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Category: News Headline

  • Interactive TV portal solution for Dutch channel launched this football season

    Interactive TV portal solution for Dutch channel launched this football season

    MUMBAI: chellomedia Interactive Services has launched a new interactive TV portal in the Netherlands on Sport1, this soccer season.

    Digital premium channel Sport1 now offers its subscribers on the UPC cable platform (UPC Digital TV) the option to switch between four Sport1 channels presented on one TV screen.

    The launch of the interactive portal fits in with chellomedia’s strategy to offer new digital services to cable network operators in Europe as well as to broadcasters and other platform owners.

    While watching a match, viewers are able to call up for extra information such as match results, current scores, player statistics, an interactive quiz and a dedicated World Cup section.

    chellomedia Interactive Services exwecutive VP Noel Leslie says, “We are developing these kind of interactive solutions for operators and broadcasters in order to help them increase and retain channel audiences and to create opportunities for new revenue streams. These converged TV and internet solutions give viewers more and more control: they have more to choose from, can access content on-demand and even participate in programmes.”

    Sport1 GM Jeroen Oerlemans says, “The launch of our Sport1 TV portal will provide great added value to our premium sports channel in the Netherlands. With this easily accessible interactivity and the possibility to view a mosaic with multiple live channels, the viewer becomes more powerful and gets more choices. We think this portal will fulfil a great need.”

    chellomedia develops and facilitates these services using its authoring and deployment solution chello mistral. This solution enables quick and simple development by members of a creative team across multiple platforms and middlewares. It is also accredited by BSkyB to deliver interactive advertising, for which chellomedia has partnerships with leading UK broadcasters and ad agencies.

    chellomedia interactive services delivers entertainment-focused, interactive applications and content which strengthen digital TV and PC-based, broadband Internet offerings.

  • Rupert Murdoch is Australia’s most influential person: Survey

    Rupert Murdoch is Australia’s most influential person: Survey

    MUMBAI: Media mogul and News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch has been named the most influential Australian of all time. This appeared in a survey conducted by the Bulletin magazine containing a list of 100 candidates that includes athletes, entertainers and people from many other professions.

    Murdoch who beat out the likes of Sir Don Bradman said, “When I look at the list of scientists and doctors and people on the list who have done a great deal more to improve the whole world, I am very, very humbled to be chosen today. This is a great honour and a great moment for me.”

    In another report in The Age, Murdoch was quoted urging the Australian government to expand its overhaul of media ownership rules or dump planned changes altogether. He said that the government should use its cross- and foreign media ownership reforms to make Australia’s media industry a more open playing field.

  • Disney Records celebrates 50 years; unveils classics on iTunes, ‘The Music Behind the Magic’ CD & exhibition

    Disney Records celebrates 50 years; unveils classics on iTunes, ‘The Music Behind the Magic’ CD & exhibition

    MUMBAI: In celebration of the 50th anniversary, Walt Disney Records has lined up a preservation and restoration process for the label’s earliest classic recordings and an archival CD collection and exhibition titled The Music Behind the Magic.

    As part of this celebration, the label will begin releasing these restored titles and will be available through digital outlets, including iTunes, marking the release of Disneyland and Buena Vista records. The vast quantity of archive song material consists of classic Disney songs, original material performed by popular artists of the day and movie soundtracks. These songs will be digitally restored beyond the sonic brilliance of the original masters, allowing them to sound better than they did when they were first issued nearly 50 years ago, informs an official release.

    Walt Disney Records’ The Archive Collection is a special iTunes digital-only release featuring 50 WDR recordings from a wide range of artists including, Cliff Edwards (voice of Jiminy Cricket), Mary Martin, Hayley Mills, Burl Ives, Louis Prima, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Armstrong, Little Richard, Peter Frampton, They Might Be Giants, The Cheetah Girls and many more. The Archive Collection will be available on iTunes beginning November 7.

    In addition to the digital releases, the label will also unveil a special two disc commemorative edition, Disney’s The Music Behind the Magic. The collection highlights 50 of the most loved musical classics from movies, television shows, theme parks, Broadway musicals and unique WDR recordings.

    These will include, Some Day My Prince Will Come from Snow White (first soundtrack), When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio (theme song for TWDC), The Ballad of Davy Crockett (first single from a television show), Tall Paul by Annette Funicello (the label’s first teen sensation), tracks from Mary Poppins (album held the #1 position on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart for 14 weeks) and Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King (soundtrack earned WDR its first Diamond Award from the RIAA, certifying sales of 10 million units), adds the release.

    The 50th anniversary celebration will continue as Walt Disney Records’ and The Walt Disney Company’s legacy is brought to life with an exhibit, also titled Disney: The Music Behind the Magic. Opening 5 November, the exhibit will be housed at Seattle’s Experience Music Project (EMP) for one year before traveling to cities across the U.S. and around the world.

    Disney: The Music Behind the Magic claims to be the first comprehensive exhibit devoted to exploring and examining the role music has played in The Walt Disney Company’s successes and its cultural impact over the past 80 years.

