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Category: News Headline

  • PBS and Discovery Education partner to distribute PBS programs to schools

    PBS and Discovery Education partner to distribute PBS programs to schools

    MUMBAI: PBS and Discovery Education have inked a major multi-year media partnership through which PBS has licensed hundreds of hours from its most acclaimed series and specials for distribution to schools through Discovery Education’s digital learning services.

    PBS titles to be made available via Discovery Education include The Civil War and other Ken Burns documentaries; Freedom: A History of US; the complete CyberChase series; and selected episodes from Nova, American Experience, Frontline and others.

    A number of local PBS stations already partner with Discovery Education in delivering its flagship video-on-demand service and united streaming as part of their portfolio of local education offerings.

    “For both PBS and our local stations, this new partnership represents an important opportunity to bring PBS content to a growing audience of educators. PBS is entering into a number of new, non-exclusive licensing relationships to broaden the reach of our award-winning education resources, and we are pleased that the first of these new partnerships is with Discovery Education,” said PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger.

    Beginning this fall, schools nationwide will have the opportunity to receive the PBS library as a supplement to united streaming. As with all content delivered through united streaming, the PBS programs will be correlated to state curriculum standards, chaptered into content-specific video clips and offered for teachers to stream or download for instructional use.

    “This expansion of Discovery Education’s relationship with PBS underscores the alignments of our values and missions. We’re delighted that this arrangement will give teachers and students the opportunity to access these high-quality titles — on-demand — through our award-winning platform,” said Discovery Education president Steve Sidel.

  • India, China to propel Asia- Pacific broadband revenue to $55 billion by 2011; study

    India, China to propel Asia- Pacific broadband revenue to $55 billion by 2011; study

    MUMBAI: India and China seem to be the key countries, that are likely to propel the growth and increase of broadband revenues in the Asia-Pacific region and double from 20.7 billion US dollars last year to 55.1 billion US dollars in 2011, as indicated by the Arizona based In-Stat research agency.

    The research indicates that the broadband future hinges on developing countries. Thus, Asia’s broadband future depends on countries like Thailand, India, China, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

    These findings highlight that the broadband user base stood at 86.6 million in 2005 and the number will set to increase nearly threefold to 235.7 million users in five years.

    “In less developed markets like China and India, broadband access services are expected to demonstrate impressive growth through 2011, and constitute the bulk of Asia Pacific’s broadband subscriber expansion,” says In-Stat analyst Bryan Wang.

    He added, “Wide availability of low prices in cyber cafes in these markets is allowing people to experience broadband services without a fixed charge, which will stimulate potential new subscriptions.”

    Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore have been the key drivers of the growth broadband space in the past.

    Tier-1 markets Japan and South Korea contributed more than 60 per cent of total revenue in 2005, followed by Tier-2 markets Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and Singapore contributing around 15 per cent, the research firm says.

    The findings also highlighted that the next-generation broadband services strategy in markets like Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong is to promote value-added broadband services, driven by the launch of compelling broadband content (i.e. IPTV and VoIP) and innovative broadband pricing plans.

    Various connection technologies will be competing through 2011, with the current dominating technology, DSL, facing price competition from cable modem and satellite. In the long run, compelling content or ‘killer broadband applications’, will be the key to success.

    This research is part of In-Stat’s Asia Consumer Convergence Service, which takes an in-depth look at digital home networking related products by country as well as applications markets. This makes it an unique service for anyone interested in consumer markets, in extremely dynamic Asian markets such as China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

  • MTV to explore internet and MVAS markets in China

    MTV to explore internet and MVAS markets in China

    MUMBAI: Viacom owned music broadcaster MTV is planning to broaden its sphere in the areas of internet and mobile value-added services (MVAS) in China, according to China Daily.

    MTV Networks vice chairman and MTV Networks International president William Roedy has been quoted in a report as saying that, the company will launch broadband services in China at the earliest. According to Roedy, MTV’s services in China will be provided either by partnership with local firms or through acquisitions.

