Category: Technology

  • WATMedia announces WATSummit 2013 – A New Era of Digital Marketing

    WATMedia announces WATSummit 2013 – A New Era of Digital Marketing

    MUMBAI: WATMedia has announced its annual event, WATSummit, that brings together eminent personalities to confer the evolving facets of social and digital industry.

    In its third edition, the theme of WATSummit 2013 is ‘A New Era of Digital Marketing‘.

    The annual summit that is scheduled to take place on 15 February in Mumbai will also host WAT Awards 2013, wherein, thought leaders of Web, Advertising and Technology will be awarded.

    A panel of experts will be seen highlighting the prominence of social media with ‘Social Media Marketing – Making sense of jibber-jabber by brands‘. The evolution of ‘Digital Media Marketing – Can it build a brand on its own?‘ will be discussed by a panel comprising digital agencies and brands.

    The summit will also bring to light the E-commerce industry and the upspring of mobile marketing with discussion on topics like ‘Ecommerce Market build brand V/S build business‘, ‘Mobile Marketing – Promises of reach V/S Actual Impact‘.

    The final panel will be seen conferring the do‘s and don‘ts and the challenges of ‘Startup Marketing – Breaking the cluster and creating a Brand‘.

    WATMedia founder and CEO, Rajiv Dingra said, "This year, at WATSummit 2013, we aim to emphasise on the new era of digital marketing. The medium has grown exceptionally over the past few years and brands and consumers across the world consider the digital medium a dominant tool. I am delighted with the participation of renowned speakers who will share their profound knowledge. With WATSummit 2013, our endeavor is to embark on a digitally successful journey."

    The keynote speakers for the event include people like Suresh Reddy (Ybrant Digital chairman and CEO), and Neville Taraporewalla (Microsoft Corporation – country director, advertising and online).

  • InMobi acquires UK‘s Overlay Media

    InMobi acquires UK‘s Overlay Media

    MUMBAI: Bangalore-based mobile ad network InMobi has announced the acquisition of UK-based Overlay Media, a context aware computing company.

    Overlay Media, which comprises a team of data scientists, have built the Context Engine technology to deliver personalised content to mobile users.

    InMobi founder and CEO Naveen Tewari said, "We are excited to add amazing talent to InMobi. This acquisition, along with Metaflow Solutions and MMTG Labs, will help us to continue to be at the forefront of delivering highly engaging content to consumers globally."

    "At Overlay Media, our goal has been to develop technology that enables mobile devices to provide a highly personal and immersive user experience. We are excited to join InMobi to further their position as a market leader in mobile advertising", Overlay Media CEO Dr. Ian Anderson added.

    The Overlay Media team will be based from InMobi London EMEA HQ.

  • Rise of IPTV cuts dominance of cable and satellite in Canada’s pay-TV market

    Rise of IPTV cuts dominance of cable and satellite in Canada’s pay-TV market

    MUMBAI: Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in Canada is rapidly gaining momentum at the expense of incumbent cable and satellite services, with IPTV‘s share of pay-TV subscriptions in the country rising to nearly 10 per cent in the third quarter of 2012.

    IPTV accounted for 9.6 per cent of Canadian pay-TV video subscriptions in the third quarter, according to IHS Screen Digest Television Intelligence, from information and analytics provider IHS. This is up from 6.6 percent during the third quarter of 2011, and from 1.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2007.

    Such an expansion will set the pace for IPTV‘s portion of Canada‘s subscriber base to rise to 18.1 per cent by the end of 2017, in the process causing the combined share of competitive technologies-cable and satellite-to fall to 81.9 percent.

    IHS analyst for television research Erik Brannon said, "Canadian telcos are adding IPTV subscribers at a rapid clip as Telus and Bell Canada engage in large-scale build-outs of their infrastructure in order to reach more potential customers. IPTV will continue to make strong gains in Canada in the coming years, eroding the dominant position now held by the cable and satellite services."

    Cable and Satellite Suffer: Just as in the US, IPTV‘s growth in Canada has come at the expense of cable and, to a lesser extent, satellite.

    Both cable and satellite continued to lose subscribers in the third quarter of 2012, each experiencing a 2 per cent year-over-year decline in subscriber growth compared to the third quarter of 2011.

    The response from Canadian cable operators has been muted so far, but there are signs they are not staying idle as subscribers go elsewhere.

