Category: Software

MUMBAI: ITV Studios has increased its global footprint with the launch of its seventh international production office in France.

The French studio will create new formats and will also exploit existing formats from ITV Studios.

The studio will be led by Francois Florentiny as director-general.
 
Florentiny launched his own creative format company, Flow Productions, in 2004, consulting for companies such as Télé Images, Coyote, Extreme Sports Channel (Chellomedia), Scarlett Productions, NRJ12, Zadig Productions, ARTE, TLC, Nordisk and Banijay.

Commented Florentiny, “I am very pleased to join ITV Studios at this exciting time in its international development. There are many opportunities and benefits for French broadcasters to work with us from the outset. We are able to offer highly successful, tried and tested formats as well as develop tailor-made, innovative programming across many genres.”
 
The studio‘s other operations are set up in the UK, Los Angeles, Cologne, Madrid, Stockholm and Sydney.

MUMBAI: A number of films from the Sony Pictures Television (SPT) stable will be shown on Swedish home-entertainment service Vodder to be available on demand.

In an agreement that marks SPT‘s first VoD deal in Scandinavia, Vodder users can immediately access a range of recent and library titles from the Hollywood studio‘s feature-film catalogue on a VoD and advertiser VoD basis. 
 
Beginning in February, Vodder users will be able to access a number of library titles from the Sony Pictures catalogue on a subscription VoD basis.

Titles such as Angels & Demons and Spider-Man 2 find a place in the offering. 
 
Said SPT senior executive VP of European distribution Stuart Baxter, “We are delighted to partner with Voddler to make our movies available on their online movie service in Sweden. Extending the reach of our movies and TV content across multiple platforms is the cornerstone of our distribution strategy, especially in key territories such as the Scandinavian countries where uptake of digital content is particularly high, outpacing consumption patterns across the rest of Europe.” 
 

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court has given the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) time till 30 June to fix tariffs for cable TV operators in non-Cas (conditional access system) areas.

Trai has to take into account the plea of all the stakeholders, including the broadcasters and the multi-system operators (MSOs), a three-judge bench headed by chief justice KG Balakrishnan pointed out.
 
Broadcasters had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the accounting systems of the last mile operators while stating that their companies were being properly audited. Trai was looking into the financial details of the entire value chain before it could arrive at a proper non-Cas pricing.

Trai had sought time to complete the exercise of tariff fixation on the ground that the stakeholders were delaying furnishing of financial details.

The cable TV trade was highly fragmented with around 60,000 local cable operators, 6,000 MSOs and 173 broadcasters excluding Prasar Bharati with nearly 80 million subscribers. The pricing policy for cable services had, thus, to be considered in a holistic manner with DTH services 
 
ITrai had said that the tariff fixation exercise for non-Cas areas would likely to be concluded by 31 May.

“The applicant authority is seeking time to complete the tariff regulation exercise in respect of DTH services alongside the finalisation of the eventual tariff dispensation for the non-CAS cable distribution sector,” the sector regulator added.

The regulator’s application seeking time on fixation of DTH tariff is scheduled to come up for hearing before the apex court on 22 January.
 

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today extended till 5 February the time for stakeholders to send their views on a supplementary consultation paper specifically dealing with certain aspects of tariff related issues for basic and add-on packages in case of DTH services.

The supplementary consultation paper is in continuation with the consultation paper issued on “DTH Issues relating to Tariff Regulation & new issues under reference” dated 6 March this year and was issued after an order of the Tdsat.
 
After giving the necessary background, Trai had sought the views of stakeholders by 18 January 2010. But following representations from stakeholders and considering the importance of the issue, the sector regulator decided to extend the time. Those stakeholders who have submitted their comments on earlier occasions regarding issues raised in the consultation paper dated 6 March 2009 may also submit their revised comments or supplement their earlier comments.

Among other questions, Trai has asked whether there is a need to differentiate various packages for the purpose of wholesale tariff determination, whether there is a need for different wholesale price formulation for a TV channel/bouquet depending upon its inclusion in different packages offered to the subscribers by the DTH operators, whether the wholesale price is to be linked with packaging of the TV channels and what should be the relationship between wholesale prices of a TV channel/bouquet offered by a broadcaster to a DTH operator, if the channel/bouquet is packaged as a part of a basic package, or as a part of add-on-package or both by a DTH operator.

Answers have also sought on whether DTH operator should extend a-la-carte mode of service provisioning of a TV channel at the level of subscriber, can the DTH operator offer a-la-carte option as one of the entry level options for subscribers, and if the DTH operators are required to make available the channels on ala-carte basis to the subscriber, then what could be the minimum number of channels and/or minimum subscription price and/or minimum subscription period for subscribing to the channels. 
 
