ITV

Category: Software

  • Stay continues in Karnataka and Gujarat as courts adjourn hearing to 10 April

    Stay continues in Karnataka and Gujarat as courts adjourn hearing to 10 April

    NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The stay on digitisation of cable television will continue in six cities of Gujarat and Karnataka as the High Courts in both the states decided to continue hearing tomorrow of the petitions filed against the digital addressable system (DAS) on the ground of shortage of set top boxes (STBs).

    The stay on switching off analogue signals has been put off till further orders in the cities of Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara as the counsel for the Union of India could not appear for the hearing due to personal reasons. The matter has been adjourned for tomorrow.

    Justice Rajesh Shukla of the Gujarat High Court directed the petitioner Cable Operators Association of Gujarat through its president Pramod Pandya to file by tomorrow his rejoinder to the affidavit filed by the Information & Broadcasting ministry.

    Justice S Abdul Nazeer of the Karnataka High Court also extended the stay in Bengaluru and Mysore after the hearing writ petition filed by the Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association (KSCOA) remained inconclusive. The hearing will continue tomorrow.

    The petitioners, Karnataka State Cable TV Operators (KSCOA), and one set of respondents -the MSOs‘ legal representatives – finished their arguments in the matter that ran throughout the day.

    It is now the turn of the other respondents – the Union of India through I&B ministry and the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) to present their arguments against the writ petition tomorrow.

    The IBF has impleaded itself as a party in both Gujarat and Karnataka, primarily to argue that there should be no delay in implementation of DAS.

    In its petition, the Cable Operators Association of Gujarat has said that there is shortage of set top boxes and no clarity on acquisition of these boxes.

    The Government has already switched off the analogue television signals in Phase II from the midnight of 31 March.
    Pandya said over phone from Ahmedabad that STBs ordered from China had failed to arrive because of internal problems in that country and therefore the local cable operators could not be penalized for this.

    As reported earlier, KSCOA filed a writ petition against the implementation of the second phase of the Digital Addressable System (DAS) that was to be implemented on 1 April onwards in Bengaluru. Other petitions filed against DAS in Mysore and some other LCOs were clubbed together.

    Meanwhile, digitisation has also been stayed in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam and the case is coming up for hearing before the Andhra Pradesh High Court next week.

  • DTH players revise subscription packages upwards

    DTH players revise subscription packages upwards

    MUMBAI: Bogged down by multiple taxation and regular hikes in taxes like service and entertainment, Indian direct-to-home (DTH) service providers have decided to pass on the burden to their customers.

    DTH operators like Dish TV, Tata Sky, Airtel digital TV and Videocon d2h are raising base pack prices. In the case of Dish TV and Videocon d2h, the uptick is to the tune of 10 per cent for all their packages.

    They say an increase is inevitable as they have been absorbing taxes for far too long and the industry viability itself is coming into question because the players have been bleeding.

    Airtel digital TV has hiked its base pack price from Rs 158 to 175 per month effective 9 April. Videocon d2h’s price hike comes into effect from 10 April. Dish TV was the first to hike prices of monthly subscription packages by 10 per cent effective 4 April.

    Tata Sky has increased prices for individual plans unlike the uniform hike by Dish TV and Videocon d2h. Some like Reliance Digital TV are still adopting a wait and watch policy.

    However, the DTH operators have also provided price protection to their customers by giving them an option to save money by recharging for a longer duration.

    Under the regulation, existing customers are protected from a price hike which can only be implemented after six months from the day it comes into effect.

    Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor says that DTH operators were absorbing the burden of service tax till now and have decided to pass it on to the customers to reduce that burden.

    “We have hiked prices by 10 per cent across the board. We are just passing the burden of service tax on to the customers,” says Kapoor.

    Tata Sky MD and CEO Harit Nagpal is of the opinion that the price hike is not just about service and entertainment tax.

    “The input costs have gone up, the cost of content has also gone up plus there is inflation. The DTH operators have been dropping prices till now so this (price hike) is just one little step in the right direction by DTH operators,” explains Nagpal.

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera elucidates: “Service tax has been increased and entertainment tax in many states has also been increased so we are gradually passing the burden on to the customers.”

    A Reliance Digital TV spokesperson said that the company is evaluating hiking prices, “Yes, we are at present evaluating different options. At this stage, it is difficult to say how much would it be and when,” the spokesperson states.

