Category: Software

AMSTERDAM: At the 2010 International Broadcasting Conference (IBC)in Amsterdam, Microsoft is showcasing innovations for the media industry with new media solution frameworks, new efficiencies created through use of cloud services and its new digital marketing strategy.

Microsoft MD for the media and entertainment business in the communications sector Gabriele Di Piazza says, “At Microsoft, we look to turn what is possible into what is real by delivering the next generation of productivity, entertainment and communications experiences across all the screens in our lives. It’s exciting to see how our customers and partners are utilizing Microsoft technologies and solutions to realize innovations for their digital supply chain.”
 
Media Solution Frameworks Shorten Time to Value: Microsoft announced that several companies have deployed its products and technologies based on solution frameworks developed for the media and entertainment industry, enabling key business functions, such as digital content management, editorial collaboration, mobile journalism, business intelligence and business partner relationship management.

Companies using Microsoft Solution Framework for Editorial Collaboration include the following:

•For its 2,400 journalists, The Associated Press (AP) designed a newsroom system based on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft Word 2010 to replace its previous text processing and content management system. AP journalists and editors will use Microsoft Word to author content, and will use an editorial system based on SharePoint Server 2010 to manage resources and share the content. With this solution, the AP expects to improve productivity, facilitate newsroom collaboration and simplify software development by taking advantage of Microsoft’s business productivity platform.

•Gannett, publisher of more than 80 newspapers including USA Today, is using Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 for its ContentOne editorial planning portal to improve content development, sharing and information gathering across its global network.

•Based on the Microsoft Solution Framework for Editorial Collaboration, Conciety AG developed the IQon Media Solution Framework, which provides broadcasters, publishers and news agencies with a platform to optimize communication and collaboration workflows to enable end-to-end content production, post production and delivery. Conciety also developed an application for Windows Phone 7 to enable journalists to find content and post stories while reporting in the field. 
 
Produce, Share and Manage Content in One Solution: Media and broadcasters have also turned to Microsoft in order to modernize their digital content management systems by lowering the cost of implementation and achieving better total cost of ownership:
•Television format creator and distributor Endemol has made it easier and faster for its employees to access and find media assets within the company’s large catalog by upgrading to the latest version of Dalet Enterprise, a digital asset management (DAM) system based on Microsoft .NET Framework and running on Microsoft SQL Server, and integrating it with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.
•Rive, the public Spanish radio and television broadcast company, has also moved its content management systems to Microsoft SQL Server using the Dam system, designed to facilitate highly efficient and collaborative workflows for news, sports, program preparation and archives.

•David Systems is unveilling a new solution for radio and TV stations that provides cloud-based content storage and content processing services based on Windows Azure, the Microsoft cloud computing platform, and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office system to support tri-media collaboration between journalists and editors.

Cloud Services: The cloud is rapidly changing the nature of the computing and IT landscape and is transforming the way Microsoft’s media and entertainment partners do business. Microsoft is experiencing strong momentum for the adoption of its Windows Azure platform following last year’s customer wins from major industry players, including Tribune and the AP.

Tribune developed its content repository using Windows Azure to dynamically generate newspaper-like layouts based on a reader’s selected content quickly. The deployment of Windows Azure for the AP enabled the company to scale up without impacting other operations and to easily and securely make large amounts of internal content available externally.

In addition, during Fifa World Cup 2010, Spanish commercial television channel Telecinco delivered all of the live matches of the Spanish National Team using a full-screen Silverlight player, which allowed viewers to interact throughsocial networks, based on the Windows Azure platform.

Digital marketing strategies : To further address the growing needs of the media and entertainment industry, Microsoft developed a digital marketing strategy, which is a new approach to better help companies drive online revenue generation around key industry trends, such as online video, adaptive websites and social media. The strategy focuses on enabling media companies to better monetize their relationships with their audiences.

Through the use of SharePoint Server 2010, Fast, Silverlight and Internet Information Services (IIS) Smooth Streaming, and by utilising the Microsoft Advertising network and properties, media and entertainment companies have the opportunity to reach the consumer across multiple platforms and channels and to maximise the opportunity to monetize content.