In case of a-la-carte provision to the subscribers, Trai wants to know if there should be a maximum permitted time frame for servicing request of a DTH subscriber, and whether there is need to identify relationship between wholesale and retail price of that channel.

Trai also wants to know why a DTH operator should not extend a-la-carte mode of service provisioning of a TV channel at the level of subscriber, and whether the DTH operator can offer a-la-carte option as one of the entry level options for the subscribers and what should be the minimum number of channels and/or minimum subscription price and/or minimum subscription period for subscribing to the channels.

At the outset, Trai notes that there has been substantial growth in DTH services in the country in last 2-3 years. It has become a major addressable service in distribution of TV signals to the viewers across the country.
 

MUMBAI: Tata Communications is acquiring BT Group Plc‘s (BT) Mosaic business, an on-demand digital media management platform that manages content and workflow from production to distribution across collaborative market eco systems.

The new service is targeted at the entire spectrum of media customers encompassing production houses, emerging digital media publisher, content service providers and TV channels.
 
The Mosaic business, with its service-oriented architechture, helps customers from the media improve cross-enterprise content creation, management and multi-format delivery. It enables enterprises to deliver innovative services that meet the rapidly changing consumer demands, maintain and expand audience numbers and lower production costs.

Says Tata Communications president and COO Vinod Kumar, “The acquisition of the Mosaic platform strengthens our global media and entertainment portfolio with powerful cloud-based digital media management applications that can be accessed over the web. This enhances our existing portfolio of services that we are offering to the media and entertainment sector. By integrating our global network infrastructure and manage services portfolio with Mosaic‘s digital media management capabilities, we are now able to create a unique platform that can take care of content workflow from production to distribution across the world.” 
 
The value of the unaudited gross assets that are the subject of this transaction is $ 815,814, according to information till 30 September 2009.

MUMBAI: Religious broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) has announced the launch of its high-definition network, TBN-HD, on AT&T’s U-verse TV service in the US.
 
TBN’s chief of staff Paul Crouch Jr. says, “Because high-definition is the future of television, we committed from the start to make sure TBN stays ahead of the curve in this crucial broadcast technology. Our state-of-the-art high-definition studio in Costa Mesa, California was a first for inspirational broadcasters. With three more HD studios in New York, Dallas and Nashville as well as several more planned for the future TBN is committed to staying on the cutting edge of broadcasting.”

In addition to TBN’s flagship programme Praise the Lord, a host of programmes are featured on TBN-HD, including The 700 Club, a daily programme of news, information, and inspirational interviews; Travel the Road , a reality show that takes viewers to exotic locations around the world; Drive Thru History, a programme shot in the locations where monumental history was made; and Hour of Power, the church service originating from world-renowned Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. 
 
Hour of Power senior producer Jim Penner says, “Trinity Broadcasting is blazing a cutting-edge trail across the airwaves of America and the world by delivering healthy, positive programming in High Definition. Congratulations to the TBN family for making this technological leap forward.”
TBN’s VP for cable and satellite relations Bob Higley noted that with its launch on AT&T’s U-Verse, TBN-HD is now available to nearly two million viewers across the US. “But that’s just a start. With TBN’s expansion of more high-definition programming, we anticipate that TBN-HD could become the primary signal to the majority of cable and satellite companies that have plans to covert their programming lineups to all digital and high definition channels,” he adds.

MUMBAI: Video on Demand (VoD) delivered straight to the television is generating high levels of consumer interest, but little revenue with free content accounting for more than 95 per cent of the material being watched.

However, a new Pay-TV market report from Futuresource Consulting shows that consumers will pay extra for movies on demand delivered by their broadcaster or Pay TV operator. The report reveals that by 2013, transactional revenues from movies on demand alone will reach $2.4 billion in the US and 430 million Euros in the leading five Western European countries.
 
Futuresource business consultant Carl Hibbert says, “The rise of on-demand video content that can be accessed through a laptop, PC or mobile phone shows no signs of stopping and with so much competition out there, the consumer is in the driving seat, demanding entertainment be delivered on their terms, whenever, wherever and however they please. But the pay-TV industry is fighting back, and looking to VoD to supplement its linear TV offering.”

Operators are using VoD as a tool for driving up the average revenue per user. “Paid-for VoD is a small part of the market, but it is expanding, and that’s despite the glut of readily-available free and ‘catch up’ VoD. Growth opportunities are coming from the continued conversion of analogue to digital cable, the expansion of IPTV, and the introduction of hybrid services by satellite operators. As movie release windows shorten and VoD releases come on stream ‘day and date’ with DVD and Blu-ray we’re going to see more traction, but a number of studios are holding back, believing this may cannibalise their packaged media revenues,” says Hibbert. 
 
