ITV

Category: DTH

  • Brazil Court orders Youtube to take down steamy video

    Brazil Court orders Youtube to take down steamy video

    MUMBAI: A Brazilian judge has ordered video sharing site YouTube to find a way to stop Brazilians from viewing steamy footage of supermodel Daniela Cicarelli and her boyfriend.

    Media reports state that the clip still appears periodically on YouTube, prompting the expanded order from Sao Paulo state Supreme Court Justice Enio Santarelli Zulian. Cicarelli, a model and ex-wife of footballer Ronaldo, sued YouTube after a video of her apparently having sex in shallow water on a beach with her boyfriend was posted to the site. For days it was the most viewed video in Brazil.

    It was way back in September that YouTube was ordered in September to remove video showing Cicarelli and Brazilian banker Renato Malzoni in intimate scenes along a beach near the Spanish city of Cadiz.

    The court says that YouTube must find a way to use filters so the clip stops popping up in Brazil on the site owned by Google. The case now goes automatically to a three-member panel of judges who will decide whether to make the order permanent and whether to fine YouTube as much as $119,000 for each day that the video was viewable state reports.

  • Intel, CinemaNow advance the burn-to-DVD entertainment experience

    Intel, CinemaNow advance the burn-to-DVD entertainment experience

    MUMBAI: Computer chip major Intel and Internet provider of downloadable videos in the US CinemaNow have announced a collaboration.

    This will allow consumers using Intel technology-based media PCs, such as those with Intel Viiv technology, to legally download and record major motion picture movie content to blank DVD discs for playback on both the PC and consumer electronics devices, including most standard DVD players.

    Intel Viiv technology-based PCs currently provide consumers with the ability to view their movie content locally on the PC, sync it with portable devices, and wired or wirelessly extend the content through their home networks to connected devices, such as large-screen TVs.

    Intel’s digital home group VP and GM of the company’s Content Services Group Kevin Corbett says, “The ability for consumers to legitimately burn premium content to DVD is one of the greatest barriers to delivering consumers the flexibility to truly enjoy digital home entertainment when and where they want it.

    “The investment by CinemaNow to advance the Burn-to-DVD service model is a major step forward in the digital distribution of content, and Intel is excited to be working with them to bring these capabilities to consumers via Intel Viiv technology.”

    CinemaNow, in collaboration with Intel, will optimise the burn-to-DVD service for PCs based on Intel Viiv technology. The enhancement will enable movie fans who wish to use the burn-to-DVD service through a large screen, or 10-foot interface, to do so from their couch. The service will be available in the early part of this year; the Burn-to-DVD solution is currently available through a standard PC, or 2-foot, interface.

    Additionally, CinemaNow unveiled plans for the delivery of additional Intel Viiv technology capabilities in early part of this year, including extending premium movie content over the home network to connected devices. This service provides CinemaNow customers with the latest Hollywood hits, music videos and independent movies while taking advantage of the capabilities provided by Intel Viiv technology.

    CinemaNow CEO Curt Marvis says, “Joining forces with Intel will help us improve our digital home distribution model. CinemaNow is the ideal platform to demonstrate Intel’s enhanced processor power and this technology will dramatically improve our burn-to-DVD consumer experience.”

    CinemaNow launched burn-to-DVD in July 2006. Burn-to-DVD technology for movies takes advantage of the multi-core performance provided by Intel’s new Core 2 Duo processor. The 40 per cent more powerful Core 2 Duo processor family will allow Intel Viiv technology-based PC consumers to download and burn movies faster and more efficiently. ¹ Intel continues to work with the industry on enhancements to further the performance of these technologies.

  • Trai warns some MSOs against analogue streaming in Cas areas

    Trai warns some MSOs against analogue streaming in Cas areas

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has warned all the MSOs that strict action would be taken against anyone beaming analogue signals in Cas (conditional access system) areas.

    This was informed to the MSOs at a meeting at Trai office on Friday. Trai said that this would have to be stopped with immediate effect, as it went against the law. Trai advisor Rakesh Kakkar told indiantelevision.com that the the regulator would come down with a heavy hand on anyone beaming analogue signals, as has been happening in some cases.

    Trai took stock of the ground situation regarding the availability of set-top boxes (STBs) and was reportedly convinced that there is no real shortage, but there is some delay in actual deployment due to the last minute placement of orders by subscribers.

    The MSOs also stated their positions about how many STBs have been deployed and how many are being imported. Reportedly, most MSOs are going for airlifting of STBs next week.

    Kakkar said that there was no shortage of STBs, but because of bunching of applications by consumers, there is problem with deployment. He added that there are some technical problems due to lack of stabilisation because of a sudden rush of orders for boxes in a short period.

