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Category: News Headline

  • 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.

  • Star World ramps up programming next month

    Star World ramps up programming next month

    MUMBAI: English general entertainment channel Star World has announced a slew of shows that it hopes will keep viewers tuning in for more.

    They run the gamut from a hit sitcom to a family drama.

    Kicking things off on 3 August 2006 is The Office. This is the US broadcaster NBC’s version of BBC’s show im the UK. For the uninitiated, the show looks at the humdrum everyday goings-on in a typical nine-to-five workplace, straight out of the ‘Dilbert’ school of work ethics. The Office is a mockumentary of the office Dunder-Mifflin, a paper product company.

    The show has won praise form the characters and the many mini-plots. As the camera follows the Dunder-Mifflin staff around, viewers are treated to a plethora of stories and character backgrounds. There’s Michael Scott, the manager/dense buffoon who may not be diabolical, but is certainly oblivious to what’s going on around him. There’s Pam, the permanently-engaged sweetheart receptionist who’s with a habitual jerk who is constantly putting off their wedding date.

    There’s also Jim, the witty and charming nice guy who harbors a secret crush for Pam despite her engagement. Dwight meanwhile is somewhat nerdy, Lord of the Rings obsessed, and comically abrasive/intrusive to the point that no one takes him seriously. Steve Carrell won a Golden Globe Award this year for his portrayal of Scott.

    Those in the mood for family drama can check out Sons and Daughters from 24 August. The zany and slightly troubled members of a family try to make it through life as comedy ensues. In the center of the mess is Cameron (Fred Goss), who is happily married to second wife Liz (Gillian Vigman), with three children.

    Cameron’s teenage son from his first marriage has officially moved in-and has a little-well, a lot-of trouble becoming comfortable in the new environment. Cameron’s sister Sharon (Alison Quinn) seems to have the perfect life-although her husband, Don (Jerry Lambert), are both in denial about their sex-less marriage. Then there’s Jenna (Amanda Walsh), the gorgeous little half-sister who had her life upturned when she became a single mother. Jenna doesn’t really know what’s good for her.

    She always goes for the bad boys like Tommy White (Greg Pitts), while the nice guys like Wylie Blake (Desmond Harrington) love her. Equally problem-filled Colleen (Dee Wallace Stone) and Wendal (Max Gail), the parents of the siblings, try to keep their family in order somehow. Colleen, though, is admittedly uptight and impulsively judgmental. Even though they’re all a little nuts, the Halbert family hangs in there and keeps it all together.

    The supernatural thriller Ghost Whisperer kicks off on 29 August. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays newlywed Melinda Gordon. She communicates with earthbound spirits – ghosts who cling to the living because they have unfinished business which prevents them from moving beyond the familiar plane of existence we call life. Inspired in part by the work of famed medium James Van Praagh and Mary Ann Winkowski, a real life communicator to spirits, Ghost Whisperer explores the spiritual side of life and death.

    Actor Charlie Sheen saw his acting career being revived with the comedy Two And A Half Men. This kicks off on 31 August. Sheen and Jon Cryer star along with young Angus T. Jones as three males from two generations, each learning what it really means to be a man. Charlie’s casual Malibu lifestyle is interrupted when his tightly wound brother, Alan, who’s facing a divorce, and Alan’s son, Jake, come to stay with him. Together, these two and a half men confront the challenges of growing up-finally.

  • Sony to release ‘Spiderman 3’ in May 2007 in Imax

    Sony to release ‘Spiderman 3’ in May 2007 in Imax

    MUMBAI: Imax and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced that Columbia Pictures’ Spiderman 3 will be simultaneously released at theatres throughout the world and at Imax theatres on 4 May 2007.

    Spiderman 3 will be directed by Sam Raimi, who also directed the first two installments of the franchise. The film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of Imax.

    In Spiderman 3, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. As Spider-Man basks in the public’s adulation for his accomplishments and he is pursued by Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), who rivals M.J. for his affections, Peter becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most.

    His newfound self-assuredness is jeopardised when he faces the battle of his life against two of the most feared villains ever (Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace), whose unparalleled power and thirst for retribution threaten Peter and everyone he loves

  • TV18, Balaji scrips shine on strong Q1 results

    TV18, Balaji scrips shine on strong Q1 results

    MUMBAI: This is a result investors may have been waiting for. Television Eighteen put up a robust first quarter performance, pulling the scrip up by Rs 13 to close today in the BSE at Rs 605 in a market that slipped 61 points after four days of continuous rise.