Improved electronic programme guides (EPGs) are also helping to boost VoD buy rates, making search and purchase easier, and in some cases allowing for personalised front ends. The next stage is the introduction of lifestyle-oriented TV homepages, which will help to filter and focus the colossal amount of live and on demand content available, ensuring the consumer is able to pinpoint and purchase relevant content as soon as it becomes available.

MUMBAI: Discovery has announced that its show Atlas 4D will return for a new season later this year in 3D for the first time.

Atlas 4D transports viewers through millions of years of evolving geology and climate – past, present and future. In this three hour special event, dynamic regions are featured and explained, including the African Great Rift Valley, the Mediterranean and the islands of Hawaii. Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP) is producing the original three-part special for Discovery.
 
Atlas 4D travels across time to tell the science and history of each locale, uncovering connections between the landscape, natural history and indigenous peoples. Previously unknown connections include how the spread of Islam sparked the Italian Renaissance, how an ancient ice age provided Polynesian settlers in Hawaii with a breakthrough technology and how the formation of the Rift Valley forced a crucial evolutionary step for humankind.

Discovery Channel president, GM Clark Bunting says, “Atlas 4D is going to amaze viewers as they see the ‘how‘ and ‘why‘ of some of the globe‘s most riveting locales. We believe that ‘discovery‘ is not just our name, it is our overarching mission. “The 4D time-machine is an extremely innovative filmmaking technique and Darlow Smithson is leading the pack in this field. This type of creative tool enables us to tell science and history stories and enhances John Hendrick‘s vision of telling the world‘s stories in a new and riveting way.” 
 
Atlas first premiered in 2006. The brainchild of Discovery founder and chairman John Hendricks, the broadcaster says that the show was the most ambitious high-definition television project ever to go into production.

The special event series combined photography and special effects to paint a record of civilizations and geographies. Hendricks‘ on-air vision grew into robust educational offerings with teaching materials and resources still being used in classrooms around the world.
 

MUMBAI: iVdopia, which works in the area of interactive video advertising for mobile devices, has introduced Talk2Me ads.

For the first time, mobile advertisers can customize interactive actions in video ads that include customised social features, which allow for the sharing of ads with friends on Facebook or Twitter.
 
On the heels of becoming the first ad network and platform to introduce Pre-App and In-App video ads for the iPhone, iVdopia’s Talk2Me introduces a completely extensible way of customizing ad interaction according to the brand.

iVdopia co-founder Srikanth Kakani says, “Instead of giving users just one way to engage with the brand, this provides them with an unprecedented range of options – leading to much greater user engagement and response. Our knowledge and experience in brand advertising, both online and with mobile devices, now comes with a social networking option to connect advertisers with customers in the most engaging, immediate and personal ways possible.”

With Talk2Me, users can engage with their favorite brands on their iPhone as they take advantage of iVdopia’s Share Respond Interact (SRI) interface, which is completely customizable. 
 
Advertisers also can customise user interaction by choosing the best possible options to fit their branding needs. iVdopia COO Chhavi Upadhyay says, “iVdopia has again revolutionised the way brand advertising is done on the iPhone and other mobile devices by giving more control to users and brands while enhancing brand engagement for the user.

“With our innovations, extensive analytics and domain knowledge, we are pioneering new media advertising. Talk2Me is just the latest addition to the company’s portfolio of rich and engaging iPhone ad tools, including Pre-App and In-App videos, banner ads and sponsorship ads. With these new formats at our disposal, we expect to build on our proprietary technology, which has delivered unprecedented engagement and value to both large brand advertisers and application developers.”
 

MUMBAI: Walt Disney Co. is in talks with Liberty Media Corp‘s Starz that may limit the movie channel‘s ability to provide films online to Netflix.

Disney wants viewers watching Starz movies online through companies such as Netflix to pay more for what the studio considers a premium channel. 
 
Starz seeks access to Disney films for as many as five years on its cable channel, as well as continued digital rights.
The digital rights are part of the contract talks that may also determine how much Starz pays Disney and whether films from director Steven Spielberg‘s DreamWorks Studios will be included.

Netflix depends on Starz for access to movies including Wall-E from Disney‘s Pixar and without it the video-rental service would have to reach an agreement directly with the studio, the world‘s biggest media company. 
 
“Netflix may be challenged to retain some of its most appealing content when Starz renews its Disney distribution deal, which expires in 2012,” Barton Crockett, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets in New York, wrote in a note.

The analyst lowered his rating on Netflix to “sell” from “hold,” saying he questioned whether the Los Gatos, California-based company can meet expectations for “continued torrid growth.”