    There are reports that customers are not getting channels as per the rules, and though the streaming is digital, no bouquet or a ala carte choice is available at the moment. In fact, Kakkar asked: “You must be getting the same channels through the Cas boxes as you did without Cas isn’t it?” That is because of the rush and customers not filling their forms in time, and also because the boxes given out in the initial rush were all preset, he explained. This will change soon, he added.

    MSO sources said also that they assured that there are enough boxes. One representative said that his company’s seeding is already 9,000 boxes a day. Incablenet representative Ashok Mansukhai said: “We have told Trai that our deployment would reach 10,000 boxes per day. We will be airlifting boxes from next week.”

    Wire & Wireless Ltd is also getting in additional boxes. “We have deployed 1.5 lakh boxes across the three metros over the past five days. We are going for airlifting of new boxes. By next week we will have 50,000 more boxes brought in, and by 31 January, we shall have additional 1.5 lakh boxes in position for deployment. This is apart from the 34,000 boxes awaiting clearance at Mumbai airport and another 12,500 boxes at Kolkata airport,” said WWIL executive vice president Arvind Mohan.

  • New Golf Launchpad edition offers unique gaming experience

    New Golf Launchpad edition offers unique gaming experience

    MUMBAI: Electric Spin, creators of the Golf Launchpad series of golf simulators, and digital pay-TV technology solutions provider NDS have announced the Golf Launchpad/XTV Experience.

    The new set-top box edition of the golf simulator allows users to play along with their favorite golfers during televised tournaments. The new gaming experience will be demonstrated at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.

    Golf Launchpad/XTV Experience combines Electric Spin’s golf simulation technology with NDS’s interactive TV technology to create a virtual golf experience. While watching a PGA tour event on television, viewers can use the Golf Launchpad/XTV Experience to virtually play and compete with their own clubs, on the same course, in real time.

    “There are millions of XTVReady set-top boxes in the market today,” said NDS Vice President of Interactive TV Jesper Knuttson. “This opens up a whole new market for interactive sports simulation on TV. Together with Electric~Spin, we are changing the way viewers can interact and experience digital television.”

    “If you have ever wanted to play side-by-side with your favorite tour player, this is your chance,” said Electric~Spin President Anees Munshi. “This product will profoundly change the way people interact with their television programming.”

    Golf Launchpad/XTV Experience is expected to go on sale in the US in June 2007.
     

  • China to have over 32 million mobile video users in 2008

    China to have over 32 million mobile video users in 2008

    MUMBAI: The mobile video market in China will take off in 2008, driven by interest in the Beijing Olympics.

    A new study from ABI Research published out of Singapore forecasts total mobile video users at more than 32 million in 2008. About 27 per cent of these consumers will use broadcasting technology, and 73 per cent will use unicast streaming technology, while a number of viewers are likely to use both.

    In 2006, SARFT, the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, announced two handset-related standards. DAB is likely to be the first phase of mobile multimedia broadcasting standards development in China. DAB paves the way for upgrading to China’s proposed mobile multimedia broadcasting standard, T-DMB, a terrestrial implementation of SK Telecom’s mobile video format.

    Because both standards are voluntary, there are questions surrounding their effect in the market. “It is likely that local media groups and TV stations will deploy DAB initially, and implement T-DMB at a later date,” 3g.co.uk quotes ABI research director Jake Saunders as saying. “The Chinese government will give preference to a standard that will be used in the 2008 Olympics, and DAB has been listed as one of the broadcast services that will be available at the Beijing Games.”

    “Although lack of content is still deemed to be a bottleneck for mobile video in mainland China, the problem will be solved in the next two years,” adds Saunders. “The current content shortage is caused by the limited number of handset TV SP licenses. When more companies obtain licenses, competition will become the lubricant to drive up the market.”

    Meanwhile in Hong Kong, mobile operators are active in mobile video streaming. Their international operations backgrounds allow them to provide diversified content to users.

    PCCW’s experience in operating its IPTV business will boost its performance in the 3G market. ABI Research forecasts approximately 715,000 mobile video users in Hong Kong in 2008, of which 99 per cent will be streaming users. In Taiwan, ABI Research forecasts that there will be over 1.5 million mobile video users in 2008, with 97 per cent receiving content via streaming.

    “Mobile Video in China” analyzes the mobile video market in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It lists the streaming mobile services offered by mobile operators in the three areas, discusses the regulatory environment in mainland China, and charts the directions that will be taken by mobile video development based on different technologies.

  • Autonet Mobile to launch internet service for cars

    Autonet Mobile to launch internet service for cars

     MUMBAI: Internet service provider for cars Autonet Mobile has announced the debut of a new wireless service for cars at ShowStoppers during the consumer electronics show (CES) 2007 in Las Vegas.

    The company also plans to announce an agreement with a car rental company to offer a portable, wireless internet service by the end of the first quarter.