    On the television front, TV18 has doubled its revenues over the year-ago period while net profit has jumped 65 per cent to Rs 138.21 million. The company now has four channels – two in the business space and two general news channels.

    The Group’s internet business is also poised for a scale up, having crossed $1 million (Rs 46.75 million) in the quarter. TV18 is eyeing acquisitions and will soon re-launch jobstreet.com and yatra.com. The company has already announced plans to hive off the internet business which will make it attractive for strategic investors.

    “The scrip could lift up further, based on these results. The valuation of the internet business will also be interesting,” a market analyst says.

    Balaji Telefilms, which announced its first quarter results yesterday, is the other media scrip which climbed 4.34 per cent to close the day at Rs 109.45 in the BSE. Analysts say this was on the back of a 39 per cent jump in the TV content producer’s net profit to close the quarter at Rs 173.77 million.

    The market is yet to be enthused by UTV’s deal with Walt Disney Company, shedding marginally in the BSE to close 1.8 per cent down at Rs 168.65. The global media major had bought out Hungama TV and taken a 14.9 per cent stake in UTV for a total consideration of $44.5 million (approximately Rs 2 billion).

    “The scrip will gain value once Disney chalks out a joint plan with UTV. It is not clear yet where Disney wants to take UTV forward,” says a market analyst.

    Among the other media stocks to fall are Zee Telefilms (2.24 per cent to Rs 257.20) and NDTV (from Rs 156.2 to Rs 155.30). TV Today almost stayed flat to close at Rs 76.60.

  • MGM channel gets distribution deal in Africa

    MGM channel gets distribution deal in Africa

    MUMBAI: The MGM Channel will be broadcast to subscribers across sub-Saharan Africa via the new DTH platform, My TV.

    The MGM Channel will join networks such as BBC World and Fox Sports on the growing My TV satellite service.

    MGM Networks executive VP Bruce Tuchman says, “This agreement represents a very positive development for us in the African marketplace and fits nicely into our preferred strategy of providing more and more local viewers with choice in channels and choice in platforms.

    “We believe that the launch of My TV, and the emergence of new opportunities across the region, will help spur higher multi-channel penetration and create even more attractive business prospects for channels across this burgeoning television market.”

    My TV COO John Tydeman says, “The inclusion of western movies on the MGM Channel in the My TV bouquet will complement the news, music, children’s, sports, documentaries and local African programming currently available.

    “My TV offers entertainment for African families across the sub-Sahara at an affordable price. MGM’s decision to join My TV is a further endorsement by the international programming community of the My TV proposition.”

    The MGM Channel broadcasts handpicked selections from the MGM library, the world’s largest collection of modern films, on a 24/7 basis. The agreement with My TV is non-exclusive and follows a number of breakthrough deals in other parts of the world announced by MGM Networks in the last several months, including the launch slated for later this year of the MGM Channel into Central/Eastern Europe, in partnership with Liberty Global’s chellomedia division, as well as a slew of new distribution deals for the MGM Channel in Asia.

  • LCDs, cameras allow Sony to post a better than expected quarterly result

    LCDs, cameras allow Sony to post a better than expected quarterly result

    MUMBAI: Japanese consumer electronics conglomerate Sony has reported better than expected results for the first-quarter ended 30 June 2006.

    Net income was ¥32.3 billion with a loss of ¥7.3 billion a year earlier. Media reports indicate that analysts had expected the company to report lower income. Sony got a boost from sales of its Bravia brand LCD televisions and Cybershot digital cameras.

    For the full year to next March, Sony revised up its operating profit forecast by 30 per cent to 130 billion yen as it started booking patent-related income as recurring revenue rather than miscellaneous income. It kept unchanged its net profit forecast of 130 billion yen.

    Sales rose 11 per cent to ¥1.74 trillion from a year earlier. Operating profit, or sales minus the cost of goods sold and administrative expenses, was ¥27 billion for the period, compared with a restated ¥6.6 billion loss a year earlier.