    The report said, MTV and China Mobile, one of China’s mobile carriers, had agreed last year to offer MTV content to China Mobile users in the form of ring tones, music and picture downloads.

    In China, MTV is aired only in the Pearl River Delta in southern province and at a number of upscale residential compounds and hotels in other areas.

  • Fox and Burger King bring hit shows to MySpace.com

    Fox and Burger King bring hit shows to MySpace.com

    MUMBAI: News Corporation’s Fox Entertainment Group and Burger King Holdings, Inc. have teamed to offer hit Fox programming free of charge to the more than 75 million members of MySpace.com.

    MySpace.com is Fox Interactive Media’s popular online social networking site. This promotion marks the first time that network TV content is being made available on a series basis through MySpace, as well as MySpace’s entry into the ecommerce arena.

    The promotion launches 22 May, in conjunction with the season finale of the record-breaking fifth season of 24. MySpace users will be able to download-to-own two episodes of the Fox drama at no cost from a special ‘Have It Your Way’ page provided by Burger King. Both the very first episode from 24’s first season and the first episode of the current season will be available. Also offered at launch will be an episode of Speed’s Pinks and Fuel TV’s FirstHand.

    In addition, MySpace will create a social network around 24, where users can interact with each other, create user generated content and download the entire first and fifth seasons of the top-rated drama for $1.99 per episode.

    “This is truly the perfect marriage of compelling content, an extremely creative advertising partner and the Internet’s leading site for young adults. It really exemplifies our overarching strategy of doing deals that make sense organically, and we have high hopes that MySpace users will find it an attractive offering,” said Fox Entertainment Group president digital media Peter Levinsohn.

    “It’s the ultimate ‘Have It Your Way’ experience. We’re giving consumers what they want with the choice of free shows – wherever and whenever they want to watch them – and the ability to talk about those shows in the social networking environment of MySpace,” said Burger King Holdings senior director media Gillian Smith.

    “MySpace is the largest video site on the web with more video uploaded every day than any other site on the Internet. Our members are avid fans of these shows and are consuming video at a rapid pace, making MySpace the perfect distribution channel for programmers looking to innovate new models,” said Fox Interactive Media president Ross Levinsohn.

  • Pix acquires 47 episodes of ‘Inside the Actors Studio’

    Pix acquires 47 episodes of ‘Inside the Actors Studio’

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television’s (SET) English channel Pix has acquired its first international programme – Inside the Actors Studio.

    Pix has acquired 47 exciting and revealing episodes of this series. Some of the guests interviewed include: Will Smith, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant, Charlize Ttheron, Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Al Pacino.

    James Lipton, the executive producer and host of Inside the Actors Studio since its inception in 1994, has interviewed more than 200 artists – ranging from actors and directors to musicians and comedians. Lipton, in his numerous years of studious research has inspired his guests to open up and confess their deepest thoughts about their craft and careers.

    From its origin, Inside the Actors Studio has followed an interesting and unique format in which the show is taped in front of an audience made up of students from the renowned Actors Studio’s Master of Fine Arts program. The interviewees, all famous Hollywood celebrities, share intimate and personal experiences that influenced their choice of career and what it is that continues to fascinate them about showbiz. The interview then concludes with a standardised questionnaire of 10 questions that requires very candid answers, leading to hilarious and sometimes touching moments on the show.

    Inside the Actors Studio also transcends all demographic boundaries. The program introduces viewers to icons of the entertainment industry in a very natural and personal way. The show is produced by Bravo in conjunction with Betelgeuse Productions.

    This popular award winning Hollywood talk show has been on air in the US for more than 11 years and is now broadcast in over 125 countries.

    The show has also bagged numerous awards including two 14 July, 2005 nominations, for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Nonfiction Series, 11 Emmy award nominations, the Cable Ace Award as Best Talk Show and The New York Festival Award for the World’s Best Talk/Entertainment.

