ITV

Category: Technology

  • Irdeto to help ETV make the transition to pay

    SINGAPORE: Irdeto, which works in the area of providing content security for digital TV, IPTV and mobile networks, has announced that ETV has chosen its digital TV solution to help protect ETV and ETV2 as they get converted from free-to-air to pay TV services.


    ETV VP operations K. Bapineedu says, “ETV and ETV2 are known for providing the best of family entertainment and leading edge news, and thus, it was crucial that we protect this content with the most robust conditional access solution possible..


    “Irdeto’s reputation as the proven leader in the industry with an unparalleled record of three generations of uncompromised smart cards in the market was key in our decision to go with their content security solution.”


    Irdeto CEO Graham Kill said, “Leading broadcasters like ETV-Network realise that content security plays a key role in securing revenue. Irdeto offers a choice in proven content security solutions that support many different business models creating new business opportunities for content owners and network operators.”


    Irdeto’s India country manager Rahul Nehra says, “We are committed to curtailing piracy on local and national levels. In order for ETV-Network to achieve a successful conversion from free-to-air to pay TV services, a tried and tested content protection solution was crucial. We are pleased to be selected by ETV-Network to protect two of its key local-language channels.”

  • What content will work on Mobile still the big question

    SINGAPORE: Though a lot is being said about mobile TV and visual content, yet what sort of content will really make waves is not very clear. At the recently concluded Broadcast Asiat 2006, one saw a considerable interest amongst vendors and operators, including broadcasters for the reduction of commercial mobile television services. Basically two methods are being used streaming and broadcasting.


    For broadcasting, a number of standards have been developed to offer mobile broadcast TV, including DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T and NediaFLO.


    Speaking on a session on synergies and convergance on mobile TV, on how to optimise content for the mobile, Laurant Weill, president Visiware said, “The idea is to make use of interactive tools, and deliver video content on 3G platforms. Content providers should aim to convert mini series into four minute clips or so. Also, try to repurpose the available or create altogether new content. We should also try and summarise the existing standard TV formats. Make automatic clips of a existing news programming as conusmers want to see a V-navigator experience.”


    I-pop executive VP Colin Miles added, “The applications have to be synchronized with the existing TV shows and thanks to use of sms we already have interactive audience who will be more than willing to try new content.”


    While mobile TV services are in their infancy and both research and adoption levels suggest that in the medium term they have potential to generate significant revenues, Juniper Research believes that the total market for streamed and broadcast TV services will increase from $136 million to more than $7.6 billion by 2010.


    NPTV marketing director Laurent Chouraqui was of the opinion that the number of standards developed to offer mobile broadcasters including DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T amd MediaFlo will help the synchronization of TV content. But over a period of time content users should ease the creation of mobile content for consumers. Make automatic clips of a existing news programming as consumers want to see a V-navigator experience.


    He added, “Linear content will not work on Mobile. New and interesting content will have to be developed. Like, for example the best moments of the World Cup. So, the challenge is really is developing fone minute content, special teasers and mini series.”

  • HDTV: Double digit growth expected over next 5 years

    SINGAPORE: A recent study by US-based IMS Research estimates that by the end of 2010, nearly 87 million households worldwide would be capable of watching HDTV programming.


    At a session on the Future of High Definition Television, it was pointed out that HDTV is becoming an important offering for cable and satellite TV providers. IMS research estimated that last year, about 20.6 million HDTV players were shipped worldwide. The double-digit growth expected in the market over the next five years will result in a forecast of nearly 60 million HDTV displays shipped by 2010.


    Elaborating on the recent trends, Millette Burgos of Asia Pacific Broadcast said, “Depending on the country and the government, initiatives such as FCC‘s Digital Tuner mandate in the US and the HDTV broadcasting quotas in Australia and South Korea, are often the key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets.”


    Countries like Australia and South Korea are proving to be the key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets as they have integrated tuning capacity. While growth in HD monitors will continue in a market where pay TV operators sell or rent the HD set-top box or HD DKR as part of the HDTV service package.


    Often HDTV sets would not be enabled for pay-TV platforms, but are capable of receiving only free-to-air programmes. Of course, exceptions will exist in countries like US and S Korea where cable platforms are standardizing on Cablelabs Digital Cable ready standard.


    “The good news is that many of the adoption impediments of HDTV are now being eliminated,” said IMS research market analyst Jack Mayo. “As HD content increases in availability, equipment costs drop and compression standards improve so we‘re likely to see more operators implement HDTV.”

  • Trai releases draft on quality of service norms for CAS Areas

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today released a draft regulation on quality of service for CAS areas.


    The draft regulation covers areas like fresh connection, transfer and shifting of cable television service, complaint handling and redressal, billing procedure and complaints, STB-related issues and complaints, change in position of channels and taking channels off the air and technical standards.


