ITV

Category: Technology

  • Exset makes two key appointments

    Exset makes two key appointments

    MUMBAI: Broadcast technology and solutions company Exset has announced two key international appointments.

    Hema Suri joins the company as director of business development for Strategic Markets, concentrating on Africa and the CIS countries. Meanwhile, Rahul Agarwal has joined Exset as a product manager for set-top boxes (STB) and is focusing on Asian and African markets.

    The appointments reflect continued expansion of the company in 2013, particularly for its Digital Monetisation System (DMS) and its vital ability to counteract the digital divide in emerging markets and empower populations via the TV screen.

    Exset CEO Alex Borland said, “We are pleased to welcome both of these key talents to Exset as the company continues to expand its business in emerging markets. Their experience is invaluable, helping Exset’s customers to take advantage of digitization and to be able to monetize pay-TV networks where previously impossible”.

    Suri’s most recent role has been with BBC Worldwide Channels as regional manager for North India, including Pakistan and Nepal. Prior to that, Suri worked with Logic Eastern, a set-top box, middleware and head-end provider.

    Agarwal brings with him experience of working with broadcast companies including BSkyB and Channel 4 in the UK.

    Digital Monetisation System (DMS) is a solution that bridges the gap between technology and value-added services. It allows digital television platforms to be created that can then be monetised where previously impossible. The result allows populations to benefit from new information and entertainment services, while partnering with governments to achieve digital switchover and bringing social transformation.

  • Netherlands’ Exset to tap cable ops in India

    Netherlands’ Exset to tap cable ops in India

    MUMBAI: Netherland-based Exset has entered into a strategic technology and business partnership with Delhi-based Surbhi Broadband to provide solutions aimed at small and medium-sized cable TV operators in India.

    As per the agreement, Surbhi will promote market and manage Exset CAS/Middleware/Application/Advertising Modules and VAS alliances.

    Both the entities shall assist the Indian cable operators to adopt the flagship product of DMS from Exset‘s stable in their digital migration and monetisation efforts.

    The strategic partnership will enable the Indian cable operators to have access to Surbhi‘s expertise in hardware and software system integration.

    "The two companies will bring new partnership models to the doorsteps of Cable Operators ranging from outright purchase, rental and revenue-share models to assist the Small and Medium sized cable operators in their digital transition," said Exset Global Head, Sales & Marketing Rahul Nehra.

    With the combined offer from Surbhi and Exset, cable operators shall get access to reliable, market-leading digital migration solutions for digital cable TV platforms and services all under one roof. This shall enable the cable operator to deploy digital TV more efficiently and be more cost-effective.

    "Exset‘s technologies including the award winning DMS are of immense benefit to the small and medium sized cable customers. We trust that our collaboration with Exset and the availability of cost-effective solutions and various business models will help promote the growth of the Indian digital cable TV market," said Surbhi Broadband VP – Sales Piyush Mishra.

    NI VP production, development, factual programming Elizabeth McIntyre said, “ ‘Inside The Gangsters‘ Code‘ offers exclusive insight into empires that operate both within and beneath the apparent culture. The knowledge and passion, risks and challenges undertaken by Lou give a completely new perception to organized crime. We have seen in the past scripted dramas about mob life, but by exploring the operation beyond mere stereotypes, the audience gains a real and vivid understanding that spans globally.”

    Nerd TV executive producer Jago Lee said, “In this series, Lou is able to combine his long experience as a New York mobster with a wit, intelligence, and appetite for truth-seeking that is all his own. Lou is a remarkable new talent, and his unique approach compellingly reinvents the story of gangs and gangster life on television.”

  • SeaChange puts multi-screen video experiences center stage at CES

    SeaChange puts multi-screen video experiences center stage at CES

    MUMBAI: SeaChange International, a global multi-screen video software company, has debuted its latest subscriber experiences across iPads, smartphones, PCs and other devices at this week’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

    The new look and feel of the feature-rich Nitro subscriber experience software will provide the consumer front-end for the multi-screen pipeline also enabled by SeaChange’s integrated Adrenalin video platform, Infusion ad platform and Nucleus soft box gateway.

    CES visitors to SeaChange booth can search for movies and TV programmes, sharing and commenting via social media, pausing streams on one device and resuming them on another, among other capabilities. SeaChange will also show how it extensively promotes content and places targeted ads throughout multi-device experiences.