    For example, Shaw Cable is betting on its massive Wi-Fi hot spot rollout to reduce churn for its broadband service, and ultimately its video subscribers. Broadband service at Shaw is becoming a valuable component to its bundled services and will play a pivotal role in retaining pay-TV subs.

    IPTV becomes must-see TV: Bell Canada in the third quarter reported explosive growth for its IPTV service, Fibe TV. Fibe TV added 42,973 net new customers to pass 200,000 for the first time, with net additions in the same quarter of 2011 amounting to 20,297.

    The company now accounts for 18 per cent of IPTV subscribers in Canada, leaving Aliant, SaskTel and Manitoba Telecom (MTS) each with less than 10 per cent of the market.

    Telus remains Canada‘s IPTV giant, holding 56 per cent of the total Canadian IPTV market, with its service capturing 43 per cent of the third quarter‘s IPTV growth. SaskTel, the first IPTV operator to enter the market in 2002, together with MTS held nearly an equal share of IPTV subscribers until Telus leapt ahead in 2010.

    If the rapid uptake of IPTV services from Bell Canada and Telus is any indication, there will be significant pressure upon incumbent pay-TV operators when they enter new markets.

    Facing Down OTT: As a whole, Canada‘s pay-TV industry has been able to fend off the threat from OTT services in large part due to strict data caps and limited OTT options. However, the situation could change if data caps start to loosen up and broadband subscribers continue to increase.

    Netflix, for instance, now has more than 1 million subscribers in Canada, even though its content offerings are still relatively limited compared to the US.

  • LinkedIn appoints Nishant K Rao as country manager

    LinkedIn appoints Nishant K Rao as country manager

    MUMBAI: LinkedIn has appointed Nishant K Rao as the new Country Manager for India.

    Rao‘s appointment at LinkedIn India comes following the promotion of former country manager Hari V Krishnan into a larger role as managing director of Asia Pacific and Japan.

    In his new role, Rao will focus on scaling up operations and staying committed to LinkedIn‘s value proposition of connecting India‘s professionals to make them more successful and productive and helping enterprises hire, market and sell effectively, the company said.

    Rao said, "With a member base of 18 million professionals, India is one of our fastest growing markets and the largest outside of the US. Indian marketers and recruiters are fast realising the potential of LinkedIn‘s affluent member base and are leveraging the platform for targeted and thought leadership oriented campaigns. I am excited about the opportunity to work with the LinkedIn India team to serve our customers and members in India."

    Prior to being appointed as LinkedIn India‘s Country Manager, Rao was director, business operations – head of global sales strategy at LinkedIn‘s headquarters in Mountain View.

    He has been with LinkedIn since September 2011.

    Rao has over 10 years of industry experience with a healthy mix of sales, strategy management and entrepreneurship. He has held leadership positions with companies such as McKinsey and ARIBA Inc and was also one of the founding members of Epicentre Technologies, one amongst India‘s first call centers.

  • Eros releases Khiladi 786 on digital platform Eros Now

    Eros releases Khiladi 786 on digital platform Eros Now

    MUMBAI: Ensuring that 2013 gets off to a great start, Eros International has surprised all its fans by announcing the release of Khiladi 786 on its digital platform.

    Eros Now is currently running a 7-day free trial of the film. The website is regularly updated with latest films including English Vinglish, Cocktail, Chakravyuh, Son of Sardaar and Dabangg among many others.

    Khiladi 786, the 8th installment of the Khiladi series is directed by Ashish R Mohan and stars Asin opposite Akshay. The film is a perfect amalgamation of humor, action and drama.

    The action comedy hit the silver screen on 7 December with critics and audiences giving the movie a thumbs up.

  • Netflix, Warner Bros sign deal

    Netflix, Warner Bros sign deal

    MUMBAI: OTT subscription service Netflix and Warner Bros Television Group have announced a licensing agreement allowing US Netflix members to enjoy complete previous seasons of serialised dramas produced by Warner Bros for top broadcast and cable networks.

    Among the shows coming to Netflix next year will be ‘Revolution‘, a drama for NBC from J J Abrams‘ Bad Robot Productions set in a post-apocalyptic America which ranks as the #1 new series of the 2012-13 television season; ‘Political Animals‘, the USA Network miniseries with Sigourney Weaver in a Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated role as a former First Lady serving as Secretary of State; ‘Longmire‘, A&E‘s Western mystery series based on the novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson; and ‘666 Park Avenue‘, the ABC supernatural thriller starring Terry O‘Quinn and Vanessa Williams.