Content owners and broadcasters are looking for full control and flexibility to deliver premium media experiences to consumers across devices, so they can get the content they want, when and how they want it. Silverlight and IIS Media Services are key components in helping partners reach consumers across multiple platforms to monetize their content, offering a complete media delivery platform.

At IBC, Microsoft announced that next month it will release IIS Media Services 4.0, a free add-on for Windows Server, which enables cost-effective media delivery for enterprises and media and entertainment companies. Key new features include sub-two-second low-latency streaming, transmuxing between H.264 file formats and integrated transcoding through Microsoft Expression Encoder 4. Microsoft will also show technology demonstrations of Silverlight Enhanced Movies, surround sound in Silverlight and live 3-D 1080p Internet broadcasting using IIS Smooth Streaming and Silverlight technologies.

For example, during Fifa World Cup 2010, Rai Net, the Internet company of the Italian public broadcaster Rai, utilised Silverlight Rough Cut Editor and IIS Smooth Streaming to deliver live and on-demand high-definition streaming from the event on its Rai Sport and Rai.tv portals. By using Silverlight Rough Cut Editor, RAI was able to quickly edit the live game and publish for its catch-up TV service.

Film Flex is also utilising this strategy to manage audience experiences, making it easier for consumers to find and enjoy film clips and content.

AMSTERDAM: Conax has launched a new content protection platform, Conax Contego, at the television technology event IBC in Amsterdam.

Conax CEO Berit Svendsen said the new Conax Contego security platform will be the company’s primary vehicle for expansion in the global market. The company will develop future media opportunities based on its new secutiry technology.
 
The Conax Contego content security platform features a completely new design and architecture, yet includes the key functionality proven in previous Conax solutions. The new platform bundles 25 years of content protection experience into one unique solution:

· Higher security, flexibility and scalability than previously available on the market

· Best tool for securing content via multiple platforms and channels

· Dynamic architecture meets any redundancy requirements

· Highly intuitive, user-friendly management system

Svendsen says, ”Developed with 25 years of experience and a rock solid security record, Conax Contego is truly the market’s next generation solution for protecting content and enabling new services. The Conax Contego platform will bring DTV operators to the next level in empowering and securing their business, further strengthening Conax’ position in the global security market.” 
 
Conax Contego has undergone testing within the advanced customer operation, Digitenne, owned by Dutch telecom, KPN. The company adds that a pilot project confirmed its reliability in developing a high quality, multi-platform security solution for the next generation of content protection needs.
Conax executive VP products and markets Geir Bj?rndal says, ”Conax main goal is to combine the highest level of security on the market together with flexibility and usability. Conax Contego has removed the ominous black box factor, making it easy to deploy a high level content security through an extremely user-friendly management environment.”

Conax Contego is fully scalable and supports all business models required by the market. The main features include: Advanced anti-piracy mechanisms, smart card and card less security options, extensive language support, DVB, ISDB-T and OpenCable compliancy, DRM Control, secure hybrid STBs, CI Plus and CableCard support, multi-client support, multi-room and home networking, and 200+ supported STB vendors.

Conax Contego replaces the Conax Cas5 security platform launched at Digitenne in 2003. Digitenne’s Conax Cas5 platform yielded security, leading KPN to select Conax Contego for its platform upgrade. Digitenne is also benefitting from the additional user friendliness that the new platform provides.

Conax CTO Tore Gimse says, “Conax Contego is developed to meet future content distribution demands. A key design feature is one system – any operation functionality, supporting all relevant distribution technologies and a multitude of consumer devices. A single installation of Conax Contego supports both broadcast and broadband operations with content delivery to consumer devices, with or without smart cards. A monitoring system allows operators to secure potential issues before they become liabilities.”
 

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today asked the Centre and Communications and Information Technology Minister A Raja to answer charges leveled in a petition seeking the court to monitor a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged irregularities in the 2008 sale of 2G spectrum licences.

A division bench with Justices G. S. Singhvi and A. K. Ganguly sent notices to the Ministry and Raja to reply within 10 days.
 
The bench also issued notices to the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department on the petition filed by an NGO, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and others.

The petitioners challenged the 25 May decision of the Delhi High Court dismissing its plea to monitor the CBI probe into the alleged role of the Minister in the sale of 2G spectrum licences in 2008. 
 
