Category: Technology

MUMBAI: Sony Creative Software, a global provider of professional editing and authoring applications, has announced new innovative audio and video editing tools for professionals set for release this summer.

The latest additions to the Sony Creative Software product line include: Spectral Layers, an audio editing platform featuring precise sound shaping capabilities and a unique visual workflow; and ThemeBuilder for Vegas Pro, a plug-in that enables intelligent template building for professional video projects. Both products are scheduled for technology demonstrations in the Sony booth at the on-going technology trade event Nab in Las Vegas.

Sony Creative Software VP of global marketing Dave Chaimson said, “Now more than ever, video editors require robust editing tools like ThemeBuilder to automate repetitive tasks while retaining complete control over their projects. ThemeBuilder for Vegas Pro is one of the only plug-ins available that takes an existing timeline and develops a reusable theme, giving users the ability to quickly exchange media without wasting valuable production time. On the audio side, Spectral Layers redefines what can be accomplished in the editor‘s suite by giving users the ability to reach directly into and operate on waveform spectra. Spectral Layers holds universal appeal for audio mastering engineers, sound designers, archivists, and professionals who demand deep, intelligent audio analysis tools.”

ThemeBuilder was developed by NewBlue, a California company known for its ability to merge art with technology. NewBlue has been offering a range of digital media technologies and products to the creative community since 2001.

NewBlue chief alliance officer Paul Devermann said, “Our partnership with Sony Creative Software continues to expand and yield significant rewards for our customers. NewBlue‘s ThemeBuilder software running in Vegas Pro will deliver an unprecedented workflow enhancement, offering even more creative options for video editors who depend on it for its robustness and ease of use.”

Spectral Layers was created by Paris-based Divide Frame, a developer specialising in software designs that bridge the gap between emergent technologies and broadcast professionals.

MUMBAI: The future of 3D technology is in television. That was the message that filmmaker James Cameron had for attendees at the Nab show in Las Vegas.

3D television will result in explosive growth, Cameron said.

Cameron along with his partner at Cameron Pace Group Vince Pace spoke about the technology and its future. “We’re in it to win it. And the future of 3D is in broadcast. Even though we’re ahead of the curve in movies relative to broadcast, we’re dealing with the same transition we saw from standard def to HD – the growing pains, the questions, the uncertainty, the doubts, the naysayers. But also, the success stories.

“We’re constantly raising the bar to improve the entertainment experience. Using 3D produces a sense of physical presence. It’s like, man, you’re right there. You feel like you’re involved.”

Cameron referred to his methodology as 5D – simultaneously producing 2D and 3D output – and unveiled several new CPG products at the show.

Pace reiterated Cameron‘s point by noting, “The industry success story is going to be in broadcast. ESPN threw their best people at it. The way I see it, we’re simply telling the story of the competition in sports. And in the Masters broadcast, we had a great opportunity with Bubba Watson hitting out of those trees. If you want to show a hook shot, there’s only one way to do it, and that’s in 3D.”

MUMBAI: With the digitisation sunset date of 30 June approaching in the four metros, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked all the cable operators – multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) – to furnish details of their operations.

The I&B Ministry said that it is proposing to generate and maintain statistical database of MSOs and LCOs operating in the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

The Ministry wants details such as contact details, registration number, date of last renewal of registration and city and area of operation. In case of MSOs, further information asked for include city wise total number of LCOs being served, city wise total number of head-ends (existing and additionally planned), and channel capacity of each head-end.

Meanwhile, LCOs will have to provide details like total number of subscribers, total number of STBs required for digitisation, how many already installed, balance to be installed, number of STBs for which order is placed, what quality standards have been adopted for STBs and what mechanism has been put in place for redressal of grievances of subscribers.

The MSOs and LCOs are to provide the details latest by 20 April to Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (BECIL).

As per Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011, it is mandatory for cable operators to make the switchover from analogue cable TV network to Digital Addressable System.

