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Category: News Headline

  • ‘Maine Pyar Kyon Kya’ producer to raise Rs 500-550 million via IPO

    ‘Maine Pyar Kyon Kya’ producer to raise Rs 500-550 million via IPO

    MUMBAI: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd (SACVL), a film production and distribution house, is tapping the capital market. The company plans to raise Rs 500-550 million through an initial public offering (IPO) to ramp up its film production business. 

    SACVL, which produced Maine Pyar Kyon Kya along with Sohail Khan productions, has appointed Allianz Securities to lead manage the issue.

    “We have a business plan to increase our production pipeline from three to five films a year. The size of the IPO should be in the range between Rs 500-550 million. We are awaiting the regulatory approvals,” says Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision chief financial officer Shyam Sunder.

    The company will offer a public issue of 37,28,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each at a premium to be decided through the book building process. The price band will be fixed later.

    The IPO proceeds will be used towards film production and purchase of equipment. SACVL has earmarked Rs 459 million for production of three films while Rs 141 million will be for equipment buying. “We have a movie by Abbas Mastan on the floor with Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu as the lead cast. The other two movies are at the pre-production stage,” says Sunder.

    The company distributes 10-12 movies a year. SACVL will be distributing Golmaal which is slated for release on 14 July. Main Hoon Na, Garv, Mujse Shaadi Karogi and Aitraaz are among the movies distributed by the company.

    The promoters’ holding will come down from 74.14 per cent to 50.85 per cent. The company’s turnover for the nine months ended 31 December 2005 stood at Rs 469 million with Maine Pyar Kyon Kya accounting for Rs 320 million while income from distribution stood at Rs 140 million.

  • What content will work on Mobile still the big question

    What content will work on Mobile still the big question

    SINGAPORE: Though a lot is being said about mobile TV and visual content, yet what sort of content will really make waves is not very clear. At the recently concluded Broadcast Asiat 2006, one saw a considerable interest amongst vendors and operators, including broadcasters for the reduction of commercial mobile television services. Basically two methods are being used streaming and broadcasting.

    For broadcasting, a number of standards have been developed to offer mobile broadcast TV, including DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T and NediaFLO.

    Speaking on a session on synergies and convergance on mobile TV, on how to optimise content for the mobile, Laurant Weill, president Visiware said, “The idea is to make use of interactive tools, and deliver video content on 3G platforms. Content providers should aim to convert mini series into four minute clips or so. Also, try to repurpose the available or create altogether new content. We should also try and summarise the existing standard TV formats. Make automatic clips of a existing news programming as conusmers want to see a V-navigator experience.”

    I-pop executive VP Colin Miles added, “The applications have to be synchronized with the existing TV shows and thanks to use of sms we already have interactive audience who will be more than willing to try new content.”

    While mobile TV services are in their infancy and both research and adoption levels suggest that in the medium term they have potential to generate significant revenues, Juniper Research believes that the total market for streamed and broadcast TV services will increase from $136 million to more than $7.6 billion by 2010.

    NPTV marketing director Laurent Chouraqui was of the opinion that the number of standards developed to offer mobile broadcasters including DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T amd MediaFlo will help the synchronization of TV content. But over a period of time content users should ease the creation of mobile content for consumers. Make automatic clips of a existing news programming as consumers want to see a V-navigator experience.

    He added, “Linear content will not work on Mobile. New and interesting content will have to be developed. Like, for example the best moments of the World Cup. So, the challenge is really is developing fone minute content, special teasers and mini series.”

  • HDTV: Double digit growth expected over next 5 years

    HDTV: Double digit growth expected over next 5 years

    SINGAPORE: A recent study by US-based IMS Research estimates that by the end of 2010, nearly 87 million households worldwide would be capable of watching HDTV programming.

    At a session on the Future of High Definition Television, it was pointed out that HDTV is becoming an important offering for cable and satellite TV providers. IMS research estimated that last year, about 20.6 million HDTV players were shipped worldwide. The double-digit growth expected in the market over the next five years will result in a forecast of nearly 60 million HDTV displays shipped by 2010.

    Elaborating on the recent trends, Millette Burgos of Asia Pacific Broadcast said, “Depending on the country and the government, initiatives such as FCC‘s Digital Tuner mandate in the US and the HDTV broadcasting quotas in Australia and South Korea, are often the key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets.”

