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BANGALORE/MUMBAI: Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd has launched an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) for users of Windows XP Media Centre PCs. Making its debut in India, EPG is an on screen interactive guide to television programs. This new concept will allow viewers to navigate, select, explore and record shows across more than 80 channels in the country, at their own convenience. |
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The Microsoft Windows XP Media Center PC functions as a PC, TV, Radio, DVD player & Media Player. EPG adds to this functionality, as it serves as an electronic search engine that informs the user of what is playing on which channel and when, for a period of 15 days. Moreover, this time limit can be upgraded on a day-to-day basis, states an official release. Windows Client Business Group director Rishi Srivastava said, “TV as an entertainment medium provides limitless choices to the consumer today. Presently, their TV consuming time is undirected and cluttered. We believe that the Electronic Programming Guide will help consumers take control of their entertainment experience by helping them watch their favourite program any time, any where.”
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Combined with the DVR (digital video recording) capabilities of Windows XP Media Center, viewers can search for and record not just a single episode but also an entire series. With the help of this easy to use device, users can even create their own collection of favourite movies, soaps and serials. Along with these facilities it also comes with conflict resolution feature. In case, two programs are to be recorded, which are scheduled simultaneously, the EPG will resolve the conflict by automatically searching for the repeat telecast of either of the two programs over the next few days thus, recording them separately with much ease. Srivastava adds, “We believe that Windows XP Media Center combined with the electronic programming guide will be a huge success in India. Consider this, for Rs 30,000 a consumer can now buy a PC that also provides an unmatched TV viewing experience.” For the benefit of the user, microsoft has also agreed to launch an awareness campaign comprising of advertisements and activities to promote this one of a kind concept, which they hope will spiral demand. The company will also partner with additional OEMs, content partners, and other companies in the digital entertainment industry to catalyse the growth of this segment. Currently Windows XP Media Center PCs from HP, HCL and Sahara are available at more than 300 reseller outlets across 30 cities in the country for a price range starting from Rs 30,000. |
Category: News Headline
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Microsoft India launches Electronic Programming Guide
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Intel and NDS to collaborate on protected WiMax-based TV multicast
MUMBAI: Intel Corporation and NDS Group plc., have announced a trial system to demonstrate the TV and video services for fixed WiMax technology.
Using the WiMax IEEE 802.16-2004 standard and the soon to be ratified IEEE 802.16e, Intel and NDS will also collaborate on industry and market development activities. The companies will engage in demonstrations to service providers and the industry to show how WiMax can offer more than broadband access with pay-TV services.
The pre-WiMax implementation takes place at Intel’s Wireless Competence Center in Kista, Sweden and demonstrates the first system to show WiMax TV services including live TV, VOD and integrated electronic program guide (EPG) delivery to an Intel Centrino mobile technology based notebook over 802.16-2004 and 802.11.
The current demonstration uses fixed pre-WiMax equipment to deliver content to the customer premises equipment (CPE) and then WiFi to send content to the notebook. Companies intend to enhance the system to support 802.16e standard in the future and to make sure that security requirements protect the interests of content providers in an aim to demonstrate pay TV services delivery over mobile WiMax to Intel based PDA and notebook devices.
NDS VideoGuard conditional access protects the business and content of the service provider and:-
>Prevents the valuable TV channel offering from being received by subscribers who have not paid for it.
>Protects content delivery efficiently using content entitlements, authorizations and tier packaging.
>Enables content purchasing scenarios (e.g. Pay-Per-View)
>Supports Video-On-Demand by enabling secure content purchasing, protecting content delivery sessions, and enabling content business scenarios like DRM.
Intel Wireless Competence Center director Anders Huge said, “Demonstrating multicast TV to notebook computers articulates the way forward for mobile computing – extending the range of services offered by WiMAX to include broadband internet access, VOIP and video. Intel Centrino mobile technology based notebooks are great entertainment devices and offer consumers the ability to take their home entertainment experience on the go.”
