MUMBAI: The battle for the future of TV is underway in the US with an overabundance of stakeholders pushing for greater influence as TV and computing converge, according to Gartner. Although the web of players competing to lead the way for TV 2.0 is starting to have some definition, content providers, device makers, cloud providers and communications firms will need to come together to secure the future of next-generation TV. Gartner research VP Allen Weiner says, “At the moment, the future of TV is clouded by an excess of stakeholders, most of whom have a defensible position in television’s future. “New stakeholders, such as telco providers, Web search engines and portals, and new media titans, such as Apple and Microsoft, make for a crazy quilt of businesses and competitors looking for a significant stake in the future of TV, even if revenue models for next-generation broadcasting remain a mystery to most”. Weiner adds that regardless of market segment, a number of overarching factors will dictate which of these stakeholders emerge with what level of future power. These factors include: * Agility — The ability to quickly react to technology, programming and consumer trends. Successful stakeholders will need to partner with organisations in different market segments to fully enable the future of TV. Gartner research VP Andrew Frank says, “In order for content to ultimately be delivered to consumers outside of traditional paths of linear programming, such as cable and satellite, a number of market segments need to come together, namely content, bandwidth, devices and cloud-based services”. Overlaid on this orderly division of capabilities is a less-well-defined arrangement of long-standing and newly formed business ecosystems that are at once merging and competing for power. These include the incumbent television ecosystem encompassing broadcast networks, station groups, cable networks, and cable and satellite providers; the Internet Protocol television challengers, consisting of major telecom companies; various manufacturing interests including set-top box makers, such as Cisco and Motorola, and TV manufacturers, such as Sony and Samsung; platform providers, such as Sun, Adobe, Microsoft and Apple; and the pure-play Internet companies including Google, Yahoo, Amazon and Hulu, as well as online video publishing platform providers. Consumers and advertisers are playing a key role in funding the entire enterprise, while the role of regulators, which has been extremely prominent in established broadcasting, remains relatively ill-defined in the over-the-top world.
* Regulatory Influence — The ability to get the ear of people in governmental rulemaking and policymaking positions.
* Follow the Money — The ability to create close ties with advertisers, as well as to carefully experiment with new revenue models.
* Understand the Consumer — The ability to follow trends in consumer media usage and to separate the hype and transient trends from those prime for commercial exploitation.
Category: Software
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Future of TV is clouded by excess stakeholders: Gartner
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Virgin Mobile enters data devices segment with vLink
MUMBAI: In sync with its commitment to offer products and services catering to the lifestyle of the Indian youth, Virgin Mobile has made its entry into the data devices segment with the launch of vLink.
The white coloured device cliams to be be the first in the data devices segment to offer style and dual purpose of CDMA USB Modem and 1 GB data storage.
The vLink comes with all the drivers (no CD installation required) and one month free unlimited data usage. Virgin Mobile youth customers who do not want a cap on their data usage can now surf the internet anywhere with Virgin Mobile’s unlimited monthly data plan of Rs 801.
The company claims that this is the most economical package available in the market offering a speed of up to 153 kbps. vLink is aimed at meeting the wireless connectivity needs of Indian youth who own laptops as well as PCs.
Virgin Mobile India chief officer, handset, Vas and procurement Deval Parikh said, “vLink comes with a starter kit of Rs 99 which includes free unlimited promo data usage time of 30 days. We have launched two tariff plans for vLink: The Rs 801 monthly plan provides the user unlimited data usage per month, with no hidden costs or commitments.
” On purchase of vLink, the user gets the benefit of this plan for free in the first month of usage. In sync with Virgin Mobile’s philosophy of offering flexibility to its consumers, the second plan of Rs 349 offers the user benefit of rolling over unutilized balance to the next month. This is the first unutilized balance roll over facility for data usage in the Indian market. This plan comes at a competitive 25p/min peak hour rate and a 13p/min off peak hour rate.”
