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  • Syniverse Technologies acquires telecommunications business of ITHL

    Syniverse Technologies acquires telecommunications business of ITHL

    BANGALORE: Syniverse Technologies , a provider of technology services to wireless telecommunications companies worldwide, today announced that it has acquired the telecommunications business of Interactive Technology Holdings Limited (ITHL) for up to US$45 million in cash, including potential earn-out payments of up to US$7 million if certain financial goals are achieved.

    Headquartered in Hong Kong, ITHL is a leading provider of value-added services to carriers in the Asia Pacific region. It has approximately 180 employees and nine regional offices including offices in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. The acquisition expands Syniverse’s footprint in the Asia Pacific region, adds a complementary customer base, new products, advanced development capabilities, and in-region customer support.

    “The acquisition of ITHL is an important step in Syniverse’s strategic plan for global expansion and product development,” said Tony Holcombe, President and CEO of Syniverse Technologies. “ITHL provides many new customers, most of whom are GSM operators, and a strong set of advanced products, including prepaid, messaging, video and number portability products that complement Syniverse’s existing suite of services. Additionally, ITHL expands our presence and provides us with additional development capabilities in the heart of the world’s most advanced wireless market.”

    ITHL chairman & CEO Raymond Cheung says, “The combination of Syniverse and ITHL’s Telecommunications business represents a strong strategic fit and provides each company with expanded sales and marketing opportunities. The Asian wireless telecommunication carriers have been leaders in the adoption of 3G products, and ITHL has been a leader in 3G solutions development for many years. With complementary product sets, we will be able to leverage Syniverse’s scale and global customer base and will have an opportunity to provide these next-generation wireless solutions to other operators around the world.”

    Syniverse will maintain ITHL’s nine existing offices and gain approximately 180 full-time employees. The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase transaction and is expected to be accretive to earnings in 2006.

  • The human side of business

    The human side of business

    SINGAPORE: While the talk of High Definition and digital training remained the buzzword for the major part of the day, there were also a few presentations that focussed on people who make these changes possible. Though, not too many attended these sessions, a few who made it added the human dimension to it.

    So how can broadcasters survive in the rapidly changing world where they can perish at the very next moment? How do managers, policy makers, programmers understand the real needs of people in the developing nations? Also, the huge media boom in the Asia Pacific region has brought in certain manpower and human resource issues which were discussed.

    In all, the afternoon session on the training needs of the media and entertainment industry across the world emphasised the need of training individuals to deal with change. Moving away from traditional methods of face-to-face training, the experts present offered many solutions – like distance or e-learning with the help of CDRoms, training by societies and engineers, self training for broadcasters. The session also turned out to be pretty interesting with live demonstrations.

    Broadcast Electronics Inc, USA’s Charles W Kelly, set the tone when he said, “If we ask the viewer what do they want – more resolution on the TV screens or better writers, the answer is obviously better writers who can write newer concepts and bring in fresh programming.” So, if there are 100 channels why do they all look the same? The answer perhaps lies in capacity building of people involved in the industry and training them.

    Here the panelists discussed the need of training writers who can change the face of television. This is again related to the lack of trained human resources, because of which channels have to bank on amateurs; which in the long run takes a toll on the business.

    There are training needs to be met at the senior level. Say for example, how does an executive from the radio industry make a transition to the television industry or the other way round.

    Drawing on his experiences from the Philippines, SBETP president Armand Ursal said, “It is very essential to train broadcast engineers to adapt to the changing technology needs. Also, when they have to deal with things like digital radio, and TV, it can take its toll.”

    I think engineer training is very important for the coming of age of the broadcast industries in all countries. Also, the manufacturers have to be brought into the loop to understand consumer demands.”

    Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia programme officer Rukmini Vemraju emphasised the need for face-to-face training along with interactive. Marcel Gomez, Programme Manager, AIBD, Malaysia said, “We can help TV professionals across the world transit to the interactive world with the help of CDs.”

    Gomez, who has been involved in the project of developing such CDs gave live demonstrations to the people present. He said, “We develop instructional, interactive CDs on topics like how to develop your writing skills, learn news reporting etc. A rather expensiive exercise wherein we get experts from across the world to develop such content.”