    The spokesperson adds, “Also, as an industry we are heavily burdened with statutory levies (to the extent of around 35 per cent) – the recent decision to increase the Customs Duty on STBs by 5 per cent has only added to this burden.”

     

  • Lukup Media introduces on-demand TV service

    Lukup Media introduces on-demand TV service

    MUMBAI: Lukup Media has launched on-demand TV service powered by the Lukup Player, a hybrid set top box that delivers both mainstream TV channels and a large catalogue of content that can be viewed on demand.

    The on-demand service is exclusively available on the Lukup Play.

    Lukup Media Director Kallol Borah said, “The Lukup Player is designed to empower the viewer to personalize and take control of their media experience. They get to choose the time, place and device to view the content of their choice.”

    The Lukup Player can be used as an extension to existing set top boxes from DTH and cable operators. It will enable subscribers to view content on multiple TV screens in their homes using a single connection. The Lukup Player will also serve as a wireless hub inside homes, making it capable of streaming content to laptops, tablets and mobile phones. Subscribers can choose to view content on their devices outside home as well.

    According to the company, the Lukup Player’s touch screen based remote control personalises content search, enables personalised channels by importing content from cloud based services, social media sharing, intelligent alerts and recommendations, and multi-touch gaming.

    The product is expected to start shipping from June and will charge users a subscription fee for content that is bundled along with it. It is also available for pre-ordering. Some salient technical features of the product are- HD 1080p and 3D display, support for existing satellite, cable and terrestrial TV connections, WiFi, Ethernet based IP connectivity, unlimited recording and capacitive multi-touch remote control.

  • Techzone gets exclusive mobile rights for Honey Singh’s ‘Bring me back’

    Techzone gets exclusive mobile rights for Honey Singh’s ‘Bring me back’

    MUMBAI: Continuing its efforts to bring authentic mobile music and entertainment content to its consumers, aggregators, developers, publishers and distributors of entertainment Techzone has clinched the exclusive rights for the song-track ‘Bring Me Back’ by Honey Singh.

    The company has entered exclusive right agreement with MTV for providing the song content on mobile and desktop internet. Through this right, Techzone will provide music tracks downloads, videos, ringtones, caller ring back tones and other digital entertainment formats for the song.

    ‘Bring me back’ is the controversial rapper’s latest single hit. Unlike Honey Singh’s other famous party song tracks which have a fun theme to their lyrics, ‘Bring me back’ touches the soul with a hard hitting message, the premise of MTV Spoken Word.

    Techzone MD Naveen Bhandari said, “Yo-Yo Honey Singh is an extremely famous Indian artist and his songs have a mass appeal. Acquiring the exclusive songs for Honey Singh’s ‘Bring me back’ is a very exciting moment for Techzone. The song has already gauged a record of mobile downloads on the first day of the availability which is phenomenal.”

    MTV, India’s leading music channel has a great youth appeal and is followed by youngsters across the country. ‘Bring me back’ was launched by Honey Singh at MTV‘s brand new music show, MTV Spoken Word.

    MTV EVP and business head Aditya Swamy said, “Bring Me Back is a very special collaboration between Honey Singh and MTV and is the opening track on our latest music project MTV Spoken Word. We have always been successful at leveraging platforms beyond television and this partnership with Techzone will ensure the track is available across every single mobile VAS vertical.”

  • Hathway ropes in K V Anand as president – digital platforms

    Hathway ropes in K V Anand as president – digital platforms

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited has appointed former Tata Sky chief service officer (CSO) K V Anand as president – digital platforms.

    Anand will be part of core senior management team and will work across functions like revenue enhancement, subscriber management, CRM capability and leveraging infrastructure across cable and broadband platforms.

    “We are very excited with the opportunities and challenges that will come our way during our transition from a wholesale business to a retail consumer business. We welcome K V Anand who will be part of the core senior management team at Hathway and will work across functions to develop strategies for Revenue Enhancement, Subscriber management, CRM capability and leveraging our infrastructure across Cable and Broadband platforms to introduce new products, services and enhancing customer experience as we begin our journey to be a customer centric organisation,” says Hathway Cable and Datacom MD and CEO Jagdish Kumar.

    Anand comes with rich and varied experience spanning 18 years in the Media/Pay Television industry where he held senior positions in Star TV across Asia and Middle East regions, a short stint at BSkyB in the UK and a long stint at Tata Sky.