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SME partners IODA to create global distribution network
MUMBAI: Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has partnered with Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA) to create distribution and services network for independent rights holders (IRH).
Under the agreement, SME will expand its service capabilities to the independent label community with its distribution subsidiary Red.
Red and IODA will build on their complementary technologies enabling increase in sales and promotional opportunities. Both companies will also leverage the global marketing and financial strength of SME to continue expanding their businesses.
SME president global digital business US sales and corporate strategy Thomas Hesse said, “IODA has has the expertise and ability to lead the independent market with digital solutions. We look forward to collaborating with IODA on this strategic partnership to develop new and innovative ways to help our respective clients grow their businesses.”
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Kambakkht Ishq to go digital with Hungama
MUMBAI: The makers of ‘Kambakkht Ishq‘ have partnered with Hungama Digital Media (Hungama) to launch a bouquet of digital promotions for the film.
Says Hungama Digital Media managing director and CEO Neeraj Roy, “India is the fastest growing mobile market with over 400 million subscribers; and with over 50 million people accessing the Internet, movie makers clearly cannot ignore the digital space anymore. With Kambakkht Ishq we have explored both the internet and the mobile platforms.”
These include the Kambakkht Ishq mobile game and a mobile voice Vas service by Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor.
The Kambakkht Ishq mobile game allows users to play the role of Akshay Kumar and highlights the bitter-sweet gender wars between the two protagonists of the movie. The user has to complete various stunts and collect objects in the racing game to complete the game.
Meanwhile, in the mobile voice Vas service, Akshay Kumar reveals a few of his stunt tips and Kareena Kapoor advices women on beauty tips.
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Sun Direct adds Sahara channels; offers free top up pack
MUMBAI: Sun Direct, the direct-to-home (DTH) service provider, has added two Hindi channels to its bouquet from the Sahara basket – Sahara One and Sahara Filmy.
The DTH service provider has also rolled out a new option of including one free top up pack with the basic packs – Shine Pack (North, Bengali and Oriya).
As part of the initiative, a customer can choose any one of the top up packs – Marathi top up (ETV Marathi and Zee Marathi), Gujarati top up (ETV Gujarati) and Hindi Movie (Zee Cinema) along with their basic packs at no extra cost.The two new channels and the free top up packs will be available across the Sun Direct platform from 1 July.
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Univision signs multi-year carriage pact with Cox
MUMBAI: Univision Communications has inked a multi-year distribution agreement with cable television company Cox Communications.
The agreement includes continued distribution of Univision‘s broadcast networks – Univision and TeleFutura and cable network Galavision. It also includes carriage of affiliated stations owned and operated by Entravision Communications Corp and Equity Media Holdings Corp.
“Cox has been a great partner and over the years has worked closely with us to better serve and grow their Hispanic subscriber base. This long-term distribution deal allows Cox continued carriage of our services, plus the launch of Univision on Demand,” said Univision executive VP distribution sales and marketing Tonia O‘Connor.
The financials details of the deal were not disclosed.
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Cablevision adds 30 HD channels
MUMBAI: Cablevision System Corp, the US-based media and entertainment company, has launched 30 high-definition (HD) channels available to iO TV customers in Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, bringing its total offering of HD channels to 100 channels across company‘s service area.
The list of newly added HD channels include Big Ten Network HD, Cartoon HD, Turner Classic Movies HD, Planet Green HD, Style HD, Outdoor Channel HD, NBA TV HD, QVC HD, truTV HD as well as additional HD movie channels from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and TMC.
Additionally, Cablevision will launch full-time standard definition religious-themed networks such as Daystar, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Trinity Broadcasting Network.
The expansion of HD programming also includes launch of MSNBC HD, sports, news and entertainment services for customers in New York City.
“We launched HD in 2003 with a philosophy that high-definition programming should be available free to our digital cable customers,” said Cablevision SVP – product management John Trierweiler.
