Category: Software

MUMBAI: NDS, which provides technology solutions for digital pay-TV, has developed the first bookable promo service in Asia for Australian subscription television provider Foxtel.

While watching a trailer for a show, viewers will now be able to book to record the show to their DVR by pressing the green button on their remote control.

With the press of a button, subscribers will be able to book to record movies, individual programmes, or an entire series, immediately or weeks in advance. This user-friendly feature can also be used during an ad break to allow viewers to receive more details about a specific advertisement by expressing interest with the same button press.

NDS has also provided Foxtel with the XTV open infrastructure, an extended version of NDS XTV DVR technology that gives operators the flexibility to launch applications that directly access DVR functionality.

iSuggest is the first Foxtel application that is based on the XTV open infrastructure. As a visual recommendation service, iSuggest presents TV show and movie posters in the subscriber’s personalised viewing gallery, making it easy for viewers to browse, select and record programmes directly into their planner.

Foxtel’s director of engineering Peter Smart said, “The launch of these solutions in Asia has been made possible thanks to NDS’ experience in advanced DVR solutions combined with its systems integration expertise. FOXTEL continually invests and innovates for the benefit of our subscribers, enhancing their TV viewing experience.”
NDS Australia GM Peter Iles says, “We have worked with FoxtelL since the launch of its first DVR in 2005. This latest collaboration, which provides cutting-edge services, reaffirms Foxtel’s position as an innovator in the provision of advanced digital pay-TV services in the region.”

NEW DELHI: The National Radio Spectrum Management & Monitoring System (NRSMMS)project has been implemented through a World Bank loan of about $30 million to computerize spectrum management.

Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Gurudas Kamat told Parliament that the automation of RF spectrum management has resulted in more effective and efficient spectrum management in more transparent manner.

Various types of applications for wireless licensing are now being received online and processed through Automated Spectrum Management System (ASMS). All the wireless users including telecom operators, defense forces and broadcasters are being benefited with this facility.

Meanwhile, the Government has planned to set up about 100,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) to provide Government services including access of broadband connectivity to citizens in rural areas.

There were about 7.19 million broadband subscribers in the country at the end of October this year.

The Government plans to expand broadband coverage to connect every Gram Panchayat to broadband network by May 2012.

The Indian Telegraph Act 1885 had been amended to enable provision for USOF support for broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas, and an agreement had been signed by USOF with BSNL for providing wireline broadband connections in and around 28,000 villages/rural locations over a period of 5-years, by 2014.

The subsidy disbursement is for broadband connections, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), computer/computing devices and setting up of kiosks for public access to broadband services. The estimated subsidy flow is Rs 15 billion.

MUMBAI: Police arrested a local cable operator of Scod 18 from the outskirts of Mumbai for illegally telecasting Neo Cricket on its network.

The police nabbed Raju Patil, owner of 3D Cable Network and sub-operator of Scod18, for stealing the signals of Neo Cricket and transmitting it on his network without the license from Neo Sports Broadcast.

The arrest took place at the 3D Cable Network at Ambarnath in Mumbai, Neo Sports said.

As per Neo Sports Broadcast, Scod18 owes an outstanding amount of Rs 10 million. “Scod18 has not paid us our dues. Hence we have stopped our signals from the last week of November. We came to know that Scod18’s LCO is pirating our signals, so we lodged a complaint,” says Neo Sports Broadcast president affiliate sales and platforms Arun Poddar.

On 21 November, Neo had filed a complaint against the officers of Scod18 Networking Pvt Ltd with the Ambarnath Police Station, under Section 37, 51, with 63 and 69 of Copyright Act 1957.

Scod18 officials declined to comment on the issue.

MUMBAI: BigFlix Movie Rentals has launched its latest feature, ‘Reserve Now‘. In this feature, customers can block or reserve their favourite title and get it in the next delivery cycle (within one business day).

Reserve Now blocks the reserved title for the customer and this gets delivered in the immediate next delivery cycle. The feature is available for the top 10 queues in the customer‘s account.

Reserve Now can be availed for movies in the queue, showing an ‘Available‘ status. Reserve Now can be done any number of times in a month.