NDS vice president product marketing Yossi Deutsch added, “We are happy to work with a major force behind WiMax technology and getting a clear message out that it is not only about broadband access but rather a full range of lucrative services, enhancing the very model behind WiMax future deployments.”
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NGC to launch ‘Nat Geo Reveals’ on 14 May
MUMBAI: National Geographic Channel (NGC) will take its viewers inside places they have never been before, to see what is unseen through its new series Nat Geo Reveals.
The series premiering on 14 May at 8 pm would reveal the “inside information about places and subjects ranging from Bollywood to the Fire Service, the FBI to the US Secret Service, religion to nature’s fury to casinos and a lot more”.
The twelve part series that premieres on 14 May will continue till 20 May with an all day long marathon repeat telecast on 21 May from 12 noon onwards. The highlights of the series will be two episodes set in India – Sunset Bollywood’ and ‘Delhi in Flames.
Speaking about the series, National Geographic Channel, India SVP Joy Bhattacharjya said, “At National Geographic Channel, it is our constant endeavour to present programming that challenges our viewers and makes them rethink about the world they live in, and Nat Geo Reveals is trying to do the same. The series premieres with two India based films that are of global interest and I am sure that our audience will love it.”
Delhi in Flames: When it comes to battling blazes, Delhi – a city of fourteen million people packed into fifteen hundred square kilometres, faces nearly insurmountable odds, but the Delhi Fire Service is undeterred. In Delhi In Flames, we ride along with the Delhi Fire Service, as they attempt to keep the city from lighting up like a tinderbox and reveal what real heroes are made of. This episode will kick off the series on 14 May.
Sunset Bollywood: “To be a Star in India is like being God, literally” – A struggling actor in Bollywood dreams of his big screen break. It arrives, and he skyrockets to stardom. Becoming number one is easy after all – staying there is the hard part. Overnight success is sought by millions, but what happens when the lights go out? In Mumbai’s glamorous celluloid world, failure is not an option. We follow three actors – Rahul Roy, Kumar Gaurav and Bhagyashree on their journey back, some trying to cope with life after fame and one still craving the narcotic high of celebrity. This episode will be aired on 14 May at 9 pm.
The Ultimate Vegas Casino: In the high-stakes game of real estate on the Las Vegas Strip, powerful developers place their bets on creating ultimate hotel casinos. Find out what it takes to build the ultimate Vegas casino with Nat Geo. This episode will be aired on 15 May at 8 pm.
The Ultimate Roller Coaster: Join the designers of the world’s fastest and tallest roller coaster ride as they test their creation and follow through the entire construction process from its slow and steady start to its dramatic and heart-racing finish. A ride with Nat Geo, you’ll never forget. This episode will be aired on 15 May at 9 pm.
Inside The U.S. Secret Service – Protecting the President: The National Geographic Channel gets you unprecedented access into this first and last line of defence for the U.S. president. Go on duty with agents and officers, and uncover the intricate precautions taken to get the job done. This episode will be aired on 16 May at 8 pm.
Inside The FBI: Get ready to see what’s inside one of the world’s most secret organisations with Nat Geo. This episode will be aired on 16 May at 9 pm.
The Airbus A380 – World’s Biggest Airliner: Airbus 380, world’s largest passenger plane is under construction and set to take to the skies in 2006. Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds, this MEGA-plane, can seat 555 passengers over two main decks. Will the A380 be the future of aviation or will it be the biggest boondoggle in aviation history – Nat Geo Reveals. This episode will be aired on 17 May at 8 pm.
Inside The Britannic: Unlock the mysteries of Britannic – the ship with the tragic distinction of being the largest vessel ever to sink, as well as sister ship to the Titanic. Hidden in the wreckage lies the explanation as to why the White Star Luxury Liner sank. Did a German U-boat target it or there were other reasons? This episode will be aired on Wednesday, 17 May at 9 pm.
