ITV

Category: Software

  • Aaj Tak expands presence in Ontario, Canada

    Aaj Tak expands presence in Ontario, Canada

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network has launched its Hindi news channel Aaj Tak on Cogeco Cable, a Canada-based cable telecommunications company.

    With this launch, Aaj Tak will now be accessible to viewers in Ontario, expanding Aaj Tak’s presence in the Ontario market.

    The launch boosts the synergies between Aaj Tak and Cogeco, as Cogeco builds on its cable distribution base offering analogue and digital television, high speed internet and telephony services, the company said.
    The channel will be sold in the following package- ATN + Zee Cinema + Big Magic + Aaj Tak + Headlines Today for $25 per month.

    India Today Group CEO Ashish Bagga said, “It is a step in our endeavor to expand our presence in key markets across the globe. We want to be easily accessible to all our viewers worldwide at economical prices.

    Moreover, Cogeco is a perfect choice for broadcasting Aaj Tak in Ontario. Cogeco is a very capable group and they are doing an excellent work in Cable communications industry. We are hopeful this launch will strengthen and benefit both Aaj Tak and Cogeco.”

    TV Today’s exclusive partner in Canada Ethnic Channels Group CEO Slava Levin said that this launch will help more viewers connect with the brand.

    Cogeco Cable is the second largest hybrid fibre coaxial cable system operator in Ontario, adding The Aaj Tak Channel allows Cogeco Cable to respond to a variety of customer tastes and needs and to enhance our already engaging multicultural TV offering,” Cogeco Cable vice-president, marketing and strategic planning Ron Perrotta added.

  • Mobile TV industry group OMVC to integrate functions within Nab

    Mobile TV industry group OMVC to integrate functions within Nab

    MUMBAI: The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), which has served as the principal proponent for Mobile Television since 2007, has announced that it will integrate functions with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

    Effective 1 January, key functions currently coordinated by the OMVC executive director, including OMVC’s technical groups, advocacy efforts and marketing activities, will be integrated into the Nab.

    Anne P. Schelle, who has served as OMVC’s executive director since shortly after it began, said: “The purpose of the OMVC was to help develop a Mobile TV standard, create an ecosystem for broadcasters, manufacturers and other interested parties and to encourage device development. We’ve done that, and with the recent launch of Dyle mobile TV, operated by a consortium of broadcasters known as the Mobile Content Venture, and similar activities by the Mobile500 Alliance, Mobile TV is available in more than 35 US markets covering some 55 percent of the population. Integration with the NAB is the logical next step as the commercialisation of Mobile TV enters its next exciting phase”.
    Nab president, CEO Gordon Smith applauded the OMVC’s work and pledged the association’s full support for building further momentum for Mobile TV.

    “The NAB is honored to assume the duties carried out so successfully by the OMV. Through the joint efforts of the OMVC, ATSC and innumerable technical groups, the groundwork has been laid for an exciting new TV experience delivered to mobile devices . The NAB, as the voice of the broadcast industry, is the perfect home for this activity as it blossoms into the next great U.S. technology story”.

    Building on her OMVC leadership and accomplishments, Schelle will continue her Mobile TV evangelism as a senior policy consultant to the Nab to help assure a smooth transition.

    “Mobile TV is a key part of broadcasters’ future, and the power of the NAB will enable the industry to speak with one voice, to continue our advocacy efforts before the FCC and Congress and to significantly expand the reach of Mobile TV services for American TV viewers. I look forward to working hard to keep the momentum going, while collaborating with the talented NAB staff, Television Board and broad membership on the transition,” Schelle said.

    Mobile TV, based on the ATSC A/153 broadcast standard, transmits live local news, sports, entertainment and emergency information to a wide variety of mobile devices. By delivering popular video programming to a large audience over existing broadcast spectrum, Mobile TV helps to reduce congestion on less efficient wireless broadband networks.

  • RT makes the switch to HD format

    RT makes the switch to HD format

    MUMBAI: Russia Today (RT), the global international news network, has switched all of its English-language news broadcasting to High Definition (HD) format, effective 16 December.

    The switch to HD was enabled by RT‘s move of its studios and headquarters offices to a brand new facility in Moscow, the news broadcaster said in a statement.

    The HD broadcasting launch marks another important achievement by RT, while such delivery is not yet offered by many other major international news channels.

    "We are incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished in just seven short years. The switch to HD is just the next step as we continue to grow and expand. The upgraded capabilities of our new, technologically sophisticated facility allow us to stay ahead of the competition," RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said.