    With the wireless broadband mobile network, Autonet Mobile is bringing a new internet media center to vehicles by letting passengers check email, surf the web, game or communicate via any WiFi-enabled device. The service is optimised for the in-car experience, and is specifically designed to work on 95 percent of US roads, regardless of driving conditions or location, asserts an official release.

    The Autonet Mobile Unit is priced at $ 399 with a monthly service charge of $ 49.

  • IOL Broadband to soft launch IPTV services on BSNL network in Mumbai

    IOL Broadband to soft launch IPTV services on BSNL network in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: IOL Broadband Ltd is set to soft launch its IPTV services on the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) network in Bangalore on 14 January.

    The company, which has a non exclusive tie up with BSNL for setting up the content delivery network, has already started trial runs in Bangalore. “We are also looking at launching in Kolkata, Chennai and Bhopal,” says IOL Broadband executive director Oberai.

    IOL is yet to make a commercial launch of its IPTV services in MUmbai, the first city where it kickstarted operations on the MTNL network. “We will make a commercial launch when we are able to offer 100 TV channels. We are currently offering 40 channels and have signed up with Star,” says Oberai.

    The company has also signed a revenue share agreement for its IPTV service with Anytime, a consortium of major Hollywood Studios comprising Disney, Fox, Warner, and Universal which will provide access to Hollywood movies.

    Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL), which is the holding company of the Times Group, has picked up a small stake in IOL Broadband for Rs 50 million.

  • BSky reaches two million DVR boxes

    BSky reaches two million DVR boxes

    MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider BSkyB says that the total number of Sky+ boxes installed in customers’ homes in the UK has broken through two million for the first time.

    The milestone was reached after the number of Sky+ boxes grew by more than 50 per cent in 2006, putting Sky on track to pass its target of 25 per cent Sky+ penetration well in advance of the original schedule of 2010.

    The company says that the rapid growth of Sky+ highlights increasing demand from customers for the ability to take control over their television viewing. With two million active boxes, almost five million viewers are using Sky+ to record without video tape, pause and rewind live TV, and record all episodes of a favourite series at the touch of a button.

    To give customers even more choice and control, Sky plans to introduce a number of new enhancements to Sky+ in 2007 that will revolutionise the TV experience even further. These innovations will include the ability to use the internet to set a recording on your Sky+ box even when you are away from home. Customers will simply log on to www.sky.com to programme their box remotely.

    Also in 2007, Sky will introduce a new enhancement giving Sky+ customers the chance to enjoy a selection of the week’s best programmes on-demand. The service will be available to more than one million Sky+ and Sky HD customers from launch, making use of additional recording capacity on the hard drive of more recent boxes.

    Sky CFO Jeremy Darroch said, “Sky+ has changed the way millions of people watch TV. In its own way, Sky+ has as dramatic an effect on the experience of TV as the iPod has with music. There’s no going back once you’ve experienced the ability to take control over the TV schedules and we’re planning new innovations in 2007 to make Sky+ even better.

    “Passing the milestone of 2 million Sky+ boxes keeps us on track to break through our target of 25 per cent penetration well ahead of schedule. The rapid growth of Sky+ shows strong customer demand for additional services and gives us great confidence as our multi-product strategy moves forward this year.”

    Viewing behaviour in Sky+ homes

    To coincide with the milestone of two million boxes, Sky has published new research findings highlighting how Sky+ is changing the TV viewing habits of families around the country. The data, garnered from the Sky View research panel, provides an accurate measurement of how customers are using Sky+ to record – or ‘time-shift’ – television programmes.

    Drama is the genre of programming most frequently recorded by Sky+ customers, accounting for 39.3 per cent of all time-shifted viewing. Other popular genres are documentaries (14.9 per cent), entertainment (13 per cent) and movies (9.5 per cent). In contrast, some genres of content remain at their most popular when consumed live. News and weather account for just 0.6% of time-shifted viewing by Sky+ viewers, while current affairs programmes account for 1.2%. (Source: Sky View)

    These trends are reflected in the ranking of channels whose programming is subject to most time-shifting by Sky+ viewers:

    With the ability to record two programmes simultaneously, Sky+ resolves scheduling clashes and allows customers to record peak-time shows to watch at a more convenient time.

    Sky View research shows that, in Sky+ households, time-shifting accounts for 22 per cent of all viewing of programmes originally scheduled between 9 pm and 10 pm and 17 per cent of all viewing of programmes scheduled between 10 pm and 11 pm.

  • 63 mn IPTV subscribers by 2010: Study

    MUMBAI: California-based market research firm iSuppli has released a study that predicts that the number of subscribers to Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services worldwide is expected to nearly triple in 2007.

