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  • CAS switchover modalities will hit broadcasters, MSOs hard; Trai to have final say

    CAS switchover modalities will hit broadcasters, MSOs hard; Trai to have final say

    MUMBAI: A day after the government issued a notification setting 31 December, 2006 as the deadline for the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to be fully “CAS delivered”, it fired the real bombshell – the framework under which addressability would be introduced in the notified areas.

    The backdated (31 July) notification covers a whole range of conditions that impact all constituents of the cable service delivery chain – broadcasters, cable MSOs, last mile operators. It even delves into issues of advertising.

    Interestingly, embedded in the fine print of the notification is a clause that allows the government to extend the time frame for the CAS switchover if it believes that the arrangements made by MSOs are inadequate and therefore “likely to be against the interests of a substantial portion of the subscribers in any notified area.”

    Tasked with overseeing all this is the cable and broadcast regulator which has been given extraordinary powers in regards to the switchover to addressability in the areas that fall under the CAS notification – the Kolkata Metropolitan areas, the areas covered by the Municipal Council of Greater Mumbai and the National Capital Region of Delhi.

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), will be the final word on not just pricing of pay channels, but also in the granting of permission to cable service providers to offer addressable services, among a host of other extremely restrictive conditionalities. Some of the key issues the notification covers are:

    Interconnect Agreements
    It is Trai that will determine the “standard interconnection agreement to be used for entering into commercial agreements for distribution in the notified areas, of pay or free-to-air channels among (i) broadcasters and multi-system operators; and (ii) MSOs and local cable operators.”

    (a) Trai will set the maximum limits of security deposit and monthly rental for supply, maintenance and servicing of set top boxes of prescribed specifications to the subscribers on rental basis by multi-system operators in the notified areas;

    (b) tariff for the basic service tier along with the minimum number of free-to-air channels to be provided by the multi-system operators or local cable operators to the subscribers in the notified areas;

    (c) regulations for quality of service to be provided by the multi- system operators or local cable operators to the subscribers in the notified areas.

    Channel Pricing
    (1) Every broadcaster will have to declare the nature of each of its channels as ‘pay’ or ‘free-to-air’ channel as well as the maximum retail price of each of its ‘pay’ channels to be charged by the multi-system operators or local cable operators from the subscribers in each of the notified areas.

    (2) Each broadcaster will have to file the declaration of the nature and prices of channels within 15 days of the date of notification by the government.

    (3) If Trai believes the price declared by the broadcaster for any of its pay channels is too high, it has the right to fix and declare the maximum retail price of such a pay channel or fix a general maximum retail price for all pay channels within which the broadcasters may declare their individual prices for each pay channel.

    Any order issued in this regard by the regulator will be binding on the broadcasters and the multi-system operators and local cable operators.

    (5) If a broadcaster fails to declare the price of any of its pay channels within the prescribed time limit, or fails to comply with the direction or refuses or fails to enter into an interconnect agreement with a MSO permitted by the government within the prescribed time limit, the authority can take interim measures to ensure supply of
    signals.

    (6) If the broadcaster does not comply with the directives issued by Trai, the government may, if asked to do so by the regulator, suspend permission to broadcast the channel in the country.

    (7) Every declaration on pricing filed by the broadcaster will remain valid for one Year. If the broadcaster wants to revise the price of any channel or convert a pay channel to free-to-air or a free-to-air channel to a pay channel, it will have to give one month’s notice to the MSO and subscribers:

    MSOs, Cable Ops Will Need Government Permission To Operate
    (1) No multi-system operator can provide addressable cable services without permission from the government.

    (2) Every MSO has been given 30 days to apply to the I&B ministry for permission to operate, along with a processing fee of Rs 10,000.

    (3) After receiving the application, the I&B ministry has 30 days to either grant or refuse permission on the basis of information that will include existing operational area, actual number of subscribers and addresses of its local cable operators in each of the notified areas, commercial arrangements with the broadcasters and local cable operators, if any, financial strength, management capability, security clearance and preparedness to supply and maintain adequate number of set top boxes for its subscribers, installation of its subscriber management system and compliance with all other quality of service standards that may be specified by Trai.