    SeaChange VP of strategic marketing Alan Hoff commented, “We’re excited to show that our integrated software products can enable video service providers to run full featured and fully monetised multi-screen services. Our customers will see that Adrenalin, Infusion, Nitro and Nucleus, working in concert, deliver captivating experiences at home or on the go with the means to creatively market their offerings and grow their advertising business on every consumer video platform.”

    SeaChange Adrenalin is the multi-screen video platform that enables video service providers to manage, monetise and deliver a seamless experience to subscribers across devices. Based on an open service-oriented architecture, this platform incorporates applications focused on business management, content management, monitoring, and client publishers.

    SeaChange Nitro – the multi-screen user experience application that enables video service providers to provide a seamless presentation of linear and on-demand content across mobile, PC, tablet and TV screens. Nitro leverages HTML5 to give subscribers intuitive features and functionality to navigate and manage video content on any screen they choose, including catch-up TV, search, recommendations, bookmarking, TV listings and social media.

    SeaChange’s Nucleus soft box gateway supports the industry’s RDK (Reference Development Kit) software environment and vendor ecosystem, and enables video service providers’ migration from QAM to IP video so they can offer consumers multi-screen media sharing, whole-home DVR, access to online apps and OTT content, smartphone and tablet apps that act as the TV remote control, and much more.

    SeaChange Infusion is the advanced advertising platform that represents the transformation of SeaChange’s television ad technology into an enhanced monetisation platform that unites television and internet ad operations. Infusion enables targeted, multi-screen ad insertion capabilities for pre-, mid- and post-rolls, overlays, banner ads, click-throughs, and companion ads.

  • Netflix announces show ‘Hemlock Grove’

    Netflix announces show ‘Hemlock Grove’

    MUMBAI: OTT subscription service Netflix has announced that its original series ‘Hemlock Grove‘, a mystery from executive producer Eli Roth and based on Brian McGreevy‘s novel of the same name, will be available for members to watch instantly and in its entirety beginning 19 April.

    All 13-episodes of the series, which stars Famke Janssen, Bill Skarsgard, Landon Liboiron, Penelope Mitchell, Freya Tingley and Dougray Scott, will debut concurrently in all territories that Netflix is available – US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Brazil and Scandinavia.

    Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said," ‘Hemlock Grove‘ is unlike anything else in its genre. It‘s sexy, gripping, emotional and twisted, and we‘re certain viewers are going to be captivated by its intensity."

    The series revolves around the eccentric residents of a dilapidated former Pennsylvania steel town and the murder of 17-year-old Brooke Bluebell. Through the investigation, the town‘s seamier side is exposed, revealing that nothing is what it seems.

  • Samsung invites people to discover the world of possibilities at CES 2013

    Samsung invites people to discover the world of possibilities at CES 2013

    MUMBAI: Samsung Electronics has unveiled new products and services that define its vision for the consumer electronics industry.

    Presenting at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas, Samsung revealed its goal of creating new experiences for all, through its deep understanding of consumers‘ lives and its relentless pursuit of discovery.

    Samsung‘s Consumer Electronics Division president BK Yoon said, "From motion and voice control in TVs, to 10-point multi-touch screens on tablets and smartphones, we have created new, more human ways for people and devices to interact. This year, our goal is to help people discover a world of possibilities. We aim to delight them, bringing not just what they expect, but what they‘d never dreamed was possible."

    Delivering on this promise, Samsung unveiled a new paradigm in television, smart appliances, connected cameras and mobile devices. Sharing innovations from different areas of its business, Samsung has reinvigorated the consumer electronics market with seamless navigation, intuitive control and personalized user experiences.

    Understanding that consumers want TVs that can stay current with the latest features, Samsung also announced its 2013 Evolution Kit, an innovative way of having the latest Smart TV offerings without having to buy a whole new set.

    Creating the Ultimate Lean Back Experience: Samsung adds that it opened a new world of possibilities in home entertainment this year, introducing a full line up of larger screen TVs, including its first 85-inch Ultra High Definition TV (UHD TV) and its flagship Smart TV, the F8000 LED TV. Building on its already extensive content offering and Smart TV platform leadership, Samsung also introduced the most personalized TV viewing experience ever created: S-Recommendation with Voice Interaction technologies.

    For the first time at CES, Samsung unveiled its new UHD TV with a large screen size. Blending technology and craftsmanship to create a ‘Timeless Gallery Design,‘ Samsung‘s UHD TV offers four times the pixels available on existing 1080p resolution, to deliver greater detail, unmatched clarity and an immersive, vivid picture quality. It also provides an audio experience to match its screen excellence; 120-watt array speakers are seamlessly built into the frame of the television.

