Category: Software

MUMBAI: Asiasat has announced that Peter Jackson will retire as CEO on 31 July. He will be appointed as executive chairman on 1 August and remain as executive director until 31 July 2011.
 
Wade, deputy CEO and executive director since 1996, will be appointed by the board to succeed Jackson as CEO with effect from 1 August. He has over 25 years of experience in the satellite and cable television industry.
 
Asiasat chairman Sherwood P Dodge said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Jackson for his many years of exceptional service. AsiaSat’s strong reputation in the industry and its bright future are a credit to his leadership and his vision. We look forward to his continued contributions as Asiasat’s executive chairman.”

MUMBAI: UK media watchdog Ofcom has announced that after three rounds of consultation, it has made three decisions: Sky Sports 1 and 2 to be offered to retailers on platforms other than Sky‘s at prices set by Ofcom; to approve Sky and Arqiva‘s request for Sky to offer its own pay TV services on digital terrestrial TV (Picnic), but conditional on a wholesale must-offer obligation on Sky Sports 1 and 2 being in place, with evidence that it has been effectively implemented; and to consult on a proposed decision to refer two closely related movie markets – for the sale of premium movie rights and premium movie services – to the Competition Commission.

Ofcom notes that the pay TV sector has delivered substantial benefits to consumers since its emergence in the early 1990s. More than 12 million consumers now pay to access a greater choice of content, at higher quality, and with a greater degree of control than has historically been available from free-to-air broadcasters. Sky has been at the forefront of this development and has delivered substantial benefits to millions of consumers in the UK.

Pay TV services have to date been delivered primarily via satellite and cable networks. However, this investigation comes at a time of disruptive change in the way content is distributed. For example, digital terrestrial TV offers the scope for pay TV to be delivered via aerials, and new broadband networks could offer consumers an unprecedented choice of content, and the ability to access that content on demand. 
 
The ability to provide such services depends not just on technology, but on access to content that consumers want to watch. Live high-quality sports and recent Hollywood movies retain an enduring appeal for many consumers. Access to this content has driven the historical development of pay TV. This will remain crucially important for the development of new platforms and new services.

For many years Sky has held the exclusive rights to broadcast first-run Hollywood movies and many of the most sought-after premium sports. Ofcom has now concluded that Sky has market power in the wholesale of certain channels including this content. However, the position differs between sport and movies:
Sky‘s position in sport arises from the unique ability of broadcast TV to reach a large live audience, and Sky‘s control of the live broadcast rights for many of the most important sports. This is unlikely to change in the next few years.

The position in movies is more complex, since there are a variety of ways consumers can purchase movie content, and the importance of linear channels is starting to reduce. Looking forward, Ofcom expects video-on-demand to become increasingly important. However, Sky controls not only all the major linear channel movie rights, but also all of the rights that would be required to develop a subscription video-on-demand service for first-run Hollywood movies.

Ofcom notes that Sky exploits its market power by limiting the wholesale distribution of its premium channels, with the effect of restricting competition from retailers on other platforms. This is prejudicial to fair and effective competition, reducing consumer choice and holding back innovation by companies other than Sky. In the case of movies, the fact that Sky also owns but barely uses the subscription video-on-demand rights denies competitors the opportunity to develop innovative services.

Ofocm has decided to use its powers under section 316 of the Communications Act to ensure fair and effective competition by requiring Sky to offer the most important sports channels – Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 – to retailers on other platforms:
Given that it cannot expect commercial agreement between Sky and other retailers, Ofcom has set a price for standard-definition versions of these channels at a level that should allow an efficient competitor to match Sky‘s retail prices. The calculations are based on Sky‘s own retail costs, adjusted for scale so as to allow for a market with several competitors rather than a single provider.

Ofcom has set a wholesale price for each of Sky Sports 1 and 2, when sold on a standalone basis, which is 23.4 per cent below the current wholesale price to cable operators. Most consumers currently buy packages which include both channels, and the wholesale price for the service bundle which applies in those circumstances has been reduced by 10.5 per cent.

In calculating these prices, Ofcom has taken into account the additional retail revenue generated by Sky from its Multiroom service enhancement, and have also taken into account any associated costs. Other retailers will be free to develop their own service enhancements, including offering Multiroom-type services, by using the same underlying wholesale product at no additional cost.

Ofcom adds that it has not set a price for high-definition versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2. It has accepted Sky‘s argument that high-definition services are a relatively recent innovation, and that pricing flexibility will help promote future innovation. Ofcom just requires Sky to offer contractual terms for supply of these channels on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis.

Ofcom says that it has provided guidance on a number of non-price matters such as security, to ensure that the remedy is implemented as quickly as possible.

