ITV

Category: Software

  • Vh1 launches music streaming app with Hungama

    Vh1 launches music streaming app with Hungama

    MUMBAI: Vh1 has set foot on the digital space to launch a new generation app, Vh1 Pulse, which will help their fans to be in sync with their favourite tracks anytime of the day.

    Powered by Hungama.com, Vh1 Pulse is a music streaming application on Facebook which will enable over 1.7 million fans of the channel to listen to Vh1‘s picks of the best international music. The application that went live this week is the largest Facebook community amongst international music in India.

    On the application, all songs will be picked by Vh1 and fans can listen to the playlist specially created which includes the best of all English music. ‘Pulse‘ will be the one stop shop for different genres of music and artists.

    Fans can not only listen to Vh1‘s playlist but can also create a playlist of their own. They can pick and listen to tracks that their friends and other music lovers are listening to.

    Viacom18 Media SVP and GM – English Entertainment Ferzad Palia says, “With a fan base of nearly 2 million ardent music lovers, this cutting addition to the Vh1 India Facebook page is part of our philosophy of ‘Vh1 Everywhere‘. Vh1 Pulse powered by Hungama, is a destination where our fans can hang out, listen to their favourite tracks, discover new artistes, chart toppers, create playlists and above all, share with their friends. We‘re sure our fans will get hooked on and love the experience.”

    Hungama Digital Media Entertainment COO – Consumer Business and Allied Services Siddhartha Roy added, “Social communities are the new media real estate for brands where they can increase interaction and engagement with their consumers. Vh1 and Hungama bring Vh1 Pulse – a one stop destination for great International Music spread across various genres. There is an increasing demand for International Music and Hungama is committed at satiating this need by powering this service via its platform and content.”

  • Madhuri Dixit App now launches on iPad

    Madhuri Dixit App now launches on iPad

    MUMBAI: After launching her mobile apps on the iPhone and Android platforms, actress Madhuri Dixit has now launched her app, Madhuri Dixit HD, on the iPad. The high definition app is sleek and very user friendly and allows its users to get the latest updates on the actress.

    With this app her fans from across the globe can interact with her and can even access her latest pictures, videos and exclusive content on beauty, fashion and dance at their fingertips, all in hi-def.

    With Twitter & Facebook feeds embedded in the app, the charismatic actress who is active on the social media platforms hopes to connect with her fans more often.

    Talking about the iPad app, Madhuri Dixit says, ”It is hard staying in touch with all the fans today. The newest in my app line-up adds high definition to the repertoire while maintaining the same great features of the previous apps including integrated Twitter and Facebook. It’s a very small contribution from my side to acknowledge the love and adulation I receive from my fans and I can’t thank them enough.”

  • 79% smartphone users in India use password protection

    79% smartphone users in India use password protection

    NEW DELHI: A study has shown that 79 per cent of smartphone owners in India have password protection on their devices and 86 per cent of smartphone owners store personal and intimate information on their mobile devices which necessitates password protection.

    McAfee, one of the world’s leading digital data protection company, has claimed in its study that the personal data may include passwords, bank account information, credit card numbers and personal or family photos.

    It said 98 per cent Indians delete any personal text message, photos and emails regularly while 78 per cent regularly back up the data from their devices. As high as 96 per cent of the Indians believe that their data and personal photos are safe with their partners and most of them also share passwords with each other.

    But 77 per cent of adults had their personal content leaked without their prior permission. Moreover, three out of 10 ex-partners threatened the other of exposing their personal photos online. Even though 49 per cent of the broken couples have asked the other to delete all personal content, few respond to the request.

    Despite the veracity of the situation, McAfee claims that 53 per cent Indians still plan on sending romantic photos to their partners through email, SMS or social media on the Valentine’s Day.

  • Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech on YouTube

    Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech on YouTube

    NEW DELHI: The historic ‘Tryst with destiny’ speech of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has been put on YouTube.

    This has been done by the Tourism Ministry under instructions of Minister K Chiranjeevi, who wants the Ministry to upload all archival audio and video material in its possession.

    The speech has been digitally restored and can be heard at the end of the sound and light show on Red Show. It is followed by a historic recording of the National Anthem.

    These can been viewed on www.youtube.com/india.