    Offering a whole new world of viewing experience, using content available today, the UHD TV features an up-scaling algorithm that is capable of up-converting HD and Full HD content to UHD resolution.

    Samsung also introduced its new flagship F8000 LED TV, the first Samsung television to feature a quad-core processor. Available in sizes up to 75-inches, the F8000 features an ultra-thin profile, a quarter-inch thick bezel and a half-moon shaped Arc stand.

    Samsung is the first TV brand to offer support for the new high compression video codec, HEVC, which delivers double the video quality over the same bandwidth.

    Introducing the next Evolution in Televisions: Each of Samsung‘s newest televisions provides a whole new world of possibilities in search, navigation and control. Samsung‘s S-Recommendation with Voice Interaction technology is a personal guide to discovering new and preferred content on Samsung Smart TVs.

    Analysing a user‘s viewing history and the popularity and release dates of TV programs, S-Recommendation will create a personalized menu of on-air, on-demand and app content for each viewer.

    Samsung‘s improved Voice Interaction technology will change what people think is possible from a television; it is now capable of understanding full sentences and natural language. Coupled with S-Recommendation, viewers can ask the Smart TV for movie and TV show suggestions or request films that feature specific actors or actresses. Searches aggregate relevant results from all available on-air, on-demand or app services.

    This advanced user experience has been expanded to smartphones and tablets, thanks to Samsung‘s leadership in connectivity. Viewers can search and schedule content on a tablet, view content remotely or mirror the Smart TV on a tablet to take the content with them around the home.

    Samsung‘s new Smart Hub organises a viewer‘s content into clear, intuitive menu pages. Drawing on Samsung‘s mobile leadership, the navigation experience is reminiscent of that found on its smartphones. The five pages include: On TV; Movies & TV Shows; Photos, Videos & Music; Social; Apps.

    Additionally, Samsung delivered on its 2012 CES promise of bringing the next evolution of TVs with the introduction of its 2013 Evolution Kit. By simply adding the Evolution Kit to a Samsung Smart TV, users can have access to the latest Samsung Smart TV offerings. Owners of compatible TVs will be able to benefit from S-Recommendation with Voice Interaction, the new Smart Hub, as well as the quad core support of the 2013 range.

  • Consumer electronics revenues to be $209 bn in 2013: CEA

    Consumer electronics revenues to be $209 bn in 2013: CEA

    MUMBAI: Revenues for the consumer electronics (CE) industry are projected to grow nearly three per cent, reaching a new record-high of $209.6 billion, according to the semi-annual industry forecast released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the US.

    The forecast also shows 2012 industry revenues reached $204 billion, up five per cent from the previous year. CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro announced the forecast.

    He said, "Innovation fuels our economy and allows us to further economic growth and create jobs. There is no better place to see innovation than at the International CES, and the products on display this week will propel the CE industry to record levels in 2013."

    Mobile connected devices continue to drive industry growth:

    • Tablet computing will continue double-digit growth in 2013. Unit sales of tablets are projected to reach 116 million this year, up 45 per cent from 2012, when 80 million tablets were sold to dealers. Industry revenues for tablets are expected to surpass $37 billion this year, up from $31 billion in 2012.
    • Smartphones continue to be the primary revenue driver for the industry with growth projected to continue in 2013. Unit sales of smartphones are projected to reach 130 million this year, up from 111 million in 2012. Smartphone shipment revenues are expected to surpass $37 billion in 2013, up from $33 billion in 2012
    • Laptop/notebook computer sales will continue to rise as 26 million units are projected to be sold in 2013 accounting for $17 billion in revenue.

    CEA director of industry analysis Steve Koenig said,"CEA‘s forecast once again confirms that CE products play an increasingly indispensible role in consumers‘ lives. Consumer adoption of smartphones and tablets continues to expand briskly, as mobile connected devices take center stage in today‘s connected, digital lifestyle."

    There are a number of bright spots within the television category that are helping drive overall industry growth, despite total unit sales of displays falling slightly in 2013. Both unit sales and revenues for LCD displays are projected to increase this year. A record-high 30.4 million LCD TVs are expected to ship to dealers in 2013, resulting in more than $15 billion in revenue. Innovations within the display category continue to grow. Sales of TV sets with 3D functionality are projected to increase 39 percent to more than 5.7 million units in 2013. Internet-connected displays will also see strong growth this year, with unit sales reaching 12.3 million, up from 9.2 million in 2012.

