ITV

Category: Technology

  • Gemini FX purchases three Pablo Rio 4K color and finishing systems

    Gemini FX purchases three Pablo Rio 4K color and finishing systems

    MUMBAI: Gemini FX, the Chennai-based digital film operation and part of the giant Gemini Industries and Imaging group, has purchased three turnkey Quantel Pablo Rio 4K color and finishing systems. One of the systems is equipped with the Neo color panel, and two with compact Neo Nano panels. Gemini now has a total of 12 Quantel color correction and finishing systems making it the largest Quantel-based post facility in India.

     

    Pablo Rio is Quantel’s high quality color and finishing system that provides the ultimate productive post workflow. Pablo Rio runs on high performance PC hardware and exploits NVIDIA Maximus multi-GPU technology to deliver true interactivity and maximum productivity, with realtime performance at 4K 60p and beyond. Pablo Rio is available as software only and as a range of Quantel-backed turnkey systems.

     

    “Quantel systems have been at the heart of our digital film workflow since 2009,” said Mr Manohar Prasad, Managing Director at Gemini Industries & Imaging Ltd & Group of Companies. “At Gemini, we pride ourselves on giving our customers stunning results on screen, delivered quickly and efficiently. With the industry rapidly moving to 4K and beyond, we needed to ensure that we are able to meet our all our customers’ needs now and into the future. Pablo Rio, with its proven realtime 4K and 6K operation and its comprehensive color and finishing workflow, is the natural choice to take Gemini forward.”

     

    Quantel Sales Director, Martin Mulligan, said, “Gemini has been a Quantel customer for many years and continues to stand at the forefront of southern India’s post production industry. We are delighted they have once again chosen Quantel post systems as they look to a 4K future and beyond.”

  • Axom Communications aims to install 1 million STBs in NE

    Axom Communications aims to install 1 million STBs in NE

    KOLKATA: Assam based multi-system operator (MSO), Axom Communications and Cable, which already boasts of around six lakh cable TV connections in the state including the lower and central parts, is aiming to spruce up its digitisation drive.

     

    By the end of the phase IV of digitisation, it aims to install one million set top boxes (STBs) not only in Assam but also in other states of the north-eastern region.

     

    Axom Communications and Cable director Sanjive Narain says that the MSO has already installed the digital headend in the year 2009 and has laid down the fiber connectivity linking around 250 kms from three sides of Guwahati, the commercial hub of Assam. The setup of the digital headend was supported by Cisco, from whom Axom would be purchasing STBs as well. 

     

    “We aim to have a million boxes seeded by the end of 2015. We have around 10 analogue headends and one digital headend,” he says. According to sources, the MSO had spent Rs 3 crore for installing the digital headend.

     

    Out of 6 lakh connections, more than 70,000 cable homes have been converted into digital mainly in Guwahati, even before the digitisation process has started in the state.

     

    The seven sisters come under phase III and IV of digitisation. “Right now the process has not started in the true sense but the industry is getting ready,” adds Narain. He expects the current deadline of December 2014 to be extended as well. This could be because the government is addressing the loopholes witnessed in phases I and II.

     

    “Fibre network connectivity work is still progressing in states like Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya to name a few,” he adds.

     

    The north east terrain is such that cable TV cannot reach everywhere. Therefore DTH made a sizeable penetration in this market. “We will convert the DTH subscribers into cable by giving a lucrative option to consumers,” he says adding that the MSO may charge Rs 250 plus tax for offering 350 channels.

     

    As far as the funding for the undertaking is concerned, Cisco’s capital arm is one of the options amongst others such as private equity or JVs with other parties.

  • ‘Aata Majhi Satakli’: Unleash Singham’s fury with two exciting games based on the much awaited movie Singham Returns

    ‘Aata Majhi Satakli’: Unleash Singham’s fury with two exciting games based on the much awaited movie Singham Returns

    MUMBAI: ‘Aata Majhi Satakli’, that’s right you’ll be hearing a lot of it alongside ferocious lions roaring while you play supercop ‘Bajirao Singham’ with two exciting games that have been launched to enthrall gamers. At one moment you could be riding a sports car on a high speed action packed mobile racing game and in the next you could be in an exciting and thrilling running chase behind villains on the streets of Mumbai. The two games are based on the most anticipated movie of this year and it sure won’t disappoint you.

    On the running action thriller, Singham Returns – The Game, players can test their reflexes and collect coins as they jump, kick enemies and wield the famous Singham belt. The game features five stunning and beautiful environments of Mumbai City. Your villains have no chance as the fearless Singham unleashes his rage and hops on a police bullet chasing down his enemies. The game has been localized into Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada so players across India can enjoy the full gaming experience in their vernacular.

