Category: Software

MUMBAI: Aspiring contestants waiting for endless hours in maddeningly long queues, organisers struggling to cope with the logistics pressure and complications – all kinds of chaos break loose when television channels conduct their national auditions for talent hunt shows.

Sify Limited has spotted a good revenue opportunity here and is offering to make the whole process much simpler with the use of its national Iway network.

The company has already associated with national networks such as Star India and Zee to offer them online solutions for the audition process. For example, Zee TV has associated with Sifymax for the video auditions of its upcoming talent hunt show Cinestars. The auditions will be held in 154 cities across India using the technology edge of Sify‘s 3400 plus iWay cyber cafes.

Similarly, Star India‘s Vijay TV conducted video auditions for its comic hunt Kalakka Povadu Yaaru 2 (KPY 2) through Sify Iways in June.

“Sify is ideally positioned with the Sify Iway network (over 3000 Iways across 154 cities) and the broadband portal, SifyMax.com, to manage massive customer video interaction activity like the Zee CineStar activity. The customer can take the tutorial on SifyMax and the auditions can be recorded at the Iways or uploaded online on SifyMax.com. The customer is charged for these services,” explains Sify Ltd Portals president V Sivaramakrishnan.

Zee TV marketing head Tarun Mehra agrees, “Zee Cinestars is an all India contest and understandably the auditions demand a lot of hard work. But, with the help of Sifymax, we have simplified the whole process. The technology lessens the load and this helps us to channelise our resources to the other areas of the project.”

Sify will be soon exploring the facility for an in-house talent hunt, the Net Jockey Hunt. The contest will be conducted at popular Malls in Mumbai for its city specific broad band portal www.mumbailive.in.

Speaking on the strategy, Sivaramakrishnan offers, “Without any registration /subscription fee, we reach out and offer value added services (entertainment and information content in video format) to this segment. Almost 34 per cent of the Sifymax users access the internet via cyber cafe, through the Sify Iway cyber café chain. Hence we are leveraging on this huge strength.”

On the revenue front, Sify is expected to push this revenue model to deliver this fiscal. However, Sivaramakrishnan refuses to divulge the target. “It is early days to comment on this,” he says.

Also read:
Zee TV associates with Sifymax for ‘Cinestars‘ auditions

MUMBAI: Huawei Technologies India, the Indian arm of the global next generation telecommunications network solutions provider Huawei Technologies, has opened a new facility in Bangalore, to develop optical network products and wireless LAN solutions.

In particular, the new center will work on Huawei‘s new generation Optix series of intelligent optical network products based on cutting edge optical technologies. Huawei‘s optical solutions are widely deployed by major service providers for providing IPTV services, Triple Play (high speed Internet, television and voice) services, mobile services and leased line services to their customers, states an official release.

“Huawei Technologies India has been involved in key technology development, and this expansion will broaden our portfolio with the addition of new domains such as optical solutions and wireless LAN,” says Huawei Technologies India Embedded Solution VP & head Virendra Gupta.

The new facility to accommodate 180 software engineers will also house team working on Wireless LAN domain related software development catering to the Wireless Switch and Wireless Access Points products, the release adds.

“Huawei India provides its staff opportunity to work on development of cutting edge technologies, and the new facility will be engaged in the development of cutting edge products/components in wireless LAN domain and Optical domain,” says the company‘s COO George Huang.

MUMBAI: Pushing the ‘digital‘ envelope further, Star India has announced the full-fledged launch of its mobile audio entertainment service Voice. The service now offers audio capsules of some of the leading programmes in the Star Network.

The programmes now available on Voice include prime time soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi…, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kasauti Zindagi Ke, Viraasat, the afternoon serials Bhabhi and Kumkum. Also in the pipeline is, content based on the upcoming Star One celeb talent hunt show Nach Baliye 2.

States Star Interactive senior vice president Viren Popli, “There is a ready demand for popular TV content and interactivity on the go. STAR 7827 Voice is a platform for the non-SMS, non English-speaking viewers of our channels to enable them to keep up, and interact with our channels and with their favourite shows.”

As already reported by indiantelevision.com, Star India debuted Voice on with an audio-episode of Plus‘ new prime-time show Karam Apnaa Apnaa 23 August. Now the entry of more shows on the platform has made Voice a full-fledged service, according to Popli.

