ITV

Category: Broadband

  • Airtel launches India-South Africa series cricket pack in Delhi, NCR Circle

    Airtel launches India-South Africa series cricket pack in Delhi, NCR Circle

    MUMBAI: Mobile service firm Bharti Airtel has launched its ‘India-South Africa Series Cricket Pack’ for its postpaid and prepaid customers in Delhi and NCR.

    Customers who subscribe to this Pack can listen to ball-by-ball score updates for the entire series – five One Day Internationals and three Test Matches. Customers will also get free SMS Alerts after every six overs in each match of the series.

    Bharti Airtel Limited CEO (mobile services) Delhi and NCR Christopher Tobit said, “Cricket has a fanatical following among all demographics. We are delighted that Airtel customers will now have the advantage of following the India – South Africa series while on the move.”

    To subscribe to the service, a customer just needs to call a toll-free number 646601. The one time cost of the Airtel India-South Africa Series Cricket Pack is Rs. 99 and is valid till 6 January, 2007 i.e. the duration of the entire series. To listen to the ball-by-ball score updates, a customer needs to call the same toll free no. and the maximum duration per call is five minutes.

  • Intel, NBC in broadband content alliance

    Intel, NBC in broadband content alliance

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC Universal and compueter chip major Intel have announced the launch of the NBC VIP Access online service.

    This will provide on-demand broadband-delivered entertainment content for free to consumers with Intel Viiv technology-based PCs and Centrino mobile technology-based laptops.

    NBC.com will provide Intel customers the opportunity to download many of their favorite NBC Universal programs in high-resolution video, including access to the entire fall season of two new shows Heroes and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

    NBC Universal Digital Media and Market Development president Beth Comstock says, “Great content coupled with a great experience is a key differentiator on the Web. NBC’s VIP Access showcases some of the best content that we have and we are proud to be working with Intel to deliver the best high-resolution online video experience available to consumers.”

    Intel’s Digital Home Group VP Kevin Corbett says, “The combination of NBC content with Intel Viiv and Centrino technology will give users a chance to enjoy great television in a high quality format in the living room and on the go. This showcases the value the PC can deliver in providing high-quality entertainment content-previews, full episodes, webisodes, etc– on-demand.”

    NBC VIP Access will feature over 20 different NBC Universal broadcast and online programs, including online access to full-episodes of the fall season of Heroes and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. NBC VIP Access will also showcase the season premieres of Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock and Ghost Hunters and first scenes from Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Battlestar Galactica. Special extras include The NBC News Special: Bono in Africa, a Battlestar Galactica special and Ghost Hunters: Best of Season One.

    The NBCU-Intel collaboration began last year with a jointly developed site on NBCOlympics.com entitled “Your NBCOlympics.com Moments.” Consumers using PCs powered by Intel Viiv technology and Intel Centrino mobile technology enjoyed NBC Universal’s Olympic highlights and content in high-resolution format through an easy to use interface.

    Intel Viiv technology connects the PC to the TV, and enables consumers to simplify, share and control their sports, games, music and movies with the energy-efficient performance delivered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The technology is widely supported by a number of PC and consumer electronics manufacturers, as well as content and service providers such as NBC Universal. Intel Centrino mobile technology is a set of integrated computing technologies, now with the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor, designed to power wireless laptops and make it simple for people to enjoy mobile computing and entertainment.

  • AT&T and MobiTV launch live TV subscription service for broadband

    AT&T and MobiTV launch live TV subscription service for broadband

    MUMBAI: AT&T Inc. and MobiTV, Inc., the global leader in television and music services for all things mobile and broadband, have inked an agreement to offer a mobile television service to broadband users in the United States, including AT&T Yahoo High Speed Internet and AT&T WorldNet subscribers.

    The browser-based service, which will be called AT&T Broadband TV, will enable subscribers to use a computer to access a wealth of live programming while at home, at work, or on the go using wired and wireless broadband technologies.

    Through the deal, AT&T becomes the first U.S. broadband provider to offer a live TV subscription service with MobiTV to consumers through any broadband connection. The service expands upon an earlier agreement that enables AT&T to offer MobiTV to customers who use thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots, states an official release.

    The AT&T Broadband TV service will initially have approximately 20 channels of live and made-for-broadband television content spanning national news, sports, entertainment and full-length music videos from top artists. Among the channels included in the initial channel lineup is Fox News, Bloomberg, Oxygen, History Channel, Comedy Time, Toonworld, Maxx Sports and the Weather Channelm, the release adds.