Inside Hurricane Katrina – Katrina: Unnatural Disaster: The show is a minute-by-minute chronology of the events leading up to, including, and following Hurricane Katrina. For years, it was widely predicted that a catastrophic storm could devastate the Gulf Coast, including the vulnerable city of New Orleans. And yet, when the storm came, the world watched as chaos broke out, hundreds died, and government failed at all levels. What happened? Nat Geo Reveals. This episode will be aired on 18 May at 8 pm as a two hour special.
Gospel Of Judas: One of the biggest revelations in the history of religion that Nat Geo revealed is part of this series on popular demand. Did Judas betray Jesus or was asked by him to do that? This episode will be aired on 19 May at 8 pm (two hour special).
Inside Mecca’: National Geographic Channel takes an inside look at the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the rituals that bring together the followers of the world’s fastest growing religion. A Muslim film crew gained privileged access to sites in and around Mecca and brought back amazing footage of the rituals of the hajj, as well as the personal stories of three pilgrims undertaking the spiritual journey of a lifetime. On 20 May at 8 pm.
Inside NFL Films – The Idol Makers: NFL Films shoots more than 500 miles of film every season culminating in the annual Super Bowl, that unrivalled cultural phenomenon watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. During the 1997 Super Bowl, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots, a team of intrepid filmmakers shadowed the NFL Films cameramen for the first time history. From the sidelines to the rafters, midfield to the locker room, National Geographic Channel records the nonstop activity of a highly conditioned veteran team and their director, Steve Sabol, as they turn a game of violent action into a drama of epic proportions. On 20 May at 9 pm.
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Cellcast to simulcast Bid2Win on Sony, Sahara, Zee Punjabi and Zoom
MUMBAI: An attempt is being made to push the television programming envelope. Even if it is coming in the form of simple game show.
Come this Sunday, viewers of Sony, Zee Punjabi and Zoom TV will all tune into a single programme at 12 midnight: Bid2Win.
Before that viewers of SaharaOne will have already sampled the show at 11:30 pm. Based on the reverse auction principle it will run 365 days of the year, and will offer participants, who bid the lowest, prizes ranging from notebook computers to fridges to microwaves to LCD TVs to iPODs to home theater systems, to digital cameras to camcorders.
Produced by Sparkle Works for UK company Cellcast Interactive, Bid2Win will be hosted by Veer Das, Taraana, and Yudi. Says Cellcast Interactive India CEO Pankaj Thakar: “It’s a compelling interactive format for a mass audience. In a reverse auction, instead of prices going up and up and out of reach, prices stay so low that everyone can participate with confidence. It is a show with high production values and high energy anchors offering high aspirational products at extremely low price.”
Adds vice president business development Rajeev Dhal: “We plan to simulcast the show on many other channels as the days goes by. This is probably amongst the first major initiatives to push an audience particpatory show.”
Basically, the three hosts will offer the products on screen and whip up a frenzy among viewers as they either shoot their bids via SMS or IVR. The bids will pop up on screen via graphical interfaces. The lowest bid will stand to win; duplication of a price point by two or more viewers will immediately lead to the bid becoming redundant, reveals Dhal. The auction will continue till the next day with the winner being announced in the following programme. Each SMS has been priced at a premium level of Rs 10 in its tie up with Airtel. Other sign ins with mobile telcos such as Hutch and Idea are likely to follow.
The half hour show has Prabhu Azgaonkar as the online editor with Asim being the director of photography and Shikha Azgaonkar,the scriptwriter.A four camera set up is being used to bring out the show daily and and an entire operation has been set up to manage the backend for the SMS management and to decide the winner.
Cellcast Interactive India has bought the telecast slots from the four broadcasters and will not be selling any sponsorships or airtime around the show. Around 10 promos a day are planned to pull in the audience, apart from a SMS push from Airtel.