    (4) In the event of an MSO failing or refusing to enter into interconnect agreements with a broadcaster of a pay channel or an adequate number of local cable operators in the notified areas or violates the terms and conditions laid down, Trai can take interim measures to ensure supply of signals. Though what these interim measures might involve is not spelt out, it would appear to indicate that the licence to operate would in that particular area would be given to some other MSO.

    (5) MSOs violating the terms and conditions laid down by Trai face revocation of their licence.

    Public Awareness Campaign About CAS
    (1) Every MSO will have to adequately publicise to its subscribers for a period of 30 days, either through advertisements in the print and electronic media or through other means (e.g. leaflets, printing on the reverse of the receipts, personal visits, group meetings with subscribers or consumer groups etc.) the salient features of the CAS scheme.

    These will include:-
    (a) A-la-carte subscription rates and the periodic intervals at which such subscriptions are payable for receiving the various pay channels;

    (b) The refundable security deposit and the daily or monthly rental payable for the set-top box and its detailed specifications such as make, model, technical specifications, user manuals and maintenance centres etc.;

    (c) The number and names of free-to-air channels that the multi-system operator will provide to the subscribers and specific placement of each channel in the prime or non-prime bands;

    (d) The prescribed monthly service charge to be paid by each subscriber for receiving the basic tier service and the number of additional free-to-air channels, if any, offered by the MSO.

    (e) The quality of service standards specified by Trai and the arrangements made by the MSO to comply with these standards;

    (f) The subscriber management system established by the MSO to demonstrate the functioning of the STBs and interact with the subscribers to explain the various financial, logistic and technical aspects of the system for its smooth implementation;

    (g) The arrangements for resolution of disputes between the MSO, LCOs, and subscribers in respect of the quality of service standards, payments and refunds etc.

    (2) The Authority may also arrange public awareness activities in the notified areas either directly or through authorized officers or consumer organizations etc..

    Supply And Installation of STBs
    (1) Every subscriber who wants to receive one or more pay channels shall, during the public awareness campaign or within 15 days after its expiry, apply to any one of the MSOs granted permission either directly or through any of his linked LCOs, to supply and install one or more set top boxes in his premises as per the scheme approved by Trai and deliver the requisite channels through the same:

    Provided that every subscriber shall be free to buy an STB of approved quality from the open market, if available and technically compatible with the MSO’s system. No MSO or cable operator can force any subscriber to buy or to take on rent the STB from him only.

    (2) Every subscriber who wants to receive one or more pay channels can either buy an technically compatible STB from the open market or apply to anyone of the MSOs either directly or through any of his linked LCOs, to supply and install one or more STBs in his.

    (3) Every MSO will have to set up and operationalise its subscriber management system within the determined time frame.

    Dispute Resolution Mechanism
    Every multi-system operator shall be obliged to maintain the quality of service as per the standards, including the arrangements for handling complaints and redressal of grievances of the subscribers, as may be determined by regulation or order by the Authority. The Authority may look into the efficacy of such arrangements and issue necessary directions to the concerned parties for compliance.

    Transition To Addressable Systems
    (1) Immediately on operationalisation of the SMS and the installation of STBs, every MSO will have to provide pay channels in encrypted as well as unencrypted form for a period of not less than 15 days to test out the quality of service, remove any technical or operational snags and enable the subscribers to become familiar with the operation of addressable systems at their end.

    (2) Before the start of the transition period Trai can call for progress or compliance reports from the service providers.

    (3) If Trai is of the opinion that the arrangements made by the MSOs are not adequate and the switchover to CAS is likely to be against the interests of a substantial portion of the subscribers in any notified area, it may recommend to the government an extension of the notified date by such period as in its opinion is the minimum required for the satisfactory completion of the necessary arrangements by the MSOs.

    Advertisements
    No programme shall carry advertisements exceeding 12 minutes per hour, which may include up to ten minutes per hour of commercial advertisements, and up to two minutes per hour of a channel’s self-promotional programmes.

  • Dopfner elected to join Time Warner Board of Directors

    Dopfner elected to join Time Warner Board of Directors

    MUMBAI: Time Warner Inc. has announced that Mathias Dopfner has been elected to join its Board of directors. Dopfner is chairman, CEO and head of the Newspapers Division of German publishing giant Axel Springer AG.

