ITV

Category: Technology

  • Global fixed broadband penetration to reach 49% by 2017

    Global fixed broadband penetration to reach 49% by 2017

    MUMBAI: A survey by Digital TV Research has revealed that the need for speed as people make increased use of over-the-top (OTT) and managed IPTV services will drive the fixed broadband market to reach 745 million homes by 2017.

    The survey called Fixed Broadband Household Forecasts says this will be a significant rise from the 473 million homes in 2010 and the 578 million expected by the end of 2012. In other words, global fixed broadband household penetration will be 49.2 per cent by 2017. It was 33.5 per cent in 2010 and 40.3 per cent by the end of this year.

    According to the study, China will continue to be the top nation by fixed broadband households in 2017, with 251 million homes, while the US is likely to retain second place with 101 million homes.

    Another revelation of the survey was that three-quarters of fixed broadband households received download speeds of less than 10Mbps in 2010, with only 2.3 per cent above 30Mbps. It is expected that the under 10Mbps proportion will have fallen to 58 per cent by the end of 2012, and to drop to 31 per cent by 2017. The percentage of homes getting faster than 30Mbps speed is projected reach 7.2 per cent by end-2012, rapidly advancing to more than a quarter of the total by 2017.

    The author of the reported Simon Murray has been quoted as saying, "Perhaps just as interesting as the overall increase in fixed broadband household numbers is the shift of homes subscribing to faster download speeds. Many governments have initiated national broadband network projects, which involve extensive capital expenditure to build out modern (usually fibre) networks. In other countries, greater competition has encouraged operators to construct fibre networks from their own initiatives."

  • Comcast Xfinity TV Player updates for iOS, Android Mobiles

    Comcast Xfinity TV Player updates for iOS, Android Mobiles

    MUMBAI: US-based Comcast has added an update to its service that provides video-on-demand streaming to the subscribers‘ mobile devices. The update by the cable television and broadband internet services provider to Comcast Xfinity TV player, launched early last year, allows the option to download somes content for offline viewing.

    Available simultaneously on iOS and Android, the Xfinity TV Player apps support downloads from premium channels Showtime (which was also one of the first up for streaming), Starz, Encore and MoviePlex.

    The user has to be logged in and have any of those channels in the subscribed package. The option to download is next to the usual stream button with options available for two different levels of picture quality.

  • Chennai cable ops to file fresh petition challenging Govt‘s notification on DAS

    Chennai cable ops to file fresh petition challenging Govt‘s notification on DAS

    MUMBAI: The Chennai Metro Cable Operators Association (CMCOA) is all set to file a fresh petition challenging the notification of digitisation issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in April this year.

    CMCOA General Secretary M R Srinivasan told Indiantelevision.com that the two member bench of Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna Jagadeesan told the cable operators to file a fresh petition against the government notification of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 2012.

    "We will file a new petition challenging the government‘s notification order," Srinivasan said.

    The CMCOA had filed a petition seeking postponement of cable digitisation in Chennai by at least three months till 31 January citing shortage of set-top boxes (STB). The deadline for the first phase of digitisation in the four metro cities was 31 October.

    The Madras High Court had on 31 October stayed the digitisation in Chennai till 5 November. The Court again extended the deadline till 9 November following which it was again put off till 19 November.

    The Court had on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of CMCOA‘s petition to Wednesday due to recusal of Justice P.P.S. Janarthanaraja from the case. The judge recused himself from the case citing possible conflict of interest since his son works for Sun TV, whose lawyer is representing one of the respondents in the case.

    Justice Janarthanaraja, along with Justice Paul Vasanthakumar, was expected to hear the petition. This will now be heard by the new bench comprising Justice Dharma Rao and Jagadeesan.

    CMCOA‘s Srinivasan said that the local cable operators (LCOs) in Chennai are a confused lot since state-run Arasu Cable, the dominant MSO in the state, is yet to receive a DAS (digital addressable system) licence for Chennai.

    The cable operators like in other parts of Tamil Nadu can‘t align with any other MSO other than Arasu. He also reasoned that the LCOs will not buy STBs from any other MSO fearing that if Arasu gets the licence then all their investments would go waste.

    "LCOs in Chennai have no choice but to go with Arasu. The I&B ministry should take a decision whether or not it wants to give a licence to Arasu. This will at least bring some clarity," he lamented.