Bid2Win is an evolution of a highly successful format pioneered by Cellcast. Reverse auctions first gained popularity on the Internet, and Cellcast developed the concept as a live SMS-driven interactive television show with Star TV in India in autumn of 2004.
The resulting show received over 6.7 million bids, becoming the world’s largest interactive reverse auction, says a corporate release. In December 2004 a similar format was launched with Lebanese partner Future TV, and proved so popular across the Middle East and North Africa that the show was extended beyond the Ramadan holiday, it adds.
Will Bid2Win find takers? Will audiences pick up their phones and shoot across SMS and calls? Home shopping companies have been running a successful business by telecasting programming blocks on TV hawking everything from weight loss tools to exercise machines for some years now. Cellcast will probably have to do a lot more to push the concept at viewers; reverse auctions or forward auctions are unfamiliar concepts for the general viewers – a small section of which has been buying goodies shopping at home through television. Additionally, care will have to be taken to ensure that the prizes/bid items are alluring enough.
If Thakar manages to pull off his plan of roadblocking Bid2Win across 15 channels all over the country, and pushes the telecast time aggressively enough, he might end up making it a success.
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Julia Thompson is SPTI UK entertainment director
MUMBAI: Julia Thompson is joining Sony Pictures Television Productions UK as director of entertainment.
This is a new position at Sony Pictures Television International’s (SPTI) British production arm. Her mandate is to develop and produce high-quality entertainment programming for the worldwide marketplace. The division has already co-produced the BBC Two hit Dragon’s Den, which SPTI has been selling as a format internationally. In her new role, Thompson reports to SPTI’s head of production for the UK Ann Harris.
Thompson was earlier at Simon Cowell’s production outfit Syco.
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Bachchan felicitates South star Chiranjeevi in Zee Telugu event
MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan was the star attraction at the Gachchibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on 23 April at an event which was organised by the Telugu Film Industry to honour megastar Chiranjeevi on receiving the Padma Bhushan.
The star-studded event was interspersed with songs and dances from the megastar’s films presented by Saakshi Sivananda and Reema Sen.
The heroines paired with Chiranjeevi starting from Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Radhika, Jaya Sudha, Rambha, Radha, Reshmi Roy, Shobhana, Saakshi Sivanand to Shriya attended the event amongst directors, producers and other co-stars.
Zee Telugu will be airing the event on 7 May at 9 am.
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Bachchan felicitates South star Chiranjeevi in Zee Telugu event
MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan was the star attraction at the Gachchibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on 23 April at an event which was organised by the Telugu Film Industry to honour megastar Chiranjeevi on receiving the Padma Bhushan.
The star-studded event was interspersed with songs and dances from the megastar’s films presented by Saakshi Sivananda and Reema Sen.
The heroines paired with Chiranjeevi starting from Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Radhika, Jaya Sudha, Rambha, Radha, Reshmi Roy, Shobhana, Saakshi Sivanand to Shriya attended the event amongst directors, producers and other co-stars.
Zee Telugu will be airing the event on 7 May at 9 am.
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Zee Kannada to launch on 11 May
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms’ proposed Kannada general entertainment channel Zee Kannada is now ready for launch. According to market sources, the channel will hit the airwaves on 11 May.
Zee Kannada will target the general Kannada-speaking universe and the programming space will cover soaps, movies, gameshows, talk shows and current affairs programmes.
The channel will be headed by Venkat Giridhar in the capacity of business head. He will report to Zee Telefilms South initiatives head Ajaykumar.
According to sources, soaps and films will constitute 25 per cent of the channel programming. Gameshows and talk shows will make another 25 per cent. There will be a stress on current affairs programmes and film-based shows.
Zee Kannada has acquired a combo package of new and old films to create its movie library. Having strong film content would matter a lot for the channel’s strategy in the movie-crazy market. “Since the TG is the same, Zee Kannada will have a head-on collision with Sun Network’s Udaya TV and its sister channels. In this context, having strong film content will be crucial,” says a market source.
