Category: Software

MUMBAI: GlobeCast has announced that ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has become the first client for its new fibre connectivity from GlobeCast’s Parkview Square facility in Singapore to Astro in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GlobeCast’s new fibre link connects to Astro’s two diverse locations –Astro’s All Asia Broadcast Center (AABC) and Cyberjaya Broadcast Center (CBC).
 
For ESS, GlobeCast is providing delivery of SD and HD channels in compressed ASI format via the new fibre, delivering world-class sports from Asia’s biggest sports content provider to Astro’s Pay-TV platform.

This circuit will also be available for occasional use for the delivery of live sports and special events coverage to and from ESS and Astro, the company said.   
 
GlobeCast currently offers extensive fibre connectivity in Asia, including access to its global fiber network, the GlobeCast Backbone Network (GCBN), which offers 33 points of presence. In Asia, GlobeCast offers broadcasters connectivity to operators such as nowTV in Hong Kong, SingTel in Singapore and Shanghai Media Group in China.

GlobeCast’s facility in Singapore hosts an SD and a HD-ready playout and programme origination facility. GlobeCast also runs a 24/7 MCR in Singapore as well as a 24/7 MCR and teleport in Hong Kong.

NEW DELHI: Web18 has partnered with Vdopia to power video advertising on its news web portals – IBNLive.com and IBNKhabar.com (Hindi news portal).

Vdopia will power ads on the live TV section of the websites. The online feed covers live news being broadcasted on-air, from CNN-IBN and IBN7.
 
Says Web18 AVP – Sales Vijay Kunduri, “We pride ourselves in delivering quality content and live news feed airing on television through ibnlive.com and ibnkhabar.com. We have witnessed tremendous growth in consumption of online videos and online video advertising space and expect this growth to further manifold in the years to come.”
 
Adds Vdopia VP – India Debadutta Upadhyaya, “Today, advertisers are benefiting from the online video advertising medium by obtaining competitive ROI. Vdopia’s platform offers advertisers the opportunity to target online video consumers with contextual, interactive advertising for every second of the video being watched by the user. Addition of IBNLive.com into our network would further strengthen our offering in the market.”

NEW DELHI: Latens, a provider of software security solutions for Pay-TV and IPTV, has announced a partnership with Noida Software Technology Park Ltd (NSTPL) to offer Latens Cas to Indian Broadcasters through the NSTPL Teleport.

NSTPL provides a comprehensive range of quality services such as TV broadcasting, news gathering and video uplinking from its facility spread over 12 acres in Noida in the National Capital Region. Currently NSTPL uplinks more than 30 channels and is expected to increase this to 50 channels before the year end, making it one of the biggest teleports in AMEA.
 
With more and more channels turning to a pay-per-view model, NSTPL understood the need to offer a secure, affordable and flexible Cas service in order to better monetise the 100 million cable subscribers. To meet the requirements of the broadcasters, NSTPL and Latens have collaborated to offer this as a service from the NSTPL teleport. While the technology will be provided by Latens, the infrastructure would be maintained by NSTPL.

This will address the twin needs of all the broadcasters – the highest level of security at a flexible affordable rate. Latens software Cas, which reduces the infrastructure and maintenance cost by as much as 60 per cent, will be a panacea for the broadcasters. And finally, the broadcasters will be less prone to the issues of smartcard sharing, cloning, logistical issues, card recall, etc. as the Latens software Cas removes the cost of card manufacture, distribution and replacement.
 
“We are very glad to partner with Latens as this product addresses the one compelling need of broadcasters – to encrypt with the highest level of security in a service model,” says NSTPL managing director Ankur Jain.

Latens Asia regional director Rahul Nehra said, “We are proud to be associated with NSTPL and are convinced that this association will finally address the ongoing issues of the Indian broadcasters.”
 

MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat)) today closed its week-long hearings and reserved its order on the petition filed by the broadcasters against the tariff order prescribed by Trai for digital addressable systems.

In their petitions, broadcasters had raised concern over the new tariff order for digital addressable systems fixed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).
 
