ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Govt respects free discourse & social media via internet: Ravi Shankar Prasad

    Govt respects free discourse & social media via internet: Ravi Shankar Prasad

    NEW DELHI: Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said the government fully respects the freedom of expression and discourse on social media and interned adding that “Our government is committed towards digital inclusion.”

    Welcoming the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) decision on discriminatory pricing, he said, “We very much appreciate this decision of TRAI whereby differential tariff in case of data services has been rejected. The view of our government from the beginning has been very clear, which I have also articulated in the Parliament, that is, internet is one of the finest creations of human mind and it should not become the monopoly of few.”

    “Differential pricing on data, whether it is Free Basics or any other mode, is plainly not acceptable,” the minister said, adding that the internet “must be available without discrimination.”

    Prasad said that the government was expanding Digital India into every “nook and corner of the country, and taking extraordinary steps to empower the people through technology, to create a knowledge economy, the very concept,” in order to bring about digital inclusion.

  • Govt respects free discourse & social media via internet: Ravi Shankar Prasad

    Govt respects free discourse & social media via internet: Ravi Shankar Prasad

    NEW DELHI: Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said the government fully respects the freedom of expression and discourse on social media and interned adding that “Our government is committed towards digital inclusion.”

    Welcoming the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) decision on discriminatory pricing, he said, “We very much appreciate this decision of TRAI whereby differential tariff in case of data services has been rejected. The view of our government from the beginning has been very clear, which I have also articulated in the Parliament, that is, internet is one of the finest creations of human mind and it should not become the monopoly of few.”

    “Differential pricing on data, whether it is Free Basics or any other mode, is plainly not acceptable,” the minister said, adding that the internet “must be available without discrimination.”

    Prasad said that the government was expanding Digital India into every “nook and corner of the country, and taking extraordinary steps to empower the people through technology, to create a knowledge economy, the very concept,” in order to bring about digital inclusion.

  • Viacom inks global content & ad sales deal with Snapchat

    Viacom inks global content & ad sales deal with Snapchat

    MUMBAI: Viacom has inked a global partnership with Snapchat that capitalises on and extends the expertise of both companies to creatively and authentically speak to millennial and post-millennial audiences.

    The wide-ranging deal, anchored in both content production and advertising sales, will bring two high profile channels to Snapchat Discover — a Comedy Central International channel and an MTV Channel in the US, which will complement the already successful Comedy Central and MTV International Discover channels.

    The agreement also grants Viacom the right to sell Snapchat’s US owned and operated advertising inventory, allowing Viacom to offer added value to television advertisers who want to add Snapchat’s wildly popular premium video platform to the media mix. In addition, Viacom also has agreed to provide Snapchat with expanded access so Snapchat can produce Live Stories covering more of Viacom’s tent pole events.

    “Viacom and Snapchat naturally complement each other in significant ways that make us ideal partners in both content and business development. Snapchat captures young audiences on an intimate and immersive mobile video platform while Viacom is the leader in premium long- and short-form storytelling for these same audiences. Add in Viacom’s custom marketing solutions and commitment to evolve our global mobile strategy and you’ve got a partnership that is great for both companies, for advertisers, and is a real evolution of the marketplace,” said Viacom CFO Wade Davis.

    In addition to selling its advertising alongside its own content on Snapchat Discover, Viacom will now also have the right to sell Snapchat’s US owned and operated ad inventory, which includes ads in ongoing Stories such as New York, capturing daily happenings in New York City, and non-partnered holiday Live Stories, such as Valentine’s Day. 

    Viacom is the only television company to have this arrangement with Snapchat.

    “Snapchat provides the best storytelling experience on mobile. Through this partnership with Viacom, we can now offer television advertisers a way to tell their stories across television and mobile in a frictionless way,” said Snapchat chief strategy officer Imran Khan.

    On the content side of the deal, Viacom will further invest in the creation of original premium video content specifically for Snapchat Discover. While MTV International and Comedy Central have previously been committed to creating original content on Discover, additional resources will now be put towards the launch of an MTV US Channel and a Comedy Central International channel on the platform.

    MTV’s new Snapchat Discover channel will feature a wide range of content created exclusively for the platform and updated daily. At launch on 9 February, this includes MTV News articles and video with design and art direction unique to Snapchat, exclusive celebrity interviews, and more. MTV is also developing additional Snapchat-native content, including brand-new original series and reinvented MTV fan-favorite franchises for the platform.

