Category: Software

MUMBAI: Footer lovers rejoice. Sports TV network ESPN which previewed its multi-platform, multi-language and multi-country global football brand, ESPNFC during Euro 2012, yesterday announced its full-fledged launch. The debut comes ahead of the start of the Barclays Premier League and other major European leagues. ESPNFC will cover all major leagues and competitions worldwide for the first time and will expand to TV and mobile in India. It succeeds its UK brand ESPNsoccernet.

In India, ESPNFC has added to the company’s leading digital sports portfolio, which also includes ESPNcricinfo, ESPN.com and numerous other sites and mobile products.

On mobile, a new ESPNFC app has been launched giving fans access to its content wherever they are, available on Apple, Windows Phone and Android handsets. Key features of the new ESPNFC application include personalisation, allowing football fans to personalise by their favourite leagues, teams and tournaments, and, exclusive video and audio from ESPN’s various studio-based discussion and analysis shows.

On TV, its global multi-platform football debate and discussion show ESPNsoccernet PressPass becomes ESPNFC PressPass. The football discussion show that looks, daily, at the global game with a global perspective, the show features panellists and contributors from around the world of football – including Shaka Hislop, Robbie Mustoe, Steve Nicol, Frank LeBoeuf and Jorge Ramos. Reflecting the cross-platform nature of ESPNFC, both TV and digital content will be heavily integrated to highlight major club news and analysis across all screens. Furthermore, the editorial agenda of both the TV show and web companion content will be closely aligned. Also tonight, the show makes its debut on ESPN television in the US. Previously available online in the US, the show will be available six days a week (weekdays plus Sundays) on ESPNews. Press Pass first debuted in September 2002 on ESPN International’s English-speaking networks. It can now be seen in over 107 countries and territories around the world.

ESPNFC will also provide new and unique, customizable digital opportunities for marketers who can work with ESPN to reach football fans on both a global and regional scale using ESPN’s worldwide sales teams. Online and on mobile, ESPNFC will have the ability to detect where a fan is accessing content, and deliver locally relevant coverage for that region. At launch, ESPNFC will launch in English and Spanish and will evolve over time to serve multiple languages.

Says Arne Rees, vice president of international digital media for ESPN International: “ESPN is making a big statement with today’s launch of ESPNFC. We are committed to the global game with a global, cross-media brand to cover it 24/7. ESPNFC aims to serve fans by being the leading destination for definitive football coverage worldwide and year-round whenever and wherever fans want it.”

MUMBAI: Consumer electronics major Samsung Electronics in the US has announced the availability of the Fios TV app on compatible Samsung Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray players.

The first-of-its-kind app on the Samsung Smart Hub platform lets Verizon’s FiOS TV and Fios Internet subscribers watch 26 live Fios TV channels and more than 20,000 FlexView on-demand movies and TV shows on these TVs and blu-ray players without requiring a set-top box. This furthers both Samsung’s and Verizon’s commitment to developing ways to help consumers enjoy “TV Everywhere.”

Verizon is the first TV provider in the US to offer video content directly through Samsung’s Smart Hub App Store.

Fios subscribers that have either Fios TV or Fios Internet subscriptions can easily download the free Fios TV app on their compatible Samsung Smart devices without requiring a secondary set-top box (STB).

The app will offer access to 26 channels at launch, including CNN, MTV, HBO, TBS, TNT, Food Network and HGTV, based on the subscribers’ current FiOS TV package. The app also offers access to more than 20,000 movie and TV show titles available monthly through FiOS TV’s Flex View, which offers FiOS customers the ability to buy or rent these titles and watch them on the TV, PC or mobile device and now compatible Samsung devices.

Samsung Electronics America VP of content, product solutions Eric Anderson said, “TV Everywhere Applications like this new FiOS TV app push the boundaries of content delivery to meet consumer demand for more control, choice and access to their favourite content. By broadening accessibility through Smart TV applications, Verizon Fios is providing consumers more flexibility for where they want to locate their Samsung Smart TV within their home without the need for a set-top box. This is another example of how Samsung is allowing the consumer to enhance their home entertainment experience.”

MUMBAI: ValueFirst, a digital media company, has announced that the company has changed its name from ValueFirst Messaging to ValueFirst Digital Media.