MUMBAI: More than four in ten Indians (45 per cent) use the Internet to search for information on entertainment and hobbies due to diverse and vast amount of information that is available in the Internet these days, according to a new study by leading global research firm Ipsos.

Downloading and streaming media – music (43 per cent), movies (39 per cent) and television (27 per cent) – is a popular pursuit, as are video games (28 per cent) and gaming online for money (26 per cent).

Ipsos in India Head of Marketing Communication Biswarup Banerjee said, “While the internet may be a place for business and commerce, it is also a place for play. Growing popularity of internet has shifted search for information from traditional print media to the dynamic, comprehensive and on demand internet search engines”.

Well over half (57 per cent) of people globally use the Internet to search for information on entertainment and hobbies. But usage in the 24 countries surveyed varied widely, with 72 per cent of people in Turkey saying they visited sites for hobbies, while only 35 per cent in Saudi Arabia did.

Other heavy personal-interest, web-surfing nations included China, Hungary, Japan, South Korea and Sweden, while Argentina, Spain, India, Brazil and Mexico were among the lowest users.

The Web as a Source for Media: Downloading and streaming is a popular activity, particularly of music: four in ten (43 per cent) of global citizens online say they have downloaded/streamed music in the last three months while three in ten (34%) say so about movies and two in ten (22 per cent) do for television.

China is the world leader on all three forms of media by considerable margins. Majorities of Chinese Internet users say they downloaded/streamed music (72 per cent), movies (71 per cent) and TV (55 per cent). Turkey (62 per cent music, 58 per cent movies, 34 per cent TV) is also a global leader on this measure.

“It‘s remarkable to think that the file-sharing technology, popularised for music only in recent history, is now being done by four in 10 internet users in 24 countries. Even in countries at the bottom of the global ranking lists, one quarter still do it” adds Banerjee.

On the flip side, only handfuls of Japanese web surfers say they downloaded or streamed media in the last three months (24 per cent music, nine per cent movies, nine per cent TV). France is also at the bottom of each list: music (24 per cent), movies (15 per cent) and TV (seven per cent). Notably, even the lowest-ranking countries show at least one in four have downloaded or streamed music online.

A Place to Play: Three in ten (27 per cent) say they have ‘played video games online’ and 13 per cent have done ‘online gaming or playing for money (e.g. poker, bingo).’ China is also the world leader of online video gamers (61 per cent), followed at some distance by Poland (47 per cent), Turkey (38 per cent) and Mexico (33 per cent). The Swedes (13 per cent) are least likely to play video games online, joining South Korea (16 per cent), Hungary (17 per cent), Japan (18 per cent) and France (18 per cent) at the bottom of the list.

“Online games are increasingly becoming popular among teens and young adults and it promises to be a booming industry,” added Banerjee.

With online gambling for money, Indians are the most keen among the 24 countries surveyed: one in four (26 per cent) say they did so in the past three months. Saudi Arabia (23 per cent), Poland (21 per cent), South Korea (20 per cent) and Sweden (20 per cent) are next. Those connected online in Italy (six per cent), Germany ( six per cent), Mexico (seven per cent), China (seven per cent) and Australia (seven per cent) are least likely to say so.

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom‘s channel dedicated to comedy Comedy Central has announced the launch of ‘The Daily Show‘ Headlines,” a new mobile and tablet app available as a free download for iOS and Android devices.

After listening to viewer and fan feedback, the free app provides users with easier access to the best moments of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” as well as digital exclusives and much more.

‘The Daily Show‘ Headlines” app delivers “The Daily Show” headlines through video clips from recent episodes as well as its library of video content, including the most popular clips from the show. Fans will also be able to enjoy extras including the ability to easily share videos on social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, set personalised tune-in reminders, access background information about the show‘s guests and relive classic segments of “The Daily Show” using the app‘s “Random Quotes” module.

The release of Headlines marks the first ‘Daily Show‘ app for Android users. Apple users will be treated to an updated ‘Daily Show‘ experience with “Headlines,” which has been optimised for the new iPad‘s retina display. The app is also compatible with Apple‘s AirPlay, allowing fans to watch their favourite “Daily Show” clips on-demand, through the “Headlines” app on their iOS devices and on the televisions at home via Apple TV.