  • Cable digitisation: IMCL makes third purchase in Kolkata

    Cable digitisation: IMCL makes third purchase in Kolkata

    MUMBAI: IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd (IMCL) has made its third acquisition in Kolkata as it plans to expand in that marketplace where it sees a lot of demand coming from small-sized cable companies who are unable to fund for digital set-top boxes (STBs).

    “We have acquired 51 per cent stake in a small cable TV network in Kolkata. We are looking at seeding 100,000 STBs through this company. This is our third purchase in Kolkata,” IMCL chief executive officer Nagesh Chabria told Indiantelevision.com.

    In 2012, IMCL had picked up 51 per cent stake in two cable networks – Hooghly-based Advance Multisystem Broadband Communications (AMBC) and Skyvision.

    Advance Multisystem Broadband Communications Limited (AMBC) has become a subsidiary of IMCL with effect from 9 November 2012. IMCL had on 18 May acquired AMBC by subscribing to 51 per cent of the paid up equity capital of AMBC by provision of STBs and digital head-end valued at Rs 80.1 million.

    Meanwhile, Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL) has reported a fall in its third quarter profit before tax from its media and communications segment (IMCL) to Rs 50.81 million from Rs 199.9 million in the trailing quarter.

    The revenue from this segment, which houses the HVL’s cable TV business InCablenet, is Rs 1.52 billion compared to Rs 1.36 billion in the second quarter of the fiscal.

    The media and communications business resides in IMCL, a subsidiary of HVL.

    HVL has exercised the put option to increase its holding in subsidiary IMCL to 61.71 per cent from 61.17 per cent as a result of conversion of seven years, 12 per cent Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference shares aggregating to Rs 150 million into 1.03 million equity shares of Rs 10 each, at a premium of Rs 135 per share.

  • Gaana.com bolsters regional library with SIMCA tie-up

    Gaana.com bolsters regional library with SIMCA tie-up

    MUMBAI: In a move to further reach out to audiences in South India and other regional markets, Gaana.com, Times Internet Limited‘s music streaming service, has tied up with SIMCA (South Indian Music Companies Association).

    The tie up gives Gaana access to over 55,000 songs covering the best of Film, Carnatic and popular devotional music from Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.

    With the likes of Shruthilaya Music, Melody Music, Star Audio, Amudham Music, Satyam Audio, 5 Star Audio, Millenium Audio and Symphony Recording Company and 90 other labels coming on board through this deal, the website will be able to cater to young and old audiences alike, offering some of the best old classics of artist like Illayaraja, S.P.Balasubramanyam, K.J.Yesudas, Chitra and M.S.Subbulakshmi to new film songs.

    Speaking about the tie up, Gaana.com Head Avinash Mudaliar said, “Gaana is constantly expanding its catalog of music, and our association with SIMCA demonstrates our increased commitment to expand into the regional markets, particularly South India.

    We‘ve seen that nearly 28 per cent of our consumption on our website and new mobile apps comes from South India, and we hope to serve our users there better.”

    Amongst the company’s recent tie ups are INRECO and Magnasound, two labels with significant regional music catalogues.

  • Yahoo’s deal with Microsoft not performing: Mayer

    Yahoo’s deal with Microsoft not performing: Mayer

    MUMBAI: At the 2013 Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer said the search partnership that Yahoo did with Microsoft three years back was in order to challenge Google. But instead of growing share, the companies have simply traded share with each other.

    Microsoft had 16.3 percent share and Yahoo had 12.2 percent share in December, a reversal of two years earlier. Google‘s share has remained unchanged at over 60 per cent. Yahoo is also looking to grow impressions by reducing the number of mobile apps from 60 to 12. “We don‘t want to overload people by expecting them to download too many distinct, individual apps” she said. Impressions means the number of times an ad appears on a webpage. Clicks then generate revenue.
     
    Interestingly she also said that she thinks about who could be doing a better job on her management team. Since joining Yahoo she has already replaced the COO, CFO and CMO. “I think about who could be a better COO. I think about who could be a better CFO.”

    One good thing that has happened is that Yahoo stock price has risen by over 30 per cent since Mayer took charge last year.

  • You On Demand expands to IPTV platform for VoD service in China

    You On Demand expands to IPTV platform for VoD service in China

    MUMBAI: Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video On Demand (VOD) platform service in China YOU On Demand, has signed a distribution agreement with Tianjin IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), which covers households across 16 major districts and counties in the greater Tianjin metropolitan area.