This change is part of a larger rebranding effort to emphasise the company‘s commitment to digital media. This name change will serve as an opportunity to re-brand the company and allow it to showcase the wide range of digital assets that ValueFirst has developed, the company said.

ValueFirst chairman and managing director Vish Bajaj said, “The company‘s technology and its product portfolio had evolved in response to the customer requirements and our new name now mirrors the expanded business and market segment in which the company now operates. The company is powering billions of digital interactions every month and the new name embraces its new stature and positioning.”

ValueFirst Digital Media enables businesses to reach out to “right” target audience through mobile and internet platforms via SMS, voice, E-Mail and internet solutions.

ValueFirst CEO Kumar Apoorv added, “The name promotes the strong digital media background and technology expertise of our company. This new company name reflects our positioning and is a reflection of the company‘s refined and enhanced business strategy.”

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky‘s internet-delivered television service, Now TV, has been launched on YouView set top boxes,Now TV is available on computers, iPhones, iPads and Android devices. The service provides Internet-delivered access to Sky Movies content. Customers who have already registered for Now TV can access the service through YouView.

An app for Now TV is available on the homepage of YouView. YouView customers are being offered a free 30-day trial of Now TV movies streaming.

MUMBAI: NDS, now part of Cisco, and Canal Digital, the leading DTH pay-TV provider in the Nordics, have collaborated to launch a next-generation cloud TV platform as a hosted, managed service.

Enabling both satellite and Over-the-Top (OTT) service delivery, the new platform will allow Canal Digital subscribers to access content anytime, anywhere and on multiple devices – whether in the home or on the go.

The premise for the new service is to provide an immersive TV experience that is personalised to the individual, the two companies said in a joint statement.

As an end-to-end hybrid infrastructure, delivered, hosted and managed for Canal Digital by NDS, the new platform will provide a scalable and flexible service that will allow for additional innovative features to be deployed quickly and easily after launch.

NDS Snowflake, the user experience framework, will provide the basis for the User Interface to be implemented across all devices as part of the Canal Digital service.

Powered by a hosted NDS Unified Headend, which will reside outside of the Canal Digital network, the subscriber’s home will be connected through a multimedia gateway that distributes content and metadata-based services around the home over IP to complement satellite delivered programming.

To enable advanced functionality throughout the home, the gateway and multi-tuner hybrid zapper boxes will be powered by NDS’ MediaHighway middleware, utilising Jungo Panorama remote management technology to reduce support costs and improve the subscriber experience.

Canal Digital CEO Patrik Hofbauer said, “Our new platform will provide what can only be described as a new generation of TV entertainment for our subscribers. With NDS, we are investing in our future to provide the ultimate user experience and the best possible infrastructure to support the growth of our business.”

Cisco SVP & GM, service provider video technology group Jesper Andersen said, “In providing a wholly managed service for Canal Digital we are combining our experience and technical capability to extend our role as solutions provider further than ever before. But more significantly, the approach taken by Canal Digital shows market innovation and progression to hosted and cloud-based technologies that will enable future-proofed platforms, optimised resources and scalability.”

MUMBAI: While mobile companies spend a lot of time on product innovation and brainstorming on new ideas, they should look at innovating on the service front as well to build entertainment consumption on the mobile.

The interface is equally important. This was one of the points made at the Mobile Innovation Conference organised by the Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

The session was ‘Refreshing mEntertainemt – Five Steps to be taken’. The speakers were Hungama Digital Media Entertainment COO Albert Almeida, Idea Cellular senior VP, head Vas, mobile commerce and long distance Narayanan SP, Mauj Mobile CEO Badri Sanjeevi and Vuclip VP, BD, MD India, Middle East Salman Hussain.

Almeida made the point about innovation being important in both products and services. “Pricing is an innovation. Different models can co-exist. Promotional channels can also be innovative. It is interesting that while the mobile is a personalised device the services are not personalised. It is important that the stakeholders understand consumers better,” he said.

Music, video and gaming will continue to drive entertainment on the mobile, he added.

Almedida touched on the point of government regulation saying that the industry hasn’t been responsible and mature enough to self regulate. “In television we told the government that we would put a mechanism in place to self regulate content. In mobile too we need to adopt best practices that are in the best interests of the consumer.”