    When RT first launched its 24-7 news broadcast in December of 2005, it employed some 300 journalists and consisted of just one TV channel, airing in English.

    Today the network boasts the staff of more than 2000 professionals, and its five channels broadcast in English, Arabic and Spanish, reaching 550 million people in more than 100 countries around the globe.

    In 2012, RT became the first Russian TV channel ever to garner a second nomination for the prestigious International Emmy award for its news coverage.

  • Amazon adds TNT drama series to its Prime Instant Video catalogue

    Amazon adds TNT drama series to its Prime Instant Video catalogue

    MUMBAI: Amazon.com has signed an exclusive content licensing agreement with Turner Broadcasting System and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

    The deal will add the epic TNT drama series ‘Falling Skie‘s and the Warner Bros. Television-produced TNT series ‘The Closer‘ to Amazon.com‘s Prime Instant Video catalog, giving Prime members instant access to these titles at no additional cost.

    Fans will be able to enjoy all seven seasons of ‘The Closer‘ and the current as well as future seasons of ‘Falling Skies‘ on Prime Instant Video.

    Prime Instant Video now features more than 30,000 movies and TV episodes for Amazon Prime members to stream instantly on Kindle Fire HD or any of the hundreds of compatible Amazon Instant Video devices, including iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Roku, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the Wii U.

    “Today’s agreements with TNT and Warner Bros. Domestic TV add two great TV series to Prime Instant Video. Falling Skies and The Closer are some of Turner’s most-watched and highly talked about series and we’re happy to offer them exclusively for Prime members to enjoy,” said Amazon Director of Digital Video Content Acquisition Brad Beale.

  • Gogo signs capacity deal with SES

    Gogo signs capacity deal with SES

    MUMBAI: Gogo, a leader in in-flight connectivity, has signed major capacity deal with global satellite operator SES to deliver Gogo broadband services aboard commercial airliners.

    Coverage includes commercial aircraft flying over the North Atlantic Ocean Region, Europe and the United States.

    As part of the long-term deal covering more than six transponders of Ku-band capacity, three SES satellites will enable Gogo to expand its broadband offering in the sky to aircraft flying busy transatlantic routes.

    The SES-1 spacecraft will cover the continental US, while NSS-703 and its three powerful spot beams will reach across the North Atlantic and SES-4 will serve Europe.

    Gogo services aboard the NSS-703 satellite and will be transitioned seamlessly by mid 2014 to the new SES-6 satellite, slated for launch next year.

    Gogo has also contracted for teleport services delivered through three SES facilities in the U.S. and Europe. Two-way internet access will be delivered to Gogo customers via SES ground facilities in Woodbine, Maryland; Manassas, Virginia and Betzdorf, Luxembourg.

    “Gogo is entering the all-important international air travel market and expanding our North American offering with SES,” said Gogo President and CEO Michael Small. “A trio of SES satellites will enable Gogo to provide reliable and seamless satellite coverage for our current airline partners on their international fleets,” he added.

    Gogo is set to initiate its international internet services on Delta Air Lines in the first quarter of 2013.

  • Sony’s Bade Achche Lagte Hain most watched TV show on YouTube

    Sony’s Bade Achche Lagte Hain most watched TV show on YouTube

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Channel‘s Bade Acche Lagte Hai was the most watched soap on YouTube in India followed by Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, which airs on Sab.

    T-Series followed by SetIndia were the most susbcribed channels on YouTube this year. The top channels were selected based on their subscriber growth this year besides account views, reach, and engagement.

    Korean pop music album Gangnam Style might have been the most watched video of all-time on YouTube, but back home it‘s YoYo Honey Singh‘s Brown Rang song that has emerged as the most trending video of the year in India in 2012.

    Bollywood continued to rule the charts, with most watched songs and movie trailers on YouTube. Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan emerged as the trailer overtaking Salman Khan blockbuster movie Dabangg.
    2012‘s top trending videos and the most subscribed channels from India, shows that YouTube has truly gone mainstream in India with millions of users watching songs, their favorite TV shows and subscribing to channels to catch their favorite content.

    Sports and language content also made their way to the top most subscribed channels.

    This year, YouTube also looked at shares, searches, likes and responses to identify the 10 videos that everybody was talking about in 2012.

    Globally, users saw over 4 billion hours of video a month. Millions of creators world over are using YouTube channels to experiment with innovative forms of entertainment, explore their passions and interests, take creativity and pop culture to new levels.