    The industry can also send its feedback to the regualor on the draft regulation, which are aimed at streamlining norms for CAS and formualting a standardised agreements amongst industry stakeholders like broadcasters and MSOs and MSOs and cable operators.

  • Disney channels now available on Thailand’s True IPTV

    MUMBAI: : A partnership deal has been signed between Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) and True Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd. to make Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney Channel available on True IPTV, slated to start this month.


    True IPTV Thailand‘s Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) provider, is a pay-TV service with an ‘a la carte‘ pricing model. It is available to viewers at a monthly subscription of Baht120 (US$3) for each of the commercial-free Disney channels, informs an official release.


    Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific) Senior VP and MD Nicky Parkinson said, “It has been Disney‘s strategic focus to develop compelling content and utilize leading-edge technologies in response to consumer demands of getting quality entertainment experiences in the most relevant way. IPTV is anticipated to be a major entertainment platform in Thailand and we are extremely excited to work with True, an innovative industry player providing the first IPTV here, to embrace this fast-growing opportunity and bring our two branded channels to Thai kids and families.”


    Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) MD Raymund Miranda said, “Being responsive to the technological advances of TV programming distribution is a priority for us at Disney Television and the launch of our channels on True IPTV marks an exciting milestone in our business in Southeast Asia. In the long-term, IPTV is expected to penetrate 55 per cent share of the Thai TV market and we look forward to working with True IPTV, the leader in this space, to make that forecast a reality.”


    True IPTV was launched by True Corporation Plc, Thailand‘s integrated telecom operator providing fixed line telephone, mobile, broadband and multimedia services. The company plans to expand its operations in Thailand to reach out to local audiences through selected animated programming on both Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney Channel which are dubbed in Thai. Also, number of live-action series have Thai subtitling. In addition, an English language feed is also available in appropriate areas, adds the release.


    Commenting on the partnership, True Corporation Plc MD Thiti Nantapatsiri said, “We‘re pleased to have the two Disney channels on our new IPTV offering and we‘re confident that our growing number of subscribers will enjoy Disney‘s unique brand of quality entertainment.”

  • How to ride the digital radio wave – tips for tradional radio stations

    SINGAPORE: With music content being distributed across the internet, mobile and wireless technology in the near future; the radio advertising market is expected to erode further in the fragmented space.


    Also, with new narrowcasting services like podcasting, and consumers customiizing music videos of their own choice, what are the different needs of the new audiences, their business sustainability and revenue generation opportunities.


    Gerd Leonhard, Music and Media Futurists lists down certain key lessons which came across from the special session on digital radio.


    *Music companies- be visible on the net- Make your own videos and put them on Youtube, Revver, Video and Google before they do it. Get your own online radio station. Get global CD distribution (CDBaby, Amazon etc) and offer your own ringtones. Also, don‘t forget to get global digital distribution and keep bloging your band‘s life. (Zebralution, Orchard,


    *Look beyond the traditional revenue streams- With different devices and music videos on demand available, tie up with all the possible media companies, wireless service providers. Look at charging a flat fee for content, along with digital music licenses.


    *What‘s in it for content creators – Niche market and mobile powered stars will emerge. Also, social networking sites will become more important for selling music than TV or Radio. More and more consumers will create customized music with interactive software. Major artists might even leave their record labels and look for directdeals as agents will thrive


    *Broadband internet will seriously hurt traditional radio. Just a glimpse of the future that is already here – Just to list out some of the initiatives. There is MyRadio: www.Pandora.com, BBC Creative Futures inititative, Google videos, Nokia Visual Radio www.visualradio.com


    *Understand the new consumer


    MY Schedule – Time-Shifting (anytime anywhere)


    MY Location – Full Mobility (NOT just on PC!)


    MY Device – Full Compatibility between devices and services


    MY Deal – ‘Payment Shifting‘ means Feels Like Free Music


    MY Playlists – ‘Editor‘ Shifting‘ – now, the USER selects


    MY Edits – Peer Produced Content / Re-Mixing


    * What‘s the crucial paradigm shift- Mobile music commerce will out number commerce, A new middle class of musicians will come up. Also, wireless broadband will dominate. Sharing amd viral marketing will grow and artists will have to reach their fans no matter what.

  • Digital radio is where it’s at

    SINGAPORE: Looks like it‘s time for traditional radio stations in India to pull up their socks, as digital and internet radio is already being lapped up by about 50 million music lovers across the world.


    Not just that, but new ways of accessing music, (via wireless and Internet) has brought in a paradigm shift in the functioning of the traditional audio medium…


    Just a quick dekko at some facts and sweeping changes. With Podcasting gaining ground, interactive and savvy consumers are creating their own customized radio stations online. We already have have more than 40,000 radio stations podcasting live; which is a disturbing fact considering that there are only 30,000 traditional radio stations across the world. Also, the success of sites like myspace.com have gone on to show that social networking sites will become more important for selling music as compared to TV or Radio.