    As many as 11 MSOs have got DAS licence to operate in Chennai.

    In the event of Arasu failing to get a DAS licence, the LCOs would take a call independently on their MSO partner, Srinivasan said. But for that the government needs to take a decision immediately, he added.

    As Indiantelevision.com had reported, the MIB is having second thoughts on granting licences to Arasu fearing that similar demands might come from other state governments.

    Add to that the latest diktat by MIB to the broadcast sector regulator Trai to bring rules in place to keep a check on monopolies in the cable TV distribution space at a local, state and regional level.

  • NDS to deploy its advanced solutions for SCTV in China

    NDS to deploy its advanced solutions for SCTV in China

    MUMBAI: NDS, a subsidiary of Cisco, has collaborated with one of China‘s largest cable operator Sichuan Cable TV Network (SCTV) to deploy advanced functionality that will provide an enriched subscriber experience with greater flexibility for over 15 million subscribers.

    SCTV will employ a number of solutions from NDS, including NDS MediaHighway set-top box middleware, XTV DVR technology, an electronic programme guide (EPG) and NDS Dynamic advanced EPG advertising. VideoGuard, the world‘s leading conditional access (CA) technology, secures SCTV‘s service to ensure revenues and provide anti-roaming protection between regional operations.

    According to NDS, the deployment, which addresses 131 branches and 15 million subscribers, is one of the largest feature upgrades of its kind in China and will enable access to HD services across the entire province.

    SCTV GM Guo Jianxin said, "We have been working with NDS for over a decade and are delighted with what we have achieved together – an advanced platform that truly utilises our network to get the best for the subscriber. NDS has shown strong technology and support capabilities in enabling such an exceptional user experience." He added "We look forward to NDS‘ continued support as we evolve our service."

    NDS Asia Pacific VP and GM Sales said, "SCTV are taking great steps to provide their subscribers with the best possible experience across their entire network – a substantial task, and one that we are extremely proud to be working with them on in such close collaboration. With underpinning technologies from NDS, SCTV have the foundations to enable continued innovation and enhancement of their service and we are excited to support them in their next endeavour."

  • Tata Sky to make equity infusion of Rs 5 bn every year over medium term

    Tata Sky to make equity infusion of Rs 5 bn every year over medium term

    MUMBAI: Direct-to-home (DTH) television service provider Tata Sky has planned equity infusion of over Rs 5 billion every year over the medium term to meet its capital expenditure and for serving its debt.

    The additional equity will be raised from investors other than the promoters and will result in dilution of Tata Sons‘ shareholding from the current 60 per cent but is expected to be gradual.

    Tata Sons would remain the single largest shareholder in Tata Sky after the equity infusions over the next few years. Tata Sons holds 60 per cent stake in Tata Sky while News Corp. has an effective stake of 29.8 per cent.
    CRISIL, which has rated its bank facilities and debentures, believes that management control will remain with Tata Sons and Tata Sky‘s association with the Tata brand will continue even after its stake gets diluted.

    Tata Sky has Rs 17.01 billion of bank facilities and recently raised Rs 1.6 billion through a debenture issue.

    The Indian DTH industry is characterised by the presence of few dominant players, leading to intense competition. The competitive intensity is reflected in frequent launches of special offers and discounts and high marketing spends by these players, whose primary goal is to increase their market share. While the industry has witnessed healthy subscriber additions, the overall profitability remains low. CRISIL believes that Tata Sky’s operating performance will improve over the medium term. It also believes that the company’s financial risk profile will remain weak over the same period, marked by negative net worth and stretched debt protection metrics.

    Tata Sky narrowed its net loss in the year ended 31 March 2012 from a year earlier, on increasing subscriber numbers.

    Tata Sky’s net loss in 2011-12 was Rs 2.98 billion, 36 per cent less than Rs 4.7 billion a year earlier. The company‘s net loss in 2009-10 was Rs 6.26 billion on total income of Rs 11.10 billion. The company‘s net sales were up 18 per cent to Rs 15.9 billion from Rs 13.5 billion a year earlier.

    The continuing losses have resulted in piling up of accumulated losses. Tata Sky‘s accumulated losses as on 31 March 2012 would amount to Rs 43.03 billion with the addition of loss in 2011-12 to the accumulated losses of Rs 40.05 billion as on 31 March 2011.