“We tested waters with Karam Apnaa Apnaa and got a very encouraging respose. This has inspired us to launch more content on Voice. STAR 7827 Voice will be fully integrated into Star channels, thereby increasing the channels‘ interactivity. We are also looking to enter the Tamil Nadu market through Vijay TV,” says Popli.

The service will be available to BSNL subscribers and Hutch, Spice (Karnataka & Punjab) will follow thereafter. To explore STAR 7827 Voice, mobile subscribers can dial in 127827 from their BSNL and 5057827 from their Hutch mobile phones for the latest in mobile content.

The BSNL service costs RS 3.50 per minute, while the Hutch/Spice service is charged Rs 6 per minute.

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Star India unveils interactive audio service ‘Voice‘

MUMBAI: Media Gateway, the international content clearing house for premium content has signed an agreement with AETN International, a division of A&E Television Networks, to distribute the company‘s award-winning video on demand (VOD) programming from The History Channel, The Biography Channel and Crime and Investigation Network throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Media Gateway will now be able to bring AETN International‘s on-demand content to mobile operators, ISPs, telecommunications companies, cable operators, residential complexes, compounds, military bases and hotels across the region, informs an official release.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with AETN International, whose channels have received multiple prestigious awards and reach more than 220 million TV households worldwide. This agreement further illustrates our commitment to provide the very best content to operators in the region so they can deliver services that drive greater enjoyment and usage among their subscribers,” said Media Gateway Chief Executive Officer Karri Zaremba.

“Emerging media platforms – be it VOD, mobile, or broadband – are an important components in our international distribution strategy. Media Gateway is a leader in the delivery of broadcast media over digital platforms, and we are confident that with their expertise, people in the Middle East and North Africa will now have multiple access paths to our channels and programs,” said AETN International Vice President International Business Development and Digital Media Sean Cohan.

The History Channel, the international television network devoted to historical programming, features compelling original, non-fiction specials and series that bring history to life in a powerful and entertaining manner across multiple platforms.

The Biography Channel takes viewers into the world of fascinating people, from Hollywood stars to world leaders, artists, athletes and infamous villains. The network features programs that delve behind the scenes of the public lives of celebrities, revealing their private lives and exploring the ambition that drives them.

While the Crime and Investigation Network focuses on crime, investigation and mystery programming. The channel opens the door to crime labs, police archives and the justice system, providing viewers a behind-the-scenes look at criminal investigations, unexplained mysteries and the lives of infamous murderers and outlaws, adds the release.

NEW DELHI: Popular pay TV channels at prices below Rs. 10 (Rs. 47=1US$) each for Indian cable TV subscribers?

Might be hard to believe, but may become a reality if the Indian broadcast regulator succumbs to pressures from the government to keep cable TV prices at present level in a CAS-enabled regime.

According to information available, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is likely to announce later today prices of pay channels that may look ridiculously low.

Sources in the regulatory body indicated that there’s immense pressure from the government (read the information and broadcasting ministry) to keep cable TV subscription at affordable levels when addressability is rolled out from 1 January 2007.

Presently, an Indian household shells out between Rs. 150 to Rs. 400 on an average per month for cable TV channels ranging between 30 to 100 depending on the locality of residence.

The present mantra is simple: posh-er the area, higher the subscription fee.

It is leant that the I&B ministry is in favour of pricing popular pay channels (Star Plus, Zee TV, Sony, HBO, Star Movies, ESPN and Star Sports, for example) at prices that would be affordable and keep the average monthly outflow to around Rs. 170 (exclusive of free to air channels).

If this formula is taken into account, then most popular TV channels — most of which are pay — have to be priced around Rs. 5 or below Rs. 10 to cater to the varied taste.

Out of the 265 TV channels that the government recognizes — 65 have applied for landing rights and the rest uplink from India — approximately 70 are pay channels.

As per a court mandate, agreed upon by the government and industry stakeholders, CAS is to be implemented in the south zones of Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai from midnight of 31 December 2006.

Sector regulator, buffeted between demands from the government and the industry, has to announce prices of pay and free-to-air channels (basic tier in an addressable regime) by the evening of 31 August to adhere to a Delhi court-mandated sequencing of CAS rollout.

It needs to be seen whether Trai will give a go-ahead to the prices submitted by various pay channels (most bouquets have given wholesale prices) or decides to go in for a maximum retail price (MRP) in case it finds them unreasonable.