Speaking on the launch of this unique feature, BigFlix.com chief lead-online movie rentals Pankaj Chandra said, “This feature will allow our rental customers to block and reserve their favourite titles and get them in the next delivery cycle. With this, we go one step further of our existing queue management features by giving our customers the opportunity to watch their favourite movies whenever they desire.”

What if a film asked for exceeds the number of prints BigFlix.com has? ” Easy, our system is integrated with the inventory level. Suppose we have five prints of a film and the sixth is knocking, then the sixth will get his delivery in the next delivery cycle,” Chandra answers.

Recent Hollywood films available on BigFlix.com include Hangover, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Terminator Salvation and Star Trek- The Future Begins while those from Bollywood include Do Knot Disturb, Wanted, Aladin, Dil Bole Hadippa and Luck.

MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of the Fifa World Cup, the action on the field at next year‘s tournament will be broadcast using the next-generation 3D technology.

Soccer‘s governing body Fifa has announced that it has signed a media rights agreement with Sony, an official Fifa Partner, to deliver 3D images from up to 25 matches of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa.

The event takes place from 11 June -11 July 2010.

To this end, Fifa will use the best expertise available in its production in 3D, and take advantage of Sony’s technologies and knowhow in the area of 3D.

This deal means that viewers watching the matches on Sony’s 3D products will experience the immediacy and visual clarity of the action as if they were on the pitch themselves.

Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke says, “This propels the football fan into a whole new viewing dimension and marks the dawning of a new era in the broadcasting of sport. We are proud that the Fifa World Cup can serve as a platform for advancing technology and the viewing experience, and are truly fortunate to have Sony as a partner in this endeavour.”
Sony chairman, CEO and president Sir Howard Stringer says, “The transition to 3D is underway, and, we, at Sony, intend to be leaders in every aspect. Our sponsorship of the Fifa World Cup allows us to leverage our cutting-edge 3D technology and premier products with content to produce a unique and totally compelling viewing experience. 3D viewers around the world will feel as though they are inside the stadiums in South Africa, watching the games in person.”

Sony Pictures Entertainment will produce and distribute the official 3D film of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa after the event. In India, the World Cup will air on ESPN Star Sports.

MUMBAI: Five is in the process of making full-length episodes of its original programmes that are available on YouTube in the UK on an ad-supported basis.

The content could be found within YouTube‘s UK Shows section that features more than 3,000 hours of full-length programming and clips from an array of broadcasters and producers.

 The deal allows web users in the UK to access the Demand Five video-on-demand catch-up service of new programmes through YouTube shortly after television transmission.

Under the agreement, titles including Neighbours, Home And Away and The Gadget Show will be shown on YouTube, the viewers of which will also be able to access around 250 hours of Five‘s archive content.

YouTube, that recently announced a similar arrangement with Channel 4, has about 20 million British users.

MUMBAI: US Online gamer community Xfire with 14.5 million users and Internet live video company Livestream have announced the launch of a social live video game broadcasting partnership, enriching Xfire‘s gaming platform with Livestream‘s live video streaming technology.

The new service enables Xfire users to broadcast their game play to an unlimited number of viewers. Gamecasters and their audiences can interact using instant messaging, while viewers can watch the live gamecasts on PC‘s and mobile phones.
 
Focus Home Interactive CEO Cedric Lagarrigue says, “Live gamecasting is rapidly growing among our audience and reflects the growing trend of youth turning their attention to video games during traditional primetime TV viewing hours. We plan to use Xfire‘s live video streaming service to build a marketing buzz with our community for a new content for Blood Bowl. It is one of the most cost effective marketing campaigns to reach out to our users”.
 
Team Pandemic president Chris Lemley says, “As leaders in competitive video gaming, we‘ve found that Xfire‘s live broadcast service empowers us to broadcast live our online leagues and tournaments, while giving the opportunity to interact with fans who tune in to watch us practice and play. Furthermore, it provides a platform where our pros can offer live lessons and tips with audio and text commentary”.

MUMBAI: SingTel has announced that Sundance Channel and WE tv will be available for the first time in Asia on its mio TV platform in Singapore on Channel 51 and 24 respectively.

