Category: Software

NEW DELHI: With the cabinet giving the green signal on the proposal for digitalisation of transmitters and studios in the Doordarshan network during the 11th Plan, Prasar Bharati has got a plan allocation of Rs 6.20 billion to begin work on 40 digital terrestrial transmitters and other equipment.

The approval by the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure covers the networking of DTT through satellite, augmentation of Digital Media centers (DMCs) by providing the following: equipment and facilities for maintaining the digital infrastructure; five sets of digital measurement equipment at zonal offices; 60 UPS at High Power Transmitters to ensure uninterrupted power supply, R&D and Training; digitalisation of 31 partially digitalised and 8 analogue studio centers; digitalisation of archiving facilities; and digitalisation of news automation system and e-governance and IT scheme.

The Cabinet is expected to shortly take up a similar proposal by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry seeking Rs 9.20 billion for All India Radio which is already digitising with the adoption of the DRM standard.
 
Earlier, Doordarshan had set aside an amount of Rs 12.09 billion of a total approved outlay of Rs 13.69 billion just for digitisation in the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012).
DD is expected to take the first major step when it commences beaming in High Definition for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

During a cabinet briefing later, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said: “Digitalisation would enable the people in the remotest corner of the country to receive a higher quality of AIR and DD signals.”

MUMBAI: ESPN has secured the mobile highlight rights to all 380 English Premiere League matches for the next three seasons, after winning select TV rights last year.

“Mobile devices are an indispensible lifeline for football fans, who expect easy, quick access to the latest goals and action wherever they are,‘‘ said ESPN senior VP and EMEA managing director Lynne Frank.
 
‘‘Adding these rights will allow us to advance our commitment to delivering great sport across the many screens UK fans use each day. Since we launched ESPN in the UK less than 250 days ago, we have been dedicated to building the foundation of a long-term relationship with UK sports fans. This is another big step in that process.”

“ESPN‘s purchase of mobile clip rights of Barclays Premier League demonstrates their commitment to the competition and the fans,‘‘ added Premier League‘s chief executive Richard Scudamore. 
 
‘‘Mobile is an increasingly important technology as hand held devices become ever more sophisticated, therefore a good offering with a strong partner is important to us both in terms of accessibility and complimenting live coverage,” Scudamore added.
 

NEW DELHI: Over 80 exhibitors from India are expected to take part in CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia being held in Singapore from 15 to 18 June 2010 at the Singapore Expo.

The event brings the most comprehensive showcase of convergent technologies for the global infocomm, media and broadcasting industries and will feature new attractions for exhibitors and visitors from the region.
 
Companies like Beetel Teletech, DIGILINK, Matrix Telecom, Microtex Energy, Sai InfoSystems, Shilpi Cable, Su-Kam Power Systems, TeleDNA Communications and Web Spiders are among those who will exhibit their wares and services at the meet.

In 2009, 80 exhibitors from India took part in the event which attracted over 54,000 trade attendees from around the globe.

There will be two group pavilions from India. The first group will be led by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), with exhibitors ANGLER Technologies India, CSG Networks, Secure Matrix India, SISRB Technologies and Svarn Telecom.

In the second group, new entrant Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) will showcase exhibitors Bhansali Cables & Conductors, Coral Telecom, MakSat Coral, Roxtec India, Smile Electronics and Tejas Networks. 
 
This year would be the year of the “fixed mobile converged platforms”, starting with enterprise solutions offering PBX and the GSM mobility applications intertwined into one switching unit.

“India’s market size will grow twice over with each one owning a dual SIM phone that accommodates the connection for the office intercom. It will open up yet another set of opportunities by frequency reuse, and enhanced usage resulting in higher revenues for the operators that may end up in further reduction of call charges for the common man,” said Coral Telecom SVP Pradnyil Usgaonkar.

CommunicAsia, together with BroadcastAsia, is expected to boast at least 58,000 square metres of exhibition space. Visitors to the shows this year will get to witness the latest technology innovations demonstrated by 2,000 multi-national corporations and small and medium enterprises.
 

MUMBAI: Sun Direct has elevated its chief operating officer Tony D’Silva to the post of CEO.