    You On Demand will officially launch with Tianjin IPTV immediately following the completion of the Chinese New Year celebration which began on 10 February, 2013.

    IPTV is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal and cable television formats.
    The signing with Tianjin IPTV represents an expansion of YOU On Demand‘s services from cable to the IPTV platform, thus increasing the number of customers who can view the wide variety of films YOU On Demand delivers each month through its Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD) and Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) packages.

    You On Demand chairman, CEO Shane McMahon said, “You On Demand is always seeking to partner with new and exciting distribution platforms in order to deliver the highest quality entertainment experience to the broadest reach of existing and potential new customers.

    “We are honored to partner with Tianjin IPTV and are looking forward to reaching this new consumer base.”

    You On Demand currently has content deals in place with studios including Disney Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. and Miramax Films as well as a selection of content from Chinese filmmakers.

  • Comcast in distribution pact with Fox Networks

    Comcast in distribution pact with Fox Networks

    MUMBAI: Comcast Corporation and Fox Networks (FN) have reached an agreement for a new distribution pact to deliver Fox Broadcasting’s (Fox) and Fox Television Stations’ (FTS) wide array of entertainment, sports and local news content to Comcast Xfinity TV customers across televisions, computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and internet-enabled televisions.

    The renewal supports the companies’ mutual goal to deliver the most popular video content to customers across multiple platforms.

    The agreement provides video service to nearly 22 million Xfinity TV customers of both live and on demand programming from 20 FTS broadcast stations (13 Fox and 7 MyNet) as well as FX, FX Movie Channel, SPEED, Fuel TV, Fox Soccer, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, MundoFox, Fox Deportes, and Fox Business Network.

    Financial terms were not disclosed. However, the agreement also includes a framework for both companies to continue to collaborate on new multiplatform offerings so that the companies can take advantage of new technologies and programming through the life of the deal, including Comcast’s advanced advertising and ad systems integration services.

    There are also longer-term plans to make available next-day full episode streaming of select Fox programming online to authenticated Xfinity TV customers for viewing whenever and however they wish to access them.

    In addition to live and on demand streaming, authenticated Xfinity TV customers will soon be able to access long-form, full episodes on Fox Now – a suite of TV apps across multiple digital platforms that are designed to provide Fox viewers with enhanced interactive and social capabilities around their favorite Fox shows.

    “This unprecedented TV Everywhere agreement enables us to take advantage of the innovative technologies and platforms we’ve developed to deliver the best content to our customers,” said Greg Rigdon, EVP, Content Acquisition for Comcast Cable. “Together with Fox, thanks to the leadership of Peter Rice, Mike Hopkins and his team, for the first time we are unlocking the value of some of Fox’s best content by making it available to Xfinity TV customers through new applications and devices.”

    Added Fox Networks President Distribution Mike Hopkins, “Neil Smit, Greg Rigdon and their team are on the cutting edge of the burgeoning ‘TV Everywhere’ space and were great partners throughout this process. This agreement will bring Fox’s brands and content to Xfinity TV customers on all platforms and we are excited to begin this journey with Comcast.”

  • Star Plus to hold web premiere of Saraswatichandra

    Star Plus to hold web premiere of Saraswatichandra

    MUMBAI: On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Star India’s Hindi GEC Star Plus will be premiering its upcoming romantic serial Saraswatichandra on the internet.

    The show, which also marks ace director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s entry into the television space, goes on air on 25 February. It will be aired from Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm.

    With the web premier, Star Plus is hoping to reach out to a large number of digital audiences and create even more anticipation for the eventual launch of the show on television. The premiere will happen today at 3 pm.

    Star Plus vice president marketing Nikhil Madhok said, “Saraswatichandra is a really unique love story and we feel that it will find great traction amongst the youth. The promos for the show have created a lot of buzz and we were flooded with requests from people asking to bring forward the launch of the show or give them access to more content. So we decided to do a web premiere of the show, where the digital audiences will get to see the show much in advance of its TV debut. Valentine’s Day provided the perfect timing to do so for a love story.”

    Saraswatichandra is a modern day adaptation of the book by the same name. It is a love story between Saraswatichandra and Kumud.