    The industry-leading, browser-based service features desktop integration for easy access, fast channel-changing, full-screen functionality and quality video playback. Subscribers can quickly access AT&T Broadband TV through a hyperlink or desktop shortcut.

    Users will have access to a comprehensive channel lineup for a flat monthly subscription of $19.99. And soon, additional television channels will be offered to ensure that AT&T customers have access to the broadest range of entertainment content. The subscription can be used with nearly any broadband connection, at home, work or on the road.

    Consumers can test-drive and order the new service at http://att.mobitv.com. The companies will also market the AT&T Broadband TV offering on the AT&T WorldNet portal at www.att.net.

    “The AT&T Broadband TV service offers our customers the ability to watch live television programming beyond the TV screen, increasing our capabilities to provide compelling content to consumers who are seeking information and entertainment when, where and on the device they desire,” says AT&T Entertainment Services EVP Scott Helbing. “The deal helps further enhance AT&T’s broadband service and three-screen initiative by offering differentiated broadband-enabled content that consumers are increasingly demanding.”

    “Television is officially available on the PC now and will reach television fans in their home, office, college dorm, at the airport or anywhere they happen to be,” says MobiTV chairman & co-founder Dr. Phillip Alvelda. “MobiTV and AT&T will deliver premium quality content seamlessly across all broadband networks, making entertainment, wireless and technology history.”

    Through this agreement, AT&T, the nation’s largest high speed DSL Internet provider with more than 7.8 million DSL lines in service, will give its customers and other broadband users a new avenue for entertainment and information, enabling them to take control of their viewing options. In addition, the company recently launched AT&T Homezone, a groundbreaking new service that integrates AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet, AT&T | DISH Network satellite television and AT&T Home Networking services via a single device.

    The new AT&T Homezone service provides Internet-based video with satellite TV programming in a seamless in-home experience, giving consumers a powerful new way to extend the best of the Internet beyond the desktop to bring entertainment content to their TV screens and stereos. It features digital videorecording, movies on demand, photo- and music-sharing, storage for both, and it whets the anytime/anywhere generation’s appetite with remote, Web-based access to the system.

  • Verizon, GN Netcom bring broadband headsets to US market

    Verizon, GN Netcom bring broadband headsets to US market

    MUMBAI: Verizon, which operates a wireless network and works in the area of delivering broadband services in the US and GN Netcom which deals with hands-free audio solutions have announced a licensing agreement.

    This will introduce a series of Verizon-branded headsets for use with broadband services and applications, including online gaming and IP telephony

    The headsets complement the retail sale of Verizon broadband products and services and leverage the capabilities of Verizon’s networks, including high-speed DSL and the company’s new, advanced fiber-optic network which delivers high-quality voice, data and video services at unprecedented speeds. GN Netcom will produce, ship and provide technical and customer support for the broadband headsets.

    Verizon VP brand management and media services Andrea Fant-Hobbs says, “We will enhance our customers’ broadband experiences by offering them innovative headsets that are hands-free, convenient and have superb sound quality.

    “The headsets are the perfect complement to our services, including online gaming, music, video and other entertainment services. Our relationship with GN Netcom directly supports our commitment to provide our customers richer, deeper, broader communications experiences.”

    GN Netcom US senior VP. GM David Wood said, “As the use of broadband applications continues to rise, so does the need for high-quality headsets. Together with Verizon, we are responding to this increased demand as more consumers realise the benefits of headsets, including increased freedom and functionality across broadband applications.”

    The licensing agreement provides Verizon and GN Netcom with a complementary distribution opportunity in the marketplace, while allowing GN Netcom the opportunity to further penetrate and expand into new headset segments such as telephone accessories, online gaming, VoIP and Web calling.

  • Broadband subscription in the US up 33 per cent: FCC

    Broadband subscription in the US up 33 per cent: FCC

    MUMBAI: US media watchdog The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released new data on high-speed connections to the Internet in the US.

    High-speed Internet subscriptions soared 33 per cent last year to 50.2 million line. 42.9 million served primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented 57.5 per cent of these lines while 40.5 per cent were asymmetric DSL (ADSL) connections, 0.3 per cent were symmetric DSL (SDSL) or traditional wireline connections, 0.5 per cent were fiber connections to the end user premises and 1.2 per cent used other types of technology including satellite, terrestrial fixed or mobile wireless (on a licensed or unlicensed basis), and electric power line.