Viacom Entertainment Group VP, mobile, emerging platforms Ben Hurst said, “We want to provide new and current fans with an app that delivers an easy, entertaining and highly shareable experience with ‘The Daily Show‘ . We‘re confident that fans will enjoy all of the new features included with the ‘Headlines‘ app, and are thrilled to offer it to our Android fans for the first time.”

MUMBAI: Social networking mobile application maker Path has raised about $30 million from venture capital firms like Greylock Partners and Redpoint Ventures and individual investors such as Virgin Group’s Richard Branson and DST Global’s Yuri Milner.

With this, the investment values of the company stands at $250 million. The company will use the funds to double its staff, expand internationally and do more marketing.

Path, which had previously raised $11.2 million, is riding the new wave of tech companies that are building for mobile, not the Web. The company has been compared to Instagram that is said to be bought by Facebook for $1 billion. Path limits users to networks of just 150 people, which Morin has said is more in line with the number of meaningful friendships people have in real life.

Path, which has nearly 3 million users, is looking to connect people in more intimate ways than Facebook. It limits its users to 150 connections. The average user connects with 40. It plans to sell a premium version of its app.

Just over a year ago, Path raised $8.65 million from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Index Funds, and others.

Path is the brainchild of former senior Facebook executive Dave Morin and Napster co-founder Shawn Fanning.

MUMBAI: The Global BBC iPlayer has secured the rights to the Virgin London Marathon. The news follows the announcement of The Xchanging Boat Race as the first ever sporting event for the pilot VOD service.

This month, coverage of both will be made available to international subscribers within days of the original broadcast in the UK. London will host the elite marathon runners from around the globe on 22 April.

Global BBC iPlayer GM Matthew Littleford said, “Our subscribers wanted iconic British sport, and here they have it. The Grand National and London Marathon are packed with action, heritage and some of the sporting year’s biggest talking points, and I’m glad that we can bring them to our users around the world.”

Virgin London Marathon joint race director David Bedford said, “I’m happy that the Virgin London Marathon can be given an even bigger international audience through the Global BBC iPlayer. The Marathon attracts a diverse range of runners, from elite athletes to social runners and celebrities, and this in turn appeals to many, many spectators around the world.”

MUMBAI: Leading film entertainment company, Yash Raj Films, has entered into a licensing deal with Novex Communication for all existing Hindi movies and forthcoming movies for cable TV viewing.

The one-year deal with YRF is through to 31 March 2013, with the option to renew it.

Yash Raj Films has 53 Hindi movies in its library including the likes of Daag, Kabhi Kabhi, Noorie, Silsila, Faasle, Chandni, Lamhe, Daar, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Dil toh Pagal Hai, Dhoom 1, Dhoom 2, Bunty Aur Babali and Band Baaja Baraat.

The company also has a stream of movies lined up for release in the current year namely Ishqzaade, Ek Tha Tiger (Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif), Untitiled film directed by Yash Chopra releasing in Diwali (Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif & Anushka Sharma), Dhoom 3 (Aamir Khan , Katrina Kaif , Abhishek Bachchan releasing on 2nd half of 2013) and 4 to 6 more movies till December 2013.

“We are licensed to offer their existing and forthcoming movies to MSOs for showing on their wide network in digital mode. These top class movies will be available for release on cable TV at appropriate rates,” Novex said.

Yash Raj and Novex have also tied up since last year for ground license for Yash Raj music. In addition to Yash Raj, Novex has also entered into arrangements with Shemaroo, UTV and Big Net songs and music. Today, Novex has license of more than 20,000 songs and is seen as an alternate to old companies who have created monopolistic situation in the market.

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is issuing its Tariff Order and other related guidelines relating to digitisation next week, almost three weeks after the deadline of 31 March set by the Government.