    Top trending YouTube videos in India (playlist) – 2012
    1 Brown Rang Full Song HD- International Villager YoYo Honey Singh
    2 PSY – GANGNAM STYLE
    3 Mashallah – Song – EkTha Tiger – Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif
    4 HIGH HEELS OFFICIAL VIDEO – JAZ DHAMI FT YO YO HONEY SINGH
    5 Tumhi Ho Bandhu – Song Promo – Cocktail [Exclusive]
    6 Jab Tak Hai Jaan – Trailer – Film releasing November 13
    7 Jism 2 YehJism Song | Sunny Leone, Arunnoday Singh, RandeepHooda |
    8 Saans – Song – Jab TakHaiJaan
    9 DaaruDesi – Song Promo – Cocktail (Exclusive)
    10 Chinta Ta Ta Chita Chita – Rowdy Rathore Official Full Song Video Akshay Kumar, SonakshiSinha, Mika

    Most subscribed channels (2012):
    1 TSeries
    2 SetIndia
    3 Yrf
    4 Erosentertainment
    5 Rajshri
    6 Teluguone
    7 SonymusicindiaSME
    8 Mtvroadies
    9 Olympic
    10 Maatv

    Most watched songs (2012):
    1 Brown Rang Full Song HD- International Villager YoYo Honey Singh
    2 PSY – GANGNAM STYLE
    3 Mashallah – Song – EkTha Tiger – Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif
    4 HIGH HEELS OFFICIAL VIDEO – JAZ DHAMI FT YO YO HONEY SINGH
    5 Jism 2 Yeh Jism Song | Sunny Leone, Arunnoday Singh, Randeep Hooda | Exclusive
    6 Saans – Song – Jab TakHaiJaan
    7 Chinta Ta Ta Chita Chita – Rowdy Rathore Official Full Song Video Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Mika
    8 "Abhi Abhi Jism 2" Official Song | Sunny Leone, Arunnoday Singh, Randeep Hooda
    9 Ishq Wala Love – Student Of The Year – The Official Song | HQ
    10 Challa – Song – Jab Tak Hai Jaan

    Most watched TV Shows (2012):
    1 Bade Acche Lagte Hai
    2 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
    3 Kahani Comedy Circus Ki
    4 Crime Patrol
    5 Devon Ke Dev… Mahadev
    6 CID
    7 Movie Night
    8 Totally Sketch Originals
    9 Adaalat
    10 FIR

    Most watched movie trailers (2012):
    1 Jab Tak Hai Jaan – Trailer – Film releasing November 13
    2 EK THA TIGER – Teaser Trailer – Salman Khan – Releasing 15th August 2012
    3 Heroine – Official Trailer – KareenaKapoor | ArjunRampal | RandeepHooda
    4 Cocktail – Theatrical Trailer (Exclusive)
    5 Talaash Theatrical Trailer – Official – Starring Aamir Khan, KareenaKapoor, Rani Mukerji
    6 Khiladi 786 – Official Teaser Trailer [Exclusive]
    7 Son Of Sardaar | Official Theatrical Trailer
    8 Rowdy Rathore | Official Trailer | Akshay Kumar – SonakshiSinha
    9 Hate Story Uncensored Theatrical Trailer (Official) 2012
    10 Raaz 3 Official Trailer

  • Seagate announces new drive for DVRs

    Seagate announces new drive for DVRs

    MUMBAI: Seagate Technology which offers hard drives and storage solutions has announced the Seagate Video 2.5 HDD, a 2.5-inch drive specifically engineered for use in 24/7 video applications like digital video recorders (DVRs), set-top boxes (STBs), and surveillance applications.

    The company says that the product focuses on three areas of importance to manufacturers – high reliability, acoustics, and energy efficiency. Featuring reliability, the drive has an annual failure rate of approximately 0.55, based on current configurations, enabling it to keep product in the field longer while reducing the cost of field deployment and maintaining customer retention. It also boasts 24/7 operation capabilities in extended temperature ranges and enhanced acoustics for near silent operation – features crucial for consumer electronics and video applications.

    The Video 2.5 HDD provides home entertainment manufacturers one and two disk, cost-optimized solutions for today‘s high-definition (HD) video recording applications. Featuring capacities up to 500 GB, manufacturers can benefit from its lower-power performance and slim form factor without sacrificing the streaming capabilities or reliability of Seagate‘s 3.5-inch video drive. Its low power consumption, 24×7 operation, and support of up to 12 streams of simultaneous HD content also make it ideal for surveillance DVR applications.

    Seagate VP marketing Scott Horn said, "We pioneered the HDD video market more than a decade ago and as such are leveraging our vast knowledge of this technology to bring consumers the most reliable video drive in the world. The CE industry has extremely specific criteria and needs when it comes to storage and the Video 2.5 HDD is built to meet and exceed their rigorous demands."