  • Justice Janarthanaraja recuses himself from Chennai digitisation case

    Justice Janarthanaraja recuses himself from Chennai digitisation case

    MUMBAI: The Madras High Court has adjourned the hearing of Chennai cable operators petition for extension of digitisation deadline to Wednesday due to recusal of Justice P.P.S. Janarthanaraja from the case.

    Justice Janarthanaraja recused himself from the case citing possible conflict of interest since his son works for Sun TV, whose lawyer is representing one of the respondents in the case.

    Janarthanaraja along with Justice Paul Vasanthakumar formed the two-member bench that would have decided the fate of the petition filed by cable operators.
    The case was expected to come up for hearing today after it got adjourned on Monday.

    The court had on 9 November extended the stay on digitisation in Chennai till 19 November seeking details of the number of digital set top boxes available and seeded.

    The petition by Chennai Metro Cable Operators Association (CMCOA) through its general secretary M R Srinivasan is seeking extension of digitisation deadline by three months.

    Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, who was hearing the petition filed by CMCOA, said the matter should be heard by a division bench since it involved a larger public interest.

    The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry had told the Madras High Court that it was prepared to give an extension for implementation of digitisation in Chennai till 31 December provided the stakeholders gave affidavits that they will implement it by then and not seek further extension.

  • Disney to discontinue online movie service

    Disney to discontinue online movie service

    MUMBAI: Disney will discontinue its movie streaming website by the end of this year after failing to generate revenues and audiences.

    The service allowed users to rent or purchase movies on its site and watch those via streaming.

    “The digital environment is rapidly evolving and Disney Movies Online does not have the flexibility that many users today demand. We made a business decision to close the service until we are able to provide the greatest value and experience to our customers,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement.

    As part of this change, purchases, upgrades, and Magic Code entries can no longer be made on the Disney Movies Online website. One can continue to stream his existing movies until 31 December, the company said.

    However, one can still enter Magic Codes on DisneyMovieRewards.com, and Disney Movies Rewards services will not be interrupted. Users can also continue to use their Disney member name and password to access other Disney websites.

    In addition, if one has purchased a Disney Combo pack with Digital Copy, his Digital Copy can still be transferred and watched from either iTunes or Windows Media Player.

    Disney is planning to launch its replacement service, Disney Movies Anywhere, but the date of its launch is not known.

  • DisneyUTV Digital to distribute EA mobile games in India

    DisneyUTV Digital to distribute EA mobile games in India

    MUMBAI: DisneyUTV Digital, the digital arm of DisneyUTV, has partnered EA Mobile, the worldwide publisher for mobile games, to distribute their mobile games in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The games will be distributed by UTV Indiagames exclusively across carrier networks and local OEMs.

    DisneyUTV signed the distribution deal after EA games‘ two-year contract with Nazara Technologies expired this July.
    DisneyUTV will now provide gamers in India access to legacy titles from the EA Mobile portfolio including Need for Speed, Fifa ‘11, Monopoly, Bejeweled, Zuma, Tetris, EA Cricket ‘11, Bookworm and more. Gamers will also be able to enjoy the latest game releases from EA Mobile on the same day as they release internationally.

    Games ranging from across genres like sports, racing, puzzles, word games, arcade and action will be available in a price range of Rs 50 to Rs 99.

    “With feature phones and smartphones growing their presence in the Indian mobile market, the impetus to provide quality content on these platforms only gets bigger. With this relationship, we will increase the reach of EA’s popular games for the end users in the country and upsurge quality content in mobile entertainment. With strategic deals like these, we aim to further expand the gaming market across all possible mobile platforms available,” said DisneyUTV Digital MD Vishal Gondal.

    EA Mobile Asia Pacific GM Franck Villet said, “This partnership with DisneyUTV represents an exciting opportunity for EA to bring our best content to an even broader audience in a growing mobile gaming market.”

  • 3net Studios unveils production slate

    3net Studios unveils production slate

    MUMBAI: On the heels of launching 3net Studios, the Sony – Discovery – Imax joint venture has revealed an initial slate of original 3D and 4K TV series and specials to be produced under its newly formed production arm.

    The announcement, made by 3net President/CEO Tom Cosgrove, looks to break new ground for television, representing several global firsts in 3D and 4K programming.