    Profit from the electronics division, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of the company’s sales, was ¥47.4 billion, from a loss of ¥26.7 billion a year earlier. Sales of electronics including Bravia TVs, Cyber-shot cameras and Vaio personal computers increased by 14 per cent to ¥1.28 trillion.

    Sales of its TVs rose by 75 per cent to ¥262 billion. Sony joins rivals Sharp and Matsushita Electric Industrial in reporting higher profit because of TV sales.

    It looks like Sony CEO Howard Stringer’s cost cutting measures are starting to pay dividends. In September Stringer had outlined a plan to axe 10,000 jobs and shut down 11 factories. Stringer also stopped paying 44 retired executives, sold two corporate jets and some retail businesses, including a cosmetics maker and a restaurant chain.

    On the film front Sony benfited from The Da Vinci Code. This helped the company increase sales by 42 per cent in the quarter. However, higher marketing costs meant that the film division suffered an overall loss.

     

  • K.I. Kwon is LG Electronics US president

    K.I. Kwon is LG Electronics US president

    MUMBAI: LG Electronics has appointed K.I. Kwon as its president in the US for its consumer electronics division.

    Kwon was most recently LG Electronics VP digital display division responsible for the US. Kwon is responsible for the overall management and direction of the consumer electronics, commercial products and information technology businesses.

    LG Electronics North American Headquarters president and CEO Michael Ahn says, “K.I. Kwon has extensive experience in digital display and digital media products as well as with the LG brand in North America and globally, making him the ideal candidate for this position. His fresh ideas and strong leadership skills will provide the insight and direction as LG continues to expand its consumer electronics presence and build its premium brand in the United States.”

  • Tour de France kicks off on Ten Sports on Sunday

    Tour de France kicks off on Ten Sports on Sunday

    MUMBAI: Ten Sports, the world’s number one sports channel for south Asians, will telecast live action from Tour de France, arguably the toughest sporting event of the world.

    This year’s Tour de France assumes special significance as it will be the first time after seven years that a new rider will have the honour of wearing the yellow jersey. After an emotional farewell last year, the legendary American cyclist Lance Armstrong will hand over the crown to a new rider following his retirement.

    The 93rd Tour de France starts on 2 July from Strasborg in neighbouring Germany, and will be made up of a prologue and 20 stages, covering a total distance of 3,600 kilometres. The Tour finishes at Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday 23 July. The cyclists will have only two days of rest in between – on Mondays 10 and 17 July.

    The break-up of the 20 stages are nine flat stages, four medium mountain stages, five mountain stages and two individual time-trial stages. Ten Sports will be there to bring action everyday from the scenic French urban and countryside as the riders are tested with extreme conditions.

    Except for the first three stages of the Tour that clash with the live coverage of India in the West Indies, the remaining 17 stages will be live on Ten Sports, with the coverage starting at 6 pm from 5 July onwards. Complete coverage of the first three stages will be telecast at 3:30 am and 11:30 am IST the following day.
    After its absence last year, the prologue (of seven kms) time trial returns to make the shorter time trial specialists happy. The prologue will be held at Strasborg today 1 July.

    Among the favourites to follow in the footsteps of Lance Armstrong are the 32-year-old German Jan Ullrich of Team T-Mobile, who won the race in 1997 and has already sounded a warning to his rivals by winning the Tour of Switzerland this year; Italian Ivan Basso of Team CSC, considered by none other than Armstrong as the rider most likely to take over his crown, and Alejandro Valverde of Spain, who has won two titles this year.

  • ABC, Tivo win interactive Emmys

    ABC, Tivo win interactive Emmys

    MUMBAI: Tivo, which creates television services for digital video recorders (DVRs) in the US and US broadcaster ABC’s online streaming video player have won interactive Emmies.

    They will take home trophies at the Creative Arts Awards on 19 August.

    TiVo won for achievement for enhanced or interactive programming – television. Tivo president and CEO Tom Rogers says, “Tivo is proud to receive an Emmy Award and recognition from the Academy and its peers for the innovative services that it provides in enhancing the viewing of television by bringing it to a whole new level.”

    Tivo CTO and co-founder Jim Barton says, “We are committed to transforming television viewing by being the leaders in translating the latest technological developments into an easy and simple viewer experience. From our TiVoCast service to TiVo KidZone our mission is to provide subscribers the best way to watch television.”

