Category: Technology

MUMBAI: US media conglomerates News Corporation and NBC Universal have announced a comprehensive, multi-year content and distribution agreement with CNET Networks for their online video joint venture. The venture which looks to provide an alternative to the video social networking site Youtube will launch in a few months time.

CNet, which owns web properties such as TV.com, GameSpot and CNET.com, will provide thousands of clips to the new destination on a non exclusive basis. In addition, CNET Networks has also agreed to distribute the new site‘s library of licensed content, adding its 129 million unique monthly users to the reach of the News Corp, NBC Universal venture.

NBC Universal chief digital officer George Kliavkoff says, “A pioneering online media company, CNet Networks has long understood the value of creating richer, more authentic experiences online. We are delighted that they will be joining us as both a content provider and distributor, ensuring that we continue to add to the depth and breadth of premium video available on our site and on our video network. In addition, we further extend the reach of our protected content to their highly engaged user base.”

CNET Networks CEO Neil Ashe says, “CNet Networks is proud to be the first online-focused content company to offer its original video to this new venture. We are excited to bring video from NBC Universal, Fox, and other high – quality content providers to our users. This relationship further demonstrates our commitment to creat ing an engaging online experience at our market-leading brands.

The video site will feature thousands of hours of full-length TV programming, clips and movies, representing premium content from close to twenty networks and two major film studios. The announcement is the second non-equity content agreement for the venture. Recently, Comcast joined as a non-exclusive content provider and agreed to contribute content from E!, Style, G4, Versus and Golf Channel.

MUMBAI: , More than 60 per cent of TV consumers in seven developed countries prefer to obtain the features and content that they want, according to a global research study conducted by Microsoft and Screen Digest.

This finding contradicts previously held assumptions that price is the single most important factor in selecting TV service providers.

The study further points to key trends that define the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) market and demonstrates that as technology changes the nature of television, old paradigms of behavior may not necessarily apply.

Completed earlier this year, the research identified market segments most inclined to purchase IPTV and drivers that will motivate them. Online and phone surveys of 5,000 “entertainment-oriented” consumers were conducted in seven benchmark developed countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.

Overall, the survey estimated a total of 230 million potential candidates for more advanced TV services across these countries, with 75 million of those consumers expressing interest in switching and paying for a TV service with the features and channels they want. An additional 2,000 surveys were conducted in urban China and India. When these countries are included, the global audience for advanced TV services increases to 380 million, with 200 million willing to switch and pay for a new TV service.

Consumers were also allowed to create their “ideal” TV service from a number of different features. Consumers created and are willing to pay for lifestyle-based packages, rather than simply price and channels. Those lifestyle packages range from basic TV control and management, to family-oriented packages, to packages that enable communications, commerce and connections between the TV, PC and mobile devices. Over 50 percent of consumers willing to pay for new TV services in developed countries expressed interest in advanced capabilities beyond basic TV control and management.

The study found that the consumer segments most likely to switch TV providers are those that are time-constrained, with 43 per cent actually watching less TV than the average household. Although these TV watchers are satisfied with their TV experience, they are looking for ways to maximise the enjoyment of their TV time, prioritising convenience and ease of use over price.

This finding debunks two other generally accepted assumptions — that consumers who view a great deal of television are more likely to demand new services and that the more dissatisfied consumers are with their TV experience, the more likely they are to switch services.

Additional key findings included the following:

• One-third of “entertainment-oriented” households are willing to pay more than their current country average for the features and content they want, while another 33 percent would switch for new features at the same price. Entertainment-oriented households currently spend money on entertainment through either a home Internet subscription, a home pay TV subscription, or higher-than-average monthly entertainment spending on items such as DVD rentals and purchases. Nearly 80 per cent of households in the seven benchmark developed countries are entertainment-oriented.

• Driven by economic growth and broadband adoption, China and India have the highest percentage of high-potential IPTV households.