According to a report put out by the Press Trust of India (PTI) on 10 August, I&B minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi informed Rajya Sabha (Upper House) that television viewers will have to pay less under a CAS regime.

There would be no charges on free-to air channels, the minister had said, adding the viewers would pay according to pay channels they opt for instead of paying a fixed tariff varying from Rs. 150 to Rs. 300 per month currently.

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Trai to finish CAS-related work…..

As per an official release, the tie-up will give MTNL users the benefit of :

1) Accessing a broadband gaming service from Indiagames on MTNL Tri-band at an affordable subscription fee

2) Unlimited game play of premium international games

3) Saying goodbye to pirated games, with full versions of the latest PC games

4) Free mobile game download with every subscription

Commenting on the launch of the service, MTNL Mumbai executive director M S Rana said, “Games on Demand one of the most important value added services offered by MTNL for its consumers. We have always been on the lookout for enhancing user experience and feel that the new service would bring affordable world class gaming entertainment within the reach of consumers.”

Indiagames Ltd CEO Vishal Gondal says, “The Games on Demand service will have a catalytic effect on the currently nascent but rapidly growing gaming audience in India by bringing compelling content at a great value for money price point. Further, with over 80 per cent of games in India being sold illegally, we believe that our unparalleled price and service offering will significantly expand the segment of legitimate game sales in India”.

Gondal further added that “We have been delighted by MTNL’s speed of response and turn around times and are looking forward to rolling out the service on India’s largest basic telephony provider in metros.”

The service will include popular international titles such as Age of Empires II, Brian Lara’s Cricket, Flight Simulator, Rise of Nations and IGI 2 Covert Strike amongst others, adds the release.

As an additional value add, Indiagames and MTNL will offer the service with all its features on a free trial basis for the first 4 days and a free mobile game download on registration. To experience this service and register, customers can log on to http://god.indiagames.com/mtnl or call 1504 for further details.

MUMBAI: Internet giant AOL has revamped its Web-based music download service, adding music videos, streaming radio and user community features.

The service is called AOL Music Now. AOL says that this is the first digital music subscription service offering unlimited on-demand streams and downloads of more than 2.5 million audio tracks and thousands of music videos. With the launch of the AOL Music Now service (www.aolmusicnow.com), music fans have a new place to discover, listen, download and own songs, albums and videos from one of the largest music libraries on the web.

Unlike other pay per download services, the AOL service lets users play as many songs and music videos as they want, in their entirety and on-demand. Users can access music and videos they have transferred to their PCs and compatible portable devices as long as they maintain a portable tier subscription.

The new service also features AOL Radio with XM offering with more than 200 AOL Radio stations plus select premier XM Satellite Radio channels.

AOL Music Now president Amit Shafrir says, “With the addition of music videos and AOL Radio with XM stations, AOL Music Now has raised the bar in the digital music service space. And, with best-in-class personalisation and automated discovery features, it’s easy for music lovers to navigate the thousands of mixes, playlists and radio stations the service offers.”

The music service claims to have a library of more than 2.5 million songs from all four major music labels and hundreds of independents. In addition, AOL has agreements with several labels, including Sony BMG to provide thousands of music videos for use in the AOL Music Now service.

MUMBAI: China is preparing to launch mobile TV in time for the 2008 Olympics. Although 3G licences are yet to be distributed in China, this move that could serve as a big push for mobile television in Asia.

Media reports indicate that China will be using the digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) standard for rollout.

A report in Xinhua quoting China‘s State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (Sarft) said that transmission of TV signals to mobiles would be tested in the middle of next year.

The satellite system will be activated in the first half of 2008 so that the Olympic Games could be projected to millions of mobile users across the country.

China‘s two biggest mobile telecom operators, China Mobile and China Unicom are expected to sign agreements at the end of the month with mobile phone makers to buy TV handsets soon.

China has more than 400 million mobile phone users and the number is increasing by 5 million a month, according to the Ministry of Information Technology.

MUMBAI: When the international consumer electronics trade show IFA opens its doors in Berlin on 1 September, 2006, visitors will experience the look and feel of the new world of television at the Siemens Communications booth.

