ITV

Category: Software

  • Comcast eyes joint venture with NBC Universal









    MUMBAI: Denying that it was mulling a takeover of NBC Universal, Comcast has agreed that it was discussing the formation of a new joint venture company with the General Electric owner.


    As part of the deal, Comcast would manage the new entity and merge its own cable assets into the venture.

     

    The new company Comcast would have a 51 per cent stake in the new venture in NBC Universal while that of General Electric would be 49 per cent. Comcast‘s only cash outlay would be in the range of $4 billion to $6 billion range, it is understood.


    The deal is dependent on Vivendi giving up its 20 per cent stake in NBC Universal that has a majority stake. General Electric may also contribute $12 billion in debt to the spun-off entity.

    Comcast‘s assets include: E!, Style, Golf Channel and a group of regional sports networks.

  • 17% of time spent online devoted to social networking, blog sites









    MUMBAI: Time spent on social networking and blogging sites accounted for 17 per cent of all time spent on the internet in August this year, reveals the latest Nielsen report.


    This is, according to the report, nearly triple the percentage of time spent on the sector a year ago.

     

    Nielsen’s online division VP media and agency insights Jon Gibs says, “This growth suggests a wholesale change in the way the internet is used. While video and text content remain central to the Web experience – the desire of online consumers to connect, communicate and share is increasingly driving the medium’s growth.”


    Online display ad spending on top social network sites more than doubles in August 2009: Year-over-year, estimated online advertising spend on the top social network and blogging sites increased 119 per cent, from approximately $49 million in August 2008 to approximately $108 million in August 2009. The share of estimated spend on these sites has also grown, increasing from a seven per cent share of total online ad spend in August 2008 to a 15 per cent share in August 2009.


    While several industries decreased their overall online ad spend year-over-year in August, spending on the top social network sites increased across the board. The entertainment industry led in growing its online ad dollars, increasing ad spending on the top social network sites by 812 per cent in August. Travel advertisers followed suit, increasing their ad spend on these sites by 364 per cent.


    Gibs adds, “In the past, advertisers had significant concerns with social media advertising. The considerable increases we’ve seen in ad spending over the past year suggest that many of these concerns have subsided or been addressed. In particular, advertisers that want to connect with core fan bases, such as movie studios, are allocating more and more dollars to online communities like Facebook and MySpace, where they can engage in an ongoing dialog with their target market.”


    Facebook.com Draws Advertisers in Most Industries : The growth of social networking sites has been fueled in part by the explosive growth of Facebook, and it is to this site that many industries head when planning their online ad dollars. In August 2009, Facebook was the number one `social networking site advertised on by 10 of the 13 industries when ranked by display ad impressions, while Myspace.com led in the other three industries.

  • CNN launches digital destination CNNGo









    MUMBAI: CNN International has launched a new digital destination, CNNGo, that offers a guide for Asia‘s greatest cities.


    With an initial focus on six cities – Mumbai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo, the broadcaster aims to be the “definitive and indispensable” city lifestyle resource.

     

    For the most discerning local, the cultural voyeur and the visitor (travelling for business or pleasure) alike, CNNGo compiles the best each city has to offer, often dishing up the unexpected and opening up these cities like never before.


    While the convenient Eat, Shop, Sleep, Drink and Play sections cover the essentials, like places to go, things to see, must-do events, hidden gems or city secrets — the site goes beyond that to provide real insight and experiences of these cities and their surrounds.


    The CNNGo content is provided by insiders. The editorial management team is based in Hong Kong and each city section is run by locally-based city editors whose on-the-ground expertise and insider knowledge is unsurpassed.


    They in turn work with local professional writers, journalists, video/photographers, bloggers and more — the very people that form the soul of a city. The site also reaches out to CNN‘s vast resources of regional anchors and correspondents.


    Comments CNN International VP, digital services Nick Wrenn, “CNNGo is an exciting and timely addition to the CNN Digital Network, delivering unrivalled insights through editorial excellence and local knowledge. We look forward to it becoming the definitive lifestyle destination for our global audience.”


    CNNGo Editor in Chief Andrew Demaria says, ” CNNGo is meant to be fun – an enjoyable daily visit — that celebrates from an insider‘s view all that makes up these amazing cities. The good, the not so good and the outright strange. It‘s for anyone that is interested in these places, not only for things to do or places to go, but for really discovering more about the city‘s true character.”

  • Euro cable sees growth in high-speed fibre networks









    MUMBAI: Against the backdrop of a heightened EU political will to push broadband penetration to 100 per cent by 2010, Cable Europe and Cable Europe Labs have released a report that shows sustainable growth and continued investments in high-speed fibre networks for European consumers.

     

    Said Cable Europe President, Manuel Kohnstamm, “Fibre-driven growth and high speed capabilities are proving cable‘s resilience. And these results are good news for Europe. Broadband penetration is significantly higher in active cable markets where we are challenging incumbents with investments in fibre speed for European consumers. “Our CEOs estimate that 40 per cent of customers will be using speeds between 10-50Mbps by 2012. This is only the beginning as we‘re looking at download speed capabilities of up to 400 Mbps – fast enough to leave DSL way behind.”

  • Sky TV planning 3D TV for pubs









    MUMBAI: Sky TV has revealed that 3D TV will be offered to its pub subscribers before it is released in the domestic market.