• Among consumer segments most interested in paying for an advanced TV service, a significant proportion (30 percent) do not already have home broadband Internet service. Many of these consumers would prefer a TV-only or a TV-plus-phone package, rather than a “triple play” package including Internet, phone and TV.

Microsoft TV Division GM marketing Christine Heckart says, “Old assumptions about this new TV market will need to be turned upside down to effectively build the customer base,” said general manager, marketing. Our research clearly demonstrates that the purchase paradigm is changing. Price and channel lineup have long been the primary criteria for consumers selecting TV services. Our research suggests that consumers are willing to pay for a richer TV experience that is personal, easy to use, connected and social — and that consumers are willing to pay for.”

MUMBAI: Handygo has launched mobile games on “Pay per play” model for the first time in India with mobile operators Airtel and Hutch.

‘Pay per Play’ model facilitates mobile users to pay for only those games they play. User is informed about the charges and upon user’s acceptance, authentication is done. User is charged in advance for pre paid and billed for post paid connections. The price to play games under this model is attractively fixed at Rs 5.

Handygo COO Gopal Krishna says, “We want to popularize mobile games so that users can play these games and yet pay a very minimum cost. We have priced the game at Rs. 5 per session to bring more and more users to play these games. It should indeed make the mobile gaming even more popular among the mobile users because of its price attractiveness unlike fixed price game download usually starting at Rs. 50.”

The firm adds that the magnetism of this model is that users have multiple games to choose from, play any or all of them whenever and in whatever sessions they want. User is only charged per session irrespective of the time duration.

Handygo CEO Praveen Rajpal says, “We have even ensured that users do not have to pay if they exit the game or if the session is inactive for 5 minutes. This would ensure better price practice.”

The idea is simple. With ‘Pay per Play’ model user gets to play multiple games for a fixed price. For example, under this model, user can play 10 games at Rs. 5 per session as against Rs. 50 per one game download. User can come back and play whatever games they like again and again.

“What is very striking about this model and the price point is that we have numerous users playing the same game or other games repeatedly, giving us recurring revenues” says Krishna.

Handygo has plans of going global with this model. “Successful launch of this model is a combination of handygo’s technology expertise, extensive research on gaming price models and understanding of Indian mobile users” adds Rajpal.

MUMBAI: DTH service provider Dishtv has announced a Summer Holiday Bonanza package.

Any new subscribers buying dishtv under this summer bonanza can enjoy a dual benefit.

At a special offer price of Rs 3990, they can get the entire hardware along with installation for four months subscription of Maxi package (with 115 digital channels).

A special Movie on Demand season ticket carries unlimited viewing of 24 movie titles, worth Rs 1320, till 28 June.

At the end of the offer period of four months, the subscribers can choose the package they want from out of dishtv’s three tier pricing, ranging between Rs 160 to Rs 300 per month.

The firm is pushing the bonanza as a special Kids engagement festival. The logic is that while parents can enjoy what the firm says is a value-for-money offer to get dishtv home with four months subscription inclusive, the kids can get kids movies, games and channels on the platform. Dishtv has acquired special movies from national and international broadcasters to package together the ‘season ticket‘ on their movie on demand service.

Also packaged in the season ticket are other children movies like 102 Dalmatians in English and Makdee, Tarzan the wonder car, Chachi 420, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S etc. in Hindi. The usual night movie band, post 11 pm, continues with films like While You were sleeping, Runaway Bride etc. in English and Aitraaz, Garam Masala etc in Hindi.

All this comprising 24 movies worth Rs. 1320, is packed in a season ticket that goes free to all new subscribers during this offer on buying dishtv connection till 15 June. Existing subscribers of dishtv can enjoy this season ticket for Rs 299 only, though individual movie orders will also continue to be accepted and shown.

The season ticket concept, the firm adds, is a novel idea being introduced for the first time ever by anyone in this space for the TV viewers. The idea emerges from the consumer insight that children love to watch their favourite movies over and over again, once they like it. Hence kids in dishtv owning homes will now have the utter indulgence of enjoying unlimited and non-stop viewing of the kids’ movies on offer.