    The increase in ADSL lines exceeded the increase in cable modem connections. ADSL increased by 3.2 million lines during the second half of 2005 compared to an increase of 1.6 million lines for cable modem service. For the full year, ADSL increased by 5.7 million lines compared to an increase of 4.2 million lines for cable modem service.

    DSL is typically less expensive than cable Internet service but offers slower download speeds.

    The US is ranked 12th in the world for broadband subscribers behind countries including Iceland, South Korea and Japan, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s most recent rankings.

  • Comedy Central enhances its broadband channel Motherload

    Comedy Central enhances its broadband channel Motherload

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Comedy Central is bulking up its broadband channel MotherLoad with a new serving of programming.

    The network’s new original broadband development slate will boost the line-up to include more than 20 original shows

    MotherLoad was launched in November 2005. In the past six months, Comedy Central has unveiled an extensive line-up of original programming including animation, live-action narratives, topical stand-up performances and sketch comedies.

    This year also marked, the development of the channel’s first original multi-platform stand-up series Live At Gotham which premiered as a topical stand-up series on MotherLoad and is now debuting on-air on 21 July, making this the first original broadband programme to migrate to the network’s linear channel.

    One show is the 10 episode Balloonheads. This series features the adventures of various characters who have balloons for heads. Baxter & McGuire is an animated buddy-comedy. It chronicles the adventures of Baxter and McGuire, the closest of pals who never leave each other’s side.

    Good God is a sitcom like The Office about God’s workplace environment. Moonwalk 1986 deals with the adventures of two astronauts on the moon and their banal conversations during missions.

  • Broadband gets animated as Cartoon Network hires Premium TV

    Broadband gets animated as Cartoon Network hires Premium TV

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting Systems has hired digital rights company Premium TV to provide a broadband TV service in the UK for its flagship kids’ channel Cartoon Network, with the service due to launch in Q4.

    The broadband site will be Cartoon Network’s first foray into broadband content tailored to the PC, and follows hot on the heels of the recent roll out of Cartoon Network’s new look website to all European territories.

    CartoonNetwork.co.uk is gaining more hits than ever before, with over 30 million page impressions per month, and the broadband site SuperCartoonNetwork.co.uk will reinforce this success in the sector.

    Subscribers to the site will be able to watch hours of regularly updated Cartoon Network shows, such as Ben 10 and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. They will also be able to watch archived episodes of the cartoons on the site.

    Under the terms of the two year deal, Premium TV will provide the broadband platform for Turner which will see Super Cartoon Network broadcast within the EMEA region.

    Premium TV has a track record of handling digital rights for major sports organisations, such as FLi (Football League Interactive) and World Rally Championship (WRC). The company’s expertise in managing digital rights, coupled with its DRM technology, will enable Turner Broadcasting Systems to take advantage of the growing digital market.

  • Kasenna PortalTV solution enables Cavalier to deploy USA’s first MPEG-4 Broadband TV

    Kasenna PortalTV solution enables Cavalier to deploy USA’s first MPEG-4 Broadband TV

    MUMBAI: The IPTV company, Kasenna has announced that Cavalier Telephone and TV, a telecommunications services provider, has gone live with the United State’s first MPEG-4-based (H.264) Broadband TV service, powered by Kasenna’s PortalTV solution.

    Kasenna PortalTV, integrated with other MPEG-4 video elements, such as video headend, encryption system, network equipment and set top boxes, has enabled Cavalier to deploy an end-to-end MPEG-4 based broadcast-quality video network.

    This will have a Triple-Play package including advanced features such as on-screen caller ID, Broadcast TV and VOD.

    According to an official release, Kasenna PortalTV combines streaming server, middleware, management, client, and content offerings into the end-to-end, pre-integrated IPTV solution. The fully interactive electronic program guide lets Broadband TV customers smoothly move through the service suite; from setting parental controls and viewing on-screen caller ID, to watching broadcast, pay-per-view and VOD programs.

    “Cavalier offers a world-class, broadcast-quality, interactive television service that gives consumers much greater degree of interactivity and much higher video quality, “said Kasenna CEO Kumar Shah. “We are delighted that Cavalier has chosen PortalTV, the industry’s first MPEG-4 based IPTV infrastructure, to deliver their customized, advanced Broadband TV services.”