    Reliance Games is also excited with their partnership with Roosh Interactive for Singham Returns – TakeDown. This 3D racing game pops open a real map based on your phones geo-location and plots in other players playing the game awaiting a challenge. A selection of rides from exotic sport cars to even a military grade tank makes you feel indestructible.

    “Our vision for India has been to launch a bouquet of games that appeals to the diverse tastes of Indian mobile gaming audiences. Singham Returns presents the perfect opportunity to develop exciting games around a hugely popular movie IP that has captured the imagination of Indian fans worldwide. Gamers can now partake in the same excitement and energy as Bajirao Singham while playing on their mobile devices,” said Manish Agarwal, CEO of Reliance Games

    Deepak Ali, CEO of Roosh Interactive said “It has been a pleasure to partner with Reliance Games for Singham Returns – TakeDown and we look forward to many such associations in the future to launch exciting gaming titles in India”

     

    Celebrate this Independence Day by downloading these thrilling games and unleash the inner lion in you!

  • Xbox One TV tuner to launch in Europe in October

    Xbox One TV tuner to launch in Europe in October

    MUMBAI: Microsoft recently announced that it is going to release a digital TV tuner adapter to allow people in Europe to experience premium live TV features on Xbox One. Launching in October in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the UK, the digital TV tuner adapter will allow European Xbox One owners to turn their consoles into a TV set-top box.

     

    Announcing the news on its website, Xbox said, “Xbox One users in those markets will get an over-the-air digital terrestrial TV experience through the USB single tuner, an alternative to accessing TV content from a cable or satellite set-top box connected through the HDMI-In port. The new digital TV tuner will also support free-to-air DVB-T, DVB-T2 and DVB-C television standards.”

     

    This will give users the features like voice control through OneGuide, watching TV while in Snap mode, pause live TV, viewing TV listings in the OneGuide, OneGuide on Xbox SmartGlass , creating personal favourite channels and even checking TV On demand.

     

    The Xbox One Digital TV tuner will go on sale priced at Euro 24.99 in the UK and Euro 29.99 in France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

  • Google buys new startups-Emu and Directr

    Google buys new startups-Emu and Directr

    MUMBAI: Google recently acquired two start-up companies; a movie making app Directr and a messaging app Emu. The acquisitions were made to augment its messaging technology and its video advertising business.

     

     The move was confirmed by the Emu team on its website. The announcement said, “As of 25 August 2014, we’ll be shutting down the Emu app. It will no longer be available in the App Store and existing users won’t be able to send, receive or download messages.”

     

    Founded by a former employee of Apple and Google Gummi Hafsteinsson and Dave Feldman, who previously worked for Microsoft and Yahoo, Emu, the instant mobile messaging app also integrates Siri or Google Now-like virtual assistant.

     

     “We know it’s an inconvenience and we regret that,” Emu said on its website.

     

    The Emu messenger app made its debut on Android in October last year, while the Emu for iPhone app began in April this year.

     

    Google’s YouTube unit acquired a mobile-video app Directr- a two-year old company used by small businesses to create marketing promotional videos. According to an announcement by the company, the app will now be available free without the in-app fees, which was up to $500 for the premium offering.

     

    Corroborating the acquisition, the Directr team said “We are incredibly excited to take the next step on that journey and announce that we are joining the video ads team at YouTube. For now, everything you love about Directr is staying the same and we’ll continue to focus on helping businesses create great video quickly and easily. One immediate bonus: Directr will soon be all free, all the time.”

     

    Directr offers a mobile app for Apple iOS platform that makes it easy for small businesses to shoot, edit and upload short videos. It assists users with frame selection and building a storyboard, adding background music, and subtitles. The Directr iOS apps come in two variants; one for personal use and one for business.

     

    YouTube also declared the acquisition on Google+ saying, “Directr is joining the YouTube ads team, where they’ll help us make it easier for advertisers to create and upload awesome videos.”

  • Broadcast & Media Technology 2014 makes a Good Beginning

    Broadcast & Media Technology 2014 makes a Good Beginning

    MUMBAI: Broadcast & Media Technology 2014, South India’s First International Exhibition on Broadcast Equipment and Technology was held on 18 & 19 July at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. Organised by All India Broadcst Manufacturers and Distributors Association, AIBMDA, and supported by ITPO and FICCI, the exhibition was attended by 28 leading Indian companies representing more than 100 foreign principals from 25 countries. Some of the companies that displayed their latest range of products and services at the exhibition were AGIV India, BECIL, Benchmark Broadcast, CDM Technologies, Canara Lighting, Cineom Broadcast, Datapoint Impex, Datavideo Technologies, Falcon Technologies, Harman International, Hytech Communications, Ideal Broadcasting, Ikegami, MediaGuru, Netweb Technologies, Panasonic, Pranav Mediatech, Prime Tech Communications, Real Image, Ross Video, SRSG Broadcast, Setron India, Singh World, Visual Technologies and WASP3D.