    Dopfner becomes the 12th member of Time Warner’s Board. His election is part of the company’s previously announced plan to add two new independent directors to its Board. Under the leadership of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the company is continuing the process of recruiting an additional independent director, informs an official release.

    Robert C. Clark, who chairs the Time Warner Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee, said, “We’re delighted that Dopfner has joined Time Warner’s Board. He’s an energetic and widely respected executive, with a solid record of leadership in the media industry. Dopfner not only brings the personal qualities that we seek in directors, but also enhances our Board’s independence and geographic diversity.”

    Time Warner Chairman and CEO Dick Parsons said, “Mathias Dopfner has done a terrific job of running one of the leading media companies in Europe, which is a key region of growth and opportunity for our company. In doing so, he has emerged at the top of a new generation of media industry leaders. He has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing media businesses around the world as well as the intelligence and character to enable him to serve the interests of our shareholders effectively.”

    Dopfner added, “I’m honoured to join Time Warner’s Board of Directors. I look forward to the opportunity to work with my fellow Board members and management in helping this great company achieve its strategic objectives and provide superior returns for its shareholders.”

    Since 2002, Dopfner has been CEO of Axel Springer which publishes more than 150 newspapers and magazines in 32 countries. He joined Axel Springer in 1998, as editor-in-chief of Die Welt. From 2000 to 2002, he served as the member of Axel Springer’s Management Board responsible for the company’s Multimedia and Newspapers Divisions. Before joining Axel Springer, Dopfner waseEditor-in-chief of Hamburger Morgenpost (1996-1998) and Wochenpost (1994-1996), adds the release.

    The other members of Time Warner’s Board are Richard D. Parsons, James L. Barksdale, Stephen F. Bollenbach, Frank J. Caufield, Robert C. Clark, Jessica P. Einhorn, Reuben Mark, Michael A. Miles, Kenneth J. Novack, Francis T. Vincent, Jr. and Deborah C. Wright.

  • AXN gets over 200,000 votes for its Action Awards initiative

    AXN gets over 200,000 votes for its Action Awards initiative

    MUMBAI: Looks like AXN’s decision to do an initiative around Bollywood is paying dividends. The channel has announced that it received with over 200,000 votes for different action categories in the first ever Indian Action Awards.

    From biker stunts and enthralling on-ground activities to responses on SMS and on the AXN website fans have voted for their stars who they want to see get an award.

    As had been reported by indiantelevision.com earlier AXN had introduced the first ever Action Awards in India last month. These awards will felicitate the tough guys of Bollywood. Dino Morea will present these awards to the much deserving action stars of Bollywood who have come a long way from the ‘dishoom dishoom’ to international quality special effects, high speed action sequences and the finest editing.

    Voting was via SMS, ballot paper and logging on to www.axnactionawards.com. AXN and and main sponsor Thums Up also co-ordinated on ground activities in eight cities in India. At each of the events, on-ground paper ballot voting was conducted where a form was filled by the audience to cast their vote for their favourite action hero.

    The AXN Action Awards is presented by Thums Up with Associate Sponsorship by Mahindra Scorpio and Sony Ericsson K750i. The promotion partner for the event is Inox.

  • Nick US’ education network Noggin celebrates 10 years of ‘Blues Clues’

    Nick US’ education network Noggin celebrates 10 years of ‘Blues Clues’

    MUMBAI: US kids channel Nickelodeon has announced that Noggin its commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers goes ‘Blue’ this month.

    The network invites American kids and their families to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of Blue’s Clues a show that the broadcaster says changed the way preschoolers watch television.

    Throughout this month Noggin will pay tribute to the blue puppy with Blue’s Clues-themed activities at Club Noggin in General Growth (GGP) malls across the US. In addition to appearances by series host ‘Joe’ (Donovan Patton) in select malls. Noggin will also kick off a month-long on-air celebration of Blue’s Clues with a ‘Red, White and Blue’ marathon on independence Day 4 July 2006.

    The Club Noggin celebration will lead up to the August anniversary of Blue’s Clues, when Nick Jr. and Noggins will introduce viewers to a new character — Blue’s new brother — on the hour-long movie Meet Blue’s Baby Brother on 6 August on Nickelodeon.