    Cavalier CEO Brad Evans said, “Our mission is to deliver a superior and interactive television experience with the industry’s most advanced voice, video and data services. We are very proud to be the first service provider in the US that has rolled out MPEG-4 based Interactive Broadband TV. Kasenna and its fully-integrated PortalTV solution are key to our success – having enabled us to quickly deliver advanced, custom-branded, interactive IPTV services to multiple cities on our regional network. Furthermore, Kasenna’s open, standards-based middleware platform allows us to stay on the cutting edge with future service offerings to our customers.”

    On completion of the rollout, Broadband TV will be available to two million homes passed with its Triple Play service. In addition, Cavalier is also planning its next-generation services including TV mail, interactive programming and gaming to make Broadband TV even more entertaining and convenient, adds the release.

  • Net portal Lycos teams up with PermissionTV for online TV platform

    Net portal Lycos teams up with PermissionTV for online TV platform

    MUMBAI: US net portal Lycos is working with the broadband TV platform PermissionTV to offer a variety of video programming to its 25 million visitors. PermissionTV is a system for media companies and content owners to distribute television programming via the Internet.

    The two companies will team up to deliver a high quality TV entertainment solution to the nearly 25 million visitors to the Lycos Network of sites.

    Lycos will use the PermissionTV platform to offer a variety of video programming to the Lycos audience. Lycos says that the deal reinforces its core strategy to provide consumers with quality video programming and entertainment enhanced with the interactivity of the web, and a platform for creators to showcase and market quality content.

    Lycos CEO Alfred Tolle says, “We chose to work with PermissionTV because we considered it to be one of the most powerful broadband TV platforms available today, allowing us to offer high quality video to our end users that is television-centric, while providing our content partners their own customized channels with a completely unique look under the Lycos brand.

    “By teaming with PermissionTV, Lycos is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the television internet space.” Lycos plans to leverage the PermissionTV platform to acquire a wide range of on-demand content from episodic television, to independent films and programming, to long-form films, providing a totally unique broadband based video experience.

    PermissionTV CEO David Graves says, “The combination of Lycos’s reach, and PermissionTV’s advanced technology is an attractive proposition for video programmers who want to attract a large audience in the most compelling way. This platform makes it easy to get up and running, allowing content providers to build an audience for their own brands.”

    For sponsors, the enhanced online programming offers exactly what they have been seeking: the targetability of web advertising with content that fit expectations of traditional TV viewers. With the PermissionTV platform, Lycos is able to offer media companies and content owners a new distribution channel with subscription, advertising or VOD (video on demand) packaging options. Advertisers get a robust and cost-effective way of reaching potential buyers, while viewers get a controllable on-demand viewing experience that feels like TV.

    Tolle adds, “The era of merging the interactivity of the Web with traditional broadcast television programming is here. Lycos can bring an instant audience, immediate distribution and traffic, and consistently re- engage our users with new content, making this platform particularly attractive to content partners and advertisers alike.”

    The first programming kicked off on 9 June 2006 with the launch of Lycos’ behind- the-scenes video coverage of the soccer World Cup. For the remainder of World Cup, Lycos will give an insider’s look at World Cup culture, featuring exclusive video from embedded Lycos videographers on the front lines, available only at worldcup.lycos.com and powered by PermissionTV. Additional programming will be launched in the coming weeks, including branded television- and movie- related offerings that lend themselves to mainstream audience demand.

  • Sunrise Broadband secures commitment for $25 mn funding from Dutchess Private Equities Fund

    Sunrise Broadband secures commitment for $25 mn funding from Dutchess Private Equities Fund

    MUMBAI: The Colorado-headquartered Sunrise Broadband Group, Inc. has said that it has entered into an investment agreement with Dutchess Private Equities Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership whereby Dutchess is committed to purchase up to twenty-five million dollars (US$25,000,000) of Sunrise Broadband’s common stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement.

    “The Dutchess agreement allows management to close on targeted rural cable television systems and to complete the network upgrades to offer Voice Over Internet Protocol, high-speed Internet and digital video services,” says Sunrise Broadband’s CEO Calvin D. Smiley, Sr.

    The deal with Duchess requires that Sunrise Broadband file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, become fully reporting and register the underlying securities. The approval of the registration statement will activate the agreement with Dutchess, states an official release.