Dishtv’s gaming portal Playjam adds two new games every month and a consumer friendly navigation and game selection menu, also now available on air.

Dishtv CEO Arun Kapoor says, ” Dishtv has always been a consumer friendly brand. All our previous offers have also been the result of in-depth consumer research and feedback. It gives us great pleasure to see it all result into the fast paced growth of our dishtv family. We would always work towards ensuring maximum possible value to our subscribers by launching such great offers in the future as well.”

Dishtv VP marketing Anjali Malhotra said,” We are delighted to lead from the front, by providing our viewers with newer and wider entertainment options. Dishtv Summer Bonanza is yet another innovation for existing as well as new dishtv subscribers, with non-stop indoor entertainment for kids at a cost equal to just two to three movies at a nearby multiplex. The season ticket concept is also the first of its kind, in terms of a marketing initiative in the Indian pay television market and enables tremendous value for money to our viewers who would like to enjoy all this fabulous content time and time again, at a miniscule cost.”

MUMBAI: US broadcaster The History Channel (THC) and pay TV platform DirecTV have announced that DirecTV will be the first to launch The History Channel HD.

This is a high definition television network, scheduled to debut in September 2007. In addition, A&E HD, which debuted in 4Q 2006, will also launch on DIRECTV in September.

THC HD will simulcast the entire lineup of original, non-fiction series and specials. The HD experience will serve to create a stunning new dimension for the storytelling that the channel provides. THC HD will feature a diverse range of programming including the series Lost Worlds, Dogfights, Digging for the Truth, Cities of the Underworld, and Mega Disasters, and the recently announced Ice Road Truckers, The Universe and Human Weapon as well as specials such as Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, The Lost Book of Nostradamus.

AETN executive VP distribution David Zagin says, “The History Channel HD will give our History fanatics an unparalleled view of History with stunning clarity and rich perspective that they will find nowhere else on the television landscape. We are equally delighted that DIRECTV, one of the nation’s largest programming distributors, will be there with us from the beginning of this exciting launch,” said Zagin. “We look forward to many more partnerships with distributors to bring The History Channel HD to their consumers.”

DirecTV executive VP strategy and development Derek Chang says, “The History Channel has a large and passionate following among our customers and we’re looking forward to being the first to provide them with their favorite programming in true HD.

“Both The History Channel HD and A&E HD exemplify the kind of high quality programming that we’ll offer DirecTV customers as we begin a significant expansion of HD channels this fall.”

MUMBAI: Global online broadcaster MediaZone will be delivering internet video coverage of the Indian cricket team‘s tour of Bangladesh from tomorrow.

MediaZone will feature live and on-demand coverage as the upstart Bangladesh team takes on rival India on their home turf. On the heels of its recent loss to Bangladesh at the World Cup Cricket 2007, the Indian side is seeking to rise above its rival in a line up of one-day international matches and test matches played throughout Bangladesh from 10-29 May.

MediaZone chairman Jan Steenkamp says, “The India Tour of Bangladesh is an exciting start to the new international cricket calendar. MediaZone plans to continue providing top quality service to cricket fans. This latest coverage serves as a tremendous opportunity for cricket fans to stay on top of the action with simply a PC and an Internet connection and we look forward to offering enthusiasts more cricket coverage in the coming months.”

MediaZone Cricket will also provide coverage of the Afro Asia Cup in June. Cricket fans can purchase an All Access Pass for the entire tour including the Afro Asian Cup or purchase on a pay per view basis by event. Due to MediaZone‘s extensive worldwide coverage, these events will be available in nearly every major cricket territory including India and Bangladesh, the US and Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Live streaming, on-demand and download options mean subscribers have the flexibility and convenience to watch and interact with other cricket fans on their PC or Windows Media-compatible portable device.

MUMBAI: Planetwide Media has launched its debut interactive software on QVC, a television home shopping network.