    His expertise straddles strategy, design, execution and delivery across all Customer Facing functions relating to CRM, Products /Services management, Billing & Subscriber management, Consumer marketing, Field Services and IT.

    K V Anand was part of the core start-up team that launched Tata Sky‘s DTH service and held the position of CSO at Tata Sky prior to joining Hathway.

  • Ericsson to acquire Microsoft’s IPTV biz Mediaroom

    Ericsson to acquire Microsoft’s IPTV biz Mediaroom

    MUMBAI: Ericsson has reached an agreement with Microsoft to acquire its TV solution Mediaroom business. The acquisition, Ericsson believes, will make it one of the leading providers of IPTV and multi-screen solutions with a market share of over 25 per cent.

    Mediaroom is situated in Mountain View, California and employs more than 400 people worldwide. Ericsson expects to close the acquisition during the second half of 2013.

    Ericsson SVP and Head of Business Unit Support Solutions Per Borgklint said, “Ericsson‘s vision of the Networked Society foresees 50 billion devices to be connected via broadband, mobility and cloud. Future video distribution will have a similar impact on consumer behavior and consumption as mobile voice has had. This acquisition contributes to a leading position for Ericsson with more than 40 customers, serving over 11 million subscriber households. In addition, Ericsson will be powered with senior competence and some of the most talented people within the field of IPTV distribution.”

    The global IPTV market is estimated to reach 76 million subscribers in 2013 with revenues of $32 billion growing to 105 million subscribers and $45 billion in 2015.

    “Mediaroom is the leading platform for video distribution deployed with the world‘s largest IPTV operators. This strategic acquisition positions Ericsson as an industry leader thanks to the skills and experiences of the talented people of Mediaroom combined with Ericsson‘s end to end service capabilities,” Borgklint concluded.

    The total media solution portfolio of Ericsson in the TV and video space combined with a further increased focus on consumer needs will be the foundation for providing services to end users. The importance of video distribution capabilities for the customers and their consumers will be increasing as more and more LTE networks are deployed and filled with smartphone users.

    “We are proud of the number one IPTV market position that we have achieved with Mediaroom. Ericsson‘s complementary portfolio of TV and networking services will help drive the future growth and development of Mediaroom,” said Microsoft Corporation Corporate VP Tom Gibbons. “Ericsson is positioned to be a valuable strategic partner for operators and TV service providers around the world as the IPTV market evolves.”

    Microsoft Mediaroom is the TV technology behind many of the world‘s leading television service providers like AT&T U-verse, Entertain of Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, TELUS Optik TV(TM) and Swisscom. Mediaroom-powered TV services are offered on more than 22 million set top boxes deployed throughout the Americas, EMEA and APAC.

    Ericsson already sees that the ever-changing behaviors of TV consumers are evolving faster than ever. Speed of innovation and intelligent solutions drive consumer propositions in TV anywhere. This development will continue to fuel the industry as convergence becomes reality. The development requires content owners, broadcasters, TV service providers and operators to re-think their propositions.

  • MSM launches Sony Mix in US on Dish Network

    MSM launches Sony Mix in US on Dish Network

    MUMBAI: Sony Mix, Multi Screen Media‘s (MSM) Hindi music channel, has launched on leading US direct-broadcast satellite service provider, Dish Network.

    Moving into the gap created by erstwhile music channels rechristened as ‘youth channels‘ and other music channels dishing out non-music content as interstitial programming, the channel is confident that viewers shall enjoy Mix as a channel that remains true to the music genre.

    Mix also aims to maintain its focus on content by producing packaged shows offering right from user generated content to people profiles executed in the most unmistakably musical fashion.

    Says Sony Entertainment Television (SET) SVP International Business and Head of North America Jaideep Janakiram, “We are proud to announce the launch of our music channel – Mix on DISH Network for the discerning South Asian lovers of Hindi film music. We are confident that MIX will connect with every viewer with its variety of music and special programming. Mix is and shall stay true to music.”

    Dish Network Director of Programming Sruta Vootukuru states, “Sony Mix‘s unique theme-based music format helps Dish deliver a better experience to our customers. Adding the Sony MIX channel compliments Dish‘s robust international programming and enhances our South Asian offerings.”

    In a related development, SET has launched its flagship HIndi general entertainment channel Sony Entertainment on RCN, the all-Digital Cable, Internet & Phone provider in New York City effective 2 April.