  • Zee TV tightens hold on 2nd spot in prime time

    Zee TV tightens hold on 2nd spot in prime time

    MUMBAI: The last time indiantelevision.com analysed the Hindi General Entertainment Channel rankings (CS4+HSM) in February 2006, Zee TV had gone ahead of its nearest competitor Sony in the all day time band. Also, there was a neck and neck fight going on in the coveted prime time band.

    The big question was, would Zee TV be able to post a convincing win over Sony in the prime time, while sustaining its all day performance?
    Now, after a couple of months it is time to update the score card. Analysing the Tam data (2 April 2006 to 30 April 2006, CS4+ HSM), we have Zee TV proving that its good show in the past months was not a mere flash in the pan. The channel has not only retained the second rank in the all day part with a clear margin, but also reached the number two position (behind Star Plus) in the prime time band.

    Zee’s ad sales wing also rose to the occasion. Based on the good performance, Zee Telefilms increased the ad rates for certain Zee TV shows last week. The programmes in question are on the expected lines: Saath Phere (an increase from Rs 75,000 to Rs 80,000 for 10 seconds), Kasamh Se (from Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000) and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Ek Main aur Ek Tu (Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000.).
    “The logic behind the rate hike is fine performance. We wanted our inventories to meet the demand-supply situation. And hence, we have increased the ad rates of some shows, which passed the bench mark. For the upcoming shows Johnny Ala Re and Shabash India, we have zeroed in on decent rates, which we think are right,” says Zee Network EVP Sales Joy Chakraborthy.

    The data says it all: In the prime time band, the average channel share Zee TV has posted within the above five week period is 14.6 per cent, against Sony’s 14.2 per cent. In the all day time band, Zee holds a significant 18.6 per cent of channel share, while Sony’s share now stands at a meagre 12.4 per cent.

    Apart from the channel driver Saath Phere, the serials which powered the good show include Kasamh Se and debutant Jabb Love Hua. Saath Phere and Kasamh Se are running in the range of 4 TVRs (see the programme rating chart below), according to Tam. Zee TV programming head Ashwini Yardi considers Jabb Love Hua as the latest find. “The soap opened with 0.6 TVRs in the opening week and the following week it recorded a far better 1.7 TVR. The storyline is going to gather much steam in the coming weeks and we are confident of the soap giving a solid performance,” she says.

    Zee’s best prime time band performance in this five week duration came from the week beginning 23 April. The week was a significant one for Hindi GEC since three prime time shows launching (Jabb Love Hua on Zee and Aisa Des Hai Mera and Thodi Khushi Thode Gham in Sony) simultaneously on 24 April. Now, as per Tam, the day favoured Zee TV, as the channel improved its share by 20 per cent in the week – from 15.4 per cent to 17.6 per cent. Meanwhile, Sony’s channel share dropped from 17.4 per cent to 12.4 per cent.

    Yardi attributes the jump to a good opening by the soap Jabb Love Hua. “Zee TV’s ratings for that particular slot went up by about 400 per cent on 24 April. That played a key role in the surge,” she says.

    According to Yardi, Zee TV is not about to rest on its laurels. The channel is planning various strategies to further improve the performance of its prime time soaps. “For example, Saath Phere is going to be in the spotlight in the coming week. The story will take a major turn as we reveal a well-kept secret in the serial. We also have a new show coming in to fill the Kam Ya Zyaada slot,” Yardi offers. The channel dropped the Manoj Bajpai-anchored gameshow two weeks ago. Re-runs of the celebrity show Jeena Isika Naam Hai has replaced Kam Ya Zyaada temporarily.
    Channel
    Key properties
    April-May average ratings combined
    Star Plus Kyunki…, Kahaani…, Kasauti… 12.64 TVR
    Star One Laughter Challenge, Mano Ya Na.., Kya Hoga.. 2.61 TVR
    Zee TV Saath Phere, Kasamh Se 4.44 TVR
    Sony Idol final & Idol Muqabla, Fear Factor, CID 3.36 TVR
    Sahara One Cricket, Woh Rehne Wali.., Hanuman (film) 2.76 TVR
    Sab TV Caravan (film), Idol Takka Tak, Wah Wah, Lo Kal.. 0.52 TVR
    (Source: TAM Peoplemeter System TG: CS 4 years+ Hindi Speaking Markets Period: 2/4/06 to 6/5/06)