Further Ofcom has decided it would not be appropriate to impose a similar obligation on Sky‘s movies channels. Ofcom has expressed concerns over restricted distribution of movies channels, but the main forward looking concern relates to the sale of video-on-demand rights. It says that it cannot adequately address this concern under section 316 (which relates primarily to linear channels). Instead it belieevs in making a reference to the Competition Commission under the Enterprise Act 2002, and as required by statute.

Ofcom has consented to Picnic, subject to a wholesale must-offer obligation on Sky Sports 1 and 2 being in place, and evidence that it has been effectively implemented. This conclusion is also subject to any movies channels included in Picnic being offered to other DTT retailers. These conditions will allow consumers to benefit from access to Picnic, while also ensuring fair and effective competition.

Ofcom expects these decisions to deliver substantial benefits to consumers. The most immediate benefit will be felt on digital terrestrial television. 10 million Freeview households will, if they so choose, be able to access the most attractive sports content via their existing aerials, and competition between Sky and other retailers should ensure a wide range of packages, including lower-priced entry-level bundles.

Improved access to ‘must-have‘ content will incentivise investment in new means of distributing content, such as faster broadband networks. In the longer term, this will result in a range of innovative new services for consumers.  
 
Ofcom also expects to see improved choice of wider bundles which include broadband, voice and TV services, with a variety of suppliers able to compete effectively across all three of these key communications markets. In deciding what it is appropriate to do to ensure fair and effective competition, Ofcom says that it is particularly mindful of the benefits that Sky has historically delivered to consumers, both through investment and innovation on its own platform, and its willingness to make long-term investments in UK sport.

Although Ofcom acknowledges that Sky is opposed to the remedy, it sees the reasons for this opposition as being related to its strategic incentives to protect its retail business. It does not expect the remedy to reduce Sky‘s wholesale revenues. Sky already wholesales Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 to cable operators, and has expressed a willingness to extend wholesale supply to other platforms. The potential negative impact of the relatively modest price decrease being implemented should be more than offset by market expansion effects.

Ofcom further says that it has designed the remedy to minimise the potential risk of any negative impact on the value of sports rights. The wholesale revenue available to Sky to pay for sports rights should not be reduced, and should in fact increase as the market expands. The other broadcasters whose bidding behaviour has driven rights values in the past should not be materially affected. And in the longer term the emergence of new retailers, with significant numbers of subscribers, should increase competition for rights, given the various benefits associated with direct control of those rights. Ofcom notes that similar interventions have succeeded in other countries. In the US in particular, the Programme Access Rules have enabled market entry by new satellite and IPTV platforms.

MUMBAI: The National Association of Broadcasters (Nab) convention which takes place later this month in Las Vegas will have several sessions that take a look at the gaming industry.

A sesion on 14 April will look at ‘Global Games: How international markets are playing a leading role‘. From the massive popularity of casual games in Asia, to leading innovations in development from the U.K. and India, and financing partnerships across Europe, global players are having a tremendous impact on the games industry.
 
From the development and creative side to the growing opportunities in new markets across the world, leading players from international markets come together to share ideas on growing opportunities in global games.

The panellists are Nexon Games CEO Daniel Kim, Igfun CEO Sean Malatesta and M2 Research founder and senior analyst Wanda Meloni.

On that same day another session will look at convergence taking place in entertainment and games. Experts from across the games, film and mobile industry will look into the future of collaboration in entertainment. As video games, feature films, mobile applications and social networking continue to integrate, more opportunities exist to generate new revenue, share content and leverage new technologies.

Social gaming is exploding through mobile platforms and social networks; console games are breaking thrilling new ground in emerging technologies; feature film creators and game developers are collaborating to bring dynamic creative to audience content across multiple platforms.

The panellists are Viximo CEO Dale Strang, Evolved Games COO Reto Bodmer and EA Interactive VP business development and strategic partnerships Sebastien Halleux. 
 
Another sesssion looks at the women consumers in gaming, ‘She‘s Got Game: Exploring the Rising Importance and Influence of Women in Interactive Entertainment‘. Although women and girls represent 51 per cent of the global population and are the fastest growing segment of the video game market, they have been largely ignored as a primary audience to date.

Women now represent more than 45 per cent of the video game marketplace, and their influence is rapidly growing across all genres of games: console, casual and application-based. A very significant opportunity exists to drive revenue and build franchise brand loyalty by developing and marketing video game content that focuses on interests of women / girls, and by reflecting them as the primary content characters.

A panel of developers, publishers and marketing experts will explore the growing influence and importance of women in video games. The speakers are GameDocs president, CEO Belinda Van Sickle, 38 Studios CEO Jennifer MacLean, That Game Company co-founder and president Kellee Santiago and Her Interactive CEO and president Megan Gaiser.

