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Category: Software

  • Indian companies not exploiting full potential of social media: BMI report

    Indian companies not exploiting full potential of social media: BMI report

    BENGALURU: A study by blueocean market intelligence (BMI) has found that Indian companies have a long way to go with respect to maximizing the benefits of social media.

    blueocean market intelligence recently unveiled the results of its ‘2013 Social Effectiveness Index (SEI) 20’, a nationwide study accessing the Social Media Effectiveness of 20 of India’s Most Admired Companies (Fortune India-The Hay group survey). The study incorporated sectors that included IT, ITES, BPO, Oil & Gas, Automotive, Apparel, FMCG, Metals & Mining, Infrastructure, and Auto Components.

    BMI contends that the key challenge for Indian companies is to understand exactly how social media interacts with consumers, enables product and brand recognition, and drives customer acquisition, retention and loyalty. With social media in its nascent stages, there is an undeniable opportunity for companies to create a well-established, customer-centric image.

    BMI says that the SEI 20 ranking methodology is designed to measure business impact by integrating analytics, measurement, and monitoring. It captures conversations across the breadth of social networks and online communities, and correlates their impact with key business metrics such as revenue and brand value. It also directly measures business to consumer interactions in social media, including how Facebook and Twitter drive site visitors and purchase behaviour.

    BMI claims that it employed a comprehensive ranking methodology covering five key parameters that correlate to business metrics such as revenue and brand value. The brand’s share of volume of online conversations, customer engagement rate, depth of customer engagement, number of influencers and advocates on social channels, and net sentiment were measured by capturing conversations across the breadth of all social networks and online communities.

    The 2013 SEI 20 rankings revealed the following as top five performers –
    1. Tata Steel
    2. Tata Motors
    3. Dell India
    4. Tata Consultancy Services
    5. Bosch

  • Reliance Games aquires companies in Korea & Japan

    Reliance Games aquires companies in Korea & Japan

    Mumbai: In a bid to expand its global presence, Reliance Big Entertainment‘s Reliance Games has acquired a mobile game development and publishing company in Japan and a mobile game development studio in Korea.

    The recent ingress of Reliance Games into Japan and Korea will play a pivotal role in the company’s international roadmap. According to the company, the Japanese and Korean business set-ups give Reliance Games direct access to the two largest mobile gaming markets known to the world.

    The company aims to adopt a two pronged approach for the new set-ups; while the Japanese and Korean facilities will develop IPs targeted to local consumers, they will in future also be responsible for R&D of multi-player mobile games for the western markets.

    In Tokyo, Japan, Reliance Big Entertainment has through its subsidiary Reliance Big Entertainment Japan fully acquired the gaming division of Funnel Japan along with its team and all the IPs under development and has created Reliance Games Japan. The company in Japan will be responsible for development and publishing of games for the local market.

    In Busan, Korea, Reliance Big Entertainment Japan has bought a majority stake of 51 per cent in the gaming studio Bluesom. As a part of the deal, the company has also acquired a few IPs.

    Reliance Entertainment Digital CEO Manish Agarwal said, “Reliance Games, after the success of Real Steel and F1 2011 mobile games globally, has embarked on a journey of expanding its business beyond North America markets. With this acquisition in Japan and Korea Reliance Games has made inroads into the world’s largest mobile gaming markets and looks forward to tap the 5.5 Bln USD and 1.3 Bln USD mobile gaming markets of Japan and Korea respectively.”

    “Investment in the development studio at Busan, Korea and in the distribution team at Tokyo, Japan will enable us to develop games for local markets instead of trying to force fit western games in these markets. I have full confidence on teams at Korea and Japan to establish Reliance Games as a very innovative and successful gaming brand,” Agarwal added.

    Reliance Games VP-Global Studios Eric Marlow said, “The Company’s expansion into the Japanese and Korean markets is significant and strategic. We see now a clear path that allows us product and development capacity in both countries. We are extremely excited by the new capabilities added to our team and we think our customers will enjoy the games we are preparing for them.”

    The company has brought on board Hwa Seok Choi in the role of chief revenue officer for Reliance Games Japan.

    Reliance Games will be launching three games in the ‘social card game’ and ‘real time strategy game’ categories, on feature phones and smart devices in the next three quarters in Japan and Korea. Apart from these new games, Reliance Games will also be launching its Hollywood IP based games localised for these markets.

    The company has also created mobile games for IPs like Real Steel, Total Recall, F1 2011, Mirror Mirror and Electric City.

  • Jayaraman to head Zee’s distribution and placement business

    Jayaraman to head Zee’s distribution and placement business

    MUMBAI: Former Hathway Cable & Datacom managing director and CEO K Jayaraman is joining Zee Group as head of distribution and placement business. He will also guide and anchor all such roles across the businesses of the Zee group which requires his specialisation.

