telecommunications has launched its calling card packages in South Asian countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh recently.

    Many of its survey findings have helped understand the telecom giant’s South Asian clientele better. For many young British Asians, large-scale weddings cost more than 30,000 pounds according to the biggest annual survey into British Asian relationships and weddings.

    The survey results compiled by BT Together International have been released in conjunction with the Asian Wedding Exhibition 2007 from a poll of over 1,000 Hindu, Muslim and Sikh men and women.

    The survey shows that on an average over 300 guests are invited for 72 percent of the Asian weddings. Between 10 to 20 per cent of these invited guests live overseas. It is information of this nature that has helped BT Together International zero in on new cheap calls package to South Asia.

    Some other findings by the survey revealed a contrast between the Asian community’s more traditional values towards romance compared to the general British population. The nationwide average age for marriage is 31 years for men and 29 years for women yet not a single Asian respondent thought it was ideal for a woman to marry in her thirties.

    Only 56 per cent of Asians would cohabit with their partner before getting married and almost two-thirds (64 per cent) said they would live with their in-laws after tying the knot. Attitudes on living with a partner outside of marriage also differed significantly from the national average.

  • Thomson invests in Paprikaas Animation Studios

    Thomson invests in Paprikaas Animation Studios

    MUMBAI: Thomson, through its Technicolor Content Services business, has announced it is expanding its entertainment services capabilities with a strategic investment in Bangalore based Paprikaas Animation Studios, an animation and game content provider.

    This transaction further strengthens Thomson’s commitment globally and in India to expand its service offerings in the feature film, television animation and video game industries.

    The addition of Paprikaas’ creative, technical and computer animation work will give Technicolor added capabilities and resources to capture the growing industry demand for high end 3-D digital animation for feature films, television animation, commercial advertising and video games and provide Thomson with a leading position in the rapidly expanding Indian entertainment industry, informs an official release.

    “Technicolor Content Services has been looking to capture a larger share of the growing market trend toward outsourcing in theatrical, broadcast, commercial advertising, animation and video game segments,” said Technicolor Content Services president Ahmad Ouri. “Paprikaas has proven that their animation and game content creation work consistently meets our high standards, enabling us to further expand our capabilities and global reach, while also achieving cost efficiencies.”

    “This strategic investment is another step in Thomson’s initiative to expand its services to content owners and to broaden its scope of offerings for the film, broadcast and gaming communities. As one of India’s leading animation studios, Paprikaas earned a strong reputation for quality services, which is in alignment with Thomson’s high standards. This move also provides Thomson with a strategic platform from which to access the fast growing Indian media and entertainment market, thus, enabling us to accelerate our roadmap in India,” says Thomson – India vice president Thierry Pasquet.

  • Eros Intnl’s music downloads on Apple iTunes, Real Rhapsody

    Eros Intnl’s music downloads on Apple iTunes, Real Rhapsody

    MUMBAI: Eros International, an integrated media and entertainment Company,announced that tracks from its recent Bollywood music albums- Omkara, I See You, Kudiyon Ka Hain Zamana and Namastey London will now be available for download on Apple’s iTunes on a worldwide basis and on Real Network’s Rhapsody for North America.

    Eros International Plc chairman & CEO Kishore Lulla said, “This is a significant milestone as far as our new media distribution is concerned. We remain focused on identifying and securing strategic distribution partners to showcase our Bollywood content to a wider audience.”

    He further added, “The Mauj Telecom deal for mobile content license announced this January and now the iTunes and Real Rhapsody deals make our recent move into music publishing all the more exciting. We remain positive about the opportunities presented by new media in this digital era.”The original sound tracks from Eros’s forthcoming film Eklavya, a Vinod Chopra Films Production, releasing in cinemas on February 16 will also be available for download.

    Eros launched the Bollywood video on demand services with cable giants Comcast and Rogers cable and has online movie download services with Movielink and RTL.
     

  • WorldSpace to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special offer

    WorldSpace to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special offer

    MUMBAI: WorldSpace Satellite Radio is using Valentine’s Day 14 February 2007 with Radio Amore, its international love songs channel.

    To avail of the WorldSpace Valentine Offer one can buy a WorldSpace receiver worth Rs. 1499 and get a pair of speakers free. This special offer is valid till 18 February 2007. Receivers and subscriptions can be collected from retails outlets across your city, WorldSpace lounges and special valentine kiosks set up in malls.

    One can also participate in games and other offerings being organised at the malls during this period. Subscriptions start from Rs.1000 for six months to Rs.1800 for 12 months and Rs. 3250 for 24 months.