D‘Silva, who joined Sun Direct in September 2007, has spearheaded the DTH company‘s subscriber growth to 5.3 million.
 
Prior to Sun Direct, D‘Silva was heading Star India‘s distribution business. He has also worked with Zee Group.
 
He was the CEO of Modi Entertainment Networks before taking over as Zee Network‘s head of international operations. He has also worked with tobacco major Godfrey Phillips and consumer product giant Rickett & Coleman in the past.
 

MUMBAI: Imagine TV, the Hindi general entertainment channel owned by Turner International, has reached an agreement with DTH company Bell TV for carrying the channel to its subscribers across Canada.

With the deal in place, Imagine TV is now available for $5 per month as an add-on to its South Asian combo theme pack at channel No 726.
 
Commenting on the development Imagine TV VP – distribution and new ventures Tharun Rai said, “We are pleased to be partnering with Bell TV to offer the best of diverse Hindi programming to the ever-increasing, Hindi-speaking diaspora in the region.”

With the addition of the Canadian market, Imagine TV is now present is the US, UK, the Middle East & North Africa, as well as some of the neighbouring South Asian countries.
 
Added Ethnic Channels Group president and CEO Slava Levin, “We are happy to add Imagine TV to our growing list of international partners. Ethnic Channels Group is Imagine TV‘s exclusive partner in Canada.”

Imagine TV will air shows like Jyoti, Kashi, Jamunia, Palkon Ki Chaaon Mein, Do Hanson Ka Jodaa, Devi and Bandini.
 

MUMBAI: Citigroup Venture Capital-controlled cable broadband service provider You Broadband and Cable plans to raise Rs 3.58 billion through a public float, joining a troop of cable companies such as Den Networks and Hathway Cable and Datacom that have tapped the capital market in recent times.

You Broadband and Cable intends to use Rs 1.57 billion out of the net proceeds of the initial public offering (IPO) towards capital expenditure in the broadband business.

The company also plans to invest Rs 850 million in cable TV venture Digital Outsourcing Pvt. Ltd (DOPL) where it holds a 36.24 per cent stake. Invested by means of loans or equity subscription, the amount would be used for purchase of set-top boxes, head-end equipments, software and acquisition of subscribers.

You Broadband and Cable will use Rs 128.27 million for acquisition of additional equity shares in DOPL and Rs 171 million for working capital. The company intends to repay Rs 48.4 million towards outstanding loans.
 
You Telecom (Mauritius), the CVC company, holds 82.44 per cent stake in You Broadband while Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd has 4.41 per cent and 8.27 per cent rests with You Telecom Employee & Welfare Trust.

You Broadband is considering a pre-IPO placement of up to 90 million equity shares with various investors.  
 
The company has been suffering losses since the last five financial years. For the six-month period ended September 2009, You Broadband and Telecom reported a loss of Rs 94.59 million on a total income of Rs 376.47 million.

Edelweiss Capital is the book running lead manager to the issue.
 

NEW DELHI: Airtel digital TV has announced the launch of ‘Airtel digital TV Recorder’, the enhanced set-top box (STB) with capability to record live television.
 
The STB will be available at Rs 6,990 to new customers and at Rs 5,990 to existing subscribers.

Customers need to send an SMS from the registered mobile number linked to the Airtel digital TV account with ‘mguide’ to 54325 and download the mobile recording application. Using their customer ID and password, they can log on and record shows from any Java and GPRS enabled mobile handset.

The Airtel digital TV recorder offers customers the advantage of a HDMI (High Definition Multi Media Interface) port for video output. In addition, the Airtel digital TV Recorder allows the customer to search programmes by name or time or click on ‘Most Viewed Channels‘ for easy surfing. These features are backed by 24×7 customer care. 
 
Says Bharti Airtel director and CEO – DTH Ajai Puri, “At Airtel, we believe that the key to our brand is innovation and technology is one vital element of our innovation endeavours. This product would be a lifestyle enabler that will significantly change TV viewing trends in India. It is also strategic as it brings together the TV screen and the mobile screen. The launch underlines our key strength of understanding consumer needs and using technology to deliver a simple elegant benefit through the most ubiquitous element of ones life today- the mobile.”