The Tdsat bench headed by chairman Justice SB Sinha heard the broadcasters including Zee Turner, Star Den Media Services, ESPN Star Sports, Sun TV, Viacom18 and MSM Discovery who are opposing the tariff order fixed by Trai for DTH, digital addressable cable and IPTV.
 
In its tariff order dated 21 July, the sector regulator made it mandatory for broadcasters to make channels available to DTH and addressable digital cable networks at 35 per cent of the corresponding rates for analogue cable operators. Earlier, Trai had fixed tariff for DTH at 50 per cent of the analogue cable price.

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel, a global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, has selected Ericsson India, Nokia Siemens Networks, and Huawei Technologies as network partners to launch 3G Services in India.

These partners will plan, design, deploy and maintain a state of the art 3G HSPA Network in Bharti Airtel 3G license circles. This deployment would enable Bharti Airtel meet the growing demand for high speed surfing and wireless entertainment in the country, according to an announcement made today.
 
Bharti Airtel has awarded a majority of the 3G License Circles to Ericsson India. With this, Ericsson continues to be Bharti’s largest Network Partner across 2G and 3G circles in the country.

On the same lines, Bharti has also expanded its relationship with Nokia Siemens Networks, which would manage Bharti’s 3G Network in 3 circles across India. Bharti Airtel has also introduced Huawei Technologies as the 3rd partner for offering 3G services in a few circles. 
 
Airtel’s 3G services will usher in a new era of unique life style products. The offerings will be specifically targeted towards mobile broadband, given the enhanced speed and user experience which the 3G technology enables. The partners will play a catalyst role in enhancing the customer experience and the data usage habits in the country.

In addition to being HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access) ready from launch, the 3G network will support user data speeds and enhanced mobile broadband user experience. High Speed Packet Access enables high peak user throughputs which are multiple times higher than those supported in current 2G networks.

MUMBAI: Sea TV Network, the Agra-based multi-system-operator (MSO), has received the approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for its proposed initial public offering (IPO).

The company will be raising Rs 502 million via public float.

As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the company intends to invest Rs 275 million out of the issue proceeds in setting up a complete digital head-end. It also plans to pump in Rs 52.8 million for setting up network for IPTV solution and Rs 65.6 million for laying underground optical fibre capable of digital transmission throughout Agra city and adjoining areas.
 
The total fund requirement of Sea TV, including meeting the expenses of the IPO issue, is Rs 596.5 million. It also requires Rs 155.5 million for setting up 20 branch-offices in Agra and adjoining areas with required infrastructure for receiving digital signals and re-transmitting the same through co-axial cables to individual subscribers.

Besides the proposed IPO, Sea TV Network will also raise term loans and fund from internal accruals. 
 
Chartered Capital and Investment is the Book Running Lead Manager and Link Intime India is the Registrar to the issue. Post IPO, the equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE.

The company’s total income for the year ended 31 March 2010 was Rs 94.62 million while net profit stood at Rs 15.05 million.

MUMBAI: Hungama Mobile, a part of Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, has appointed Sunny Virmani as VP of its international mobile business.

Virmani will be responsible for leading Hungama’s global growth and operations in the mobile space.
  
“As Hungama Mobile moves into a new phase of growth, we are pleased to have a professional of Virmani’s caliber join the team,” said Hungama Mobile COO Albert Almeida. “Under his leadership, the team will work very closely with our content and service partners globally.”

Virmani comes with over 13 years of experience in film making, entertainment, marketing, consulting and technology.
 
Prior to Hungama, he was president of VCXel Entertainment, where he led the strategic direction and operations of the company. He was also the producer and creative director of the company’s films and events. He has created, marketed and distributed entertainment content for global audiences as well as for the global Indian diaspora.

NEW DELHI: Two MSOs – IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd. and Digicable – have been impleaded as parties in the hearing before the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) in the case relating to several broadcasters challenging Trai‘s tariff order for digital addressable systems.

Both the MSOs are supporting the Telecom regulatory Authority of India‘s (Trai) Tariff Order of 21 July, which will become effective on 1 October. The earlier date of implementation (1 September) was put off by a month in view of a Supreme Court hearing on the same issue.
 