    The final word came from Charles W Kelly, who summed up the whole session. “TV is not just an investment but also a responsibility, and we as an industry have to continue to keep learning to adapt to the rules, so that we are able to address the real needs of the people.”

  • Animation & Visual Effects seminar discusses industry challenges

    Animation & Visual Effects seminar discusses industry challenges

    SINGAPORE: There’s an animated atmosphere here at the third day of BroadcastAsia 2006. Besides sessions on the new broadcasting technologies, Day 3 saw a special session on animation called – Animation and Visual Effects seminar. 

    The speakers for the morning session comprised Crest Animation Studios CEO A K Madhavan, Blackmagic Design Singapore director of creative services Peter Barber, Rhythm & Hues USA visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer and Intense Animation Studio managing director Tony Sealy. Throwing light on the success of Crest Animation Studios in the last four years or so in the space, Madhavan said, “We began as a production house for TV commercials 14 years ago, and then moved on to providing post production facility. Four years back, we decided to get into animation; acquired an American company – Rich Animation and I think we have done a fairly decent job.” 

    What’s more, Crest has progressed from providing animation content on the television platform, to the DVD platform and now is moving on to the theatrical space. One of it’s 3D show, Arthur, is going to release in the US next month as a DVD feature. The company has also signed a deal with renowned French producer Marathon for a new 3D animated series and it’s DVD feature Casper is also due to launch. Crest also inked a deal with Lion’s Gate International for Silvester and the Magic Pebble, which will hit the screens in the summer of 2008.
    “One needs to understand the sensibilities, likes and dislikes of various markets to create a show for them. There is a lot of background research that goes behind making shows for various international markets,” Madhavan said. 

    When queried as to whether the company was doing enough more for the local Indian market, he said, “We are providing some amount of content locally but the market has not yet developed. Apart from that, the budgets are very low and the animation industry still hasn’t got the push. But, I see the Indian animation industry exploding in the next 10 years’ time.” 

    Over the last three years, Crest Animation Studios has delivered over 126 series to broadcasters like PBS, Fox and Cartoon Network. Some of the series that Madhavan spoke about were – Jakers, Pet Alien and Bratz. 

    Rhythm & Hues’ Westenhofer explained in detail the process of the making of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. “It was a huge challenge especially where hybrid characters like the Centaurs were concerned. We extensively used pre-visualisation in this. It took us six months of motion capture, which included eight weeks of horse capture as every creature has it’s own unique fighting style,” he said.

    “With all the new technology coming in, it becomes imperative for filmmakers to know what the tools are. Digital photography is going to change the paradigm of how we do things,” he added.

    Intense Animation Studio managing director Tony Sealy, whose company has conceptualised -11 – an animation soccer comedy show for broadband television, threw light on the various challenges that the animation industry faces in Singapore. 

    “Originally, Intense Animation Studio was intended to be a creative agency, but there was a serious lack of talent in Singapore. So, I first opened a training center and we were the first company in Singapore to teach Maya. We also conduct seminars and workshops to teach people more about computer animation,” Sealy said. 

    The show 11 was pitched to M2B World, which is a leader in broadband media entertainment business, and a major provider of interactive entertainment-on-demand, education-on-demand and e-commerce streaming over broadband channels, internet portals, and 3G devices. “With M2B, we had a far wider reach over broadband on-demand, 3G and internet. Broadband TV provides a great diversity of delivery,” Sealy said. 

    Pointing out the difficulties that the animation industry in Singapore faces, Sealy said, “One needs to address the lack of private investment in the creative projects and educate the investors about the scope of animation. We also need to lift the training standards and address the current subsidies for training and internships. Apart from this, studios must develop their own IP.”

  • Europe leads the world in the interactive TV trial

    Europe leads the world in the interactive TV trial

    SINGAPORE: While some parts of the world are still trying to understand what interactive TV means, and some other markets are still in its infancy as in the Asia Pacific region; it looks like Europe will set the rules of the new game. With more than 380 interactive services on air in 2006, Europe clearly leads the way.

    As of now there are more than 50 million digital households across Europe and experts predict the number will go up to 125 million by 2010. Also, with growing consumer spend the gross margins (not turnover) is expected to cross 700 million Euros by 2010 with growing consumer spend.