MUMBAI: International Datacasting, which provides advanced solutions for the distribution of broadband multimedia content via satellite, will be debuting new products at the Nab Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas from 12-15 April.

A highlight will be the Nab debut of the SFX ProIPTV, IDC‘s next generation blade receiver for IPTV distribution. The newest member of IDC‘s award winning SuperFlex line of products, the ProIPTV has room for up to 14 dual carrier, hot swappable receiver blades per chassis, making it ideal for telcos and multi-dwelling units where space is at a premium. Already in use in a number of locations around the world, the ProIPTV is built on IDC‘s legacy of success in the IPTV market.
 
NAB 2010 marks the first time that Tiernan and Logic Innovations will be part of the IDC booth. Tiernan‘s products include a line of High Definition and Standard Definition video encoders – MPEG2 and H.264 MPEG4 – and video receivers for a broad range of television contribution and distribution applications. The Logic Innovations product lines of leading edge broadcasting solutions include transport stream multiplexing, IP multicasting and unicasting for the terrestrial, satellite and cable broadcast markets.

A feature of the IDC booth this year will be demonstrations of the company‘s 3D live event capability. In conjunction with Sensio(TM) and The 3D Camera Company from Toronto, IDC will be presenting live 3D content on the NAB show floor.

IDC will be releasing the SuperFlex SFX IP Streamer, an all IP solution for in-theatre distribution of live 2D and 3D alternative content in digital cinemas at Nab. Combining an IDC SFX professional satellite receiver and a Doremi Digital Cinema Server, the IP Streamer enables live event projection for up to 4 digital screens in a multiplex, simultaneously. 
 
IDC president and CEO Fred Godard says, “IDC has a long standing tradition of developing new products that continue to meet the needs of the broadcast market. All of our products are known for their interoperability, consistency and reliability in real-time, real-life broadcast environments. This year we are pleased to be able to showcase end-to-end solutions for our diverse customer base as well as announce new and innovative products.”

In addition to the new products and applications featured at Nab, IDC will also have PROFline products for FM transmission and monitoring as well as its suite of SuperFlex Pro Audio receivers on display.

MUMBAI: Optibase will unveil its new high performance MGES 6000 quad-channel encoding blade at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters (Nab) show, taking place from 12-15 April in Las Vegas.

MGES 6000, the converged encoding module, provides 4 HD & SD channels in a single blade. Up to 13 blades may be combined for an unprecedented 52 channels in a single platform. Secondary stream functionality doubles streaming capacity to 104 streams at two different bit rates.
 
The flexible second generation MGES 6000 H.264 HD encoder offers a range of bit rates and resolutions that make it ideal for diverse applications. These include situation awareness for military forces; traffic monitoring, surveillance and collaboration between government agencies; and telco and broadcast services. The bandwidth-efficient second generation MGES 6000 maximizes available bandwidth with H.264 CBR encoding that enables delivery of more HD channels at superior quality. It provides a cost-effective solution for a wide range projects, from very small installations to large-scale deployments. 
 
At Nab, Optibase will also demonstrate new features of its advanced EZ TV enterprise solution for delivering customised lineups of live and on-demand video content to every PC and TV throughout an organisation.

MUMBAI: Airtel Digital TV has mopped up over 2.5 million subscribers and launched its personal video recorder (PVR) to target premium consumers.

“We have crossed 2.5 million subscribers. We have a 25 per cent share in the incremental subscribers. With the next fiscal having a heavy line up of sporting events, we hope to see our growth accelerating,” Bharti Airtel director & CEO – DTH Ajai Puri tells Indiantelevision.com. 
 
Puri expects 30-40 per cent of the subscribers to eventually buy personal video recorders. “Globally, 30-40 per cent of the new DTH subscribers buy personal video recorders. And I expect the same trend to follow in India. But yes, it will take a longer time,” he says.

Priced at Rs 6,990, the new product has a recording capacity of up to 100 hours and consists of a 160 GB hard disk. The existing Airtel users, however, can avail an upgrade PVR at Rs 5,990. 
 
“The recorder integrates television to mobile phones that will enable consumers to use their cell phones to record television from anywhere. Consumers can also download television programme menu on their cell phones using this special application. The recorder also allows viewers to record, pause or rewind live television,” says Puri.

Tata Sky, the joint venture DTH company between Tata Group and Star, has already launched its PVR service.

Will Airtel Digital TV launch HD services ahead of the Commonwealth Games in October? “We are gearing up to launch HD services in the earliest possible time frame,” says Puri.
 

MUMBAI: BBC World Service has joined hands with African mobile network operator Zain to provide access to BBC content via mobile internet.

As per the deal, Zain has added BBC World Service banners to nine of its mobile portals across the African continent. 
 