    For the first time, the special melds the two worlds of Joe and the classic animated world of Blue’s Clues with the puppets on Blue’s Room. Meet Blue’s Baby Brother will feature a game of Gold Clues as preschoolers help search for Blue’s baby brother and share another milestone with their favourite blue puppy.

    Blue’s Clues will take over Club Noggin, the network’s interactive educational in-mall experience for preschoolers and their parents. Participating malls will present special Blue’s Clues-themed activities throughout the month of July. Club Noggin reaches consumers in 78 GGP malls across the US. Blue’s Clues host Donovan Patton is scheduled to appear for “meet and greets” and book readings in New York, Chicago, San Jose, Houston and Dallas. Throughout July, GGP and NOGGIN will also launch “Club NOGGIN On the Go!” a take-away extension of Club NOGGIN’s in-mall experience for parents to help entertain and educate their kids wherever they are.

    Club Noggin’s Blue’s Clues educational curriculum will focus on themes from the hit series including:

    Letters: Activity to feature the Blue’s Clues book “Alphabet Power”

    Numbers: Activity to feature a Blue’s Clues video clip with a corresponding lesson

    Shapes: Activity to feature an arts and crafts project — build a sailboat — which mirrors a lesson on Meet Blue’s Baby Brother

    Colors: Coloring activity based on Meet Blue’s Baby Brother

    The earlier mentioned Red, White and Blue on-air marathon will feature the following Blue’s Clues milestones: the three-part special Meet Joe where Steve goes to college and viewers are introduced to new host Joe, the half-hour special Legend of the Blue Puppy where Blue talks for the very first time; Blue’s 100th Episode Celebration a retrospective look at the first five seasons with Steve, Joe and Blue; and the 90-minute movie Blue’s Big Musical.

  • Discovery to launch DMax channel in Germany

    Discovery to launch DMax channel in Germany

    MUMBAI: Discovery will launch DMax in Germany in September 2006 in place of XXP, a free-to-air channel that the company acquired earlier this year.

    The fact-based entertainment channel, DMax will focus on the lifestyles and interests of male viewers aged 20 – 49 and offers frank opinions, revealing insights and a fresh, thought-provoking perspective on contemporary life and the way we live today.

    The channel will deliver the inside track on everything that is important to a predominantly male audience and will offer a broad range of locally and internationally produced content encompassing investigative documentaries, popular science, lifestyle, talk shows, real-life human interest stories, motoring and outdoor activities. DMax will occupy a unique position within the German media landscape as the only mainstream free-to-air fact- based entertainment channel.

    Discovery Germany VP country manager Dr. Patrick Höerl said, “The launch of DMax represents a significant investment by Discovery to build a compelling free-to-air brand that serves an important and growing segment of the German television market. DMax will benefit from investment in content produced in Germany, a fortified technical infrastructure that extends the reach of the channel and increased marketing and programming staff.”

    A significant investment will be made in programming for DMax consisting of both local German commissions and local and international acquisitions. It is expected that approximately 70 per cent of 2006 programming budgets will be invested in local commissions. DMax currently has over 1,000 new programming hours scheduled from launch in September until the end of 2006.

    Discovery Germany VP ad sales Magnus Kastner says, “DMax has a unique and compelling channel proposition designed specifically to attract the young male audience advertisers want to reach. The fact-based programming provides advertisers with a contemporary and high-quality environment for their commercial messages.”

    At launch, DMax will reach approximately 27 million households. The channel can be viewed on both analogue and digital satellite 24 hours a day and has extensive reach across Germany’s cable networks. DMax will be managed out of Discovery’s German offices in Munich by a growing team of media professionals.

    Kastner joined Discovery Germany in May 2006 and is currently building a full-service advertising sales function for DMax, which will be comprised of more than 20 employees operating out of Munich.

  • Hallmark comes up with a new look and feel

    Hallmark comes up with a new look and feel

    MUMBAI: It has been a period of transition for Hallmark. The international division was sold to a group of investors by Crown Media last year for $242 million.

    Now the channel has gone in for a new look and programming line-up. The new look signifies the broadcaster’s commitment to offering high quality movies, mini-series and drama series in an attractive and engaging channel environment that is relevant to Asian audiences.