    Elsewhere in the industry, a number of other categories are expected to see growth in 2013, including:

    • Audio: Soundbar shipments are projected to increase 22 percent to 2.2 million units.
    • Auto-sound: Aftermarket head units supporting Internet radio are projected to see sales nearly double, surpassing 2 million units.
    • Digital Imaging: Shipments of compact system cameras with interchangeable lenses are projected to grow 22 percent to 1.1 million units.
    • Set-Top Boxes: Network-enabled digital media set top box shipments are expected to hit 7.4 million units, a gain of 13 percent over 2012.
  • Times Internet in strategic tie-up with Gawker Media

    Times Internet in strategic tie-up with Gawker Media

    MUMBAI: Times Internet (TIL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Gawker Media which will allow it to manage and drive local Indian destinations for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com, Gawker Media‘s leading technology sites.

    As part of the collaboration, Times Internet will have exclusive rights to the brand, monetization, content, syndication and sub-licensing of Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com within India. TIL intends to use The Times Group‘s multimedia resources to help develop the brand locally.

    Gawker, a site focused on gadgets and tech culture, is America‘s largest independently owned and operated online media company that has eight websites with over 40 million UV‘s worldwide.

    Lifehacker.com is an 8-year-old popular weblog with thousands of posts related to technology, personal productivity, software, tips, and technology lifestyle. The two sites already have a wide user base and are getting good traction in the country.

    Discussing the partnership with Gawker, TIL CEO Satyan Gajwani said, "Gizmodo and Lifehacker have been two of my favorite sites for a long time, so it‘s exciting to be their partner in India. They have fantastic, relevant content for a younger generation that‘s increasingly interested in technology. We are partnering with one of the world‘s strongest digital media companies, and we can‘t wait to increase their prominence in India."

    Gawker Media COO Gaby Darbyshire said, "With an international presence in eight countries outside the USA, India has long been a natural next step for our global expansion, and TIL is a natural fit for Gizmodo and Lifehacker. We are very excited to be partnering with them to bring our technology content to India and look forward to seeing the brands develop for this new audience."

  • Eutelsat launches Ultra HD channel for Europe

    Eutelsat launches Ultra HD channel for Europe

    MUMBAI: Eutelsat Communications has launched a dedicated Ultra HD channel for Europe on the Eutelsat 10A satellite.

    Delivering a resolution of eight million pixels, four times the resolution of HDTV, Ultra HD is poised to mark the next big leap forward in the immersive viewing experience.

    Eutelsat‘s new channel is designed to benefit all actors in the broadcasting chain who want to acquire expertise in 4K, including production companies, pay-TV operators, rights owners and TV set manufacturers.

    The new channel will operate in progressive mode at 50 frames per second. It will be encoded in MPEG-4 and transmitted at 40 Mbit/s in four Quad HD streams. Eutelsat is partnering with Ateme, a video compression solution provider to the broadcast industry, for the transmissions that will be uplinked to the Eutelsat 10A satellite from its teleport in Rambouillet, near Paris.

    "This new step towards 4K continues Eutelsat‘s longstanding commitment to achieving new broadcast milestones that over the last 20 years have included digital TV, HDTV and 3D," said Eutelsat‘s Commercial Director Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet.

    "Early and close collaboration between all players in the broadcast chain will be a key success factor for this new revolution. We are delighted to propose this first Ultra HD platform for Europe.

  • BBC to broadcast from HD studio beginning 14 Jan

    BBC to broadcast from HD studio beginning 14 Jan

    MUMBAI: Fresh from announcing new distribution deals in the US and Burma, the BBC‘s international television news channel, BBC World News, is unveiling a new look next week when it re-launches from new studios in central London.

    From 12 GMT on 14 January the channel will broadcast from new state of the art High Definition studios in the BBC‘s new London headquarters, the redeveloped Broadcasting House.

    The channel will also feature a refreshed line-up of programmes and presenters, and will be investing heavily in additional news gathering capacity around the world.

    BBC World News journalists will be at the heart of ‘the world‘s newsroom‘ where the BBC‘s UK and international journalism teams have come together to provide output across digital, radio and television and 27 different languages, reaching an audience of 239 million people around the world each week.

    Eventually, 6,000 people – more than a quarter of all BBC staff – will be based in Broadcasting House, one of the world‘s largest broadcast complexes, BBC said in a statement.