    Also coming to Netflix will be the drama ‘The Following‘, starring Kevin Bacon as a former FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer played by James Purefoy and which premieres January 21 on Fox as well as hit serialised Warner Bros. Television series ‘Chuck‘, ‘Fringe‘ and ‘The West Wing‘.

    Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said, "This unprecedented agreement brings to Netflix members earlier and more exclusively than ever before complete previous seasons of some of the most prominent and successful shows on network and cable television. Through deals like this, Netflix is making the production economics right for the continued creation of the kind of compelling serialized dramas and thrillers that our members love."

    Warner Bros. Television Group president Bruce Rosenblum said, "SVOD has become an important window for our serialised dramas, allowing viewers a chance to discover a series that before might have been intimidating to tune into mid-run. We continue to adapt our business models to include SVOD when it makes sense for the long-term value of each show and are thrilled to have Netflix as one of our distribution partners."

    The agreement covers a current slate of eight Warner Bros. shows as well as potential future shows. Under the agreement, the shows can also be made available via traditional syndication windows, electronic sell-through services and on a catch-up basis for recently aired episodes.

  • Dish CEO takes a dig at broadcasters, introduces upgraded DVR service

    Dish CEO takes a dig at broadcasters, introduces upgraded DVR service

    MUMBAI: Despite criticism from broadcasters, satellite television service provider Dish Network has gone ahead and upgraded its ad skipping Hopper DVR system.

    Unveiling the upgraded Hopper DVR System at the Consumer Electronics Show, Dish CEO Joe Clayton claimed that the new system includes a built-in Slingbox that will allow consumers to view content on mobile devices without any extra cost.

    The upgraded version of Hopper includes features such as Sling to compliment AutoHop. Dish subscribers can stream live and recorded shows across other platforms, both in and outside the home.

    Justifying the satcaster‘s ad-skipping DVR system which has come under fire from broadcasters, he said skipping television commercials doesn‘t amount to breaking a law as the broadcasters would like people to believe.

    "Broadcasters would have you all believe that American consumers are breaking the law," Clayton told reporters at a press meet.

    Further taking a jibe at broadcasters, he added, "If bypassing commercials is illegal, I guess we‘re all a nation of outlaws according to the major broadcast networks."

    Broadcasters had last year sued Dish for the AutoHop feature of its DVR. The suit is still pending. Notwithstanding the pressure from broadcasters, Clayton encouraged other service providers to follow Dish‘s lead of introducing ad-free service.

    He also pointed out that it was important for service providers to keep the programming costs under check as the consumers are still not ready to spend more for accessing video content.

    "While unsettling to our customers and employees, this is sometimes necessary to slow the spiraling programming costs," he said. "We, as an industry, are rapidly approaching a tipping point: how many consumers are going to spend $100 per month for video content? I don‘t know, but we‘ll soon see."

  • Accedo launches TV Everywhere service

    Accedo launches TV Everywhere service

    MUMBAI: Accedo, a leading TV application solutions provider, has launched its TV Everywhere (TVE) Solution to enable the next generation of pay TV.

    Accedo‘s TVE Solution enables pay TV operators and media companies to launch new multi screen services across a range of connected devices more quickly than ever before.

    It provides an integrated solution, which connects content distribution and management platforms with Pay TV applications on any connected device.

    "Over the past years, we have deployed numerous multi-screen applications with tier 1 operators and media companies. Customers and partners have repeatedly asked us for an attractive application-centric TVE Solution with off-the-shelf high performance products. We are excited to launch this solution at CES 2013," commented Accedo CEO Michael Lantz.

    "We believe that this will complement current products on the market and will provide the most attractive combination of time to market and solution flexibility, while at the same time fulfilling customer requirements on functionality and performance."

    Accedo will be demonstrating its TV Everywhere Solution at CES at its suite in the Venetian in Las Vegas from 8-11 January.