    WorldSpace chief marketing officer Harshad Jain says, “Consumers across India have taken to WorldSpace with open arms. And, with our channel Radio Amore playing all-time favourite international love songs, WorldSpace makes an ideal Valentine gift”.

    Radio Amore plays international love songs from across the world featuring artists such as Barbara Streisand, Foreigner, Air Supply, Lionel Ritchie, Luther Vandross and Journey.

  • Bollywood goes mobile with Barcelona launch

    Bollywood goes mobile with Barcelona launch

    MUMBAI: The world’s largest film industry joined forces with the global mobile communications world today in spectacular fashion – as Bollywood premiered its first feature films for mobile viewers at the 3GSM World Congress (February 12-15) in Barcelona.

    The Congress marks the start of the adaptation of thousands of vibrant Bollywood productions for the mobile screen – a development that could have a huge impact on the global mobile entertainment market, already worth some $US23 billion.

    The Bollywood Mobile Initiative is driven by Roamware, the global leader in roaming and mobile connectivity solutions; Hungama Mobile, the world’s largest aggregator, developer and publisher of Indian entertainment and Bollywood content; Sanjay Gupta, a leading Bollywood director; and the GSM Association (GSMA), the global trade association for mobile operators.

    Roamware’s Media Call technology is providing the capability to integrate the cinematic content into the everyday mobile experience for film fans.

    “Media Call redefines mobile communications from voice to visual media, enabling the sharing and promotion of film clips to accelerate the growth of the mobile movie market,” said Bobby Srinivasan, CEO of Roamware.

    Two Bollywood short films “Zahir” & “Matriomony” were premiered in Barcelona today. These films are a part of the feature film ‘Dus Kahaniyaan’ (10 Stories) produced by Sanjay Gupta of White Feather Films, starring more than 20 leading Bollywood stars including Dia Mirza, Suneil Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Neha Mandira Bedi, Aftab Shivdasani and many others. Sanjay Gupta is one of Bollywood’s leading filmmakers who has produced and directed many hugely popular movies such as Kaante, Musafir and Zinda.

    The films demonstrate the viral potential for Bollywood movies on the ‘fourth screen’ –the mobile device. Set pieces with action and dialogue scenes interspersed with song and dance make the vibrant, fast moving movies a compelling entertainment experience for the mobile viewer.

    “Bollywood today is the world’s largest movie industry, producing more than a thousand movies a year with an audience of more than two billion viewers across 127 countries. Formatting that content for the mobile audience and ensuring simplicity of delivery and accessibility provides staggering reach and revenue possibilities,” said Bobby Srinivasan, CEO and Chairman, Roamware.

    “The GSMA is delighted to welcome the stars and directors from the Bollywood world to the world’s largest mobile event,” said Bill Gajda, Chief Marketing Officer of the GSMA. “We are excited by the tremendous potential for Bollywood entertainment on mobile phones, and delighted to support the efforts of Roamware and Hungama Mobile in their commitment to bringing a rich array of Indian film entertainment to the fourth screen for a global audience of millions.”

    “India is the fastest growing market in the mobile world, and the world’s fourth largest market. It has the potential to be the largest market globally by 2010. It is the most logical market from which to launch the mobile movie industry and present a brand new avenue of cinematic entertainment for mobile users everywhere. The potential is truly amazing. Hungama Mobile has already launched a Bollywood channel directly on operator decks around the world in nearly 30 countries, with over 70 operators. This channel contains music, imagery, video and games from Bollywood. Showcasing Bollywood movies on mobile is a natural extension both as a tremendous new marketing opportunity as also revenue for all the stakeholders,” said Neeraj Roy, Managing Director & CEO, Hungama Mobile.

    Hungama Mobile’s content assets and a two year foray in taking Bollywood to the mobile world, coupled with Roamware’s global reach, holds huge promise for the mobile market. The dramatic evolution of communications technology, from download speeds and battery life to compact form factors, screen sizes and resolution, as well as memory enhancements, means mobile devices are now capable of delivering a compelling, high quality and uniquely personal viewing experience.

    Bollywood is one of the fastest growing entertainment industry segments and has an appeal not only for the 150 million mobile phone users in India but for markets across all continents. Indian cinema is now dubbed in over 35 languages and accounts for as much as 16.5% of theatrical business in markets such as UK. Indian films have made it into the top 10 charts in markets such as USA, UK, Germany, Australia, Singapore and South Africa. More than 3.6 billion admission tickets are sold each year, across the world and now Hungama Mobile and Roamware will take this to some 2.5 billion mobile screens.