    The channel will also debut new on air talent including Yalda Hakim, one of Australia‘s brightest international journalists, who has joined the channel as a current affairs correspondent and presenter for a new weekly current affairs programme.

    BBC World News has also announced that long time BBC News presenter and reporter Jon Sopel is joining the channel to present Global with Jon Sopel, a new weekday international news programme.

    BBC Global News Controller of English Richard Porter said, "BBC World News is kicking off the new year with an entirely new look and feel. From virtual reality capability to full HD production, new presenters and a programming line-up that goes from strength to strength, BBC World News audiences will have access to not only the best, most dynamic journalism in the world, but also the latest technology to enhance storytelling and bring viewers inside the stories that shape our world."

    BBC Global News COO Jim Egan said, "This re-launch marks the biggest change for BBC World News in at least a decade and is part of a sustained commitment by the BBC to build on our long history of delivering high quality international news by enhancing our TV and digital offers to viewers, advertisers and distribution partners. We aspire to be recognized as the world‘s best international news provider and will be making a series of investments this year to support that ambition.

  • Broadcom launches products, innovations at 2013 CES

    Broadcom launches products, innovations at 2013 CES

    MUMBAI: At the on-going 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Broadcom, which offers semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, unveiled a range of products in digital and web television, home gateway technology, 5G WiFi ecosystem expansion, automotive Ethernet momentum, new offerings for emerging markets and customer design wins showcasing its leadership in driving connected consumer experiences in the home, hand and across the network.

    Broadcom president, CEO Scott McGregor SAID, "Broadcom‘s extensive product portfolio, relentless focus on innovation and relationships with industry leaders highlights how the company is leading the most exciting connectivity trends in motion today.

    The breakthroughs we show at CES will connect people to everything and everyone in 2013 and beyond."

    At CES, Broadcom is showcasing how people and devices are connecting anytime, anywhere and in ways that are smarter and simpler. The company is having demos of its advances in Bluetooth, voice activation, near field communications (NFC), 5G WiFi/802.11ac connectivity, ubiquitous location technology, automotive connectivity and content sharing. In addition, Broadcom will highlight how its support for key industry standards such as Miracast, MoCA, HomePlug and DLNA improve consumer experience on a range of devices. All these offerings, technologies and demos highlight how Broadcom innovations are shaping a new connected lifestyle.

    One of its new products is an Ultra High Definition Television (UltraHD TV) video decoder solution.

    The company says that this is the first step to delivering UltraHD TV into the home with the performance and picture quality needed for the evolution in multi-screen connected home entertainment. Broadcom‘s 28 nanometer (nm) ARM-based BCM7445 UltraHD video decoder solution, serving as the primary gateway to the home, delivers more transcoding, CPU processing performance and home networking throughput to support a greater range of applications such as video-on-demand (VoD), gaming, social media and web store applications.

    UltraHD TV technology, formerly known as 4K, marks an innovation in HD resolution. UltraHD TV screens display four times the resolution of today‘s 1080p60 displays. The delivery of UltraHD TV requires a more efficient compression codec made possible by the use of the new High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard. HEVC speeds Internet video downloads giving operators and users the ability to download content such as movies in half the time and with higher quality video at 50 per cent of the bit rate previously required.

    The company also launched a 5G WiFi Connected IPTV Set-top Box (STB) platform. Supporting the latest IEEE 802.11.ac standard, Broadcom‘s 5G WiFi technology is now available paired with its IP STB system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology, enabling operators to wirelessly deliver high-quality HD content and services to more locations and with more reliability throughout the home.

    By combining the Broadcom® BCM7241 IPTV STB SoC with the BCM43526 5G WiFi solution, Broadcom enables carriers to provide reliable whole-home, carrier-grade coverage for multi-room DVR, browsing, gaming, over-the-top (OTT) and other services.

    The company also announced the successful integration of Google Mobile Services with Android ICS on the Samsung Electronics SMT-E5015 Smart TV set-top box (STB), based on the Broadcom BCM7356 satellite STB system-on-a-chip (SoC).

    To enhance the functionality of standard Android devices, Samsung Electronics‘ Smart TV STB met the additional stringent Compatibility and GMS Test Suites (CTS/GTS) for support of Google Mobile Service (GMS) on KT‘s Olleh TV Skylife (OTS) service. Now, KT can offer subscribers new Android-based applications including Google Services (Play Store, Play Video, Play Music and Search).