Appearing for CPIL, advocate Prashant Bhushan alleged that the CBI was not taking action despite having documents showing an alleged nexus between Raja and others.

The petitioners alleged that the DoT had given away 2G spectrum to 122 operators at a throwaway price of Rs 16.58 billion for pan-India licences on a first-come-first-served basis in January 2008.

Raja should have auctioned the 2G licences to telecom service providers, they said. It was alleged that some of those who were awarded licenses resold them for 5 to 6 times the amount.

MUMBAI: Direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Dish TV has appointed Quasar as its exclusive sales partner for platform sales.

As a key business partner, Quasar’s main focus would be to monetise the platform through advertising inventories, alliances, partnerships, sponsorships and innovative solutions enabling marketers to reach out to their target audience.
  
Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor said, “The DTH category is already 25 million+ households which is around 30 per cent of the C&S (cable & satellite) homes and is growing rapidly towards 33 million households by the end of this year. This rapid expansion of DTH cannot be ignored by any informed marketer or media buyer. Dish TV with its eight million subscribers is one third of this base, straightway giving advertisers a reach into 8 million homes.

“Advertisers across segments are warming up to this new media innovation and are chalking out advertising plans suited to their businesses. We are looking at this as a big opportunity and we are sure our partnership with Quasar will help us reach out to the marketing fraternity.” 
 
“The advantages and benefits of DTH have attracted marketers to advertise on this powerful medium to reach out to their consumers. The clutter free medium offers marketers the exclusive space to engage their consumers. A DTH user on an average spends about half an hour of his day to check out the extra services offered by the service provider. Enhancing a brand’s visibility and evoking recognition with a niche audience is also an advantage that the marketers can encash upon.”
Quasar co-founder Manish Vij says, “Dishtv is a market leader in the DTH space with more than eight million subscribers who become a captive audience for advertisers and this is what would work in our favour while designing attractive solutions for the new age advertisers.

“Our team at Quasar is very excited to be the ‘preferred’ partner of Dishtv India. We bring a wealth of digital experience and expertise with us and are confident of surpassing Dishtv’s expectations in delivery.”

Innovations offered by Dish TV include direct access to eight million households through its default channel and associations with the latest blockbusters on Movie on Demand at a nominal cost. DTH is as transparent for advertisers as it is for the broadcasting industry.

In the current system, household reach and viewership of channels are measured by Television and Media Audit (TAM) through recording meters installed at few locations. DTH set-top-boxes installed at each consumer’s house enables a much more accurate and efficient determination of viewership and reach. On DTH, the advertiser is sure of his message reaching his audience directly.

Dish TV says that its ad proposition provides advertisers unmatched results in tapping their audience on the digital medium. Dish TV is constantly innovating its value added services for its consumers as well as advertisers. While marketers and agencies are extremely excited with the digital space, a lot of brand integration is possible to tap the creative opportunities that the medium provides. For example, job portal Monster.com is currently running a jobs search service on Dish TV called ‘Monster Jobs Active‘.

Brands that have tested Dish TV as an ad option include Pepsi, Maruti, Limca, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, ICICI Prudential, Monster.com, Voltas and Kingfisher Airlines. This medium is still seen as an innovation by most marketers, but those who have experimented have stayed on and continue to increase spends on this platform.

AMSTERDAM: Is the media industry recovering or is it still going through the throes of a recession? That was the topic of the morning session at the IBC in RAI, Amsterdam.

International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers director general Peter Smith pointed out that the broadcast sector has moved to a growth position, where earlier it was negative. He was referring to a broad industry wide study the IABM has conducted amongst attendees of IBC 2009.

“Recovery is underway, and it is regional. Apac has not been affected much and continues to grow,” he said. “Europe has recovered. The US is moving slower. On the whole, 71 per cent of companies in Europe have moved into profits while the figure for the world and the US is 59 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.”
 
 
From the supplier’s viewpoint, he pointed out, that around 41 per cent said that projects have been delayed or deferred over the past 12 months which has impacted their growth. “But 2010 looks better. 2011-2012 looks very promising. We might get to where we were in 2008 or even ahead of it,” Smith opined.