Day-to-day hearing commenced on 14 September and the Tribunal heard counsel CS Vaidyanathan on behalf of Indusind (IMC) and said while the MSOs supported addressability, non-Cas operators cannot be treated at par with DTH or addressability. The rates have, thus, to be different. If the rates charged by broadcasters are realistic, then there will be no under-declaration by cable operators as alleged by the broadcasters.  
 
Trai counsel said that the tariff order was also aimed at encouraging the switch-over to addressability.

Earlier this week, senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan appearing for Star Den Media and Sun TV had said Trai had fixed tariff for DTH sector without fixing the tariff for non-CAS.

“What was the urgency of fixing DTH tariff in relation to non-Cas tariff though it has not been finalised,” Srinivasan had asked.

In its tariff order, Trai made it mandatory for broadcasters to make channels available to DTH and addressable digital cable networks at 35 per cent of the corresponding rates for analogue cable operators. Earlier, Trai had fixed tariff for DTH at 50 per cent of the analogue cable price.

The petitions are by Star Den, Zee Turner and Sun among others. All the four petitions have raised the same prayer, seeking quashing of the Trai Tariff order of 21 July. The petitions are largely similar in the arguments raised by them.
 

MUMBAI: Digicable Network (India), which is being acquired by Reliance Communications in an all-stock deal, has proposed to absorb its cable TV subsidiaries across the country with itself.

The subsidiaries that would be amalgamated include Life Style Communications (cable network in Hyderabd), Central India Digital Network (Jaipur), Digi Multinational Network (Delhi), Digi Ruby City Network (Hyderabad), Digi Maharaja Network, Digi Raigadh Network, Digicable Central (India) Cable Network and Digi Corporate Services ( a services company).
 
The decision to amalgamate all the subsidiaries will enable Digicable Network to have a strong financial and operational structure. Digicable will be capable of mobilising resources and the financial consolidation will be necessary to withstand the new competitive environment.

The amalgamated company will, thus, have the benefit of synergy and stability of operations, helping it to achieve economies of scale through efficient utilisation of resources and facilities. The companies concerned would be able to combine their resources, expand their activities, rationalise and streamline their management, business and finances as well as eliminate duplication of work to their common advantage.  
 
The Bombay High Court is seeking the nod from the unsecured creditors to the Scheme of Arrangement. The appointed date of the Scheme will be 1 April 2009.

Digicable will take up the debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the companies that are to merge under the Scheme.

The authorised share captal of Digicable is Rs 1 billion, divided into 20 million equity shares of Rs 10 each and 80 million redeemable preference shares of Rs 10 each.

MUMBAI: The Cable and Satellite Broadcasters Association of Asia (Casbaa) has announced expansion of its India agenda with the addition of two more players as corporate members of the association.

The new members are Reliance ADAG’s telecom-to-media industry player Reliance Communications and fashion and entertainment content specialist FashionOne TV.
 
“The Casbaa board of directors believe the participation in the association of such Indian companies as Reliance fits perfectly with a global outlook. Reliance’s membership is also an endorsement of Casbaa’s growing relevance in India,” said Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies.

Added Reliance Communications CEO-DTV & IPTV Sanjay Behl, “We look forward to collaborating with leading global players to address relevant issues and to meaningfully engage with policy makers to catapult media broadcasting, distribution & subscription TV industry to its next level.”

Reliance Communications has a customer base of over 117 million mobile subscribers. Reliance ADAG also has interests in DTH, broadcasting, cable TV distribution and film production.  
 
The other new joinee in the members is US-based FashionOne TV, a division of integrated entertainment company Bigfoot Entertainment with new studio facilities in Cebu in the Philippines distributing fashion and entertainment news around the world via three satellites.

“With our commitment to the world’s fastest-growing region, we are pleased to be a part of Asia’s leading association for the subscription TV industry,” said FashionOne TV CEO Eric Klein. “We look forward to new opportunities and to fostering long term relationships with like-minded partners to positively impact this high-growth industry.”

Bharti Airtel, NDTV and Star India recently joined Casbaa. Other members based in India are Amarchand & Mangaldas, BAG Films & Media, Conax, Indusind Media, Tata Sky, Zee Entertainment and ISRO.