    Sparrowhawk Media Group (which operates Hallmark) MD Asia Pacific Andrew Hanna said, “Hallmark Channel’s new look is designed to present our programming in the most contemporary and compelling way to our audiences. We will continue to provide our audiences with the same quality production values and premium entertainment shows they have come to know and love. Now, Hallmark Channel will do it better.”

    Hallmark’s Asia Pacific creative director Cameron Craig said, “So often we see that everyday events in life are a wellspring for dramatic storytelling. Hallmark Channel offers people great drama entertainment that draws upon the full range of human emotion. Creatively, we have set out to reflect that great stories often exist in the drama that surrounds us in each person’s life, everyday.

    The new on-air look features landscapes and captures scenes that aim to reflect the daily drama of people’s lives. These images were filmed in India, Malaysia and Thailand. Superimposed over these images are close-ups of what are typical Hallmark viewers reacting to the drama inherent in the scenes. The addition of the line ‘in every life, there is drama’ reflects, in a subtle but engaging way, the emotional connection audiences feel for the Hallmark Channel brand and its drama based programming.”

    As far as the programming template is concerned Hallmark will continue to offer mini-series based on world famous novels, classic tales of mythology, great people in history and inspiring true stories. In 2006, the mini-series that will air include an adaptation of Jules Verne novel Mysterious Island which deals with a group of prisoners who have escaped from a Confederate prisoner of war camp during the American Civil War by a hot air balloon, William Golding’s tale To the Ends of the Earth which is about a young man’s coming of age at sea, action adventure Supernova and the classic Greek tale of Hercules.

    On weekdays, Hallmark will air movies and drama series, including courtroom drama’s Judging Amy and Family Law, spy thriller Spooks, murder mystery’s Midsomer Murder’s and Wire in the Blood and contemporary drama’s Doc Martin and Hustle.

    Hanna adds, “Our new look and branding is part of our constant mission aimed to entertain the drama-watching and drama-loving audiences everywhere.”

  • UAE acquires rights to 225 digital channels

    UAE acquires rights to 225 digital channels

    MUMBAI: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in the UAE, has acquired rights to 225 digital channels at the recently concluded ITU Regional Radio Communication Conference (RRC) held in Geneva from 15 May 15th – 16 June 2006.

    The month-long conference was aimed at facilitating the transition from analogue media broadcasting to digital. The conference organised channel allocation among participating countries, based on a newly formulated digital terrestrial TV broadcasting plan.

    TRA DG Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim said, “The UAE team has acquired 225 digital terrestrial TV channels out of the 236 present in the UHF and VHF bands. The TRA has authority on these channels, and we will soon issue regulatory lists to start giving licenses for channels use.”

    “The UAE will undergo tremendous change and growth in the field of TV and radio transmission in the coming few years so that people can watch the terrestrial channels’ TV programmes either at home or through their PDAs . In order to accelerate and facilitate the change, TRA is putting in place regulations that are in line with international guidelines in the field”.

    At the conference, the UAE acquired several leading positions in the conference, and assumed responsibility for chairing one of the negotiating teams, vice-chairing the special team for a new regional treaty and also vice-chairing a special team dedicated to revising the previous agreement.

    Prior to the conference, the TRA had organised several local preparatory meetings to reschedule UAE’s digital broadcasting channels in the 174-230 MHZ and 470-862 MHZ frequency bands through advanced software programs used for regulating the broadcasting spectrum according to digital maps of the country. The TRA also organised regional congresses with neighboring countries (GCC, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, and the Republic of Yemen) to ensure a united front on broadcasting.

    The UAE is expected to transit to digital terrestrial broadcasting system within two years as part of an overall strategy to enhance the telecommunications sector in the country, and the TRA will be in charge of ensuring a smooth and successful transition to the new broadcasting paradigm.

    A key issue at the conference was the protection of analogue terrestrial broadcasting from digital interference until the year 2015 to ease the transition between the technologies. All conference participants signed a new treaty outlining terrestrial TV channels provision.

  • Record 138 million plus videos streamed on Fifa’s site

    Record 138 million plus videos streamed on Fifa’s site

    MUMBAI: Soccer fans around the world logged on to FIFAworldcup.com, the official website of the recently concluded 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, in large numbers.