    Designated as president, Jayaraman will take over his new role from 12 March and will report directly to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd MD and CEO Punit Goenka.

    He can also advise and guide the directors on the board of Media Pro to maximise the revenue for the distribution company. Media Po is a joint venture between Star Den and Zee Turner.

    “He will be responsible to the promoters of the group in updating and providing necessary heads up on various issues of the domain. He will hold hand and provide all kind of support to the CEO of Siticable business, without getting involved on day to day affairs of the business,” Goenka wrote in an internal note.

    Deepti Verma, who has been leading the initiatives so far, will report to Jayaraman.

    A Chartered Accountant and with more than 15 years experience in the media distribution industry, Jayaram had resigned from Hathway after Jagdish Kumar took over as MD and CEO of the company. Jayaraman was made vice chairman of Hathway, a post he did not accept.

  • Prime Focus to showcase its Clear and digital content services technology at Nab show

    Prime Focus to showcase its Clear and digital content services technology at Nab show

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus said it will showcase some of its newest Cloud technologies, made in India for the world, at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show 2013.

    At the annual industry event, scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in April this year, Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the technology arm of Prime Focus, will highlight how the organisation is bringing the best of its Clear Hybrid Cloud technology platform and Digital Content Services to address a new enterprise digitisation opportunity – multi-platform content production (TV, feature film and digital media).

    Created at the company’s R&D centre in Bangalore, PFT’s new solution aims to bring the production process on to a single digital platform, transforming the very manner in which producers interact with their content, partners and vendors.

    “As the technology evolves and businesses transition to the ‘new normal’, PFT continues to invest heavily in its R&D to provide solutions to its customers that put them ahead of the technology evolution curve,” says Prime Focus Technologies Founder, President and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan.

    He further adds “Currently, Clear is managing more than 250,000 hours of content for the broadcast industry. Our 200+ R&D employees have now brought alive the latest innovation from the PFT stable –a fully integrated content, workflow and project management solution that addresses the customer’s production process, enabled by our Hybrid Cloud technology platform. It will allow content producers to leverage digital technologies, and gain control over the production process, thereby leading to a considerable reduction in cost, and greater efficiencies.”

    India is the hub for Prime Focus’ innovation and product development. Set up in 2008, the company’s R&D centre develops the Clear Hybrid Cloud enabled enterprise digitisation platform. PFT’s focus areas include multi-platform content operations, enterprise digitisation, mobility, contextual advertising, cloud editing and content analytics.

    PFT aspires to be the unified content hub for media firms leveraging its global technology infrastructure. Since its launch major functionalities and features like cloud editing, iPad access, HTML5 player, and B2B sales and fulfillment portal have been added to the current solution at the same time developing new solutions ground-up for clients. The current investment in R&D by Prime Focus is $6 mn, and is expected to increase year-on-year over the next few years as the business scales up further.

    For content producers, the content has become digital, but the supply chain is still offline, posing challenges to unlocking inherent efficiencies. Prime Focus Technologies’ platform Clear and digital content services help broadcasters, studios, advertisers, sports bodies, news agencies, government or service providers, drive creative enablement, and enhance ecosystem efficiency.

    Prime Focus Technologies works with major content owners such as News Corporation owned Star TV network, Eros International, Sony Music, Viacom 18, MSM, BCCI, Indian Premier League, Hindustan Unilever Limited, The Associated Press, A+E Networks, Netflix, Schawk!, and WPP.

  • Facebook unveils updated news feed

    Facebook unveils updated news feed

    MUMBAI: Online social network Facebook has announced changes to its news feed. The aim the company says is to reduce clutter and focus more on stories from the people that users care about.

    Users Facebook explains will see all the stories they saw in the news deed before, but with a fresh new look. Each story has been completely rebuilt and the aim is to be much more vibrant and colorful and highlight the content that friends are sharing.

    To make sure users are seeing all the stories that they want to see, Facebook has introduced several new feeds to explore in addition to the same News Feed that users have:

    All Friends – a feed that shows users everything that friends are sharing

    Photos – a feed with nothing but photos from friends and the Pages that the user likes
    Music – This is a feed with posts about the music that the user listens to
    Following – a feed with the latest news from the Pages that the user likes and the people followed.
    Facebook adds that with the new design, it now has the same look and feel on mobile, tablet and web. For example, the left-hand menu is accessible anywhere one goes on Facebook. Users also have a way to jump right to the top of News Feed whenever new stories come in.

    Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has described the revamped news feed as being richer, simpler, more beautiful. Facebook plans to roll out the redesigned feed in the coming weeks.

    on web and mobile. If users want to get it early, they can visit www.facebook.com/newsfeed and add themselves to the waiting list. These design updates will be available on the iPhone and iPad in the coming weeks and to Android soon after.