    Countries like Australia and South Korea are proving to be the key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets as they have integrated tuning capacity. While growth in HD monitors will continue in a market where pay TV operators sell or rent the HD set-top box or HD DKR as part of the HDTV service package.

    Often HDTV sets would not be enabled for pay-TV platforms, but are capable of receiving only free-to-air programmes. Of course, exceptions will exist in countries like US and S Korea where cable platforms are standardizing on Cablelabs Digital Cable ready standard.

    “The good news is that many of the adoption impediments of HDTV are now being eliminated,” said IMS research market analyst Jack Mayo. “As HD content increases in availability, equipment costs drop and compression standards improve so we’re likely to see more operators implement HDTV.”

  • Trai releases draft on quality of service norms for CAS Areas

    Trai releases draft on quality of service norms for CAS Areas

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today released a draft regulation on quality of service for CAS areas.

    The draft regulation covers areas like fresh connection, transfer and shifting of cable television service, complaint handling and redressal, billing procedure and complaints, STB-related issues and complaints, change in position of channels and taking channels off the air and technical standards.

    The industry can also send its feedback to the regualor on the draft regulation, which are aimed at streamlining norms for CAS and formualting a standardised agreements amongst industry stakeholders like broadcasters and MSOs and MSOs and cable operators.,

  • How to ride the digital radio wave – tips for tradional radio stations

    How to ride the digital radio wave – tips for tradional radio stations

    SINGAPORE: With music content being distributed across the internet, mobile and wireless technology in the near future; the radio advertising market is expected to erode further in the fragmented space.

    Also, with new narrowcasting services like podcasting, and consumers customiizing music videos of their own choice, what are the different needs of the new audiences, their business sustainability and revenue generation opportunities.

    Gerd Leonhard, Music and Media Futurists lists down certain key lessons which came across from the special session on digital radio.

    *Music companies- be visible on the net- Make your own videos and put them on Youtube, Revver, Video and Google before they do it. Get your own online radio station. Get global CD distribution (CDBaby, Amazon etc) and offer your own ringtones. Also, don’t forget to get global digital distribution and keep bloging your band’s life. (Zebralution, Orchard,

    *Look beyond the traditional revenue streams- With different devices and music videos on demand available, tie up with all the possible media companies, wireless service providers. Look at charging a flat fee for content, along with digital music licenses.

    *What’s in it for content creators – Niche market and mobile powered stars will emerge. Also, social networking sites will become more important for selling music than TV or Radio. More and more consumers will create customized music with interactive software. Major artists might even leave their record labels and look for directdeals as agents will thrive

    *Broadband internet will seriously hurt traditional radio. Just a glimpse of the future that is already here – Just to list out some of the initiatives. There is MyRadio: www.Pandora.com, BBC Creative Futures inititative, Google videos, Nokia Visual Radio www.visualradio.com

    *Understand the new consumer

    MY Schedule – Time-Shifting (anytime anywhere)

    MY Location – Full Mobility (NOT just on PC!)

    MY Device – Full Compatibility between devices and services

    MY Deal – ‘Payment Shifting’ means Feels Like Free Music

    MY Playlists – ‘Editor’ Shifting’ – now, the USER selects

    MY Edits – Peer Produced Content / Re-Mixing

    * What’s the crucial paradigm shift- Mobile music commerce will out number commerce, A new middle class of musicians will come up. Also, wireless broadband will dominate. Sharing amd viral marketing will grow and artists will have to reach their fans no matter what.

  • Random House Group acquires majority stake in BBC Books

    Random House Group acquires majority stake in BBC Books

    MUMBAI: The Random House Group in the UK has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in BBC Books. The deal brings together two publishers of non-fiction as BBC Books will become part of the Ebury Publishing Division of The Random House Group under Fiona MacIntyre, publisher of the Ebury Publishing Division.

    BBC Worldwide will maintain a shareholding in BBC Books and the latter will continue to license relevant book publishing rights in BBC programmes. BBC Books will, as before, work within BBC editorial and commercial policy guidelines ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained over the BBC brand.

    BBC Books’ recent bestsellers include David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth and Alastair Fothergill’s Planet Earth.

    Random House Group CEO Gail Rebuck said, “It is exciting to announce this new relationship, which complements and enhances our own non-fiction publishing, just as BBC Books celebrates an excellent year and looks forward to a very strong autumn. We have brought together two talented creative and successful publishing teams within one division, which will continue to publish the broad and distinguished range of adult non-fiction for which both companies are widely admired.