    “There is no other record label in the history of the industry with as diverse and eclectic a catalog as Walt Disney Records,” said Walt Disney Records Sr vice president/general manager Robert Marick. “Our catalog is comprised of 15,000 recordings including releases from a variety of superstars from every era — from Louis Armstrong to Peggy Lee to Annette Funicello and Christina Aguilera.”

    Marick adds, “Music has always played an integral role in the success of all facets of The Walt Disney Company. The Experience Music Project exhibit captures, for the very first time, the lasting legacy and impact Disney has made in the music industry and pop culture around the world. The exhibit, along with our catalog preservation efforts, Commemorative Edition two-disc release and Billboard Tribute Issue are terrific ways to celebrate the label’s 50th Anniversary.”

    Since its launch as Disneyland Records by Walt and Roy Disney in 1956, the label has earned more than 275 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards from the R.I.A.A., 22 Grammys and 18 Academy Awards. The label started as an extension of The Walt Disney Company’s film, television and theme park projects. Well-known offerings such as High School Musical (3x platinum), the Disneymania franchise (3 million units), The Lion King franchise (15+ million units) and Mary Poppins (3x platinum) showcase the enduring popularity of WDR’s catalog, with several releases ranking among the top-selling singles and soundtracks of all time.

    Details of the label’s contribution to the music industry and The Walt Disney Company for its 50th celebration will be featured in the forthcoming Billboard Magazine Tribute issue, on sale 4 November.

  • Intelsat-Panamsat merger approved by FCC

    Intelsat-Panamsat merger approved by FCC

    MUMBAI: America’s media regulatory body Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Intelsat’s acquisition of Panamsat.

    Noting that the transaction was unopposed, the FCC Commissioners found that “the transaction will be in the public interest,” and they therefore granted Intelsat’s application for a transfer of control of Panamsat’s FCC licenses. No other regulatory approvals are required, in the US or elsewhere, prior to the closing of the transaction.

    Intelsat is planning on completing the Panamsat acquisition on 3 July 2006. Intelsat CEO David McGlade said, “The closing of the merger will open a new chapter for our industry and our customers, who will benefit from expanded services and improved network flexibility and resilience as we bring together these two great companies.

    “Serving our customers with innovation and quality is our highest priority, and the first step in accomplishing that objective is through implementing a seamless integration.”

    Intelsat and Panamsat had announced their merger agreement on 29 August 2005. Under the agreement, Intelsat will acquire Panamsat for $25 per share in cash, or approximately $3.2 billion in the aggregate.

  • Zee to launch dubbed movie channel in Russia

    Zee to launch dubbed movie channel in Russia

    MUMBAI: One area where Zee Telefilms is clearly ahead of rivals Star and Sony is in channel initiatives internationally. Keeping that tradition alive, Zee is launching a 24-hour movie channel in September that will air Indian films dubbed in Russian.

    Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra revealed his channel plans to Hindu Business Line on the sidelines of an address he gave to the Madras Management Association in Chennai yesterday.

    Considering how well Hindi movies in particular have been received in Russia (the late Raj Kapoor’s films were a rage there), it would surprise no one if Zee has a winner here.It was on 13 March that the Network began beaming Zee in Indonesia. There too the channel was dubbed in the local language Bahasa. Zee is available on the multi-channel satellite pay-television platform Astro Nusantara as a package.

    In Indonesia, the channel’s content is sourced from the flagship channel Zee TV library and localised with Bahasa Indonesia dubbing and Bahasa Melayu subtitling, to reflect the different language, lifestyle and viewing habits of audiences in the three countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

  • EA releases World Cup game, announces renewed partnership with Fifa

    EA releases World Cup game, announces renewed partnership with Fifa

    MUMBAI: Electronic Arts has started to ship the 2006 Fifa World Cup game to stores around the world.

    The event’s only officially licensed videogame has developed enhanced gameplay attributes and graphics.

    Along with the release of 2006 Fifa World Cup, EA and Fifa announced the extension of their long-term partnership, making EA the worldwide and exclusive Fifa Licensee for soccer action games across all console platforms, mobile phones and online formats. The on-going partnership will allow EA to continue to bring World Cup gaming experiences to consumers, and includes games for the future World Cups in 2010 and 2014.

    “Renewing our strategic partnership with Fifa will enable us to continue to deliver the most authentic football titles to fans who have helped to make our Fifa games the most successful football videogame franchise in the world,” said EA’s Gerhard Florin, Executive Vice President and General Manager for International Publishing.

    In 2006 Fifa World Cup, users can step into the heart of the action as they play their favorite team or most loathed opponent. Featuring stunning visual representations of the world’s superstar players, gamers experience the 12 official stadiums as they take their team from qualification to glory. In addition to taking control of one of 127 national teams, players will enjoy groundbreaking new play modes. Global Challenge tests even the biggest soccer fanatic by recreating classic moments in Fifa World Cup history with modern teams. True champions can challenge their friends in eight-way multiplayer matches and take advantage of tremendous in-game un-lockable content such as legendary players and exclusive licensed football apparel.

    2006 Fifa World Cup is available in North America, Europe and Asia on PlayStation2, the Xbox and Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy, PC and mobile as well as the PSP (PlayStation Portable). The game is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB and has a PEGI rating of 3+.