    The living-room environment requires superior acoustic management to limit audible distractions during operation of DVRs and STBs and the Video 2.5 HDD enables designers to build the quietest home entertainment systems possible. Operating below the range of audible sound for the human ear at just 22db, the drive provides optimized acoustics for home entertainment components.

    Maintaining Seagate‘s goal of delivering sustainable products, the drive reduces packaging materials by 53 percent and overall freight up to 30 percent, over previous 3.5-inch offerings, by efficiently packing and shipping more units with fewer materials than larger drives. It also contributes to sustainable energy initiatives by achieving a 55 percent improvement in power savings over comparable 3.5-inch offerings, enabling system integrators to meet aggressive new energy requirements. The Seagate Video 2.5 HDD is built without the use of harmful chemicals like the fire retardant bromide and is PVC free.

  • Videocon’s DTH arm plans to raise Rs 7 bn via IPO

    Videocon’s DTH arm plans to raise Rs 7 bn via IPO

    MUMBAI: Videocon has taken the leap to list its direct-to-home (DTH) arm, Bharat Business Channel Ltd, to cash in on the digitisation wave.

    Bharat Business Channel Ltd, which operates its DTH business under the Videocon d2H brand, is planning to raise Rs 7 billion through an initial public offering (IPO). The company has filed its documents with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board (Sebi).

    The company is also looking at raising Rs 500 million through a pre-IPO placement of its shares to institutional investors.

    The promoters (the Dhoot family) had earlier issued rights issue at Rs 50 a share. A similar IPO pricing would lead to a 36 per cent dilution, pegging the value of the company at Rs 19 billion. But the promoters, it is understood, are looking at a higher valuation as they tap the capital.

    Starting operations in July 2009, Bharat Business Channel has a gross subscriber base of 6.62 million as of 30 September 2012.

    The company has a negative net worth of Rs 5.90 billion as of 30 September 2012, reporting net loss of Rs 11.40 billion in the last three fiscals. In the first half of this fiscal, it had a net loss of Rs 2.70 billion on revenue of Rs 4.93 billion.

    The government has mandated digitisation across the country by 31 December 2014, leading to a huge funding requirement among cable TV operators and DTH companies.

  • Govt expects smooth digitisation in 38 cities in Phase II

    Govt expects smooth digitisation in 38 cities in Phase II

    MUMBAI: The government expects a smooth transition to digital delivery of cable television in 38 cities by 31 March in the second phase, after achieving near total digitisation in the metros of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

    Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Manish Tewari informed Parliament that he did not anticipate any hurdles in the implementation of digital addressable system in phase II where 38 cities having more than one million population will switchover from analogue transmission from 31 March 2013.

    Digitisation in the southern metro of Chennai, where cable television was to switch over to digital from1 November along with the other three metros, has hit a hurdle as cable operators have sought more time.

    Tewari said the matter was sub-judice in the case of Chennai, where a petition challenging digitisation is pending in the Madras High Court.

    He said the ministry was in constant touch with the multi-system operators (MSOs) to assess and monitor the availability and seeding of set-top boxes (STBs), which were required for delivery of digital signals on to television sets.

    He clarified that the entire cost of digitisation would be borne by the industry. According to an estimate by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in June 2010, the fund requirement for DAS at all India level was of the order of Rs 200 to Rs 500 billion.

    There is no scheme for providing any economic relief to consumers in the implementation of DAS, he added.

    On the phase I of digitisation, Tewari said a total of 8.10 million set-top boxes (STBs) were installed in the four metros as on 4 December.

  • Star Gold now available on Virgin Media

    Star Gold now available on Virgin Media

    MUMBAI: Star Network has announced the launch of Star Gold on the British pay-TV and broadband provider Virgin Media as part of their ‘Asian Mela‘ offering.

    Star Network channels available on Virgin Media‘s ‘Asian Mela‘ bundle now include Star Plus, Star Life Ok and Star Gold.

    Star UK and Europe SVP Yeshpal Sharma stated, "With the launch of Star Gold on Virgin Media – the UK‘s largest cable platform, the Star Network has further strengthened its offering to its loyal and growing UK viewers."

    Virgin Media director of content acquisition Emma Jones said, "Star Gold is a fantastic addition to our Asian Mela bundle. This is great news for customers with access to even more Bollywood entertainment; Virgin Media is the TV destination to enjoy the best movies around."

    Virgin Media‘s Asian Mela bundle now provides access to 13 South Asian channels for ?12 a month.

    Star Gold is available on Virgin Media on EPG channel number 801.