Narayan noted that there is interest in launching app stores by different parties including operators. “Our aim is to address a broad spectrum of consumers. App stores of OEMs will co-exist with app stores of mobile operators,” he remarked.

According to Narayan, commercial models will evolve. Things are easier if there is pull based content. If content is uniquely available, then consumers will pay. While costs are growing for unique content, they are also coming down for non unique content.

The issue of revenue sharing was also discussed at the session. While controlling cost is an issue, revenue is a bigger factor. Revenue will grow if a company is able to manage a high level of consumer engagement. Companies have to see what will grow their business in the long term.

Hussain said that it is important to keep in mind the consumer’s criteria in choosing a service and product. That criteria could rest on many things including what is cheapest. Video consumption on Vuclip used to be search based. Now it is increasingly based on sharing. So videos of Bindra, Nehwal winning Olympic medals get heavy traffic, he added.

MUMBAI: Pioneer, which specialises in car audio and home theater entertainment products, has entered into the home entertainment segment in India.

The company has launched its LX series of audio video (AV) receivers and home theatre packages in addition to its regular AV receivers, home theatre in box and Blu Ray and DVD players.

The company says that its USP is superior technology and sound quality.

The LX series of AV receivers have DSB file playback, Android compatibility over MHL and Pioneer control application for Android based devices and ipod Touch, ipad and iphone. The regular AV receivers have been upgraded with a new lineup and have Pioneer proprietary technologies like Precision Quartz Locking System, control application for smartphones which substitutes the need for a remote control. The aim is to cater to the tech savvy consumer.

The company has introduced two home theatre packages that offer connectivity features. The packages are HTP-822ES and HTPRS32. The former offers connectivity options and applications like Airjam, control application for smartphones and tablets.

Pioneer India Electronics India GM Shingo Ikeuchi said, “During the test marketing phase last year we discovered that Indians appreciate high quality of sound. The aim is to be the perfect partner for home entertainment. It is fascinating to see the speed at which the Indian consumer adopts new technologies. Our endeavour is match up to their ever evolving needs.”

He added that Airjam a proprietary Pioneer technology allows the user to create, edit and play common playlists with different phones at the same time. There is no need for messy cabling or multiple inputs. This feature is available with some models and is compatible with touch based devices on iOS and the Android platform.

Pioneer India Electronics manager marketing, product planning Gaurav Kulshreshtha said that the aim is to address every kind of consumer from the mass to the premium. “We meet high end audio solution requirements with our LX series audio video receivers as well as entry level consumer needs with home theatre in a box. Right now we are focussing on South and West India. We have 50 direct dealers which is important as we have to give personalised service,” he added.

MUMBAI: Asian satellite operator Asiasat has announced that Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) has signed a contract to broadcast two free-to-air satellite channels, ‘Dubai TV’ and ‘Dubai Sports’, throughout the Asia-Pacific region on Asiasat 5.

Dubai TV, the state TV channel of the Emirate of Dubai, broadcasts events and activities taking place in Dubai and in the UAE along with local news, financial programmes and Arabic family dramas to a wide global audience.

Dubai Sports Channel, on the other hand, is dedicated to featuring major tournaments such as the Dubai World Cup, Dubai Open Tennis, World Powerboat Championship, the UAE Football League and other important world sporting events and sports documentaries.

Dubai Media MD His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Al Shaikh said, “Asiasat 5 is well known as the leading distribution platform for Middle Eastern programming, as it offers the greatest choice of Arabic content for Arab communities in Asia and Australasia. We are excited to join AsiaSat 5 to further expand our viewership and international reach through its unprecedented coverage across a vast area from Turkey and Egypt in the west to Australia and New Zealand in the east allowing instantaneous access to pay TV platforms, terrestrial networks, hotel networks, embassies and individual homes across Asia.”

The premium Arabic Channels Dubai TV and Dubai Sports are now available on AsiaSat 5 in C-band with the following reception parameters: Orbital Location : 100.5 degrees East; Transponder : C1V; Frequency : 3660 MHz; Polarisation : Vertical; Modulation : QPSK; Symbol Rate : 27.5 Msym/sec; and FEC : 3/4.