    Hasn’t Zee TV’s big ticket reality show Business Baazigar’s non-performance dampened the mood a bit? “Business Baazigar is totally different from all the other reality shows that happened on Indian television so far. The format is new and people are taking their time to get into the loop. The show is delivering a TVR of 0.6 on an average and we expect this go up in the coming weeks,” Yardi reasons.

  • Nickelodeon promotes Williams to senior vice president research and planning

    Nickelodeon promotes Williams to senior vice president research and planning

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon has upped Marsha E. Williams to senior vice president research and planning at Nickelodeon Networks. In her new position, Williams is responsible for consumer insights for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., including all brand, programming and production, merchandising, public affairs, online and other corporate consumer research for Nickelodeon.

    The announcement was made by Nickelodeon executive vice president marketing and worldwide partnerships Pam Kaufman, to whom Williams will report.

    Williams leads Nickelodeon’s research department with senior vice president of research and planning, Ron Geraci. Geraci oversees programming and advertising sales research for Nickelodeon and digital channels Noggin, The N and Nicktoons Network related to analyzing viewer trends, and positioning Nickelodeon in the marketplace as it relates to advertising sales and the creation of sales pitches.

    “Marsha has done tremendous things in her years at the company, including establishing Nickelodeon as the leader in information and research about kids. Marsha’s keen insight into audiences and trends, as well as her experience working with Nickelodeon and other kids’ brands, make her ideal to lead the Research and Planning initiatives at Nickelodeon with Ron. She is a well-respected and talented executive and this new role acknowledges her expertise and contribution to the success of the network,” said Kaufman.

  • ND SatCom forms JV with Grintex Communications Ltd

    ND SatCom forms JV with Grintex Communications Ltd

    MUMBAI: ND SatCom, a global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT, broadcast and defence communication network solutions has announced the formation of a 50-50 joint venture with Grintex India Ltd.

    ND SatCom-Grintex Communications Limited will offer the complete ND SatCom product portfolio and is based out of the multinational corporate hub at Gurgaon, just outside New Delhi, a location which will enable ND SatCom to optimally serve its local clients.

    The joint venture will boost activities on the Indian subcontinent to meet the growing demand for satellite communication as the region further realizes its economic potential. The main target markets are the government and broadcast sectors of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

    ND Sat Com chairman & CEO Dr Karl Classen will also function as the chairman of ND SatCom-Grintex Communications Ltd. Hariharan Gautam heads the new Indian company as CEO and is supported by a highly qualified and experienced local sales and engineering team.

    “From a strategic point of view, the joint venture creates a future-oriented starting point to position ND SatCom-Grintex Communications Ltd. prominently in India and the South Asian region. It is a good platform to reach out to other markets in the region,” comments Gautam.

    Dr Karl Classen emphasizes, “The official opening of ND SatCom’s India joint venture represents our long term commitment to become a major provider of satellite communication solutions in this important emerging market.”

    Over the last three years, ND SatCom has successfully implemented its policy of establishing itself as a global company with strategic local representations.

    Headquartered in Germany, ND SatCom has subsidiaries in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Beijing (China), Dallas (USA) and Moscow (Russia). Furthermore, the company operates through its regional sales and service offices around the world, including Mexico City, Miami and Singapore.

  • Paul Yanover appointed MD and EVP of Disney Online

    Paul Yanover appointed MD and EVP of Disney Online

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online (WDPRO) head Paul Yanover has been named executive vice president and managing director of Disney Online (DOL).

    DOL is the business unit of the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) that produces the top entertainment destination for kids and families on the internet. The appointment was announced today by WDIG president Steve Wadsworth and is effective immediately.