    Quoting from a study conducted by AFDESI (The French professional organization for interactive television), delegate Jean Dacie said, “Europe is definitely leading the way on the ITV market with most of the technologies developed there since the first trials which started in the UK in 1994/95 and first commercial ITV services which began in France in 97.

    Just a look the figures reveals that UK is the largest market with 17.8 million subscribers followed by Germany, 11.2 million and France with about 8.7 million. In recent times, France has recorded the fastest ever technology adoption by users, with about 2 million DTT households one year after its launch. While BSkyB is the most profitable platform in the world for interactive services (660 million Euros in 2005) and UK is the country that has generated the highest revenues from interactivity yet.

    The study reveals that with the analog switch-off planned by national governments by around 2010, UK will perhaps emerge as the only country with the near objective with 69 per cent of digital homes, which means 125 million households in western Europe will have digital TV.

    With the standalone and enhanced TV services offered by ITV, consumers are already benefiting with the use of interactive services via TV like messaging, video conferencing, on demand extension of linear advertising breaks, betting live on broadcast sports and participating in quiz shows live apart from using utilities like bank services and shopping. The study says that there are more than 150 interactive services available in the UK. While advertisers are benefiting through well-executed interactive advertisements that can deliver benefits for brands.

    So, what are the business models that are driving the European digital market.

    “Premium calls (calls via the return path line of the set top box are charged a premium rate)
    ” Subscription (users contract a monthly subscription to services)
    ” advertisement and sponsorship
    ” Indirect profitability (the service cost is entirely supported by the operator)

    In the UK, with more than 8 million set top boxes at the beginning of 2006, BSkyB records an average annual revenue per user of 33 Euros for its interactive services with a long term objective of 70 euros. With the growing number of digital TV homes, this is bound to go up by leaps and bounds

  • 2,339 companies mark presence as overseas participation hits new highs

    2,339 companies mark presence as overseas participation hits new highs

    SINGAPORE: BroadcastAsia 2006, which kickstarted on 19 June, has attracted more than 847 exhibiting companies (88.5 per cent from overseas) from 46 countries. The conference saw 5,000 pre-registered visitors, out of which 48 per cent were from overseas. 

    All in all, BroadcastAsia 2006 and CommunicAsia/EnterpriseIT has attracted 2,339 companies from 67 countries this year as compared to last year’s 2,238 exhibiting companies from 55 countries.

    The opening ceremony of the conference was held this morning with Singapore’s information, communications and arts minister Dr Lee Boon Yang as guest of honour.

    While 33 Indian companies are participating in BroadcastAsia 2006, 47 are participating in CommunicAsia/ EnterpriseIT.

    The highest number of participating companies are, not surprisingly, from Singapore, with 276 companies participating in CommunicAsia/ EnterpriseIT and 97 in BroadcastAsia 2006. Countries like China, Korea, USA, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand also saw a large number of participating companies.

    In addition, delegations from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are also expected at this year’s BroadcastAsia.

    Keeping in mind the new digital age and the boom in this sector, this year, BroadcastAsia and CommunicAsia will also launch a new event – DME – The International Digital Media and Entertainment Exhibition and conference.

    Exhibitors from India at BroadcastAsia2006 include: ADI-Media Pvt Ltd represented by Madhu Gupta, All India Radio (AIR) represented by RR Prasad, Cable Quest represented by KK Sharma, Essel Shyam Technologies Pvt Ltd represented by Pankaj Agrawal, IndiaSign represented by Anoop Bhatia, Monarch Computers Pvt Ltd represented by Bhushan Motiani, Satellite and Cable TV Magazine represented by Dinyar Contractor, Studio Systems represented by Manoj Madhavan and Indian Television Dot Com Pvt Ltd.

    BroadcastAsia 2007 will be held from 19 to 22 June 2007 at the Singapore Expo.

  • Changing media scenario a challenge for broadcast training institutes

    Changing media scenario a challenge for broadcast training institutes

    SINGAPORE: As the downpour continues in Singapore, Day 2 of Broadcast Asia 2006 kickstarts at the Expo City. The first session addressed the issue of capacity building of the broadcast sector.

    In the fast changing world of technology, broadcasters have to move twice as fast just to keep to where they are. The question then arises – How will they keep up with the explosion of new technologies and report on a world that is changing so fast? Engineers, programmers and managers in a broadcasting company are quite similar. The answer to this lies in training!

    Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in Malaysia has been training broadcasters for the last 30 years. According to AIBD programme manager K P Madhu, there are five core components to training. These are:

    1) Need assessments – Current deficiencies, future requirements, assessment of training readiness, training objectives and training needs analysis.

    2) Design – Courses/programmes, media – methods/needs, planned activities, evaluation schemes, target group specific training.

    3) Preparation – Presentations, leading discussion, management of practical session, evaluation of feedback, logistics.

    4) Training Evaluation – Training appraisals by trainees, analysis of adequacy, results.

    5) Feedback to Management – Human resources, assessment of future training needs.

    “We need to look at the developmental needs of broadcasters and there has to be sustained action for capacity building of broadcasters in the region. These need to be revisited and revised every year. Summits, conferences, workshops, courses, dialogues to address different group of people like managers, programmers, executives, producers etc need to be held for capacity building of broadcasters,” said Madhu.

    However, one of the major challenges that AIBD faces in training is that there has been a huge boom in the media space and training needs have multiplied manifold. Hence, in spite of all the facilities and training requirements that AIBD has, it has been difficult to keep pace with the ever changing media scenario. “The needs are much more than we can meet,” said Madhu.

    He further added, “One of the biggest hindrance for us here is funds. While the government and the broadcasters are ready to pump in money in a whole lot of other things, they are not very keen on investing in training. To convince them to put in funds for training is our biggest challenge.”

  • Dishtv selects Scopus Video Networks to increase transponder capacity

    Dishtv selects Scopus Video Networks to increase transponder capacity

    MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra’s Dishtv has expressed serious intent to increase its channel offerings on the direct-to-home (DTH) platform. The company has selected Scopus Video Networks, a provider of digital video networking products, to support this expansion.

    The technology will help Dishtv pack up 28 channels per transponder, eight more than its current capacity. “We will be implementing this technology within a month. It is a better compression system without sacrificing the quality,” Essel Group director technology Amitabh Kumar tells Indiantelevision.com.

    Dishtv has seven transponders on NSS-6, offering a total of 130 channels. “We are building up the capability to offer more channels on our DTH platform,” Kumar says.

    Dishtv will use Scopus products to enhance its transponders’ utilization and expand its already fast growing DTH market share throughout the Indian subcontinent. The decision to tie up with Scopus comes ahead of Tata Sky’s DTH launch expected in July.

    The deal brings to Dishtv’s headend Scopus’ full line of products including E-1200 encoders, IRD-2900 decoders, IVG-7100 intelligent video gateway (IVG) platforms and network management system software. Scopus is a Nasdaq-listed company.

    Scopus’ IVG platform will provide advanced video processing capabilities including joint transrating, grooming and bit rate shaping. 

    India is beginning its transition to digital TV in which the number of digital subscribers is expected to grow ten-fold within the next five years.

    Says Kumar commented, “We operate in a complex web of multiple satellites and multiple carriers and the unique capabilities offered by Scopus’ product line such as the Intelligent Video Gateway will help us optimize operations while minimizing cost and enhancing reliability in our operations. Scopus has also helped Dish TV achieve very high satellite utilization and bring down costs on a per channel basis.”

    Scopus VP sales Eitan Koter stated, “We are honoured and delighted to continue doing business with the Essel Group, India’s leading media conglomerate. This achievement is a testimony to our on-going commitment to our customers’ success. Scopus is the only vendor that offers a full product portfolio under one roof, enabling us to provide simple solutions to complex requirements such as the ones posed by Dishtv.”

  • Toonskool signs MOU with Karnataka State Open University for animation course

    Toonskool signs MOU with Karnataka State Open University for animation course

    MUMBAI: Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) signed an MOU with Toonskool Advanced Animation Academy Bangalore yesterday for a three year degree program in Animation. 

    With the signing of this MOU, Toonskool becomes the first accredited institute in the country to train students for a B.Sc. Degree to be awarded by KSOU in the field of Animation.

    Announcing the program, KSOU vice chancellor Prof. K. Sudha Rao said, “India has tremendous opportunity to be an animation outsourced country. This Degree program in Animation has been thoughtfully and timely launched by KSOU to enable the students to be a part of the growing animation industry. Even if one student from each village becomes an accredited animator it will add to the pool of much needed reservoir and bring in financial support. Besides the advent of this programme adds to the avenues available to them and they can now look beyond the traditional B.A, B.Com degree courses.”