    With more than 138 million video streams, the year 2006 marks the first year that video highlights of World Cup matches have been free on the Web, and fans took full advantage.

    There were 4.2 billion page views. The site attracted more than two billion page views in the tournament’s first two weeks, topping the site’s total for the entire 2002 tournament less than halfway through the competition. By the end of the final match, FWC.com’s 2006 site had more than doubled the page view total from 2002.

    3.5 million Flicker Photo pages were viewed via its photo-sharing site, Yahoo! enabling fans who attended World Cup matches to tag pictures and share their experiences with friends, family members and other soccer fans from around the world.

    With 73 million page views on its Mobile Web Destination, it helped fans around the world access FIFAworldcup.com on mobile devices to follow all the World Cup action.

    Also, over 875,000 Fantasy Sign-Ups Fans signed up to play free fantasy football on FIFAworldcup.com.

  • Animal Planet goes on a safari every Sunday

    Animal Planet goes on a safari every Sunday

    MUMBAI: Animal Planet has announced a new initiative Safari Sunday. This will air every Sunday from 7 am to 7 pm. The aim is to give viewers a chance to catch up one shows that they may have missed during the week. Animal Planet says that it is unique in offering the viewers a rare perspective of the animal world, an interplay of human-animal relationships that appeal to audiences across age groups.

    A wide range of animals are tracked and environments explored in programs and are devised to offer viewers something new and unexpected each Sunday. By presenting this new package, the channel will not only be able to communicate the strong programming and diversity of the channel but will also draw higher viewership on Sundays.
    Some of the shows that will air under this initiative are:

    One Planet at 7 am – Countless species of wild animals – many unknown and uncategorized – are in danger of being driven to extinction by human development. Hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness are being slashed and stamped out of existence for short-lived commercial purposes. But spreading this message above the crowd are Animal Planet’s wildlife experts, using their voices to support the worthy cause of conserving wildlife and the wilderness they inhabit.

    Around The World With Tippi at 9 am – Last year, Animal Planet told the story of eleven-year-old Tippi, a remarkable French girl who was brought up in Namibia and who, as a child developed a unique passion for wild animals. From a very early age, Tippi was able to bond with all kinds of wild animals including elephants, jaguars, monkeys, giraffes and even serpents. Animal Planet followed Tippi as she returned to Africa after two years away and met conservationists engaged in the preservation of local wildlife.

    Now, Animal Planet catches up with Tippi and chronicles her adventures to other parts of the world to meet people who work closely with animals. Viewers join Tippi as she interacts with koalas and whale sharks in Australia, wolves in Canada and lions in Africa.

    Most Extreme at 9:30 am – This series is a countdown of the top ten animals with powers that put people to shame. So who are the fastest, or strongest, or greediest animals? Which are the highest jumpers or the smartest? Each episode sets up the challenge and then finds the most extraordinary solutions in the animal kingdom. It shows why each of The Most Extreme animals really are the best of the best and puts human achievements into perspective.

    TV With Teeth at 10:30 am – This show has intimate wildlife encounters – the ultimate experience of wildlife on the edge with a presenter that isn’t afraid to go there.

  • IEC to distribute television rights for the ATP China Open

    IEC to distribute television rights for the ATP China Open

    MUMBAI: Marketing agency IEC in Sports has been appointed by China Open Promotions to handle worldwide television distribution for the ATP China Open tenis event for the period 2006-2008.

    The two-week tournament featuring both ATP and WTA events, now in it’s third year, has prize money exceeding $1 million.

    The event takes place from 11-17 September. The French Open champion Rafael Nadal, former Wimbledom runner up David Nalbandian and David Ferrer will be among the participants.

    China Open tournament director Ekkehard Rathergeber says, “We intend to ensure ATP China Open generates massive global media exposure as befits the host city of the next Summer Olympics. IEC in Sports will play a key part, along with CCTV in producing a world class television production that is distributed globally.”

    IEC in Sports CEO Jonas Persson says, “IEC intends to broaden the appeal of what is shaping up to be Asia’s greatest annual sporting event. Other enhancements include increasing the number of matches on the International Feed, sourcing World-class English language commentators and expanding live transmission across every continent.”