Thus, users in Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Chad, Congo, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Uganda will be able to consume BBC World Service news and sports coverage via their mobile handsets, direct from the Zain portal homepage.

Founded in Kuwait, Zain has a commercial presence in 23 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The mobile network claims over 70 million active customers. 
 
BBC World Service head of business development for Africa and Middle East Simon Kendall says, “We are always looking for ways to drive traffic to our news and sports sites, and this collaboration provides simple, one-click access from one of Africa‘s most popular mobile portals, increasing our reach across the continent.”

Zain Africa CEO Chris Gabriel adds, “This partnership with BBC World Service provides a valuable service to Zain users. BBC World Service has an important place in the hearts of people across Africa, and an unrivalled heritage in delivering impartial news and in-depth sports coverage to the continent, so we‘re delighted to enable our users to gain easy access to it.”

MUMBAI: Apalya Technologies, which is the official Mobile TV partner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has witnessed exponential growth. The company claims that the mobile TV subscriber base has jumped by 32 per cent to 1,325,000 in 15 days.
 
The company said among the most vibrant users of the mobile TV service has been the 3G segment, which has shown 500 per cent growth with substantial higher viewership time per match. This re-enforces the value of relevant and engaging content for the success of 3G, the company added.

Bouyed by the success of the offering, Apalya has also launched the service on iPhone and is now available as a part of the App Store. Installing the iPhone App users can enjoy live streaming across 3G / WIFI Networks. The app is available as ‘DLF IPL Live Streaming from Apalya‘ or Apalya TV on the app store for $4.99.
 
Apalya Technologies CEO and co-founder Vamshi Krishna Reddy says, “The success of our offering has to be first and foremost attributed to the phenomenal fan following for IPL 2010. In addition, users have preferred our real live mobile TV service in comparison to delayed streaming from You Tube. Furthermore the optimized service for different mobile phones, networks and local operating conditions has been appreciated”.

To subscribe to this service, the users have to sms TV to 58888 and be a part of streaming cricket on Apalya.

MUMBAI: Taking a leaf from its success in sports coverage, internet major Yahoo! has hired nearly a dozen journalists and opened a bureau in Washington as it plans to ramp up its original news content to further popularise its online news site.
 
The journalists joining Yahoo! News include prominent reporters and editors from Politico, ABC, Washingtonpost.com, TalkingPointsMemo.com Observer and other publications.

Journalists will create original articles and videos on topics like politics and media. The coverage would complement news articles that Yahoo! licenses from other media organisations and brings together on its site.
 
The move reflects a successful push by Yahoo! into original sports coverage about three years ago, when it hired sports journalists and also acquired Rivals.com, a network of sports blogs.
“My hopes are to continue build out voice for our media properties and to replicate the success we have had in Yahoo Sports,” said Yahoo! Media Head James Pitaro in a statement.

Yahoo!’s media properties like news, finance and sports are highly popular. In February, Yahoo! News had recorded over 43 million visitors, more than that of other news sites.

For the last several years, the internet company has been seen struggling under stiff competition from Google and a weakening advertising market.
 

MUMBAI: With the fast-growing mobile phone market in India, Purple Fire Films has announced a spate of special content products for mobile phone users including films and music videos.

According to Purple Fire Films executive producer Flynn Remedios, the Mumbai-based production house has planned to produce over 50 music videos and about 10 films for the mobile market in 2010. 
 
While the films will be of 30 to 50 minute duration, the remix and original music videos would range from 4 to 6 minutes each. Download costs or charges would be kept to the minimum to encourage even low ARPU users.

Says Remedios, “We have done extensive research on the subject. Mobile content users or viewers have an attention span of not more than 5 to 20 minutes at a stretch. Our products will keep in mind this factor.” 
 
In addition to mobile films and music videos, the company will produce music videos and films completely shot with high-end mobile phones from start-to-finish. The first-cut or rough edit of the first mobile remix music video, starring Tamil actress Neelakshi Singh, has been released on YouTube.

“This is just a test case based on remix editions of three popular Bollywood numbers. Two more such mobile music videos are in the pipeline and will be released in April. The salient feature of this product is that it has been wholly shot with a high-end mobile phone,” Remedios explains.

The company also plans to produce “A-rated” mobile music videos and films for a mature audience and the international market. Reasons Remedios, “If Ekta Kapoor‘s Balaji Telefilms, known for its family soaps and saas-bahu content can start producing spicy adult fare like Love, Sex and Dhokha, we see a tremendous market for such similar content specially produced for mobile phone viewing.”

Purple Fire Films is talking to several content providers for a distribution and marketing tie-up for its products and hopes to make an announcement soon.

The company plans to generate revenue through in-film and in-video subtle adverts and logo placements.