Asiasat president, CEO William Wade said, “With the addition of Dubai TV and Dubai Sports channels to our existing impressive bouquet of over 40 Middle Eastern TV and radio programmes on AsiaSat 5, we expand our commitment to providing the best and most comprehensive Middle Eastern entertainment to the Arabic-speaking communities across the Asia-Pacific region”.

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky has won its appeal against UK media watchdog Ofcom‘s decision to force the company to reduce the amount it charges companies like BT and Virgin Media for carrying Sky Sports channels.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (Cat) heard the case. In the judgment, Justice Barling said: “The tribunal has concluded that Ofcom‘s core competition concern is unfounded. That concern is based on the finding to which we have referred, namely that Sky has deliberately withheld from other retailers wholesale supply of its premium channels, preferring to be entirely absent from those retailers‘ platforms rather than to give them wholesale access, and that in doing so Sky has been acting on strategic incentives unrelated to normal commercial considerations of revenue/profit maximisation.”

The tribunal came to the view that Ofcom has, to a significant extent, misinterpreted the evidence of these negotiations, which does not support its conclusion. “We have found a significant number of Ofcom‘s pivotal findings of fact in the statement to be inconsistent with the evidence,” it stated.

The Cat was deciding on the various appeals of Ofcom’s decision to impose a Wholesale Must Offer
obligation in respect of Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2.

BSkyB said in a statement: “We welcome the Cat‘s confirmation that Ofcom’s competition concerns in relation to the wholesale supply of Sky Sports are unfounded and that, contrary to Ofcom’s analysis, the evidence shows that Sky has engaged constructively with other distributors over the supply of its premium channels. This finding supports the argument that Sky has been making consistently over the last five years.

We also welcome the Cat’s conclusion that the existing commercial terms of supply, particularly in relation to Sky’s wholesale rate card, do not obstruct fair and effective competition in the retailing of Sky Sports across platforms.”

The ruling is a setback for Ofcom. The Cat ruling contradicts Ofcom work dating back to 2007 relating to BSkyB‘s power in the UK pay-TV market.

Earlier Ofcom and the Competition Commission had decided that the pay TV market was not serving consumers, ordering Sky to wholesale its premium sports channels to arch rivals Virgin Media and BT, and giving Ofcom the power to set the wholesale price. Sky appealed a 2010 Ofcom pricing decision. The Cat disagreed with this.

MUMBAI: Following the launch of live-streaming that allows viewers to watch its content live, whenever and wherever, US kids broadcaster Cartoon Network has added an app for iOS that will allow kids to watch television and play games simultaneously.

CN 2.0, a new version of the Cartoon Network app, is now available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, bringing a feature to the mobile marketplace.

The new app includes features and content from the original video app, plus exclusive games and collectibles. Engaging the power of the iPad, the revolutionary user interface allows fans to watch videos and play games simultaneously, or swap seamlessly between the two just by rotating the device.

The iPhone and iPod touch versions include all the same content and also allows users to watch and play in the same app, although not simultaneously. The new Cartoon Network app will continue to be free to download.

Turner‘s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division president, COO Stuart Snyder said, “In continuing our efforts to make sure our viewers are enjoying Cartoon Network content, whenever and wherever, it is always our goal to make their experience unique and exciting. CN 2.0 is an innovative and fun new enhancement to the Cartoon Network app that is like no other in the marketplace.”

Cartoon Network VP digital Chris Waldron said, “The viewing habits of kids are changing every day and they are using mobile devices and tablets more than ever. We know they love our shows and games and have observed them participating in both simultaneously, yet on different platforms. It just made sense to bring all that together into an experience they can‘t find anywhere else but at Cartoon Network.”

Along with the network‘s shows on the go, including ‘Adventure Time‘ and ‘Ben 10‘, Cartoon Network 2.0 will include new games available only on the app, such as Adventure Time‘s “Adventure Masters” and Ben 10‘s “Null Void: Escape Velocity.”

Games and video are further integrated in the DNA Lab, a feature that lets users build virtual collector cards from resources they earn by watching episodes and playing games in the app. Cartoon Network 2.0 also includes show clips and gives fans access to the Cartoon Network programming schedule.

Cartoon Network Digital oversees the management and production of content for the channel‘s official site, CartoonNetwork.com.