Category: Software

Earlier, large TV stations were broadcasting analog and digital signals simultaneously. The shift is in the wake of the order from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which said that the transition will free the analog frequencies which can be used by public safety agencies to improve communication.

The digital TV transition has been in the planning for years in the US. However, the changeover may still cause disruption and confusion for millions of viewers. As per Nielsen estimates, even after publicising the switch for the last two years, around 2.8 million households (2.5 per cent of the country) were unprepared for the transformation.

According to the figures released by the National Association of Broadcasters, around 2.2 million households have to still buy the convertors to make their equipments compatible for this transition. Around 440,000 of them have, however, started taking some steps in the digital direction that includes applying for vouchers.

There are 1,760 full power TV stations across US, out of which half of them switched to digital even before the 12 June deadline. They mainly were located in the rural areas.

The transition from analog to digital was scheduled for 17 February. However, President Barack Obama delayed the switch after a Commerce Department voucher scheme offering $40 subsidies for converter boxes suffered heavy backlogs.

MUMBAI: Bangalore-based Ziva Software‘s mobile fetch engine ‘Zook‘ has partnered with Idea Cellular to power the latter‘s newly-launched personalised ‘stock search and subscription service‘. The service will initially be provided to Idea subscribers in Punjab.

The service will be available at a monthly rental of Rs 30 under which Idea (Punjab) subscribers will get alerts on business news, customised stock information and NSE and BSE conclusion information along with the day‘s top gainers and losers.

MUMBAI: Sonic Solutions‘ Roxio CinemaNow service has now been made available on LG Electronics Blu-ray Disc players (models BD370 and BD 390) and Home Theatre Systems (models LHB953 and LHB977).

Through this availability, consumers can now digitally stream Hollywood movies simultaneous to the date of the film‘s DVD release using this service.

The BD390 offers an interactive download-to-own and pay-per-view option. ” Sonic

will continue to work with CE device manufacturers like LG to meet consumers‘ expectations for seamless access to high-quality video entertainment from any connected device,” says Sonic Solutions president and CEO David Habiger.

MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel has announced the premiere of the Akshay Kumar starrer 8×10 Tasveer on its direct-to-home (DTH) service Digital TV as pay-per-view (PPV) service and its IPTV service Digital TV Interactive.

Produced by Percept Picture Company (PPC) and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, 8×10 Tasveer will be available from 5 June at Rs 50.

Digital TV customers can order the movie either on the website or by SMSing the movie code to 54325. For IPTV, customers can order from the TV itself.

Bharti Telemedia VP marketing Sugato Banerji said, “By showcasing popular and recently-released movies such as 8×10 Tasveer on our PPV service, we offer our DTH customers the luxury of blockbuster entertainment right in the comfort of their homes – all for a very nominal price. This comes close on the heels of the premiere of other recent titles like Delhi 6 on our PPV service.”

MUMBAI: Steven Spielberg has introduced a prototype camera codenamed ‘Project Nadal‘ that can be used as a controller for the Xbox 360.

The announcement was made at Microsoft‘s flashy Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference at University of Southern California‘s Galen Center.

The camera can track a player‘s full body movement while responding to commands, directions and a shift of emotion in voice without the need for a controller.

Microsoft also introduced ten exclusive new games and the ability to access social networking sites Facebook and Twitter as well as streaming music service ‘Last.fm‘ on the Xbox Live service. The popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter will be fully integrated into Xbox Live soon.

There were several announcements about the Xbox 360‘s video capabilities including increased functionality with the online Netflix service, 1080p high-definition video downloads, live TV in the United Kingdom and the ability to watch movies online with friends.

MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based social networking site Indyarocks.com has partnered with nautanki.tv to offer free access to 16 premium video channels that can be accessed on videos.indyarocks.com.

“Our partnership with nautanki.tv will enable us to enrich the user experience. Our target is to increase the number of online premium video channels to 25 before December this year,” says Indyarocks co-founder Kalyan Manyam.

The movie is priced at Rs 75 and would be available to viewers on a pay-per-view basis for download for 24 hours.

Delhi-6 is a co-production between UTV Motion Pictures and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures with music composed by AR Rahman and lyrics by Prasoon Joshi.

Says Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor, “Delhi-6 is an outstanding film which has been acclaimed both by critics and the viewers. Delhi-6 on Dish TV will enable our five million subscribers to enjoy the latest and best of movies in the comfort of their home.”

Delhi-6 is the story of love and self discovery set within the city of Delhi, which is a microcosm of India with all its chaos and contradictions. The film talks about an American citizen of Indian origin (Bachchan), coming to India and realising certain truths about himself.

While India‘s pay-TV market penetration rate currently stands at 65 per cent, in Taiwan it is almost 90 per cent. However in Indonesia it is just 2.5 per cent.

Sharing his views, Star Group chief executive officer Paul Aiello who was recently in Jakarta to attend a broadcasting summit says, “The government in Indonesia has been encouraging the broadcasting industry and there‘s good lot of involvement of government regulators, ministers, leading local media players in the country and some of the leading international media players.”

Talking about Star‘s pay-TV business in Indonesia, Aiello states, “Star started its business in Indonesia in early 1990. Our business includes satellites and a cable channel that offers close to 40 channels such as Star World, Star Movies and National Geographic Channel.”

To a question on whether he was optimistic about the Indonesian market, Aiello asserts, “We are optimistic about Indonesia‘s fundamentals. However, it is critical that regulators and industry players support a favourable environment. The regulators have done a good job so far.

“Honestly, I‘d like to see an increase in investment. But the critical issue is for industry participants to work constructively with regulators to develop the pro-growth agenda and pro-growth strategies that are necessary. Piracy is growing and in the pay-TV industry in Indonesia. We need to address this issue immediately because if piracy grows, it would be difficult for pay-TV to grow.”