    Media futurist, & ThinkAndLink, CEO, Gerd Leonhard dwelled at length on the future of radio yesterday, the last day of Broadcst Asia. Addressing a packed audience of professionals from across the world, Leonhard said, “Digital & internet radio is now big in countries like UK, Japan, Korea, Scandinavia and very soon it‘s going to catch on across the world. Traditional radio companies have to accept this and move ahead with the changes.”


    He further added, “The radio industry is touted to be roughly around $ 50 billion a year, constituting around 15 per cent of total advertising revenues. Now, this pie is going to be further fragmented and shared by mobile companies, and even companies like Apple, Google; even mobile companies as well as wireless companies. What has now emerged is that content owners will not hold distribution rights to their content anymore, so the only thing is to accept this and try to monetize from this. So, one will see a a new type of advertising which will be the revenue driver along with the content.


    Some relevant data which emerged from the session was that myspace.com, which currently has 28 billion page views, seems to be more important tpo advertisers than even a heavy rotation on MTV. Also, to listen to music, it‘s the always with you/always on devices that are critical (2 billion mobile users, coupled with 50 million ipods).


    When queried on his views on the Indian radio market, Leonhard said that, India along with China, and some untapped markets in Africa and Middle East will lead the rapid growth.


    Also, with the mobile and technology revolution sweeping India, the rates will fall further and people will access digital radio sooner than even other parts of the world.

  • Casbaa, MPA join hands for content protection in the digital age

    Casbaa, MPA join hands for content protection in the digital age

    SINGAPORE: With technology booming in the television world, one matter that needs immediate attention is protection of pay-TV content. Digital transmission is becoming the norm in the Asia-Pacific pay-television industry. Soon it will become the dominant means of handling content within the home and hence content protection becomes a critical issue for the entire industry.

    The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) technical committee chair and Zieland Group of Companies (New Zealand) chief technology officer Karl K Rossiter threw light on the technical approach to content protection. 

    “Content providers, programme distributors and cable/satellite platform operators need to protect their revenue streams and avoid unauthorised distribution across the internet. This requires technical intervention and the adoption of a united approach to managing the digital output from future generations of set-top boxes (STBs). Manufacturers of those STBs and the chipsets that fill them need to know the technical controls that will be prescribed by platform operators and programme suppliers to protect content. To this end, Casbaa Technical Committee, with assistance from the Motion Picture Association (MPA), has taken up this challenge,” he informed.

    Casbaa Technical Committee has been working in close association with the Asia-Pacific pay-television industry since 2004 and through a formal consultation process with Casbaa members, it has compiled a series of recommendations covering content protection and technical approaches to managing the digital output from new STBs. 

    Rossiter said, “The committee’s approach has been to acknowledge standards for technologies developed by other relevant industry organisations and to incorporate input from manufacturers and operators. The recommendations provide for companies to choose one of a number of technologies, consistent with their commercial interests. On the other hand, the recommendations also incorporate provisions to take account of new technological developments.” 

    Casbaa Technical Committee Recommendations on content protection are as follows:

    For Video-On-Demand (VOD), Pay-Per-View (PPV), Pay TV and other encrypted digital programming:

    1) The ability of a STB to receive and honor usage rules signaling from the broadcaster that may include copy control, redistribution control, content output resolution controls, and content output enabling controls;

    2) The ability of a STB to map usage rules signaling information from the broadcast to the appropriate equivalent signaling in any content outputs;

    3) A standardised set of allowed digital content outputs for display purposes and for digital home networking have been identified.

    4) A standardised set of allowed analog content outputs has been identified

    For retransmission of unencrypted programming, for example, free-to-air broadcasts, over multi-channel broadcast systems such as cable and satellite:

    1) A method for controlling the unauthorised redistribution of such programming comprising one of the following:

    i. Encryption of the retransmitted free-to-air broadcasts, or other unencrypted programming, over the satellite, cable or “other” system and use of the same redistribution control solution established for VOD, PPV, PayTV and other encrypted digital programming; or

    ii. In consultation with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), implementation of a Redistribution Control protection regime that (a) provides a method to signal Redistribution Control in the unencrypted broadcast; (b) includes associated receiver requirements to look for the Redistribution Control signal and abide by it in accordance with output rules, compliance rules and robustness rules; (c) may be defined by an appropriate standards developing organization and (d) is established and required by an appropriate authority.

  • Saregama to open online music store

    MUMBAI: Move over Apple. Music label Saregama India is set to enter the online music market aimed entirely at the “generation on the go”.