     

    Speaking on the topic, Sky Business‘s managing director Iain Holden confirmed that 3D would go to firstly to pubs and that they would enjoy a period of exclusivity ahead of other subscribers although, given the experimental nature of the technology, he was unable to give an exact launch date.While the existing Sky HD boxes in pubs will not need upgrading for 3D, it is likely that there will be an additional charge for the service, and for the screens pubs will need to show it. However, this will probably be kept low given that Sky and screen manufacturers will want to showcase the service to eventually drive domestic sales. The glasses, which could be given away by pubs when customers make a purchase, cost a few pence per pair.

  • Majority of UK TVs now digital









    MUMBAI: A rush in the conversion of secondary TV sets boosted the total number of UK digitally-enabled TV sets to 80 per cent by the end of June this year (up by seven percentage points in three months), according to Ofcom. There are currently around 60 million TV sets in the UK.

    Ofcom‘s Digital TV Progress Report for the second quarter of 2009 shows that 24.3 million secondary TV sets had been converted to digital by the end of June, up by 15 per cent. The average UK home owns around 2.4 TV sets.

     

    Totally, nine out of ten (89.8 per cent) main television sets are now connected to a digital decoder. The Granada region is now in preparation to begin a switchover in November. Areas in the UK that have already switched to digital TV include the border area, the west Country and south and west Wales. The rest of the UK will switch to digital by the end of 2012.

  • Warner Music, YouTube settle scores, strikes music video sharing deal









    MUMBAI: Warner Music Group (WMG) and YouTube have reached a settlement by which they have agreed to bring music and video content from WMG by end of the year.


    As per the agreement, YouTube will create new channels on the service around Warner artistes. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.


    The services to YouTube were called off by WMG in December last as the licensing deal between the two companies was stalled due to financial reasons.

     

    “We‘re pleased to announce that we‘ve reached a new and expanded agreement with Google and its YouTube subsidiary that will bring WMG content back to service as early as the end of the year,” said a source from Warner Music Group.”Members of the YouTube community will not only be able to access videos and other music-related content from WMG but will also gain access to an enhanced user-experience on YouTube with a feature-rich, high-quality premium player and enhanced channels, ” adds the source.

  • Reliance partners Microsoft to offer Windows mobile solutions









    MUMBAI: Reliance Communications has partnered with Microsoft to offer Windows mobile solution on Reliance‘s wireless networks


    As per their tie up, Microsoft will offer its productivity solutions to Reliance customers including push email support, chat, photo-sharing, content back-up and other applications.


    Reliance will offer the same as part of its post-paid and pre-paid offerings.

     

    The telecommunication company has rolled out a data plan offering a data download of 200 MB for Rs 95 per month for customers using Windows Mobile phones.


    Said Reliance Wireless data business head Vrajesh Shelat, “The tie-up with Microsoft is part of Reliance‘s overall strategy to strengthen our market share in the fast growing Smartphone segment. By offering the Windows Mobile Solution, we will be able to address a wider customer base in this segment.”


    The tie-up also enables customers to access more than 20,000 applications, including Microsoft My Phone that allows users to access, manage and back up their personal information.


    “This is a one of a kind partnership between Reliance Communications and Microsoft that underscores the importance of the mobile software in delivering an unmatched user experience,” said Microsoft India director for communications and media segment Amajit Gupta.

  • Nokia fund invests $10 mn in Web18









    MUMBAI: Web18 Holdings, the Internet arm of Raghav Bahl-promoted TV18, will get a capital infusion of $10 million from global investor Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) II Mauritius.
    Web18, which has been on a fund hunt for long, will make a preferred stock allotment to NGP.


    TV18 said Thursday that its board has approved the agreement for issuance of preferred stock of Web18 to NGP II Mauritius, which will infuse funds as strategic growth capital.

     

    With a corpus of $350 million, NGP II Mauritius is the investment fund started by the Finnish mobile handset maker. It invests in information and communications technology companies serving the mobile industry.


    BMR Advisors acted as transaction advisors to TV18 for the fund raising.


    Web18 houses the websites of TV18 group, including In.com, Ibnlive.com, Moneycontrol.com, Commoditiescontrol.com, Cricketnext.com, Poweryourtrade.com, Tech2.com, Compareindia.com, Jobstreet.com, Buzz18.com, IndiWo.com, Josh18.com, Bookmyshow.com and Storeguru.com.


    For FY 2009, Web18 posted a revenue of Rs 712.10 million.


    Web18 had ambitious growth plans, and the company was looking to list in the US to raise funds for expansion. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Web18 was looking at diluting 10-15 per cent through an ADR (American Depository Receipt) issue.


    In January this year, Web18, had submitted, on a confidential basis to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a draft registration statement for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of American depositary shares (ADS), representing ordinary shares of Web18.


    However, a global economic downturn upset such plans. Web18 has downsized staff to tide over a tough recessionary phase.

  • Retirement Living TV available on Comcast’s West Coast markets

    MUMBAI: Retirement Living TV (RLTV), the network dedicated to adults over 50 years, is now available on Comcast in major cities on the West Coast in the US.











    The channel‘s programming is on air in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

     

    “Comcast is happy to support Americans above 50 years of age with the specially tailored programmes that RLTV offers,” said Comcast EVP content acquisition Matt Bond.


    RLTV features original television series and specials, as well as programming built on partnerships with organisations in the fields of aging and media.





     Said RLTV CEO Brad Knight, “Comcast‘s distribution of RLTV responds to the needs of Americans above 50 who are defying the rules of what is expected of them. We are creating a revolution of information, entertainment, and communication that matches their zest for life.”