The channels will be available to mio TV customers from 7 December in both standard and high-definition with Mandarin subtitles with both 24/7 linear and SVOD offerings available.
 
Says mio TV VP Tim Carmichael, “Sundance Channel is a valuable addition to mio TV’s suite of channels and will most certainly cause a buzz among lovers of independent films and the Sundance brand’s unique programming. We are very pleased and excited about being the first platform to carry this well-respected channel in Asia.”

Sundance delivers programming drawn from categories such as independent or art-house film and other entertainment and culture, fashion, intriguing people, pop culture and/or leisure, and the world of art. Programming on the channel is a mix of independent films and series focusing on celebrities, ecology, music, fashion and travel.
 
Avers Redford, “Sundance Channel is a destination to discover new voices, new points of view, and new personalities; it also strives to be uniquely entertaining. Through the power of popular culture, Sundance Channel programming can provoke thought and foster understanding of worlds apart from our own. All of this makes the launch of Sundance Channel in Singapore particularly exciting and important to me.”

WE tv is Singapore’s first lifestyle channel exclusively dedicated to women. Currently available in nearly 74 million homes in the US, WE tv is the source for progressive, confident women looking to satisfy their curiosity with original stories.

MUMBAI: Post its $100 million GDR issue, Subhash Chandra-promoted direct-to-home (DTH) company Dish TV is getting aggressive.

In line with its target of mopping up over 2.5 million subscribers this fiscal, the company has unveiled its new brand identity.

From its earlier “Wish Karo, Dish Karo” and “Sabse Jyaada”, the company has now changed its brand positioning to “Ghar Aayi Zindagi”.

The company claims that the new brand communication scores high on “emotional connect”. The new theme is universal in its brand appeal and transcends different target audiences. The company has created a brand campaign and will use multiple platforms such as television, out-of-home, print and digital to promote the brand across a wide base of new and existing subscribers.

 
Dish TV claims that the essence behind this new brand positioning implies that it is a force that unites families together, a catalyst that brings happiness into homes.

In its new positioning, Dish TV has adopted a softer, mushier tone in its communication. This shift from functional communication to a more emotional paradigm, the company said, is the genesis of various consumer insights and research conducted across various user segments nationwide.

After the initial phase through the “Santusht” campaign that aimed at educating the masses to demand for more than basic cable services, the company stands in a competitive category with the “Sabse Zyaada” promise.

Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor said, “Ghar Aayi Zindagi’ is a new whole new dimension in the category, a differentiator for brand Dish TV, in an otherwise cluttered space, which accords an emotional quotient to the brand. Our product has been adding joy to our subscribers’ lives, as the family bonds each evening, over the high quality digital entertainment. The aim is to now touch the heartstrings of our users and find a permanent place in their hearts.” 
 
For the campaign’s television commercials, the creative idea was conceptualised by Prasoon Joshi and the McCann World Group team. The commercials have been directed by Anurag Basu, while fashion photographer Tarun Khiwal has done the still photo campaign.
The ads convey everyday emotions, through real life situations, of families rejoicing together with their loved ones.

In line with the core message of the campaign, Dish TV brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in a new avtaar. He is portraying the role of a 75-year-old grandfather, romancing Tanvi Azmi as his wife, while in the second TVC he is paired with Tisca Chopra where he brings home an orphan girl child who settles into the family only after an experience with Dish TV.
 

MUMBAI: Viacom18 is gearing up to launch its Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) Colors in the US and UK.

Colors is very close to signing a carriage deal with US pay TV platform Dish Network, a source familiar with the development tells Indiantelevision.com.
 
For the US market, Colors will don a new name, “Aapka Colors.” The channel is set for launch in January-February, the source adds.

In UK, Colors is likely to be available through Multi Screen Media‘s ViewAsia, which also handles channels like Sony Entertainment TV Asia, B4U Movies, Aaj Tak, ARY Digital, Max, Sab and Sahara One. 
 
“After US, Colors will launch in the UK. This is likely to be by February,” the source avers.

In India, Colors is distributed by MSM-Discovery.

Colors CEO Rajesh Kamat was unavailable for comment till the filing of this report.