“We have conceptualised our fiction programmes with fresh themes and innovative concepts. The effort will be to give a new direction to this segment and thus get a foothold in the market,” says a Zee source.
Zee Kannada’s positioning is in direct contrast to that of its South sibling Zee Telugu. The one-year old Telugu channel targets the young upwardly mobile viewer segment.
“You can experiment a lot in Zee Telugu as the market is huge. You have various options to choose your TG in Telugu. Kannada is however a comparatively smaller market and we have to stick to the basic strategy,” adds the source.
The Rs 1.4 billion Kannada television ad market is dominated by Sun Network’s Udaya TV. Another key player in the market is ETV Kannada.
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Playboy reports first quarter profit
MUMBAI: Adult entertainment brand Playboy has reported net income for the first quarter ended 31 March, 2006, of $0.8 million.
This compares to a net loss in the prior year quarter of $13.1 million. First quarter 2006 operating income totalled $3.5 million.
Playboy posted an $800,000 profit on revenues of $82.1 million, two per cent down on this time last year.
Playboy chairman and CEO Christie Hefner said, “The continued strong performance of the Licensing Group and growth of the newer digital media businesses of international TV, online and mobile validate not only the appeal of the brand but of our multi-platform business model. However, these promising and fast-growing businesses cannot yet offset the negative trends in our larger domestic TV business.”
“Given the changing dynamics of the domestic TV business combined with the challenges in the publishing industry, it is clear that we need to realign our cost structure to perform satisfactorily in this new environment. We are confident that we can make the changes necessary to improve our performance and position ourselves not just for the second half but for 2007 and beyond,” Hefner added.
“We expect the weakness in publishing and domestic TV results to continue. These trends, together with the expense of reducing our cost structure, will likely result in a substantial second quarter loss, making it clear that we will not meet our initial earnings projection of $0.67 to $0.70 per share for the year. However, we expect a number of positive developments in the second half including VOD product launches, the opening of Playboy at the Palms and improved advertising sales,” Hefner said.
“With these initiatives and a realigned cost structure, we believe that we can deliver a 50 per cent improvement in second half 2006 earnings per share compared to the $0.24 EPS we reported in the second half of last year.”
The Entertainment Group reported first quarter 2006 segment income of $7.9 million compared to $11.9 million last year, primarily reflecting weaker performance in domestic TV. Increases in online, international and other business revenues were nearly offset by lower domestic TV revenues, resulting in a one per cent increase in the Group’s first quarter 2006 revenue to $51.2 million.
Lower cable pay-per-view revenues for both Playboy TV and the movie networks reflected the continued migration of programming from linear networks to VOD platforms where the company is not yet fully represented and its programming faces more competition. The company said that it also expects future domestic TV revenues to be unfavorably affected by the reduction of channel space on the DirecTV platform. In the international businesses, expansion of the company’s UK package of TV networks was primarily responsible for the revenue growth. Online benefited from the acquisition made last fall, which was responsible for the increase in first quarter subscription revenues.
For the first quarter, the Publishing Group reported a segment loss of $2.3 million in 2006, versus a loss of $0.4 million in the prior year. Lower advertising and news stand revenues for Playboy magazine were primarily responsible for the 13 per cent decline in first quarter 2006 revenues to $23.5 million from $27 million last year. The company said that it expects to report a 16 per cent decline in advertising revenues for the second quarter as compared to the year earlier period.
First quarter 2006 segment income for the Licensing Group rose 18 per cent to $4.3 million from $3.6 million in 2005 on a 25 per cent increase in revenues from $6.0 million to $7.4 million. Increased royalty income from European licensees was the primary contributor to the revenue and profit growth.
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MSN partners with Reveille and Be Jane for MSN Originals
MUMBAI: MSN has announced a new initiative called MSN Originals, as part of its expanding content investments to fuel continued growth of MSN.
MSN Originals is focused on partnering with the best and brightest creative minds in the media industry to bring the new generation of storytelling online.