    This will help drive a strong increase in sales of wired communications equipment and related semiconductors for the year.

    Global IPTV subscribers will reach 14.5 million in 2007, up 192.4 per cent from 4.9 million in 2006, iSuppli predicts. By 2010, worldwide IPTV subscribers will amount to 63 million

    The study notes that in the long run, the Asia Pacific region will lead the global revolution in IPTV in terms of subscribers, service revenue, infrastructure etc. The region’s broadband penetration, supportive regulatory framework, will fuel the growth.

    China has potential; The US will be a difficult market for IPTV: Worldwide IPTV service revenue is forecast to reach $ 38 billion in the year 2009. The worldwide IPTV subscribers are forecasted to reach 53 million in the year 2009. The Americas and Western Europe are expected to be the biggest markets in terms of revenue per user basis.

    IPTV market potential varies highly across the world depending upon the local Pay-TV market and regulatory conditions. China will be the future IPTV dragon due to rapid urbanisation, fast growing economy and expanding middle class.

    The US will be a more difficult market for IPTV, due to high existing pay-TV penetration, and stiff price and service competition that is likely to come from the entrenched operators in the cable and satellite sectors. Consumer familiarity with IPTV service is very low although youth today are much more aware of it when compared with people belonging to other age groups. In terms of the principal barriers to IPTV adoption, the cost is by far and away the most significant factor across all countries and age groups.

  • Cas: MSOs strain to meet demand for boxes

    Cas: MSOs strain to meet demand for boxes

    MUMBAI/DELHI: Multi-system operators (MSOs) are under stress and strain to meet the demand for set-top boxes (STBs) as conditional access system (Cas) has come into effect in the notified areas of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

    “We are moving 5000-6000 STBs a day in Mumbai,” says IndusInd Media and Communications Ltd. director-in- charge Ravi Mansukhani.

    Wire & Wireless India Ltd CEO Jagjit Singh Kohli says that while he can’t give a number in terms of the number of boxes being seeded, business has been brisk and smooth. “There have not been any technical glitches. The Cas deployments in the notified areas by all the cable operators has so far been much more than what direct-to-home (DTH) has achieved in these pockets.”.

    For those who are taking the boxes, MSOs are providing all the pay channels for a trial period of 15 days. “We want to give them some time before they can decide on the channels that they want to pay for. After this period, they can choose what they want and they will be billed only for what they have decided to take,” says Mansukhani.

    Adds WWIL executive vice president Arvind Mohan: “This is a transition period, so we are giving all the channels to all the STB subscribers. The processing of the forms being filled up takes some time. We are giving the subscribers a free run of all the channels. By 15 January, the entire system will be in place, and billing will be for the month depending on the channels they have selected.”

    So how long does it take once a consumer orders for a STB? With so many people wanting a box at the same time, the maximum time it would take to get the system installed is a day as it has to be fed into the smart card and billing system, says Mansukhani.

    Interestingly, there are indications that at the ground level there is some confusion in terms of pricing. For instance, this writer, residing in the Colaba area of South Mumbai, paid Rs 2000 on 1 January for a box while the MSO had recently announced a reduction in the price to Rs 1500. “There are some confusions still prevailing on the ground about the prices and packages on offer,” admits a local cable operator.

    Speaking on behalf of the broadcasters, Star India’s distribution head Tony D’Silva says that it is too soon to comment on the adoption rate. “We had expected that there would be some confusion. We are adopting a wait and watch policy. In a few days time the situation should be clear.”

    Zee Turner CEO Arun Poddar says that there is certainly a demand and supply mismatch across all the MSOs. He concedes some last mile operators would not be communicating adequately with consumers, thus leading to confusion.

    Despite some confusion, the Cas rollout in South Delhi is happening steadily as there is a rush for the STBs.

    SN Sharma of Hathway denied that there is any shortage of boxes. “This is a continuous process and we are getting consignments from our Korea company on a daily basis. There is a lag of time for getting connected because the local cable operator has a manpower shortage,” he says.

    The time between a request coming in and a box being connected is about an hour, he adds. “The LCOs have about five or six people working, who have to attend to calls for repairs, collect payments and also deploy the boxes. So the connection giving ability is in the same ratio as the staff strength.”

    According to RWA president GS Gulati, most of the residents in Delhi were still waiting and have not subscribed to either cable or DTH operators. “The cable operator has left a box for me at my shop, but I have not got connected, because we do not know what is better, this or DTH.”

    In some areas, people complained about technical glitches. Sometime during the evening of 1 January, Cas boxes in some areas of south Delhi went blank for about 10 minutes first, and then intermittently for shorter durations about three times.

    “This should not be the case, because the boxes are highly efficient. This must be some fault like a loose connection or a person tinkering too much with the remote control, as people do with all new things,” Sharma says.