     

    Right from the time the exhibition was thrown open to visitors, a constant stream of  engineers and professionals from radio and TV channels in Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram strolled into the brightly lit exhibition hall. Among the dignitaries who visited the show were Mr. R. Roshan Baig, Hon. Minister for Infrastructure Development & Information, Govt. of Karnataka, who specially flew to Chennai to see the exhibition, Mr. N. Thiyagrajan, Chief Engineer South Zone, Doordarshan and members of the press. Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Hon. Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India wished the exhibition well. Mr. Jawhar Sircar, CEO Prasar Bharati, who was scheduled to inaugurate the exhibition but could not make it due to the ongoing parliament session, also sent his best wishes for the success of the exhibition.

     

    Feedback received at the end of the exhibition revealed that the exhibition, spread over an area of 1,000 sqm, was appreciated by exhibitors and over 700  quality visitors who visited it over a period of two days. What they liked most was the conducive atmosphere provided by the hotel for holding meaningful discussions between buyers and sellers. When contacted, Mr. Satish Aggarwal, President, AIBMDA said ‘We plan to double the size of the exhibition next year’.  ‘But only after a thorough review and consultation with our members’ added Mr. S. C. Oberoi, Secretary, AIBMDA.

  • Broadcom to supply HEVC SoC for Tata Sky Ultra HD STBs

    Broadcom to supply HEVC SoC for Tata Sky Ultra HD STBs

    MUMBAI: Broadcom Corporation has announced that it will be providing its BCM7252 high efficiency video codec (HEVC) H.265 system-on-chip (SoC) to Tata Sky. This will be utilised in the DTH operator’s Ultra HD set top boxes (STBs).

     

    Tata Sky and Technicolor have teamed up to design and deploy its 4K STBs by 2015. Broadcom’s HEVC-enabled chipsets provide the compression and high-throughput required by operators and OEMs to rapidly introduce Ultra HD subscriber hardware and content. The Broadcom BCM7252 Ultra HD SoC improves coding efficiency and reduces video bandwidth usage by 50 per cent.

     

    “We are committed to delivering an innovative and world class TV viewing experience. With the arrival of HEVC technology, our subscribers will soon be some of the first in the region to experience the live-action quality that only Ultra HD can provide,” said Tata Sky MD and CEO Harit Nagpal. “As Ultra HD TVs continue to become more affordable and Ultra HD content becomes more widely available, we anticipate increased subscriber demand for Ultra HD-capable set top boxes.”

     

    “Technicolor is at the forefront of Ultra HD, working to enhance the Ultra HD experience on all screens by providing content preparation and 4K image certification for high quality STBs and video gateways. By leveraging Broadcom’s advanced Ultra HD devices with integrated HEVC compression technology, we can deliver 4K resolution at a frame rate of 60 frames-per-second while substantially reducing the bandwidth required for video transmission, and providing the advanced features and capabilities needed to enable the ultimate home viewing experience,” said Technicolor Connected Home Division senior vice president APAC Georges Laplanche.

     

    “As consumer interest in Ultra HD continues to grow, Broadcom is delivering advanced devices with market-specific features and price points that allow consumers to enjoy an enhanced viewing experience regardless of their geography,” said Broadcom senior vice president marketing BCG Rich Nelson. “Broadcom continues to demonstrate its commitment to furthering the Ultra HD ecosystem across the globe, providing the innovation required by our customers to drive this technology quickly into the market, particularly as lower-cost Ultra HD TVs drive consumer awareness.”

     

    Key Features of the BCM7252 Ultra HD SoC

    •    High-performance dual-core Brahma15 10000 DMIPs ARMv7 processors

    •    2180p60 or dual 1080p60 decode and transcode capabilities

    •    Integrated connectivity peripherals including USB 3.0, PCIe, Gigabit Ethernet and MoCA 2.0

    •    Highest level of platform security, content protection and DRM robustness

    •    Dual display allowing presentation of two simultaneous video channels from the same STB via independent HDMI outputs and remote control devices

    •    Dedicated interfaces to a range of Broadcom companion front end cable, DOCSIS, satellite and 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices

  • InFocus appoints Visual Display as its national distributor

    InFocus appoints Visual Display as its national distributor

    MUMBAI: InFocus, the manufacturer of digital display technology and interactive touch-screen devices in the US, has appointed New Delhi based Visual Display Solutions as the national distributor in India for its projector range.

     

    InFocus’s tie-up with Visual Display Solutions is part of its business expansion strategy to meet the rising demand of digital projectors in the Indian market. InFocus is offering a dedicated range of digital projectors to the Indian market. Various innovative models with high brightness, contrast, long lamp life and advance projection technologies differentiate the US brand from the contemporary rivals to a great extent. In the early few quarters, InFocus is going to target industries like education, home entertainment, PSUs and corporate in metros and tier I and II cities.