As part of the MSN Originals initiative, MSN also announced an original content partnerships with Hollywood production studio and distribution company Reveille, that has produced hits including NBC’s The Office and The Biggest Loser, FX’s 30 Days, MTV’s Date My Mom, and with Be Jane Inc., a multimedia content producer and web community for women’s home improvement.
MSN Originals content will combine video, interactive community features and rich editorial to create unique experiences that will be deeply integrated throughout the MSN network.
“MSN is a leader in creating massive audiences online and in helping marketers effectively reach those audiences. By partnering with the media industry to add original, interactive, exclusive content to our portfolio, we will drive even deeper engagement with our audience and open up significant new opportunities for advertisers,” said Microsoft Corp general manager of MSN.com John Nicol.
Innovative partnerships to co-produce made-for-broadband content
Under the terms of the Reveille agreement, MSN has struck an exclusive multiproject deal with Reveille to create and produce original online programming. MSN is creating a production fund to be used by Reveille to produce pilots and original branded entertainment programming designed specifically for the Internet. Reveille will use its skills honed in producing for televised media to craft great ideas; recruit the best writing, producing and performing talent; and deliver programming in entirely new ways online. The content will go beyond what is possible in traditional television today by incorporating video, enlisting audience participation, and offering both linear and nonlinear formats.
Shows that are successful initially online can potentially be extended to other formats, including television and mobile.
“The digital future has arrived, and in collaboration with MSN we will be creating new forms of content without boundaries. We believe in a multiplatform world where the best elements of an idea can be tailored to the attributes of the specific media, enabling the audience to have more enriched experiences and for advertisers to contextualise themselves in a more profound way,” said Reveille CEO Ben Silverman.
MSN is also partnering with Be Jane to create an original online series of video and interactive editorial do-it-yourself home improvement content targeted at women. The series, featuring Heidi Baker and Eden Jarrin (aka The Janes), will empower viewers with do-it-yourself know-how, including projects, tips, tricks, trials, tribulations and real “Jane” stories from women across the country. More than just basic how-to, Be Jane brings fun, relatability and inspiration to empower people through topics such as “spicing up the bedroom” and “creating a backyard retreat.” The content will be deeply integrated into MSN Lifestyle, MSN Spaces and MSN Video.
“Up until recently, there have been few resources for women to turn to for home improvement. We’ve learned that by providing relatable information, creative inspiration and a community of ‘Janes,’ we can empower them to take on tasks in their home they never thought possible. That’s why Be Jane on MSN is a great pairing. By expanding our reach, we can instruct and connect with more viewers, giving women a home for home improvement,” said Be Jane CEO Eden Jarrin.
Expanded opportunities for marketers, advertisers
By partnering with the media industry to produce original content, MSN is creating rich new opportunities for advertisers to integrate into and around the content itself. In addition to traditional display and streaming video advertising opportunities, advertisers can take advantage of in-content product integration, as well as be deeply involved in the early stages of content creation and production. Reveille was one of the first production companies to fully fund a reality TV series, NBC’s The Restaurant, by integrating advertisers into the TV content.
“We’re excited to team up with the media industry to drive new innovation in online advertising and branded content integration. Together we will push the boundaries of what interactive means for consumers and marketers by bringing together the best of Hollywood, Madison Avenue and Redmond,” said Microsoft senior director of the MSN Branded Entertainment and Experiences Team Gayle Troberman.
The service can be integrated into the Windows XP Media Center PCs and will be available to users free of cost. It has the capacity to automatically download and update every time the user is connected to the internet.
EPG caters to the diverse needs of the viewer by allowing him to locate his favourite shows by simply punching in key words like the name of the program, movie, actors, time, day and date. Besides this, the guide also provides viewers with relevant information like a short description of the program including the start time, plot, duration, censorship classification and genre. In order to make the guide easier to scan, it is possible to hide channels that are not included in their TV service package or the ones that they do not watch regularly.