  • Trai not for mandated Cas in rest of India

    Trai not for mandated Cas in rest of India

     MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) feels Cas (conditional access system) should roll out voluntarily rather than be mandated in other parts of the country.

    “We may think of mandatory Cas for the larger metros but in other parts of the country it may not be the best way forward. We haven’t, though, made up our mind on this. We have constituted a small group representing all the stakeholders to suggest on how to take voluntary Cas forward. We realise that Cas has gained momentum and wouldn’t like to miss on that opportunity,” said Trai advisor M C Chaube while speaking at a workshop on “Cas and Digital CATV,” organised by Satellite & Cable TV (SCaT) magazine in Mumbai.

    With some cable operators continuing to transmit unencrypted signals in the Cas areas, the broadcast and cable sector regulator intends to come down heavily on them.

    “We are aware that there are still slippages and there are complaints that encryption have not taken place in some areas. We are going to take action against this as it is at the core of Cas,” said Chaube.

    Reacting to a suggestion from the three multi-system operators (Wire & Wireless India Ltd, Hathway Cable & Datacom and Incablenet) that Cas should be opened up to the other areas of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata by April, Chaube said the process needed a certain run-up time. “Cas is not just about three MSOs. The smaller MSOs should be given time to prepare for laying out the digital infrastructure. Consolidation is bound to happen as digitalisation requires deep pockets, but as a regulator we shouldn’t have such a time frame in mind that makes it difficult for the smaller MSOs,” he added.

    Trai would relook at such areas like pricing and a la carte issues in the middle of this year. “We are going to revisit at some of these decisions and take a call whether appropriate adjustments are needed. We would be examining such issues as similar pricing for all genres of channels, a la carte offerings and Rs 77 on free-to-air (FTA) channels,” Chaube said.

    The seeding of set-top boxes (STBs) would touch 500000 in a week’s time out of an estimated cable and satellite home of 1.2 million in the Cas belt. “The average penetration would be 40 per cent. Kolkata is seeing slow offtake because regional channels are popular and they are in FTA mode. Our aim is not to see that boxes are sold but to offer consumers choice through Cas,” Chaube clarified. The penetration percentage though will be clearer when figures are available on the number of homes that have more than one TV sets.

    The next stage of progress would be when consumer forms return to the MSOs and they are fed into the subscriber management system (SMS).

    In case of voluntary Cas, the crucial element was for the broadcasters and MSOs to enter into commercial agreements, he added.

    In a panel discussion, WWIL MD Jagjit Kohli pointed out that Trai should come out with some regulatory framework to facilitate voluntary Cas and Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS). “Broadcasters may not support voluntary Cas. So it would be essential for Trai to define some rules as the momentum for digitalisation should not be lost,” he added.

    Hathway Cable & Datacom MD and CEO K Jayaraman pointed out that cable operators in non Cas areas should be ready to adopt digitalisation which has grown much faster in India than what was being initially preicted.

    Incablenet head Ravi Mansukhani said the seeding process has been successful and the next step for MSOs would be to stop free access of pay channels in phases.

  • Spymac unleashes its web 2.0 community for video chat, movies, music

    Spymac unleashes its web 2.0 community for video chat, movies, music

    MUMBAI: Spymac Network has launched its international web 2.0 community for video chat, movies and music. The Web 2.0 portal lets the world video chat, share movies, pictures and music across the Internet and earn money at the same time.

    The new version of Spymac – which originally started out as a Mac community in 2001 – was launched in January 2007. It is available now in more than 15 international languages and works on both PCs and Macs. A percentage of Spymac’s advertising income is paid to members who upload the most creative and most viewed movies, music or pictures.

    The most active, creative and popular content providers earn the largest amounts of money in this revenue-sharing model based on an exponential curve. The company has since paid out $50 in its first month with a German (Spymac nickname “Jafeth”) earning $5000 for his funny videos/pictures, and a Chinese content provider receiving a cheque for $1300.

    Spymac’s content quality-rating system is based on an algorithm taking into account how creative and popular it is. The criteria include how other users rate the content, if it is linked to other sites, the click-rate etc. Users with the most popular content of the day win the daily payout and the best content providers of the month earn the monthly jackpot. Spymac is also working on a system which allows users to rate content as inappropriate and set an alert so that the content will be taken off the site.

    Spymac Network CEO Holger Ehlis says, ”The service would be of great interest and benefit to members in developing nations, whose culture and surroundings are sure to be a hit with viewers. They are sure to benefit from our service as those who upload something that people want to see or hear make real money.

    “While YouTube announced that it was thinking of a way for members to revenue-share, Spymac is already paying out cheques to its users”.