    3net Studios‘ lineup includes live-action and animated projects such as ‘Space’, the first series to be produced in what the company calls TotalD (native 3D 4K, 2D 4K, 3D 2K and both 3D/2D HD formats), as well as ‘Marksmen’, the world‘s first 3D motion comic series for television. Additional 3D projects include the documentary series ‘Frozen In Time’: Our History In 3D’; the live-action special ‘Wingsuit Warrior: Jeb Corliss Vs. The World’ and the travelogue series ‘Daydream’.

    Cosgrove said, “This announcement marks an important first step in our ongoing mission to meet the increasing global demand for high-quality, original 3D and 4K television content head on. We‘re proud of the diverse initial slate of live-action and animated series we have created and look forward to expanding it as 3net Studios finalises its full 2013 development schedule.”

    From the Big Bang to the present and forward into the future, ‘Space’ looks to give a vision of the birth, evolution and end of the phenomena that make up the universe as never seen before. Billed as the world‘s first native 4K project for television, the series employs lyrical and deeply stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD shots to immerse the viewer within space itself as concepts are presented with relatable visual storytelling.

    What‘s the view like from inside a nebula, or a comet‘s tail? What does traveling at the speed of light really look like, and just how hot is the planet Mercury? Each hour long episode of this three-part series in addition to answering these questions will also offer viewers an unprecedented opportunity to experience the answers through the use of breakthrough 3D and 4K production techniques.

    ‘Marksmen’ a 3D stop-motion graphic novel series, takes viewers into a post-apocalyptic wasteland – following the government collapse, a civil war erupts between two cities as they fight for control of the world‘s scarce remaining resources. Rebuilt by a group of top scientists and protected by the Navy Seals stationed at the Coronado Navel Base, “New San Diego” is a technological utopia that lives in peace and must defend itself against the oil-hungry and war driven,
    “Lone Star.” This half-hour, four-part series follows Drake McCoy and his band of high-tech soldiers, the “Marksmen,” on their heroic quest to protect “New San Diego” from total annihilation.

    ‘Frozen In Time: Our History In 3D’ is a three-part, hour-long 3D series that takes an immersive look at history‘s most monumental milestones – from World War II to the Industrial Revolution and the migration to the American West.

    ‘Daydrem’ offers viewers an immersive look at the earth and mankind‘s most spectacular creations. Each episode takes viewers on a 3D ‘travel adventure’ to a destination, offering a visual escape as the day passes in each location.

  • Hinduja group’s Amas Mauritius gets 5.1% stake in IMCL

    Hinduja group’s Amas Mauritius gets 5.1% stake in IMCL

    MUMBAI: Amas Mauritius, a Hinduja group company, now owns 5.1 per cent equity stake in the country’s leading multi-system operator (MSO) IndusInd Media and Communications Ltd (IMCL).

    The Hindujas, thus, up their controlling stake in IMCL.

    Amas acquired the stake on conversion of 74.15 million 12 per cent cumulative redeemable preference shares of IMCL it held. The conversion was done at a price of Rs 145 per share (Rs 10 face value plus Rs 135 premium per share), following approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and its shareholders.

    The conversion of the preference shares into equity shares resulted in Hinduja Ventures Ltd’s (HVL) stake in IMCL falling to 61.17 per cent from 65.78 per cent. HVL’s businesses include the MSO business, investments and treasury and real estate, but more than 80 per cent of the revenues come from the MSO business.

    The shares of HVL closed at Rs 483 per share, down 1.56 per cent in a flat market, on Monday on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
    The MSO’s profit before tax in the second quarter ended 30 September narrowed to Rs 199.9 million from Rs 313.1 million in the first quarter on rise in expenditure on account of digitisation. Its income in the second quarter rose to Rs 1.36 billion from Rs 1.51 billion a quarter earlier.

    The amount of capital deployed by HVL in the MSO business increased to Rs 3.96 billion from Rs 3.76 billion in the previous quarter.

    Commenting on the performance of IMCL in the second quarter, HVL whole-time director Ashok Mansukhani said the advent of compulsory digitisation will help bring transparency in subscription numbers almost fivefold and help improve the top line and bottom line of the company.

    The government has mandated digitisation in 38 more cities by 31 March 2013, after switching to digital delivery of cable TV in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata from 1 November. The revised deadline for switchover to digital delivery in Chennai is likely to be decided by the Madras High Court on Tuesday (tomorrow) after taking into consideration inputs from all the stakeholders.