    This news comes at a time when teens are losing interest in the social network. In its annual 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission report Facebook noted, “We believe that some of our users, particularly our younger users, are aware of and actively engaging with other products and services similar to, or as a substitute for, Facebook. For example, we believe that some of our users have reduced their engagement with Facebook in favor of increased engagement with other products and services such as Instagram. In the event that our users increasingly engage with other products and services, we may experience a decline in user engagement and our business could be harmed.”

  • Boxee co-founder Avner Ronen to keynote Nab

    Boxee co-founder Avner Ronen to keynote Nab

    MUMBAI: Boxee CEO, co-founder Avner Ronen, will speak at the upcoming 2013 National Association of Broadcasters (Nab) Show, the annual conference and expo for professionals who create, manage and distribute entertainment across all platforms.

    Ronen will deliver the keynote address to the Disruptive Media Conference on 10 April in Las Vegas.

    The idea for Boxee was born in 2004 when Ronen and four friends began using Xbox Media Center, open source software for the original Xbox that allowed people to play digital media on their TVs. They became members of XBMC‘s open source community and in 2007 imagined a way to take the platform even further, founding Boxee.

    Ronen and a team of 11 others worked to extend the base code for XBMC with online sources like Netflix and YouTube as well as incorporate social networking into Boxee, which became available as a free software for users to download and run on a home theater PC. Since then, Boxee has released two branded consumer electronic devices dedicated to running the Boxee software. Currently, with Boxee‘s newest device, Boxee TV, the company has introduced the world‘s first unlimited cloud DVR, blending live TV integration with over-the-top streaming services.

    Named one of Rolling Stone‘s Top Agents of Change, Ronen is “the Internet generation‘s everyman”, striving to make personalised, Internet-delivered TV a reality and bringing video from everywhere, to any device, at any time.

    Prior to co-founding Boxee, Ronen was the head of Corporate Development and M&A for Comverse, a provider of software and service to telecom service providers. Ronen was responsible for acquisitions valued at $450 million, which were key to the company‘s evolution from a voicemail company to a billing and VAS provider.

    The Disruptive Media Conference, produced in partnership with Digital Media Wire, gathers professionals who oversee the digital and interactive divisions within their companies to explore developments in online video, mobile and branded entertainment. The two half-day programs, April 10-11, cover disruptive media as well as more traditional OTT technologies and how these are impacting business models for distribution and consumer engagement. The conference is sponsored by Adobe Primetime, Cypress and Telx.

  • Alloy Digital gets $30 mn investment from ABS Capital Partners

    Alloy Digital gets $30 mn investment from ABS Capital Partners

    MUMBAI: Alloy Digital, a next generation media company for the 12-34 demographic and a top-10 video network, has announced a $30 million Series A investment from ABS Capital Partners, a leading investor in later-stage growth companies. They join existing investors, including Zelnick Media.

    ABS Capital general partner Deric Emry has joined the company‘s board as a result of the transaction.

    Emry said, “Alloy Digital made an extremely attractive investment opportunity. It is at the forefront of the shift in content consumption to digital media. This trend is fundamentally changing the way that entertainment is created, distributed and monetized by delivering interactive entertainment directly to consumers at scale and more economically.

    “Alloy Digital is perfectly positioned as major brands increasingly direct advertising dollars online, following a coveted demographic that has embraced multi-platform, digital media entertainment consumption. While online video viewing is increasing dramatically, there still remains an imbalance between time spent online and dollars spent by blue-chip advertisers, implying a significant opportunity for future growth as multi-platform media formats are expected to grow at a much greater rate than television.”

    The financing follows an acquisition spree by Alloy Digital that, since July 2011, has led its owned-and-operated channels to the top of YouTube in total subscribers with over 12 million.

    Alloy Digital CEO Matt Diamond commented, “This funding will allow us to rapidly accelerate future growth by adding complementary, relevant properties and talent appealing to the tastes and shifting consumption behaviors of P12-34 digital consumers. In just one year, we have built a solid foundation through the acquisition of best-in-class properties that have solidified Alloy Digital as the top digital media and advertising network for this demographic and propelled our owned properties to be among the most watched on YouTube.”

    The company will also look to bolster user experience by expanding resources for product development and technology advancements, while also continuing to provide advertisers innovative digital branding opportunities that keep up with P12-34 consumer expectations.

  • Turner, NCTC reach deal

    Turner, NCTC reach deal

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Turner Broadcasting and NCTC have reached a long-term distribution agreement.

    The renewal grants NCTC members continued access to Turner‘s portfolio of networks including CNN, TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network. Financial terms were not disclosed.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Turner‘s portfolio of networks including CNN, HLN, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), truTV, CNN International, CNN en Espa?ol and Boomerang will continue to be carried by NCTC‘s nearly 1,000 independent cable operator members across the US.