    In India, the World Cup PC Game is priced at Rs 1,299 and the PlayStation2 and PSP games are priced at Rs 2,499 and Rs 2,999 respectively.

  • Interactive entertainment marketers form trade body; Microsoft’s Moore to chair

    Interactive entertainment marketers form trade body; Microsoft’s Moore to chair

    MUMBAI: A new non-profit trade organization, the Association of Electronic Interactive Marketers (AEIM), has been formed in the US.

    The intiative has been spurred by the response garnered by MI6: Marketing Interactive ‘06, the special conference that addresses the challenges facing marketers in the interactive entertainment sector. The inaugural MI6 Conference and Awards Show will be be held on 27–28 June in San Francisco.

    Peter Moore, corporate vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division of Microsoft Corp., has been named to chair the new organization.

    Jim Chabin, president and CEO of Promax/BDA, is the MI6/AEIM president/CEO while Dale Hopkins, the COO of G4, is MI6 chairman.

    Said Moore, “The AEIM will serve to enhance the professional value of video game marketers and will seek to build strong partnerships between the gaming, entertainment, technology, distribution and retail sectors of this business.”

    Looking to increase the effectiveness of interactive marketers by spearheading idea sharing within the sector and encouraging communication with marketers in other entertainment areas, AEIM will provide education and training opportunities for marketers. Moving forward, AEIM will assume full responsibility for organizing subsequent MI conferences and developing additional means for contributing to members’ professional development and education. AEIM will also be overseeing the Senet-Muse annual marketing and promotion awards program. AEIM will Operate in collaboration with Promax/BDA and will be housed in the Promax/BDA offices in Los Angeles.

    Among the future objectives for AEIM are the development of an online community for educating, inspiring and facilitating idea sharing among its fledgling members; regional seminars and workshops, as well as networking opportunities, and, eventually, a certification program.

  • Louis J Horvitz returns as director for the Emmy Awards

    Louis J Horvitz returns as director for the Emmy Awards

    MUMBAI: Emmy Award winner Louis J. Horvitz will return for his 12 time as director of the US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ (Atas) 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

    The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air live in the US on 27 August on NBC.

    In March, Horvitz directed The 78th Annual Academy Awards. This marked his 10th year at the helm of the Oscars.

  • Zonemedia to Rok in mobile TV deal

    Zonemedia to Rok in mobile TV deal

    MUMBAI: Zone Mobile, the new media division of media firm Zonemedia (formerly known as Zone Vision) has done a deal with UK-based mobile technology and entertainment developer, Rok TV.

    Zonemedia will create a series of made for mobile TV programming loops which will consist of 15 minute segments of some of the most popular programme elements from Zonemedia’s licensed programmes. The mobile channel, which will be updated regularly, will be available for download through Rok TV’s mass-market 2.5G mobile TV service, via GPRS throughout the UK.

    Shows with large UK fan bases such as Cheaters, Ouch That Had to Hurt and Crash, Bang, Wallop are amongst the first programmes to feature in the deal. The innovative mobile TV channel will be available at the end of June within the UK.

  • 100 million mobile TV broadcast subscribers by 2010: In-Stat study

    100 million mobile TV broadcast subscribers by 2010: In-Stat study

    MUMBAI: Research recently conducted by In-Stat suggest that by 2010 end, mobile TV broadcast subscribers worldwide will reach 102 million, a giant leap from 3.4 million in 2006.

    The market research firm stated that for cellular networks to deliver content that millions want to watch simultaneously requires much greater bandwidth than is currently available, thus, carriers are turning to mobile TV broadcast networks, which have a much lower cost per bit for video delivery.

    According to an official release, recent research by In-Stat found the following:

    – There are positives and negatives to each standard, but each has a vendor eco-system behind it to enable deployment today.
    – 2005 was the year of the first deployments, with ongoing trials in many parts of the world. 
    – Mobile carriers, mobile TV network operators, and content providers will soon be testing business models to determine what mobile phone subscribers are willing to pay to watch and what advertisers are willing to pay to reach them.

    In-Stat analyst Michelle Abraham says, “The greatest challenge for mobile TV broadcast operators is to acquire the spectrum necessary to offer services. Spectrum availability may determine which of four standards is chosen, and also impacts the business case for the deployment of a network.”

    The research, “Mobile TV Broadcasting Now Out of the Gate” covers the worldwide market for mobile TV services. It includes forecasts for mobile broadcast TV subscribers, average revenue by subscriber and revenues by region through 2010. It also contains analysis of competing mobile broadcast technologies and current deployments and trials, adds the release.

    In related research, In-Stat’s January 2005 consumer survey found that over one in eight respondents expressed an interest in purchasing mobile video services even though those services were not yet available. Interest in mobile video outpaced all other applications such as gaming, downloadable music and broadcast music.

    This research is part of In-Stat’s Multimedia Broadband Service, which provides a worldwide, comprehensive perspective of multimedia broadband markets, analyzing cable, video-over-DSL, DBS, and IPTV services, and digital terrestrial broadcast. It examines subscribers, business models, industry agendas and key cross-market combatants, the release adds.