    The company is expected to launch the beta version of its online service by the end of June, while the official launch is likely to happen in August, barring any glitches. However, the company is yet to zero in on the name of the service.


    The new venture will be part of the listed entity Saregama India Ltd.


    Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Saregama India VP publishing and new media Atul Churamani says, “Indeed we are marching towards the digital music revolution. We have already singed in 43 South Indian music labels.”


    Through Saregama online music service, songs can be downloaded to PC, copied to CD, mobile, played on a portable iPod or another digital instrument. The company will also make services and features available, including streaming videos, movies, television software, games and e-radio for purchase.


    As music-buffs are hungry to get music from new convenient and flexible sources, Churamani further adds, “We are committed to make a huge music catalogue available online and are in talks with the bigges of the Bollywood industry also to share their music library.”


    Churamani, however, was not forthcoming on the revenue sharing model the company has established with its associates. For the initial period, Saregama will be deriving its revenues through the pay-per-song model (Rs 12/song), according to Churamani. As of now, Saragama has an online bank of 70,000 songs. The software for the new servive has been developed and powered by mobile2win.


    Saregama India already runs a service HamaraCD.com, which provides an option of creating your own audio CDs of your favourite songs. The music company has a vast catalogue cutting across all genres and languages, includes film music, devotional, ghazals and classical music, Indi pop, remixes and regional songs.


    Internationally, the service is already being provided most famously through Apple‘s iTunes. Napster and the recently launched Urge (a tie-up between MTV networks and Microsoft) are also in the online music game.


    For India too, the digital music era is now close at hand.

  • Digital lifestyle, the latest buzz word

    SINGAPORE: There‘s a rather feel-good atmosphere here at Broadcast Asia 2006. The rain gods have stopped their onslaught on Singapore, leaving a slight chill in the air. Though the conference is nearing its fag end, professionals from across the world continue their discussions while sipping endless cups of black coffee with steamed momos.


    Apart from the other sessions on the digital space, Day Four saw a special seminar on Digital Living 2006: Trends in digital Homes & Lifestyle.


    Chalking out the company‘s plans to fuel the growth of digital homes across the world, a Microsoft executive said, “Microsoft‘s Media Center PCs (a digital lifestyle device) have been fuelling the digital lifestyle in the US. Almost every second PC in the US is a Media Center PC and we predict more than 19 million digital homes by 2008 across Europe. In effect we expect an exponential growth rate of more than 1,200 per cent.”


    Well, so what are digital homes? The term connotes huge plasma screens, a remote to orchestrate all the devices and automatic functioning of one‘s home. It is definitely this, but in the present scenario with the proliferation of technology, consumers lapping up devices and digital content, digital home lifestyle concept has also moved much further.


    Today, hardware, software, content and service companies across the world are working hand-in-hand to complete this ecosystem with high-end connectivity and supporting technologies.


    Shedding further light on the concept, Philips MD Emmaneul Dieppedalle said, “The concept has definitely moved away from just entertainment. It is about offering a device which can integrate and personalize all the information that is there. So, along with high-speed Net connections, exchange music, video, and other content and of course video-on-demand,


    He further added, “A lot of the developments are taking place in Japan, Korea and S Asia on the consumer products side; whereas all the innovations on the PC front are happening in the US. Now, the real digital home experience phenomenon will emerge, when we try to combine the best of both the worlds.”


    From the seminar which also comprised of Awox, director and GM, Alexis Martial, Orca Interactive, Alon Laor, VP, Sales and Professional Services, what came across was the digital home is currently receiving a lot of impetus behind it with a lot of people pulling in the same direction.


    What‘s the real value proposition of a digital lifestyle home? Colin Png said, “Currently there are three main hubs of connectivity – the PC, mobile and the consumer items like DVDs, MP3 players, etc. The big challenge is to interconnect all these and bring in a simplified and personalized service which can comprise Digital music, Gaming, Educational tools, Photos with slide shows, MP3 players. Live TV, video on demand record. So, here you can record your favourite TV programme and watch it whenever want. Walk from your bedroom to your living room or take that official call and you will still not miss the last bit of your favourite TV programme.”


    To take their content paradigm further, Microsoft has also tied up with Reuters for content. Here, consumers get very personalised content, which they can browse and choose from the news items along with videos, being delivered on broadband.


    Alon Laor added, “Simply put its all about time shifting and space shifting.” According to Laor, the single biggest challenge is lack of education amongst consumers and lack of connectivity between the different hardware components. Also, we are still not able to offer that one important value proposition to the consumer.


    But then, as Parks Associates USA director of research John Barrett, aptly said, “Consumers too crave for hi-tech technology, but it should be no-fuss technology. Digital homes should be able to make life easier for consumers.”