    As part of the deal, NCTC members will have rights to carry a myriad of entertainment, kids, news, sports and young adults programming, as well as on-demand content that is available across the Turner networks, including award-winning news and information from CNN, marquee sports programming such as the NBA and NCAA® Division I Men‘s Basketball Championship, TBS‘s ‘Conan‘ and TNT‘s ‘Rizzoli and Isles‘ and ‘Falling Skies‘ and Cartoon Network‘s ‘Regular Show‘ and ‘Adventure Time‘.

    Turner Broadcasting System president of sales, distribution and sports David Levy said, “The extension of our comprehensive renewal agreement with the NCTC highlights the growing value of the Turner portfolio and drives home our commitment to deliver marquee content to their customers. We‘re proud to continue our long relationship with the NCTC and the viewers they serve.”

  • Demand for TV transponders to triple in five years: PwC

    Demand for TV transponders to triple in five years: PwC

    NEW DELHI: The number of satellite transponders required by Indian TV broadcasters and DTH operators is expected to double or triple over the next five years.

    A new report from the Cable and Satellite Broadcasters Association of Asia (Casbaa) entitled “Easing India’s Capacity Crunch” forecasts that transponders required by the DTH industry will rise from 73 in 2012 to more than 220 in 2017 to meet burgeoning demands by Indian consumers.

    The report prepared by PwC was released at the Casbaa India Forum 2013.

    This rapid growth in transponder demand will be driven by the expected increase of TV channels in India, fuelled by strong growth of the Indian television industry over the next few years (expected CAGR of 14%).

    The continued proliferation of pay-TV services, coupled with cable digitisation, growth of regional channels and entry of foreign players will provide a fillip to growth. Given these driving factors, India can potentially have about 1,600 licensed channels by 2017, of which about 1,300 channels (80% of licensed channels), are expected to be operational.

    High growth in the number of HD channels is expected, due to growth in digital platforms coupled with increasing penetration of high-end TV sets that support HD viewing experiences. By 2017, India is likely to have approx 130 HD channels. This growth in the number of channels will lead to higher demand for C-band and Ku-band transponders.

    In the report, Casbaa and PwC make a series of suggestions for improving the management of India’s satellite industry, to make it more efficient and market-friendly.

    The report notes that Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is working hard to launch new satellites and procure additional spectrum to meet the burgeoning demand. Nevertheless, says the report, “it is unlikely that any single satellite operator will be able to fulfil even current demand, let alone the future demand for satellite capacity.” Foreign satellite operators will need to be encouraged to invest in capacity to serve the Indian market.

    “In spite of the urgent requirements for satellite capacity, there are challenges placing practical restrictions on leasing transponder capacity from foreign satellite operators by Indian players,” said John Medeiros, Casbaa’s Chief Policy Officer. “Key hurdles include procedural requirements and delays and short contract durations inducing uncertainty for both Indian players and outside investors.”

    Smita Jha, leader of PwC India’s Entertainment and Media practice, said: “Satellite capacity constraints impede the growth momentum of the Indian TV sector and impact the ecosystem of the industry. The capacity crunch could restrict the launch of local regional channels and special interest channels and could lead to a distortion of competitive balances in multiple ways.”

    The report encourages the Indian government to formulate policies and processes to spur growth in satellite services, and to explore opening up additional frequency bands for use by TV industry players. It suggests measures such as allowing DTH operators more freedom to easily lease more space on authorised satellites they already use, lengthening the allowable term of satellite transponder contracts, improving publicly-available market information from the government and ensuring adequate spectrum is available for satellite use in India.

  • Time Warner Cable launches TWC TV on Roku

    Time Warner Cable launches TWC TV on Roku

    MUMBAI: Time Warner Cable has launched TWC TV channel on Roku players. Customers will be able to stream up to 300 channels of live programming in their homes through the Roku device at no additional cost.

    “This fourth platform launch for TWC TV represents a new viewing experience for our customers. It’s a great complimentary service in the home, offering thousands of programs at their fingertips. We’re proud to add TWC TV for Roku to the growing collection of devices our customers use to watch content in the home,” said Time Warner Cable SVP and GM, Video Mike Angus.

    Key features on TWC TV for Roku include: access to up to 300 channels of live programming, ability to browse carousels of genre-grouped titles, option to view recently viewed channels and create favorite channel list, and parental control channel blocking.

    Time Warner Cable plans to add On Demand content to the offering later this year. TWC TV for Roku is available to Time Warner Cable video subscribers with a TWC authorized modem and a Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku HD, Roku LT player or Roku Streaming Stick.

    Customers also need their TWC ID and password. Channel line-ups vary per market and depend on which video subscription package a customer subscribes to. TWC TV is also available on Apple iOS, Android devices and PCs and Macs via TWC website.