    He will be succeeded at WDPRO by Edward Kummer, who previously served as vice president of creative development and production for that business.

    “Paul has been a driving force in digital media within our company for more than a decade, most recently with our Parks and Resorts group, building its website portfolio into a substantial e-commerce business. I’ve worked closely with him for the past three years and know he brings a strong vision that will take our business to the next level during this time of great opportunity for Disney Online, when more and more consumers are turning to the Internet as a key source of entertainment,” said Wadsworth.

    In his new capacity, Yanover will assume responsibility for all of DOL’s strategic, creative, technical and marketing initiatives surrounding the presence of the Disney brand on the internet, including flagship site www.disney.com, which will undergo a major redesign and strategic development initiative over the next several years; DOL’s acclaimed suite of premium broadband products including online games; a large portfolio of divisional Web sites for The Walt Disney Company (TWDC); and Web sites www.familyfun.com, www.go.com and www.movies.com.

    Yanover will succeed Ken Goldstein, who is leaving Disney to pursue another opportunity. “Ken has made great contributions to WDIG over the past eight years. We wish him well in his next venture,” said Wadsworth.

    Yanover was responsible for developing and launching Virtual Magic Kingdom, Disney’s online multi-player adventure game that allows Disney fans to experience the magic of Disney Theme Parks from their own home.

  • 9.2 million Indians to seek jobs online by 2006-07: IAMAI

    9.2 million Indians to seek jobs online by 2006-07: IAMAI

    MUMBAI: The number of Indian online job seekers is expected to cross 9.2 million this year (2006-07) with the estimated market size of the Indian online recruitment industry reaching Rs 2.41 billion for 2006-2007 from Rs 1.45 billion for 2005-2006.

    The industry is also likely to maintain a year on year growth of over 60 per cent, according to a survey conducted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) recently.

    As per the findings, the number of Indians seeking jobs online reached 6.5 million in 2005-2006 recording a rise of 71 per cent over last year.

    The survey also found that junior, mid-level and senior executives accounted for more than 50 per cent of online job seekers. In addition, in keeping with the overall pattern of internet usage, among the states Maharashtra topped the list of online job seekers followed by Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal.

    Fast facts of online job search

    — 43 per cent in the 26-35 age group
    — 72 per cent male and 28 per cent female

    Qualification:
    — 41 per cent have a Graduate / Post-Graduate General (BA, BSC. MSC, B.com etc.)
    — 40 per cent have a Graduate /Post Graduate Professional Degree.

    Occupation:
    — 25 per cent Mid Level Executives
    — 15 per cent Junior Executives
    — 13 per cent Students
    — 12 per cent Senior Executives

    Top five states:
    — 26 per cent Maharashtra
    — 17 per cent Delhi
    — 13 per cent Tamil Nadu
    — 8 per cent Karnataka
    — 6 per cent West Bengal

    Online Job Search is one of the top five online activities (e-mail, surfing, chatting, search and job search) that Indians indulge in on the internet.

    Fuelled by a rising internet penetration and 38.5 million users, e-recruitment is gaining ground as a preferred medium of hiring in India. For job seekers, the internet has opened up the world of job searching, turning it into a 24-hour-a-day marketplace. Internet is arguably the most immediate, convenient and comprehensive medium for employment seekers to research and prospect for jobs.

    Commenting on the findings of the survey, IAMAI president Dr Subho Ray said, “Online job search is a winner all the way. For job seekers it eliminates the disadvantages of location, cost and time. For recruiters, it provides easy access to the best talent at a competitive cost. Given the obvious advantages, this segment is set to grow at a scorching pace.”

    A growing economy, a thriving job market and increasingly net savvy users have converged to create the right environment for the online job search market to grow.

    To understand the exact demographics of the online job seekers as well as parallel activities they do online, IAMAI mandated a study in January 2006 with a base of 3269 respondents who seek jobs online. The survey was mandated by the IAMAI to online research firm Cross Tab Marketing Services, with the overall objective of obtaining data to understand and anticipate online job trends.