    Comedy Central will launch internationally on Snapchat Discover on 10 February, delivering always funny content to fans globally. The new international channel will serve Snapchat users daily doses of comedy, from curated WTF News articles and exclusive videos with their favourite comedians to upcoming original series set to debut on Snapchat Discover in the coming year. Since its US launch in January 2015, the Comedy Central channel on Snapchat Discover has become a vibrant pipeline for Comedy Central to develop fresh comedic voices and original content. It is one of the most popular brands on the platform.

    Another key element of the Viacom/Snapchat partnership will leverage Snapchat’s Live Stories, which are curated collections of user-submitted content covering major events and places around the world. Through the partnership, Snapchat will have unique access to cover Viacom’s one-of-a-kind, tentpole events, such as MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMAs), BET Experience, and MTV’s EMAs.

    The deal grew organically out of a dynamic Viacom/Snapchat relationship, including many custom advertising campaigns created by in-house creative agency Viacom Velocity that ran in Snapchat Discover, as well as “break-the-internet” level of fan engagement for Viacom events covered by Snapchat Live Stories and Snapchat Discover channels launched a year ago.

  • Viacom inks global content & ad sales deal with Snapchat

    Viacom inks global content & ad sales deal with Snapchat

    MUMBAI: Viacom has inked a global partnership with Snapchat that capitalises on and extends the expertise of both companies to creatively and authentically speak to millennial and post-millennial audiences.

    The wide-ranging deal, anchored in both content production and advertising sales, will bring two high profile channels to Snapchat Discover — a Comedy Central International channel and an MTV Channel in the US, which will complement the already successful Comedy Central and MTV International Discover channels.

    The agreement also grants Viacom the right to sell Snapchat’s US owned and operated advertising inventory, allowing Viacom to offer added value to television advertisers who want to add Snapchat’s wildly popular premium video platform to the media mix. In addition, Viacom also has agreed to provide Snapchat with expanded access so Snapchat can produce Live Stories covering more of Viacom’s tent pole events.

    “Viacom and Snapchat naturally complement each other in significant ways that make us ideal partners in both content and business development. Snapchat captures young audiences on an intimate and immersive mobile video platform while Viacom is the leader in premium long- and short-form storytelling for these same audiences. Add in Viacom’s custom marketing solutions and commitment to evolve our global mobile strategy and you’ve got a partnership that is great for both companies, for advertisers, and is a real evolution of the marketplace,” said Viacom CFO Wade Davis.

    In addition to selling its advertising alongside its own content on Snapchat Discover, Viacom will now also have the right to sell Snapchat’s US owned and operated ad inventory, which includes ads in ongoing Stories such as New York, capturing daily happenings in New York City, and non-partnered holiday Live Stories, such as Valentine’s Day. 

    Viacom is the only television company to have this arrangement with Snapchat.

    “Snapchat provides the best storytelling experience on mobile. Through this partnership with Viacom, we can now offer television advertisers a way to tell their stories across television and mobile in a frictionless way,” said Snapchat chief strategy officer Imran Khan.

    On the content side of the deal, Viacom will further invest in the creation of original premium video content specifically for Snapchat Discover. While MTV International and Comedy Central have previously been committed to creating original content on Discover, additional resources will now be put towards the launch of an MTV US Channel and a Comedy Central International channel on the platform.

    MTV’s new Snapchat Discover channel will feature a wide range of content created exclusively for the platform and updated daily. At launch on 9 February, this includes MTV News articles and video with design and art direction unique to Snapchat, exclusive celebrity interviews, and more. MTV is also developing additional Snapchat-native content, including brand-new original series and reinvented MTV fan-favorite franchises for the platform.

    Comedy Central will launch internationally on Snapchat Discover on 10 February, delivering always funny content to fans globally. The new international channel will serve Snapchat users daily doses of comedy, from curated WTF News articles and exclusive videos with their favourite comedians to upcoming original series set to debut on Snapchat Discover in the coming year. Since its US launch in January 2015, the Comedy Central channel on Snapchat Discover has become a vibrant pipeline for Comedy Central to develop fresh comedic voices and original content. It is one of the most popular brands on the platform.

    Another key element of the Viacom/Snapchat partnership will leverage Snapchat’s Live Stories, which are curated collections of user-submitted content covering major events and places around the world. Through the partnership, Snapchat will have unique access to cover Viacom’s one-of-a-kind, tentpole events, such as MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMAs), BET Experience, and MTV’s EMAs.

    The deal grew organically out of a dynamic Viacom/Snapchat relationship, including many custom advertising campaigns created by in-house creative agency Viacom Velocity that ran in Snapchat Discover, as well as “break-the-internet” level of fan engagement for Viacom events covered by Snapchat Live Stories and Snapchat Discover channels launched a year ago.