    “This combination of the best creative talent backed by Random House’s international sales and distribution capacity ensures that we can expand on existing opportunities and create new projects for the global market.”

    BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith said, “We have for some time stated our intention of seeking a partner for our books business and are delighted to have reached this agreement with a publisher of the calibre of Random House. The union will bring additional scope and scale to BBC Books and enable the imprint to build further on this year’s financial success and continue to grow its enviable list. We look forward to working with our new colleagues.”

    The Random House Group is one of the largest general book publishing companies in the UK. The Group is based in London with subsidiary companies in India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Group comprises four publishing divisions with 33 diverse and highly individual imprints including Jonathan Cape, William Heinemann, Chatto & Windus, Vintage, Corgi, Doubleday and Bantam Press. Novelists published by the Group include Dan Brown, Jilly Cooper, J M Coetzee, Sebastian Faulks, John Grisham, Robert Harris, Mark Haddon, Ian McEwan and Terry Pratchett.

    The group’s non-fiction publishing consists of broad general non-fiction and specialist categories such as cookery, gardening, travel and business books.

  • Random House Group acquires majority stake in BBC Books

    Random House Group acquires majority stake in BBC Books

    MUMBAI: The Random House Group in the UK has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in BBC Books. The deal brings together two publishers of non-fiction as BBC Books will become part of the Ebury Publishing Division of The Random House Group under Fiona MacIntyre, publisher of the Ebury Publishing Division.

    BBC Worldwide will maintain a shareholding in BBC Books and the latter will continue to license relevant book publishing rights in BBC programmes. BBC Books will, as before, work within BBC editorial and commercial policy guidelines ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained over the BBC brand.

    BBC Books’ recent bestsellers include David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth and Alastair Fothergill’s Planet Earth.

    Random House Group CEO Gail Rebuck said, “It is exciting to announce this new relationship, which complements and enhances our own non-fiction publishing, just as BBC Books celebrates an excellent year and looks forward to a very strong autumn. We have brought together two talented creative and successful publishing teams within one division, which will continue to publish the broad and distinguished range of adult non-fiction for which both companies are widely admired.

    “This combination of the best creative talent backed by Random House’s international sales and distribution capacity ensures that we can expand on existing opportunities and create new projects for the global market.”

    BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith said, “We have for some time stated our intention of seeking a partner for our books business and are delighted to have reached this agreement with a publisher of the calibre of Random House. The union will bring additional scope and scale to BBC Books and enable the imprint to build further on this year’s financial success and continue to grow its enviable list. We look forward to working with our new colleagues.”

    The Random House Group is one of the largest general book publishing companies in the UK. The Group is based in London with subsidiary companies in India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Group comprises four publishing divisions with 33 diverse and highly individual imprints including Jonathan Cape, William Heinemann, Chatto & Windus, Vintage, Corgi, Doubleday and Bantam Press. Novelists published by the Group include Dan Brown, Jilly Cooper, J M Coetzee, Sebastian Faulks, John Grisham, Robert Harris, Mark Haddon, Ian McEwan and Terry Pratchett.

    The group’s non-fiction publishing consists of broad general non-fiction and specialist categories such as cookery, gardening, travel and business books.

  • B.A.G Films’ Rajiv Mishra Asia-Pac secy-gen of AIR-IAB

    B.A.G Films’ Rajiv Mishra Asia-Pac secy-gen of AIR-IAB

    NEW DELHI: The board of directors of AIR-IAB has nominated BAG Films radio division head Rajiv Mishra as secretary general of the global organisation’s Asia Pacific region, in a meeting held at Montevideo, Uruguay.

    The International Association of Broadcasting (IAB) and Asociacion Internacional de Radiodifusion (AIR), is the non governmental organization of commercial radio and television networks of the world. It is also a consultant to the United Nation.

    Mishra will present a paper on commercial broadcasting industry scenario in Asia Pacific region to AIR-IAB board of directors in a meeting slated to be held in Guatemala in October.

    He will also work closely with AIR-IAB director-general Héctor Oscar Amengual for the expansion of AIR-IAB to the Asia Pacific region, especially with important private commercial broadcasting countries such as Japan, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines.