Sony professional vice-president EMEA Naomi Climer higlighted that pain might still hit the broadcast equipment sector, especially from the publicly funded broadcasters, as they find their expenditures being cut. “We have to distinguish between publicly funded broadcasters and the commercially funded ones,” she said. “Apac, middle east and Africa are looking good but Japan was hit hard because of the strengthening yen. Northern Europe is looking better than southern europe.” She said that that Sony was looking at 3D and intregation as a growth driver. “Additionally our 3D, digital cinema and D-signage products are doing well.”

Axon CEO Jan Eveleens said that his company has been doing well courtesy the transition to HD which has driven growth. “There was a point when people simply stopped everything,” he said. “There was an effect, but not that strong an effect. Customers are looking for solutions.” 
 
Harris Broadcast Germany VP sales and services Mathias Eckert echoed that North America was down but things were not that bad in Canada and APAC. “We need to be more flexible towards trends, get products into factory quickly. We see scope in 3D, holographic television. We need to make sure we hit the same ball.” he however added, “From our perspective, while only 20 per cent of our revenues come from broadcast, 80 per cent of our revenues come from elsewhere.”

Softel UK CEO Sam Pemberton pointed out that products that allow for monetising content are selling more. “There has been a proliferation of broadband which is creating new opportunities for content owners.”

MUMBAI: The proliferation of three dimensional movies and theme park attractions have made most consumers in the US familiar with 3D content, and as a result, they love the potential of owning a 3DTV.

At the same time, however, consumers have concerns about a range of issues that suggest that technology faces some very real challenges as it reaches the marketplace.
 
 
According to a new report, Focussing on the 3DTV Experience, released by The Nielsen Company in cooperation with the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing, consumers expressed a “wait and see” attitude toward the technology.

Key issues were the cost of the 3DTV set (68 per cent), having to wear 3D glasses (57 per cent) and the relative scarcity of 3D programming/content (44 per cent).

Despite these concerns, the research suggested that if these issues are satisfactorily addressed by set manufacturers and content producers, consumers might embrace the technology. 
 
Nearly three-fifths (57 per cent) of viewers agreed that 3DTV made them feel like they were “part of the action” and 48 per cent felt it made them more engaged with what they were watching.
Nearly half of consumers (47 per cent) said 3DTV would make them watch programmes that they wouldn’t normally watch.

Attracting video gamers will be important to spurring initial growth: 42 per cent of respondents cited interest in playing video games in 3D, with 71 per cent of hardcore or regular gamers interested in experiencing video games in 3D.

While costs and content availability will be addressed over time, the purchase hurdle for the glasses could be a longer term barrier.

Overall, 89 per cent felt the 3D glasses would constrain their multitasking activities as compared to 2D viewing habits in the household. More than half mentioned the glasses are a hassle and that was the reason cited by 57 per cent of those “not likely” to purchase a 3DTV set. Consumers were also concerned with discomfort from wearing the glasses (45 per cent).

Nielsen Executive VP, GM of TV Primary Research Frank Stagliano says, “The research revealed a ‘wait and see’ attitude expressed by survey participants, which reflects an increase in consumer understanding of how new products come to market.

“In fact, purchase interest for a 3DTV set among those planning to buy a new TV in the next 12 months decreased after seeing a demonstration of the technology, experiencing the glasses, and learning more about product costs. This suggests the majority of consumers will wait until these challenges are addressed and there is more content available before opening their wallets.”

MUMBAI: MatrixStream Technologies has launched an IPTV platform over next generation wireless 4G networks such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) or WIMAX.

By using the latest MatrixStream patent pending MatrixCast® technology, any TV viewer on the 4G network now can view live high definition TV and video on demand in 3D and in full HD 1080p with surround sound without any buffering or jerkiness usually associated with videos viewed through the Internet.
 
MatrixStream’s IPTV platform also supports next generation IPTV features such as pause live TV, visual channel preview, DVR, targeted advertising, video on demand in 7.1 surround sound, games and other TV applications.

MatrixStream IPTV is fully customizable and flexible so the service provider using the MatrixStream TV API provided can develop infinite amount of TV apps. Consumers can access the IPTV via a MX 1 HD set top box, or on a PC using the MX 1100 PC player. 
 