  • Q3-2016: Lycos festival quarter revenue up 21%, PAT up 27%

    Q3-2016: Lycos festival quarter revenue up 21%, PAT up 27%

    BENGALURU: Internet brand Lycos Internet Limited (Lycos) reported a 20.6 YoY jump in Total Income from Operations (TIO) and a 26.6 YoY increase in its profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter). Lycos reported TIO in Q3-2016 at Rs 718.27 crore as compared to Rs 595.67 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter. The current quarter’s TIO was 27.1 per cent more than the Rs 565.08 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q2-2016.

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    Lycos reported 26.6 per cent higher YoY PAT in the current quarter at Rs 125.17 crore (17.4 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 98.87 crore and was 19 per cent higher quarter on quarter (QoQ) as compared to Rs 105.16 crore (18.6 per cent margin).

    “The team has delivered great results in bringing home the numbers. Video and Programmatic advertising have dominated sales yet another quarter,” said Lycos chairman and CEO Suresh Reddy.  

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Lycos:

    EBIDTA including other income in the current quarter was 22.3 per cent higher YoY at Rs 199.94 crore (27.8 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 163.42 crore (27.4 per cent margin) and was 9.4 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 182.72 crore (32.3 per cent margin).

    Total Expenditure in Q3-2016 increased 22.2 per cent YoY to Rs 538.44 crore (75 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 440.69 crore (74 per cent of TIO) and was 33.4 per cent higher QoQ than the Rs 403.57 crore (71.4 per cent of TIO).

    Employee Benefits Expense in the current quarter increased 15 per cent at Rs 33.20 crore (4.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 28.88 crore (4.8 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2015 and was 29.5 per cent more than the Rs 25.64 crore (4.5 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

    Finance costs in Q3-2016 reduced by 28.4 per cent YoY to Rs 3.88 crore (0.5 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 5.42 crore (0.9 per cent of TIO) and reduced 5.1 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 4.09 crore (0.7 per cent of TIO).

    Company’s take on business highlights for Q3-2016:

    Revenue from Digital Marketing Segment for Q3-2016 was Rs 609.35 crore, an increase of 32.94 per cent QoQ and an increase of 23.58 per cent YoY. PBT from Digital Marketing Segment for Q3-2016 was Rs 179.31 crore, an increase of 10.46 per cent Q-Q and an increase of 25.86 per cent YoY. Revenue from Software Development Segment for Q3 FY2015-16 was Rs 108.92 crore, an increase of 2.08 per cent QoQ and an increase of 6.18 per cent YoY.

    Lycos Advertising 

    Media Buying (Publishers): The company says that its participation in Adtech New York brought forth new businesses from existing publisher groups in expanding its business in more territories. Programmatic buying became an important part of Lycos’s media supply  

    Video Advertising

    A new video product: Vid-In was launched. Vid-In is an O&O placement, above the fold with good viewability and customization. It’s one of the premium video products in the market.
    Lycos also developed its mobile activity with the launch of mobile app supply. 

    Technology

    Business Intelligence: Lycos says that it is able to now optimise yield based on ad types and formats of the video players for its advertisers.

    Auto-tools development: The company says that it proceeded with the development of auto tools in the current qaurter, enabling advanced alert capabilities for best pricing on media. The tools also enable bid optimisation, which automatically finds the optimal bid in different demand side platforms. This solution has already been launched at one of Lycos’s larger client installs of Compass.

    Compass

    Compass: Lycos says that it released the header bidding solution to both manage a publisher’s auctions and participate in it as pre-bid partner. 

    Lycos Media

    The team is working on a major relaunch of the site and services across the network.

    Lycos Life

    The new edition of the Band and the Ring help users quickly and easily manage their online life.
    The most noticeable change users will experience is a new, customisable dashboard allowing people to see most of the features on a single screen. 
    Lycos claims that significant progress in the development of the marketing messaging for the brand ‘Life’ and the products. Initial testing started through Facebook and other stake holders through email.

    Apollo Lycos NetCommerce (APLY)

    A new company website was launched www.aplyindia.com
    A new product website was launched www.aplymart.com
    Demo of the platform for online stores is now open to all visitors.
    The company says that the first client is on board for cross-border commerce from the leather apparels/accessories segment. 