    Mishra is the convener of Association of Radio Operators of India (AROI) and COO of BAG Infotainment, presently engaged in establishing 10 FM Radio stations across India

  • Casbaa, MPA join hands for content protection in the digital age

    Casbaa, MPA join hands for content protection in the digital age

    SINGAPORE: With technology booming in the television world, one matter that needs immediate attention is protection of pay-TV content. Digital transmission is becoming the norm in the Asia-Pacific pay-television industry. Soon it will become the dominant means of handling content within the home and hence content protection becomes a critical issue for the entire industry.

    The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) technical committee chair and Zieland Group of Companies (New Zealand) chief technology officer Karl K Rossiter threw light on the technical approach to content protection. 

    “Content providers, programme distributors and cable/satellite platform operators need to protect their revenue streams and avoid unauthorised distribution across the internet. This requires technical intervention and the adoption of a united approach to managing the digital output from future generations of set-top boxes (STBs). Manufacturers of those STBs and the chipsets that fill them need to know the technical controls that will be prescribed by platform operators and programme suppliers to protect content. To this end, Casbaa Technical Committee, with assistance from the Motion Picture Association (MPA), has taken up this challenge,” he informed.

    Casbaa Technical Committee has been working in close association with the Asia-Pacific pay-television industry since 2004 and through a formal consultation process with Casbaa members, it has compiled a series of recommendations covering content protection and technical approaches to managing the digital output from new STBs. 

    Rossiter said, “The committee’s approach has been to acknowledge standards for technologies developed by other relevant industry organisations and to incorporate input from manufacturers and operators. The recommendations provide for companies to choose one of a number of technologies, consistent with their commercial interests. On the other hand, the recommendations also incorporate provisions to take account of new technological developments.” 

    Casbaa Technical Committee Recommendations on content protection are as follows:

    For Video-On-Demand (VOD), Pay-Per-View (PPV), Pay TV and other encrypted digital programming:

    1) The ability of a STB to receive and honor usage rules signaling from the broadcaster that may include copy control, redistribution control, content output resolution controls, and content output enabling controls;

    2) The ability of a STB to map usage rules signaling information from the broadcast to the appropriate equivalent signaling in any content outputs;

    3) A standardised set of allowed digital content outputs for display purposes and for digital home networking have been identified.

    4) A standardised set of allowed analog content outputs has been identified

    For retransmission of unencrypted programming, for example, free-to-air broadcasts, over multi-channel broadcast systems such as cable and satellite:

    1) A method for controlling the unauthorised redistribution of such programming comprising one of the following:

    i. Encryption of the retransmitted free-to-air broadcasts, or other unencrypted programming, over the satellite, cable or “other” system and use of the same redistribution control solution established for VOD, PPV, PayTV and other encrypted digital programming; or

    ii. In consultation with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), implementation of a Redistribution Control protection regime that (a) provides a method to signal Redistribution Control in the unencrypted broadcast; (b) includes associated receiver requirements to look for the Redistribution Control signal and abide by it in accordance with output rules, compliance rules and robustness rules; (c) may be defined by an appropriate standards developing organization and (d) is established and required by an appropriate authority.

  • Digital living in Asia, a global perspective

    Digital living in Asia, a global perspective

    SINGAPORE: In the second session on global digital living, a Parks Associates survey of 13 nations revealed that Asian countries are leading the way in the digital homes arena.

    The session, which was addressed by Parks Associates, USA director of research, John Barrett, analysed the digital trends within Asia and compared them to other countries. He also touched upon key topics like consumer attitudes, market structure and current practices.

    He said, “Asian consumers express high demand for new digital service but a low willingness to pay.” When queried on what is driving the growth, Barrett said, “There are some notable differences with western countries. One is that there is wide availability of content and deeper broadband penetration have resulted in Asians being more likely to use computers a entertainment platforms.”

    Secondly, Asian CATV providers are weaker than their North American counterparts because the demand for TV services is not as strong in Asia as it is in North American. Also, piracy is a much greater concern in Asia because copyright provisions are more weakly enforced and commercial piracy more common.

    Some key points which emerged were:

    * Korea, Taiwan were the top two countries ranked high on the Digital Living index
    *53 per cent of Asian internet households are interested in viewing digital photos on their TV compared top just 43 per cent of European Internet HHs and 28 per cent of North American HHS
    *Asian Internet Households are willing to spend on an average $ 7 per month for a video-on-demand service compared to $11 per month in Europe and North America.