    Among the most powerful features of Spymac is its’ complimentary face-to-face video chat, which allows people to share everyday life over the Internet. Members can have a heart-warming conversation with family, who is away, see the smile of an online sweetheart, or hold a business meeting in the convenience of a living room. The feature is truly compatible, without any of the traditional need for extra software or setup.

    Spymac Network CTO Kevin April says, “Spymac takes online dating, staying in touch and finding new friends to a whole new level. All you need is a web browser and an inexpensive web cam to share video and enjoy face-to-face meetings with people from another city, country, or even continent”.

    Users can access Spymac for hundreds of thousands of iPod-ready movies, songs and pictures. Spymac’s movies are also fully compatible with Sony’s PlayStation Portable, allowing users to easily find new content for their portable entertainment devices. Share video from Spymac to MySpace and other sites with unlimited storage space on offer.

    Through its embedding feature, Spymac allows users to stream content across the Internet on other websites. For example, users can insert their favorite pictures and videos into their MySpace profiles, blogs or eBay auctions, turning Spymac into a powerful content hub. This allows users to spice up online ads and auctions with video or audio clips; upload multimedia projects for work or school; liven up blogs, websites and emails; share movies with friends and family and enhance personal profiles on dating and social-networking sites.

    By utilising technology, members record live video with a click of a button for immediate release to the Internet. Users can capture pictures, audio and video directly onto Spymac using their own webcams, or easily upload from video cameras or mobile phones. “Spymac simplifies the technology behind different formats, encoders and players, making it easier for people to enjoy online communication” said April.

  • Sun ready, DTH play becoming hot chase for satellite space

    Sun ready, DTH play becoming hot chase for satellite space

    MUMBAI: Having finalised on Malaysia-based Astro as his 20 per cent equity partner, Sun network chairman and managing director Kalanithi Maran is preparing the ground to launch his direct-to-home (DTH) service. He has decided on Iredeto as the encryption system while the set-top boxes (STBs) will be from Coship Electronics in China and South Africa-based UEC Technologies, a source close to the company says.

    “He is also looking at more STB vendors. Besides the basic box which will be competitively priced, he will have graded STBs. Multiple vendors will ensure supply safety in case of a huge demand for his service,” adds the source.

    Maran will be using MPEG-4 technology that will allow him to compress more TV channels per transponder. While MPEG-2 can pack in around 12 channels, the advanced compression technology will be able to accommodate over 20 channels.

    Maran will have seven Ku-band transponders on Insat-4B, which launches on 10 March, while Prasar Bharati’s free-to-air (FTA) package DD Direct Plus will have five on the same satellite.

    He may consider himself lucky when the launch of Insat-4C satellite failed in July 2006 after the rocket carrying it veered off course and exploded. He had booked six Ku-band transponders (and one more for digital satellite news gathering) on it for Sun Direct’s DTH service.

    By being located on the same satellite, Sun’s subscribers will be able to access DD Direct’s channels without Maran having to separately put them on his transponders.

    Dish TV which was sharing the NSS-6 satellite with DD, will not be hit badly after the migration. Since NSS-6 is at 95 degree East, a minor realignment of antenna will be required for receiving the channels as Insat-4B shall be located at 93.5 degree East. Tata Sky, on the other hand, will have to recarry DD channels on their transponders.

    The DTH play in India is, indeed, turning out to be a hot chase for satellite space. If Tata Sky had to wait for the launch of Insat-4A as rival Dish TV aggressively went on mopping up customers, it is now the turn of Anil Ambani’s Bluemagic and Bharti Telemedia to plead with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to provide them with Ku-band transponders.

    In the sprint to start DTH before the market gets taken away, Bharti may be the clear loser. Unless, of course, it gets the approval from Isro to be on Measat-3, a foreign satellite launched from the Astro Group.

    “Measat has made their Ku-band transponders available for us and have supplied the data. We are studying it technically and are making an internal evaluation,” says Isro contract management and legal services director SB Iyer.

    The satellite has 49 dbW (decibel Watts) as compared to Insat’s 53. “We have indicated this problem and Measat has said that it would examine it and come up with a solution. Insat-4B has 53 dcW and offers a powerful beam across the country. We will have to ensure quality and also come into an agreement with Measat. Besides, the users will also have to express their interest in the satellite,” says Iyer.

    Measat-3 has 24 Ku-band transponders and has been designed to provide capability for data services and DTH applications in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Indian Subcontinent.