    Explaining the nature of animation, KSOU IT director Viswanatha Rao said,” Animation is both an art and science. While the end result achieved can be defined as art, the process of achieving it is science.” He added, ” From $250 million in 2005, the Indian animation industry is anticipated to soar upto $950 million by 2009. With the industry flourishing at such a rapid pace, by 2008, a minimum of 3,00,000 animation professionals will be required to fill the vacuum.” He also commended the efforts of Shri Govardhan CTO Toonskool in spreading animation awareness in the country.

    Speaking at the occasion, Toonskool MD Ashwin Ajila said, “In India, animation today is no longer merely a pursuit. Animation has globally evolved into a $70 billion industry, playing a vital role in all disciplines of life ranging from medicine, to sports, interactive media to defence. It entails systematic academic procedures and studies to attain a professional level as demanded by the industry. India has begun to attract high end, complex animation projects that can only be executed by highly qualified animators. It is therefore essential for aspiring animators to go through a long term industry-supported course in animation. With this MOU, aspirants can become graduates and attain the desired level of proficiency to face the competitive global market in animation.”

    This joint programme facilitating B.Sc. Degree in Animation will be made available through the KSOU approved study centres all over the country. To begin with the first degree program will be launched from August 2006 in three colleges; NITTE Education Trust-NITTE Institute of Technology-Bangalore, Thakur College- Kandivli Mumbai and H L Sonawane College- Kalyan Maharashtra who are already the approved Study Centres, states an official release.

    The content devised by Toonskool comprises script to screen processes. The course is holistic in nature and covers all the aspects ranging from identification of individual aptitude to specialization in the areas of interest. The program structure is academically and professionally streamlined to put the student on a definite growth path through the semesters. The course curriculum involves foundation art, classical animation, production process, digital techniques and creative ideation.

  • Citigroup picks up 6.3 % stake in VSNL

    Citigroup picks up 6.3 % stake in VSNL

    MUMBAI: The telecom sector is attracting investments not only in the global market but also in India. Citigroup Inc. has acquired a 6.3 per cent stake in telecom service provider Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL).

    Disclosing this in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Citigroup has said that it now owns 18.61 million shares of VSNL. The The stake was bought through American Depositary Receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

    VSNL expects to see volume growth in voice and data business. The company recently bought out the internet assets of 7 Star, a Mumbai-based cable operator. VSNL also acquired for Rs 750 million Direct Internet Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiary Primus Telecommunications India Ltd to strengthen its broadband presence in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) segment.

    The phone market is expanding rapidly in India. This has attracted global giants like Vodafone Group which bought a 10 per cent stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures.

     
     

  • Celcom and NSS launch SecretSMS

    Celcom and NSS launch SecretSMS

    BANGALORE: Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad and NSS MSC Sdn Bhd today launched a revolutionary product called SecretSMS. SecretSMS is a simple software that encrypts SMS messages thereby offering security and privacy.

    Starting today, over 2 million Celcom subscribers with smart phones will be able to enjoy a whole new SMS experience, especially those seeking to keep their text life private, states an official release.

    SecretSMS is derived from a backbone technology called XMS (Xecure Message Service) that was developed by NSS. NSS is proud to partner with Celcom to introduce the SecretSMS to the market. Research statistics reveal that this product will appeal to the youth population who use messaging as their primary means of communications, the release adds.

    Text messages that are stored in the phones are readily accessible. Anyone can have access to your phone if it is left unattended. Some personal or sensitive messages might even get read by the wrong person without prior permission, which could eventually lead to unnecessary misunderstandings or even mishaps.

    SecretSMS transmits and stores sensitive messages that are accessible with a password known only to the mobile owners. SecretSMS is powered by 128-bit encryption that encrypts incoming and outgoing SMS’s in the transmission process. To read the encrypted messages, users have to key in the valid password. Hence, mobile users have complete control over their privacy in the SMS communications.

    XMS technology is set to penetrate the global market particularly in the US, UK, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka where NSS is already in talks with the local mobile operators and financial institutions, as per the official release.