     

    Visual Display Solution director Sanjay Dhuria said, “We are very excited to partner with InFocus, this partnership will add more depth to our product range. With InFocus’s wide range of cost effective and technologically superior products, we shall be able to address variety of customers from multiple industries.”

     

    InFocus APAC region sales manager Harsh Pandey added, “With this partnership we shall enhance our geographical reach and cater to the vast unexplored Indian market. We remain committed to offer our world class technology products to India; the world’s second largest market.”

  • Vh1 goes mobile

    Vh1 goes mobile

    MUMBAI: Vh1, India’s coolest destination for international entertainment, is set to step out of television sets and go mobile with the launch of Vh1 Mobile-app. Smartphone users now have the opportunity to tune-in to exciting international entertainmentas well as their favourite content from the channelwhile in transit.

    The launch of Vh1 Mobile App makes the best of English entertainment and international content available for FREE on iOS,Android, Windows as well as Nokia X series, customized for both, mobile and tablet users.

    TheVh1 mobile-app gives music-enthusiasts a chance to experience the awesomeness of Vh1 on the go by making videos and episodes of shows airing on the channel available on the website. Apart from music and videos, the mobile-app also links users to featured articles as well as live twitter feeds by their favourite artistes, making all important music-related information available on one page.

    The mobile app will additionally provide information such as the best of gigs taking place around town, gripping Celebrity gossip, regular Entertainment news, VH1 top music charts and much more.

    Announcing the Vh1 mobile app launch, Ferzad Palia, EVP & Head – English Entertainment, Viacom18 says, “The emergence of smartphones has revolutionized the way entertainment is consumed by viewers.With the launch of Vh1 Mobile-app, we aim to further engage with the youth on-the-move. This launch helps take the brand Vh1 a step ahead by offering the best of English entertainment through just one-touch on their screens.”

    Commenting on the offering of Vh1 Mobile app, Rajneel, VP & Business Head – Digital Media, viacom18 says, “The launch of Vh1 Mobile App is a more effective way to connect with today’s screen-agers. This audience is constantly on-the-move and heavily dependent on technology. The mobile app is not restricted to being just an extension of the channel; Vh1 Mobile App offers the best of international content that is not even available on the channel. The app is designed to be user-friendly and is regularly refreshed ensuring users are offered updated content at all times.”
    Known for offering the best of international music and entertainment, the launch of Vh1 mobile-app makes it convenient for all music-enthusiasts to carry their entertainment wherever they go!

  • Videocon d2h and Broadcom partner for HD service

    Videocon d2h and Broadcom partner for HD service

    MUMBAI: A few weeks after Videocon d2h familiarised Indians with 4K Ultra HD technology, it has now announced an official deal with Broadcom, which is a leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, for growing its HD service.

     

    The DTH provider has selected Broadcom’s integrated satellite set top box (STB) system-on-a-chip (SoC) device to power its HD digital video recorder (DVR). Broadcom’s BCM7358 HD satellite STB SoC enables the operator to fasten the deployment of its HD STBs with reduced design complexity, size and cost.

     

    Videocon d2h’s DVR is capable of recording on a USB device with digital picture quality and 1080p resolution. The HD USB DVR is supported by Broadcom’s BCM7358 single-channel 1080p HD advanced video coding (AVC) satellite receiver chip, featuring a high performance CPU and graphics engine, digital living network alliance (DLNA) connectivity support and advanced security functionality.

     

    Says Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera, “The silicon innovation that Broadcom provides has been a key factor in our continued success in delivering rich content to our growing subscriber base. We’re leveraging a variety of Broadcom STB silicon throughout our portfolio and plan to extend our manufacturing capabilities to meet the needs of other cable operators in the region.”

     

    “The Indian television market is undergoing a major transition and operators such as Videocon d2h are leading the charge in dramatically improving the quality and variety of content delivery,” adds Broadcom India senior director of business development Rajiv Kapur. “As an established leader in STB silicon innovation around the world, Broadcom is delivering the technology required for a growing number of consumers to enjoy more sophisticated features such as HD quality content, digital video recording and on-demand services.”

     

    IHS Technology states that STB industry revenue will reach a record $ 22.8 billion in 2015, driven largely by growth in emerging markets and subscriber demand for HD content. “As pay-TV operators move to accommodate changes in delivery platforms and formats, including the adoption of HD, STB shipments will continue to rise, hitting record levels for the next few years,” said IHS Technology director for connected home research Daniel Simmons.

     

    “Technology-based service differentiation is becoming increasingly important for pay-TV operators in emerging regions, as these markets begin to mature and saturate. Transitioning subscribers from SD to HD at minimal cost will be critical for driving further pay-TV growth in emerging markets.”