    If no clearance is given to Measat, Bharti will have to wait the longest with Insat-4G launching only by 2008-end. The DTH market could possibly have settled by then with the spoils being distributed among Dish TV, Tata Sky, Sun and Reliance’s Bluemagic.

    Anil Ambani will get a shot at the DTH market after Insat-4CR (replacement) launches in the quarter beginning July this year. Reliance has asked for eight Ku-band transponders and Isro is reserving the remaining four for other users like National Informatics Centre.

  • Broadband TV network dedicated to romance launches in the US on Valentine’s Day

    Broadband TV network dedicated to romance launches in the US on Valentine’s Day

    MUMBAI: Every five seconds a reader buys a romance novel. Now that same person can learn more about the novel’s author, the place where it is set and other behind-the-scenes goodies on romancenovel.tv.

    This broadband television network will launch in the US on 14 February 2007 and will aim to bring readers closer to the world of romance novels.

    Romance Novel TV (romancenovel.tv) launches with an array of original programming that will feature best-selling authors like Nora Roberts, Christina Dodd, Eloisa James, Mary Jo Putney and JR Ward.

    Romance Novel TV president Maria Lokken, says, “I am a big fan of romance novels and I was always curious about the authors’ lives and what inspires them. Romance Novel TV lets readers connect with their favorite writers.”

    Romance Novel TV is working with several publishing houses, which are excited about adding another layer to a market that earned $1.2 billion in sales last year.

    Shows will include:

    On Camera Author Interviews – Fans want to learn more about their favorite authors, who will be the subjects of in-depth interviews. The network will also speak with rising stars as it promotes their books and offers a rare inside look into an author’s life.

    Let’s Talk – Filmed in a living room setting, this monthly feature catches three romance novel authors talking about everything from movie stars — to shopping, housing hunting or finding the perfect man.

    Romancenovel.tv will also feature new book releases every week and offer links to the publishing houses where readers can make purchases. This page will also be home to the “Editor/Publisher” of the week where fans get the inside track on the latest industry trends from the most important people in the business.

    Romance Novel Virgin – Here one can follow a new author in this soap opera style drama as she meets with her editor, makes revisions, examines cover art and finally sees her novel hit bookshelves. One can expect a bit of angst, a little drama and a weekly cliffhanger.

  • Qualcomm to demonstrate its mobile TV solutions at 3GSM World Congress 2007

    Qualcomm to demonstrate its mobile TV solutions at 3GSM World Congress 2007

    MUMBAI: Qualcomm, which develops and innovates advanced wireless technologies and data solutions has announced that the company will showcase wireless solutions at the 3GSM World Congress 2007 in Barcelona, Spain.

    The event takes place from 12-15 February 2007. its demonstration includes HSPA and UMTS chipsets, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) mobile TV technology, the latest Brew offerings and applications, location-based services and live demonstrations of the MediaFLO System.

    Qualcomm VP, global marketing and investor relations William F. Davidson Jr. says, ” Qualcomm is committed to helping the global wireless industry continue its rapid evolution, as well as achieve its primary goal of ensuring mobile phones and wireless services are accessible and affordable to people in both the developed and developing markets.

    “We’re proud to be a part of 3GSM 2007 and, along with our partners, showcase our advanced wireless solutions.”

    During 3GSM 2007, Qualcomm and its partners will be conducting a number of live demonstrations:

    — MediaFLO Technologies demonstration of 20 live-streaming television channels, including Spanish and European content from Abertis and Sky, and Clipcasting content from Warner Music Group on three OEM handsets.

    — IP datacasting demonstrations of news, sports and weather streaming.

    — The world’s first demonstration of MBMS mobile TV technology, delivering multiple channels over the air using UMTS networks.

    — Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM7XXX-series chipsets, showcasing stunning 3D graphics and gaming capabilities.

    — Position-location capabilities of gpsOne(R) assisted-GPS technology and gpsOneXTRA assistance technology, which expands the capabilities of standalone GPS.

    — High-quality VoIP demonstration using HSPA technology, and running simultaneously with other leading data applications such as video sharing, video streaming and Web browsing.

    — HSPA video streaming, Web browsing and video sharing.

    — Commercial uiOne handsets and demonstrations of advanced uiOne capabilities.

    — Brew gaming and BREW locate signature solutions.

    — Dell, HP and Lenovo will demonstrate their latest HSDPA-embedded notebook computers in Qualcomm’s booth, all on the commercial Vodafone Spain HSDPA network.

    — OQO in collaboration with Novatel Wireless, will conduct a technology demonstration of their Ultra Mobile PC (OQO model 02) with HSPA capability, incorporating the SM6280 chipset targetted for Europe and Asia.