    ABC.com’s streaming video player won for achievement for enhanced or interactive programming: new delivery platforms. The Academy said, “Conventional wisdom dictated that it was not possible to provide high bit-rate streaming video, over the Internet, to large numbers of people simultaneously, while maintaining consistent quality and doing so in a cost-effective manner. ABC.com’s full episode streaming player dispenses with those previously held beliefs as it leverages emerging technologies and digital platforms to enhance and extend the ABC television network’s relationship with consumers.”

    This year’s Interactive Television Emmy Awards recognise original interactive television programming content, applications and services that have been deployed in the United States between 1 June, 2005 and 31 May 2006 and that have demonstrated creative excellence. Other finalists in this category include AOL Music on Demand, CNN Enhanced and DirecTV Interactive Sports.

    Governor of the Television Academy’s Interactive Media Peer Group Brian Seth Hurst says, “Tivo was the very first offering in the DVR space and it is great that they are still leading the way. The Tivo service is certainly impressive in both its offering and user experience and meets the standard of excellence. It’s easy to see why the voters deemed it worthy of the Emmy.”

  • International Emmys judging: BAG Films’ ‘Siddhant’ through to Finals

    International Emmys judging: BAG Films’ ‘Siddhant’ through to Finals

    MUMBAI: The Indian entertainment industry is looking at a brighter tomorrow as BAG Films’ Siddhant has qualified in the drama category for the final of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ 34th International Emmy Awards.

    The semi final round was conducted in Mumbai today and saw a 19-member jury scan entries in four categories – comedy, non-scripted entertainment, drama series and children and young people (the latter two being new additions from last year’s judging).

    India is among a select few countries like Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Qatar and Greece to host the semi final rounds of this event. The jury comprised different representatives from the television fraternity in India including Abhimanyu Singh, Archana Puran Singh, Ashwini Yardi, Asit Modi, Ketki Dave, Mandira Bedi, Monisha Singh, Nachiket Pantvaidya, R D Tailang, Ravi Kiran, Ram Kapoor, Ravina Raj Kohli, Ritu Goel, Sanjeev Sharma, Shristi Arya, Siddharth Kak, Smriti Irani, Supriya Pathak and Suresh Bala.

    In essence there seemed to be a consensus among jury members that there was a dearth of Indian content due to sheer lack of awareness among producers and TV channels alike.

    International Emmy Awards Semi-Finals host Anil Wanvari with International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences director, Emmy judging, Sandy Clark.
    Speaking to Indiantelevison.com, Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director production and programming Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Asian content was quite good as there seems to be a trend in programming particularly around the theme of magic and fantasy. However, Indian content was highly under represented.”

    Having been on the jury last year as well, Contiloe Films Pvt Ltd CEO Abhimanyu Singh was of the opinion, “Indian entries are at par with the rest. However, there is a greater need to drive the Emmy’s forward through better marketing of the brand, to encourage greater participation.”

    In response to the jury’s plea for greater awareness in terms of the procedure to enter the competition, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences director, Emmy judging, Sandy Clark told this website, “There is a misconception that the Emmy’s is only open to US programming. However, there are no restrictions and thus broadcasters, directors, distributors and producers can all enter. We spread awareness through our website, via email and through events like Mipcom and MipTV to encourage entries from across the globe.”

    Hopefully this year’s win, combined with word-of-mouth will provide an impetus to more Indian producers and TV channels to make a bigger entry next year. Speaking about B.A.G. Films’ achievement, Indiantelevision.com CEO and International Emmy Semi Final host Anil Wanvari said, “Siddhant making it to the final speaks volumes for Indian content and this will hopefully facilitate greater participation next year.”

    The entries in the remaining categories shortlisted for the final round are as follows:

    Comedy – War of the In Laws, TV Broadcasters Ltd, Hong Kong, China

    Non-Scripted Entertainment – 1. Wisholang (My Wish) – Papawad (Forgiveness), GM Networks, Philippines
    2. Viking Family Special, Fuji Network Corp, Japan

    Children and Young People – 1. My Perfect Partner, Media Corp, Singapore

    2. Advengers, TV Asahi Corp, Japan

    Drama – 1. Home Affairs, Penguin Films, South Africa
    2. Siddhant B.A.G Films, India