  • Q3-2016: Lycos festival quarter revenue up 21%, PAT up 27%

    Q3-2016: Lycos festival quarter revenue up 21%, PAT up 27%

    BENGALURU: Internet brand Lycos Internet Limited (Lycos) reported a 20.6 YoY jump in Total Income from Operations (TIO) and a 26.6 YoY increase in its profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter). Lycos reported TIO in Q3-2016 at Rs 718.27 crore as compared to Rs 595.67 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter. The current quarter’s TIO was 27.1 per cent more than the Rs 565.08 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q2-2016.

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    Lycos reported 26.6 per cent higher YoY PAT in the current quarter at Rs 125.17 crore (17.4 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 98.87 crore and was 19 per cent higher quarter on quarter (QoQ) as compared to Rs 105.16 crore (18.6 per cent margin).

    “The team has delivered great results in bringing home the numbers. Video and Programmatic advertising have dominated sales yet another quarter,” said Lycos chairman and CEO Suresh Reddy.  

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Lycos:

    EBIDTA including other income in the current quarter was 22.3 per cent higher YoY at Rs 199.94 crore (27.8 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 163.42 crore (27.4 per cent margin) and was 9.4 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 182.72 crore (32.3 per cent margin).

    Total Expenditure in Q3-2016 increased 22.2 per cent YoY to Rs 538.44 crore (75 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 440.69 crore (74 per cent of TIO) and was 33.4 per cent higher QoQ than the Rs 403.57 crore (71.4 per cent of TIO).

    Employee Benefits Expense in the current quarter increased 15 per cent at Rs 33.20 crore (4.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 28.88 crore (4.8 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2015 and was 29.5 per cent more than the Rs 25.64 crore (4.5 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

    Finance costs in Q3-2016 reduced by 28.4 per cent YoY to Rs 3.88 crore (0.5 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 5.42 crore (0.9 per cent of TIO) and reduced 5.1 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 4.09 crore (0.7 per cent of TIO).

    Company’s take on business highlights for Q3-2016:

    Revenue from Digital Marketing Segment for Q3-2016 was Rs 609.35 crore, an increase of 32.94 per cent QoQ and an increase of 23.58 per cent YoY. PBT from Digital Marketing Segment for Q3-2016 was Rs 179.31 crore, an increase of 10.46 per cent Q-Q and an increase of 25.86 per cent YoY. Revenue from Software Development Segment for Q3 FY2015-16 was Rs 108.92 crore, an increase of 2.08 per cent QoQ and an increase of 6.18 per cent YoY.

    Lycos Advertising 

    Media Buying (Publishers): The company says that its participation in Adtech New York brought forth new businesses from existing publisher groups in expanding its business in more territories. Programmatic buying became an important part of Lycos’s media supply  

    Video Advertising

    A new video product: Vid-In was launched. Vid-In is an O&O placement, above the fold with good viewability and customization. It’s one of the premium video products in the market.
    Lycos also developed its mobile activity with the launch of mobile app supply. 

    Technology

    Business Intelligence: Lycos says that it is able to now optimise yield based on ad types and formats of the video players for its advertisers.

    Auto-tools development: The company says that it proceeded with the development of auto tools in the current qaurter, enabling advanced alert capabilities for best pricing on media. The tools also enable bid optimisation, which automatically finds the optimal bid in different demand side platforms. This solution has already been launched at one of Lycos’s larger client installs of Compass.

    Compass

    Compass: Lycos says that it released the header bidding solution to both manage a publisher’s auctions and participate in it as pre-bid partner. 

    Lycos Media

    The team is working on a major relaunch of the site and services across the network.

    Lycos Life

    The new edition of the Band and the Ring help users quickly and easily manage their online life.
    The most noticeable change users will experience is a new, customisable dashboard allowing people to see most of the features on a single screen. 
    Lycos claims that significant progress in the development of the marketing messaging for the brand ‘Life’ and the products. Initial testing started through Facebook and other stake holders through email.

    Apollo Lycos NetCommerce (APLY)

    A new company website was launched www.aplyindia.com
    A new product website was launched www.aplymart.com
    Demo of the platform for online stores is now open to all visitors.
    The company says that the first client is on board for cross-border commerce from the leather apparels/accessories segment. 

  • Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg disappointed with TRAI’s decision favouring net neutrality

    Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg disappointed with TRAI’s decision favouring net neutrality

    MUMBAI: Everyone in the world should have access to the Internet says Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

    Voicing his disappointment over Indian regulator – the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) decision, which upheld net neutrality and ruled against differential pricing of data services, Zuckerberg took to his social networking website and said, “Today India’s telecom regulator decided to restrict programs that provide free access to data. This restricts one of Internet.org’s initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programs by other organizations that provide free access to data.”