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WWIL gets Rs 1.7 bn carriage revenue in FY’09, net loss at Rs 941.6 mn
MUMBAI: The carriage fee pinch continues to hurt broadcasters. Subhash Chandra-promoted cable company Wire and Wireless India Ltd (WWIL) has seen a 81 per cent boost in placement fees for the fiscal ended 31 March 2009, despite a slowdown that has hit the revenues of broadcasters.
Income from bandwidth (placement and carriage fees) charges has grown to Rs 1.69 billion for FY ‘09, compared to Rs 937.3 a year ago.
“Carriage comprises 55 per cent of our total revenues for the fiscal ended 31 March 2009,” says a source in the company. For FY‘08, carriage fee accounted for 35 per cent of WWIL‘s income.
WWIL has posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 311.98 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2009, as against a loss of Rs 814.40 million in the prior year period.
However, during this period, the income from operations came down marginally to Rs 710.85 million, as compared to Rs 755.45 million a year ago.
Expenses reduced to Rs 784.94 million (from Rs 865.63 million) for the quarter under review.
For the full fiscal, WWIL‘s net loss reduced to Rs 941.63 million, as against Rs 1.53 billion in the previous fiscal.
Income from the operations in the fiscal grew to Rs 3.08 billion, as compared to Rs 2.71 billion a year ago. Expenses decreased to Rs 3.38 billion from earlier year’s Rs 3.20 billion.
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Dish TV has Rs 14 bn investment plan in 2 years
MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra-promoted direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Dish TV plans to invest Rs 14 billion over the next two years as it plans to ramp up its subscriber base.
The company has already received Rs 4.05 billion as part of the proceeds in the second tranche of the Rs 11.40 billion rights issue.
“Dish TV has already exhausted the Rs 3.10 billion it raised in the first tranche. The promoters have agreed that the second tranche can be given an early call. We plan to pump in Rs 14 billion over two years,” says a source in the company.
Dish TV is also planning to raise between $100 to $150 million through foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs), though it has taken an enabling resolution from the board to raise up to $200 million.
The leading DTH market leader plans to add six million subscribers over the next two years.
“A major chunk of the investments will be towards customer acquisition. The subscriber acquisition cost is Rs 2600 and is likely to stay there in FY‘10 unless the rupee appreciates strongly. Our target is to add 2.5 million subscribers in FY‘10 and 3.5 million in FY‘10,” the source adds.
Dish TV expects its content cost to fall from 59 per cent to 40 per cent for the fiscal. “We have moved away from per subscriber deals and entered into fixed fee contracts with broadcasters. We have also put the expensive pay channels under a la carte,” the source says.
The ARPU (average revenue per user) should be in the region of Rs 165-175 in FY‘10. “For FY‘09, the ARPU on subscription stood at Rs 146 while on gross revenues it was at Rs 185,” the source adds.
Dish TV is targeting a revenue of Rs 12.5 billion for the fiscal ended 31 March 2010, a jump of 70 per cent from the earlier-year period. It expects to turn operationally profitable this fiscal, says the source.
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3i Infotech enters media & broadcasting industry
MUMBAI: Global information technology company 3i Infotech has announced its entry into the media and broadcasting industry as system integrator.
The company will provide offerings which incorporate solutions customised to meet the requirements of the sector.
3i Infotech has partnered with global technology players such as Apple, VSN, Kramer Electronics, Mhatre Electronics (authorised distributor of JVC), Harris and Comsat, as system integrator.
For media and broadcasting, the services include:
Media Consultancy Services (MCS): Offering television channels an automated workflow by integration of numerous components and related services.
Media System Integration Services (MSIS): Utilising products from global broadcasting solution vendors to develop a customised solution.
Integrated Media Solutions (IMS): Ensuring optimisation of the workflow across various phases and facets of broadcasting operations.
3i Infotech executive director and president – South Asia Anirudh Prabhakaran said, “We are delighted to venture into the media and broadcasting space which needs intensive IT and System Integration support.”