The MatrixStream IPTV platform is fully automated and self provisioning – and by using an advance next generation 4G network such as LTE, wireless operators can slash CAPEX and OPEX by 80 per cent compared to traditional fixed line IPTV deployments, the company claims.

No expensive truck roll is necessary to pull wires in the home since the MX 1 supports wireless out of the box with a user friendly installment process that only takes minutes to prepare
by an end user versus the more traditional route, which would take several hours or days with heavy reliance of technicians.
SaysMatrixStream COO Robert Liu, , “Our IPTV platform offers 4G providers a disruptive strategic and cost effective advantage by offering IPTV to their customer base that will enable them to quickly
cover 90 per cent of their networks with IPTV, and in short order pass those savings and make related services significantly more affordable for the several millions of end users that will tune in.”

MUMBAI: GlobeCast has reached agreements with several post-production and digital media service companies in America, Asia and Europe that will allow its existing and future clients to connect the post-production aspect of their workflows with the company’s Media Asset Management (MAM) and delivery services, effectively becoming part of a Digital Ecosystem.
 
SDI Media Group, Bigfoot Entertainment, Broadway Video Digital Media, Medi-LAN , Infinite Frameworks, re:fine, TVT and Éclair-Télétota are the first providers to have agreed to connect with GlobeCast.

GlobeCast is also in discussion with several other companies to use its content management and delivery services. Content creators and broadcasters can immediately streamline their processes and workflows with the use of these services. 
 
“A client working on aspects of their post-production with providers in GlobeCast’s Digital Ecosystem can connect editors at those facilities to GlobeCast’s MAM platform to easily, quickly and very cost-effectively create regional versions of content at playout centers around the world. This is done using either fiber links or advanced file transfer programs such as GlobeCast Content Exchange,” the company said.

The creation of this Digital Ecosystem involved interconnecting GlobeCast’s playout centers in Singapore, London, Miami and Paris via the company’s fiber network – the GlobeCast Backbone Network. The connection of these facilities means that clients can seamlessly ingest content in one part of the world, and playout regionalised versions of the content on multiple platforms in another part of the world. Along the way, using NETIA’s Content Management System, the content can also be archived for future use or transcoded for distribution to multiple platforms including VoD, web TV and mobile TV.

MUMBAI: Anuj Gandhi has quit from his role as chief executive officer of Den Networks after the completion of his employment term.
 
Gandhi, who had played a significant role in building Den Networks as one of the leading multi-system operators (MSOs) in the country, will, however, continue to serve as an advisor of the company and its joint venture entities. He will also continue to be director in Den‘s TV distribution company. 
 
Den has a joint venture with Star India to distribute television channels across cable networks, DTH and other digital platforms.

Gandhi was earlier Set Discovery (now MSM Discovery) president. 

AMSTERDAM: Miranda Technologies Inc. has acquired OmniBus Systems, the media management and delivery solutions provider for television and Internet broadcasters.

The infrastructure, playout and monitoring systems company has acquired all the outstanding shares of OmniBus from European private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners for $47.15 million (CDN$48.7 million).
 
Miranda Technologies said that the deal will be financed equally between cash (CDN$50.8 million as of 30 June, 2010) and an existing credit facility. As of acquisition closing, OmniBus had a net cash position of CDN$6.7 million.

The Loughborough, UK- based OmniBus Systems has a large installed blue chip customer base, including ABC, Ascent Media, Astro, AT&T, BBC, Chellomedia, Corus, Direct TV, Discovery, E!, FOX, SkyPerfect TV, Starz, and Turner.
Miranda Technologies president and CEO Strath Goodship said, “The addition of OmniBus, and specifically iTX, allows Miranda to uniquely offer the complete range of playout solutions, from traditional hardware to a fully software-based environment. We are now exceptionally positioned to help our customers transition to more efficient operations, by offering the best fit of hardware and software products to suit their individual requirements.”

OmniBus Systems CEO Mike Oldham said, “iTX is an award-winning solution on a rapid growth trajectory. By joining Miranda, we will see real product synergies, and gain more extensive worldwide sales and support, creating new opportunities to increase our share of the expanding markets we serve. Importantly, the fit with Miranda is excellent, and the OmniBus team is really excited by the clear potential for our combined businesses.”