    With an aim to provide basic internet services to all, Zuckerberg launched Internet.org with many different initiatives — including extending networks through solar-powered planes, satellites and lasers, providing free data access through Free Basics, reducing data use through apps, and empowering local entrepreneurs through Express Wi-Fi.

    “While we’re disappointed with today’s decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet,” he added.

    He added that with Internet.org, more than 19 million people in 38 countries have been connected through its different programs.

    “Connecting India is an important goal we won’t give up on, because more than a billion people in India don’t have access to the internet. We know that connecting them can help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities. We care about these people, and that’s why we’re so committed to connecting them,” he voiced.

    Zuckerberg said that Facebook’s mission was to make the world more open and connected. “That mission continues, and so does our commitment to India,” he said.

    It may be recalled that Facebook faced a lot of flak recently when it asked its users to support Free Basics via a poll. Free Basics has been criticised over grounds that it curbed people’s freedom to access the internet of their choice.

  • Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg disappointed with TRAI’s decision favouring net neutrality

    Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg disappointed with TRAI’s decision favouring net neutrality

    MUMBAI: Everyone in the world should have access to the Internet says Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

    Voicing his disappointment over Indian regulator – the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) decision, which upheld net neutrality and ruled against differential pricing of data services, Zuckerberg took to his social networking website and said, “Today India’s telecom regulator decided to restrict programs that provide free access to data. This restricts one of Internet.org’s initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programs by other organizations that provide free access to data.”

    With an aim to provide basic internet services to all, Zuckerberg launched Internet.org with many different initiatives — including extending networks through solar-powered planes, satellites and lasers, providing free data access through Free Basics, reducing data use through apps, and empowering local entrepreneurs through Express Wi-Fi.

    “While we’re disappointed with today’s decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet,” he added.

    He added that with Internet.org, more than 19 million people in 38 countries have been connected through its different programs.

    “Connecting India is an important goal we won’t give up on, because more than a billion people in India don’t have access to the internet. We know that connecting them can help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities. We care about these people, and that’s why we’re so committed to connecting them,” he voiced.

    Zuckerberg said that Facebook’s mission was to make the world more open and connected. “That mission continues, and so does our commitment to India,” he said.

    It may be recalled that Facebook faced a lot of flak recently when it asked its users to support Free Basics via a poll. Free Basics has been criticised over grounds that it curbed people’s freedom to access the internet of their choice.

  • High 4K TV partners Splendid Media for India launch

    High 4K TV partners Splendid Media for India launch

    MUMBAI: The New York headquartered multi-genre linear Ultra High Definition (UHD) entertainment channel – High 4K TV, which features a mix of travel, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and original content in 4K, is slated to launch in India via Splendid Media.

    The channel will be available on digital TV platforms and Splendid Media is in talks with various DTH  and cable companies for the channel’s distribution.

    High TV head of business development Justin Borrelo said, “It is indeed a major milestone for us, as an international 4K channel, to be present in India through a leading media company such as Splendid Media, with the highest reach. We are excited to be bringing the very best in lifestyle and entertainment programming to an audience that embraces entertainment as the very essence of their culture.”

    Splendid Media founder and CEO Amit Srivastava added, “We are delighted to be the exclusive agents of High 4K TV in the Indian sub-continent. We will be tying up with various leading DTH and digital cable providers for bringing this unique experience to Indian consumers. We are confident that our viewers will be truly entertained by the breadth and depth of lifestyle and entertainment coverage, as well as benefit from the tips that High 4K TV programs offer.”

  • High 4K TV partners Splendid Media for India launch

    High 4K TV partners Splendid Media for India launch

    MUMBAI: The New York headquartered multi-genre linear Ultra High Definition (UHD) entertainment channel – High 4K TV, which features a mix of travel, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and original content in 4K, is slated to launch in India via Splendid Media.

    The channel will be available on digital TV platforms and Splendid Media is in talks with various DTH  and cable companies for the channel’s distribution.

    High TV head of business development Justin Borrelo said, “It is indeed a major milestone for us, as an international 4K channel, to be present in India through a leading media company such as Splendid Media, with the highest reach. We are excited to be bringing the very best in lifestyle and entertainment programming to an audience that embraces entertainment as the very essence of their culture.”

    Splendid Media founder and CEO Amit Srivastava added, “We are delighted to be the exclusive agents of High 4K TV in the Indian sub-continent. We will be tying up with various leading DTH and digital cable providers for bringing this unique experience to Indian consumers. We are confident that our viewers will be truly entertained by the breadth and depth of lifestyle and entertainment coverage, as well as benefit from the tips that High 4K TV programs offer.”