Airtel digital TV, which uses MPEG 4 with DVBS 2 technology, has raced to a subscriber base of 2.5 million.
 

MUMBAI: JVC Professional Products, a division of JVC US, will introduce the new variant of its ProHD camcorder line, the GY-HM790, at the television technology event NAB show in Las Vegas this year.

With a modular design and a complement of accessories, the new camera supports multicore or fiber-based production. Additionaly, as a shoulder-mount camcorder, it delivers ENG and sports production performance.
 
The camera records at 35 Mbps (HQ mode/variable bit rate) or 19 Mbps/25 Mbps (SP mode/constant bit rate).

Adopting the tapeless workflow introduced in the GY-HM700 camcorder, the GY-HM790 features a dual card slot design that records to low-cost, non-proprietary SDHC Class 6 or 10 solid-state media cards. JVC’s native file recording technology allows recording in ready-to-edit file formats for Apple Final Cut Pro (.mov) and other major NLE systems (.mp4) that are compatible with Sony XDCAM EX workflow. 
 
The company adds that the new GY-HM790 also builds on the studio capabilities of its GY-HD250 camera with its improved picture quality and cleaner studio integration. Its re-designed studio adapter sled incorporates a modular approach to multicore or fiber connectivity for a cleaner interface. Modules connect directly to the camera without external cabling, so that they can be used either with the studio sled or hand-held. Moreover, JVC’s modular approach allows the creation of additional modules to accommodate future technologies.
 

MUMBAI: This year, BroadCastAsia will take place in Singapore from 15-18 June and will play on the theme, Integrating Technologies Experiencing Content.

The event will feature new 3D and digital signage technologies as well as digital and high definition equipment and integrated workflow solutions for the broadcasting, production and post-production industries. BroadcastAsia is organised by Singapore Exhibition Services (SES).
 
SES senior project manager Calvin Koh notes that the expectation is that BroadcastAsia will be bigger by 10 per cent compared with last year based on the exhibitor response. The spotlight within the 3D showcase will focus on various acquisition processes and streaming media platforms.

BroadCastAsia is projected to have 617 exhibiting companies. Another 1350 companies will be exhibiting at CommunicAsia. CommunicAsia will have 24 group pavilions including countries like the US, Canada, Belgium, Bangladesh, Australia, two from India and two from China. BroadcastAsia will have 10 group pavilions including the US, UK, Italy and Korea. 
 
BroadCastAsia will have exhibitors from 42 countries while CommunicAsia will have exhibitors from 55 countries. Koh adds that BroadCastAsia will have at least 12 exhibiting companies from India compared with six last year. They include RSG Media Systems, Wasp3d and Monarch Innovative Technologies.

BroadcastAsia 2010 will also have an international conference. The speakers include Teamcast CTO Gerard Faria, Star India senior VP business systems and technology Larry Salmela and NHK Japan principal engineer Yoshimasa Chounan.

MUMBAI: Consumer electronics company Sony India has launched its Cyber-shot ‘Super wide shot Supermodel Campaign‘ and has introduced Deepika Padukone as the brand ambassador for the category.

The expectation is that synergy will be witnessed between Padukone and Cyber-shot cameras as both are like ‘Super models‘ being cool, dynamic and highly fashionable. Hence, the campaign has been named ‘Super wide shot Supermodel‘ campaign.
 
Sony will invest Rs 5 million towards marketing activities with Deepika Padukone which will include television commercials, print campaigns, outdoor and shop-front display. 
 
Sony India MD Masaru Tamagawa says, “We are aiming to uphold our number one position in the digital still camera category, with a target market share of 45 per cent by the end of FY 2010. To achieve this, we have introduced a complete new range of Cyber-shot cameras.”

“We were looking for a brand ambassador whose personality could mirror this experience and give it a materialistic form. Deepika is a free spirited, bubbly, young girl who at the same time is extremely talented and a professional. The association seemed obvious with so many common factors between Cyber-shot and Deepika which appeal to the youth instantly,” he adds.