With the government sticking to its deadline of switching off analogue in the four metros on 30 June, this may create complications as the multi-system operators and cable operators will have to rework their agreements with the broadcasters on the one hand and with the subscribers on the other.

Cable industry sources indicated that the delay in announcement of tariff appeared to have been dictated by the elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi slated for 15 April.

The sources also said that many cable operators had not even begun the ground work for converting their analogue systems to digital addressable systems.

Trai had held a day-long meeting earlier this week with stakeholders – first half devoted to broadcasters, and the latter half to MSOs and cable operators – in which it heard the problems being faced by various sections because of delay in announcement of tariff and the reluctance of the government to permit both systems to co-exist for some time after 1 July till all homes had switched over to DAS.

It is expected that there will be a provision of 45 days for final disposal for applications of licences for DAS for cable operators, thus giving them little time to prepare for the change.

The government has allayed fears of any shortage of digital set top boxes. While a total of ten million STBs are required for the first phase, Delhi needs 3.3 million of which 700,000 had been installed. Another one million are in stock and orders have been placed for 2.8 million.

The STBs, says the government, would cost less than Rs 1000 and could be had on rent for as low as Rs 30 a month.

The must-carry clause for Doordarshan and Parliamentary channels would continue even after digitisation.

After the four metros, the target date for completely digitising cable sector in cities with population of more than one million was 30 March 2013, all urban areas by 30 September 2014, and the whole country by 31 December 2014.

MUMBAI: India has become the fourth largest online video consumption market, aided by 50 per cent growth over the last couple of years. This sudden explosion has made video marketing an obvious choice for marketers.

“Internet is no longer the medium that brands invest in when they do not have budgets for TV. The scenario has now changed, thanks to two main factors – television has become increasingly fragmented and the youth has shifted online,” said Visa marketing director- India & South Asia Shubhranshu Singh.

The challenge rises in the fact that the medium needs to be optimised. With smartphone penetration increasing every year, generating contextual and relevant content for the medium is the main challenge. “For this medium to be used to its potential, the offline and online planners need to work hand in hand. The content creation for this medium needs to be done creatively and not simply picked from that generated for TV,” said Vdopia Media vice president Debadutta Upadhyaya, while speaking at the 8th Marketing Conclave organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

In case of video marketing online, the context of the ad becomes very important. It is no longer a case where people watch the ad without an option as it appears along the side panels of its screen during a match or in between a movie or serial on TV.

Singh said, “Online, the consumer may see an ad and search about the product or conversely see the product and search for a video on it. The toggle between the viewing and search is five to ten times faster than in the offline case. This makes it very interesting.”

One point of view is the possible change in definition of the term TV itself. Now the medium may be classified as Internet screen and non Internet screen. “This is the main reason why the content for the mediums needs to be differentiated. The two media attract different audience and, thus, the same content will just not do. Also, video offers a tool for measurability which marketers look for in any medium they use.”

Additionally, content on the Internet never dies or goes offline; it only gets buried. This is one of the main reason why there is an urgency to seek creative thought process in generation of online video marketing content. “There is a certain ‘whackiness’ in online video content that is accepted which cannot be replicated on TV,” averred Singh.

Amagi Media Labs co-founder KA Srinivasan, however, refused to accept that this is a case of TV versus online video marketing. “Television penetration is only going to increase in the future. Also as we adopt new technologies, television will be able to provide targeted regional advertising options. This will give the marketers a chance to change the message according to the demography and geography,” he said.

For many, the term ‘online video’ translates to YouTube. While YouTube uses a lot of user generated content, online video marketing also includes the development of professional videos. It is the latter that marketers can use to actually market the product while the former may provide valuable insight into consumer psyche.

“India is experiencing an industrial and digital revolution simultaneously. So where one part of the country is laying down new roads and building buildings and bridges, the other part is going viral. Today, the focus is shifting from penetration to consumption,” Singh said.

While TV and print will always figure in a planner’s marketing plan, digital, specifically online video marketing, will find its own place and importance.