Planetwide Media‘s best selling Original Comic Book Creator software allows consumers to utilise digital images, word bubbles and text to create their own personalised comic books, while the Marvel Heroes software allows users access to such Marvel comics characters as Spider-Man and the X-Men featuring Wolverine and Elektra, to create their own personalized comics.

Planetwide Media president Kevin Donovan explains, “QVC is a perfect place to showcase what our interactive Comic Book Creator software can really offer. The software lets anyone who wants to tell their own story with word bubbles, pictures and text to create a comic book without previous artistic training or instruction.”

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) has asked the MSO Alliance to file an application and implead the broadcasters in the case, which at the moment is against regulator Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) alone.

The tribunal was hearing the MSO Alliance case of seeking feed from broadcasters on an a la carte rather than a bouquet basis

At a point in the hearing today, the court suddenly seemed annoyed with the demand from MSO Alliance, asking why it should be given a permission of getting channels a la carte, when Trai has laid down in its order that the channels would be given by broadcasters in bouquets.

Tdsat asked the Alliance counsel what is MSO Alliance and who are the constituents, and were told that it is a registered body of “most of the major MSOs.”

The court wanted to know what would happen if the MSOs under the aegis of the Alliance are given the choice of a la carte and other MSOs want their similar discriminatory provisions for receiving channels.

However, the Alliance counsel explained that it was not their case that there should be no bouquets.

Admitting that there could be so many other MSOs with their own schemes of things, however, Alliance stated that while it welcomed the provision for bouquets as such, their prayer is that along with that, MSOs be allowed also to receive channels on an a la carte basis.

The court asked at this point whether the broadcasters are a party to the case, and were told they are not.

The court thus asked the MSO Alliance to file an application impleading the broadcasters, so that their position too could be ascertained. The case has been adjourned for hearing on 25 May.

NEW DELHI: In a curious development on the TataSky Vs Zee group case on getting the Zee channels on the DTH operator‘s platform, which the Tdsat had already decided and held Zee defaulter for not giving feed to TataSky, the principal player, Turner International yesterday wanted to wash its hands off the court pronouncement.

Turner International had filed a review petition last week saying that it may not be included in the case, as it was its partners Zee Telefilms, ASC International and Zee Turner which had been engaged in the dealing with the Tata-Star JV.

The court had earlier found that Zee was not providing TataSky its channel feeds on a non-discriminatory basis, a pronouncement which legal experts say could even lead to the cancellation of Zee‘s license.

However, TataSky legal counsel told the court that Turner was actively involved for all these months of negotiations and court hearings and it could not walk out when the judgement held the group a defaulter.

Tdsat had held that all the Zee companies had defaulted, and yesterday TataSky argued that Turner International (India) was also a defaulter in the case.

“It hardly matters whether the channels are provided to us by their agent or the owner itself,” said the counsel, adding that as per the Indian Contract Act, a master is liable for the act done by his agent.”

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal bench asked Turner (India) why it had support Zee-Turner non-sharing of signal with TataSky. “You could have taken an independent stand,” it added.

The next hearing of the case has been slated for July.

NEW DELHI: All the 17 major Doordarshan Kendras were fully digitized during the 10th Plan period, information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha today.

In reply to a question, the minister said 48 major All India Radio (AIR) stations are proposed to be provided with hard disc based system along with server and storage systems as part of the modernization plan. Of these, 14 are in North Zone, 13 in West Zone, 10 in South Zone, six in North East and five in East Zone.

There is also a proposal to modernize and open new small studios. Thirty small studios have been partially digitalized during the 10th Plan period and a new small studio is under implementation at Tirupati as part of the continuing schemes.

Low end hard disc systems are to be provided at 61 AIR stations. Of these, 16 are in North Zone, nine each in North East and East Zones, 15 in West Zone and 12 in South Zone.

AIR has planned three new studios at Medium Wave (MW) stations, two at FM stations, and one new FM transmitter in different parts of the country. Apart from this, provision has been made for 24 small studios at new FM transmitter sites.