    The channel is part of the brand-new RCN “Sona” tier, including other premium South Asian networks.

    “We‘re very excited to announce the launch of Sony Entertainment Television in New York City,” said RCN New York General Manager Bruce Abbott. “It falls perfectly in line with our goal to continually add more networks that provide maximum entertainment and value for our customers.”

    Adds Janakiram, “At Sony Entertainment Television, we continue to lead in ways to make our programming available to the widest possible audience. We are proud to announce the launch of SET Asia on RCN and are committed to bring our viewers the best family entertainment and Bollywood blockbusters.”

  • Dish TV adds Star India’s five HD channels to its bouquet

    Dish TV adds Star India’s five HD channels to its bouquet

    MUMBAI: Dish TV Monday said it has added five new HD channels from Star India bouquet comprising Star Plus HD, Star Gold HD, Star World HD, Star Movies HD, and Life OK HD effective 8 April.

    Star bouquet of HD channels will be included and made available in all existing HD packages starting from Rs. 399. With this addition Dish TV now boasts of 25 HD channels and 17 HD services.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor said, “We are excited to add the most anticipated Star channels bouquet in HD and give our customers a viewing experience that is incredibly lifelike. We recognise that our customers have already been enjoying many of their favorite programmes in HD, and I‘m delighted that we can now broaden their choice with maximum 25 HD channels and 17 HD services.”

  • Prime Focus enhances partnership with deltatre

    Prime Focus enhances partnership with deltatre

    MUMBAI: Global digital media and technology firm, deltatre, and, Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the technology arm of media and entertainment industry services leader Prime Focus, have engaged in a partnership agreement after successfully delivering their first joint project in India, the launch of starsports.com.

    PFT‘s award winning Clear Hybrid Cloud technology platform and digital content services can now be integrated with deltatre‘s digital media technologies including their market leading CMS, Forge, and world renowned data integrated video application, Diva.

    PFT Founder, President and CEO Says Ramki Sankaranarayanan said, “Our customers have been urging us to develop a solution that effectively addresses their need for Over The Top (OTT) platforms and an enhanced consumer experience. We are thrilled to join hands with deltatre to offer our customers a solution that will allow direct consumer outreach and enhanced viewer experience. In this area we are targeting a business of Rs. 100 crore in the next three years.”

    PFT and deltatre have shared local human resources to ensure both teams understand the technologies and have the expertise across the relevant platforms, allowing the best possible coordinated solutions for clients.

    “This new partnership with PFT and our successful Starsports.com project marks our entry in to the Indian market. By working so closely together, our companies benefit from sharing international experiences and knowledge while providing local manpower and expertise to our clients,” says deltatre CCO Paul Bristow.

    The working relationship between the two media companies will provide clients with the most innovative digital solutions using an efficient global workflow at competitive local rates.

  • IBF joins MSOs to oppose DAS extension in Bengaluru and Mysore

    IBF joins MSOs to oppose DAS extension in Bengaluru and Mysore

    NEW DELHI: The   Foundation (IBF) has got itself involved in the on-going legal battle between MSOs and LCOs over extension of digitisation deadline in Bengaluru and Mysore.

    The apex body of television broadcasters has impleaded itself in the case contending that there are no grounds for extending the government mandated cable TV digitisation in these two cities.

    IBF president Man Jit Singh confirmed that the IBF has impleaded itself in the case without getting into the specifics of the case.

    MSOs including Hathway Cable & Datacom, InCable, Den Networks, Siti Cable and Atria Convergence Technologies, who have been made party to the case, are opposed to extension of deadline in both the cities.

    The Karnataka High Court (HC) has posted the matter again for hearing on Tuesday which means that the interim order granted earlier restraining MSOs from disconnecting analog signals continues for another day in both the cities.

    The Karnataka Cable TV Operators Association (KCTVOA) and Mysore Cable TV Operators Association (MCTVOA) had filed separate petitions seeking extension of digitisation in Bengaluru and Mysore respectively due to unavailability of set-top boxes (STBs).

    However, the Karnataka HC is hearing both the petitions together.

    The sunset date for phase II of digitisation covering 38 cities including Bengaluru and Mysore was 31 March However the Information & Broadcasting ministry on 2 April allowed a 15 day grace period to the industry to allow smooth transition from analogue to digital cable.