  • New devices, tech demos highlight mobile TV TechZone at 2013 CES

    New devices, tech demos highlight mobile TV TechZone at 2013 CES

    MUMBAI: The latest developments in live mobile broadcasting, which brings TV shows to mobile devices, are being highlighted in the Mobile TV TechZone of the International CES in Las Vegas this week. Consumer demand for live, on-the-go TV content is driving new products and services coming from broadcasters and device manufacturers, many of which will be on display at CES.

    With more than 130 local broadcasters now on-air, Mobile TV is both a growing service in more than three dozen broadcast markets nationwide and a platform to demonstrate future capabilities in mobile emergency alerts and 3D broadcasting. The chief advantage of Mobile TV is its use of over-the-air broadcast signals, which are ideal for delivering video. Wireless cell phone networks, on the other hand, are susceptible to congestion, and users subject to costly data charges, particularly when accessing video content.

    The 2013 Mobile TV TechZone at CES will include new products and demonstrations from Mobile Content Venture (MCV), the Mobile Emergency Alert System, the Mobile500 Alliance, and the ETRI research centerfrom Korea:

    • Building on its earlier introduction of the Samsung Lightray smartphone and Elgato Apple iOS adapter compatible with Dyle mobile TV, the Mobile Content Venture will be showing the first tablet integrated with Dyle mobile TV technology: the RCA 8” Mobile TV Android tablet. Dyle mobile TV will also announce that Rentrak has been selected to provide the first-ever, mobile-broadcast TV measurement for local markets. Lastly, ESCORT Inc., will also announce plans to expand its Dyle™ mobile TV service to Android tablets and smartphones in 2013.
    • Mobile TV is an ideal method to keep viewers informed during emergencies, and the Mobile Emergency Alert System will demonstrate how consumers can avoid cell phone congestion by tuning to Mobile Digital TV broadcasts for video, audio, photos, maps, and other vital information.
    • The Mobile500 Alliance plans to showcase its MyDTV application for the iPad and iPhone demonstrating enhanced functionality at CES in 2013. The MyDTV application, which the Mobile500 Alliance first introduced at CES in 2012, will continue to offer live television recording, fully integrated social media, audience measurement and interactive advertising. The Mobile500 Alliance is made up of over 400 television stations from around the nation, all with the common goal of bringing broadcast television to consumers on their mobile devices.
    • Mobile TV could also serve as a method for broadcasters to distribute 3D TV signals, with both stereoscopic signals sent through a single radiofrequency channel — with one “eye” using the standard ATSC stream and the second “eye” transmitted using the Mobile TV stream. Korean research institute ETRI, LG Electronics, and DTVInteractive will demonstrate terrestrial broadcasts of 3D TV in the Mobile TV TechZone
  • BBC Sport launches mobile app in the UK

    BBC Sport launches mobile app in the UK

    MUMBAI: BBC Sport has launched a mobile application for iPhone and iPod touch devices in the UK. The free app brings together BBC Sport’s coverage to deliver news, live scores, stats, commentary and analysis on-the-go.

    Arriving in time for a start to the 2013 sporting calendar, the app’s customisable menu allows users to keep up with sporting events – from breaking football transfer news and gossip, to live text coverage of the Premier League, Rugby Union Six Nations championship and the upcoming F1 season.

    A new mobile football live scores section has been introduced allowing you to follow the action, whether you’re at the match or out and about. It provides a league-by-league overview of the latest scores and goal scorers at a glance, with dedicated match pages for more in-depth information, bringing together starting line-ups, match stats, live text commentary and the post-game report.

    In addition, a new fixtures and results section has been developed to help users keep on top of all the UK and international football competitions, by simply selecting any day in the season from the app’s calendar. There’s also access to live streams from Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra for even more great sports coverage.

    Other features, including live and on-demand video highlights, and an application for Android devices will be introduced soon.

    The rapid growth of smartphones over the last few years has made mobile a particularly important platform for BBC Sport audiences. Mobile devices account for a third of BBC Sport’s total traffic, rising to over 40% at weekends and peaking at 45% on Saturday afternoons, as the nation accesses the final scores from wherever they may be.

    BBC Future Media executive product manager for sport Lucie McLean said, “Through the huge success of the Olympics we know that audiences love to access sport services through both mobile browser and apps. The new BBC Sport app builds on the success of London 2012 to give users an even easier way to get the content they love, whether it’s checking out how their team got on, following live text updates on the day’s sporting action or catching up with the latest news.”