Siemens says that with its mobile TV service via DVB-H, customers of communications companies can be more than just passive viewers of TV programs on their mobile phones. The company says that with services such as music voting, it is easy to let consumers have a say in shaping what they watch. IPTV in HDTV will mean a new era of home media use.

The living room media center is supplied with programming from the Internet via DSL and has an intuitive user interface. At IFA Siemens will be using the example of the Dutch carrier KPN to show how an IPTV interface works.

Traditional television Siemens says is entering a new era. Mobile TV and IPTV offer network operators a way to compensate for the drop in revenue stemming from falling prices for voice connections in wireless and fixed networks and to win customers with new media offerings. At IFA 2006 Siemens Communications will show how the new offerings can be structured and how the technology behind them works.

Mobile TV via the DVB-H standard enables mobile operators to offer services. They include interactive television programs that let viewers participate in votes and surveys, access to information in the Internet at a click of the mouse, interactive games for several players and real-time traffic reports that integrate navigation systems are just a few examples.

While the market for Mobile TV is still in its infancy, market researchers at Informa believe that by 2011 some 210 million people around the world will be using their portable devices as interactive TV sets and that around ten percent of all mobile handsets will have a TV receiver integrated in them.

At IFA, Siemens will show that its own mobile TV solution already runs on a wide range of common mobile phones (e.g. BenQ-Siemens, LG, Samsung), on PDAs with special SDIO cards and on state-of-the-art UMPCs from Samsung with Intel technology – perfectly and in high quality. Siemens will be showing programs from various broadcasters in Berlin, including RTL Television, nt-v and Super RTL.

Stefan Schneiders who is an expert for Mobile TV at Siemens says, “One thing is sure – carriers are very interested in tapping new revenue streams and winning their customers for trendy services that offer added value. Initial results from field trials, for example in Spain, show that Mobile TV has what it takes to fulfill the expectations of carriers and their customers.”

Siemens will be showcasing the IPTV offering of its Dutch customer KPN at IFA 2006. KPN customers in the Netherlands who have a DSL connection can receive TV from their phone socket and use numerous additional services such as a personal video recorder or TV of Yesterday. In Berlin, visitors will be able to try out KPN’s user interface, as well as getting an impression of how intuitive and simple the user guidance is from other examples, and discover that PC expertise is by no means a must.

They can also see what TV via DSL in high-definition quality using the compression standard H.264 looks like. Siemens says that it is committed to open standards for IPTV via HDTV. That also goes for the set-top boxes that are required for receiving IPTV and of which a selection will be shown in Berlin.

NEW DELHI: It has come a full circle for the Zee group. DTH service provider Tata Sky has dragged distribution company Zee Turner to court for acting pricey on giving its channels to the new entrant in the Indian DTH arena.

The case filed some days back in a Delhi court by Tata Sky states that Zee Turner is setting “unreasonable” terms for negotiations for its bouquet of channels, which amounts to a breach of various directives issued by the sector regulator.

The case is slated for a hearing today. However, court sources indicated that its unlikely arguments will take place in the first hearing.

Tata Sky, which began its commercial operations few weeks back, is presently offering consumers 55-odd TV channels at a price that is more than the Subhash Chandra-promoted Dish TV, which is country’s first pay TV platform.

Zee Turner is a 74:26 distribution joint venture between the Chandra-controlled Zee Telefilms and Time Warner company Turner International India.

The genesis of the present face-off is lack of consensus on pricing of Zee Turner channels and Tata Sky’s insistence on select TV channels from the bouquet of 32 channels.

While India’s second pay digital platform Tata Sky wants select Zee Turner channels for a reported sum of below Rs. 40 per subscriber, the latter is insisting all its 32 channels should be taken.

As reported by Indiantelevision.com earlier, sources close to the negotiations said Zee Turner has conveyed that it’s ready to give all its channels to Tata Sky’s DTH platform for Rs. 74 per subscriber per month, which is 50 per cent of the price that cable operators pay for the Zee Turner bouquet.

Bouquet 1 of Zee Turner comprises Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee News, Zee Studio, Zee Bengali, Zee Gujarati, Zee Marathi, Zee Punjabi, Cartoon Network, Reality TV, CNBC, CNN, Zee Café, Zee Trendz, ETC, ETC Punjabi, Zee Jagran, Zee Smile, Zee Telgu and Zee Music.

The second bouquet includes HBO, Pogo, Awaaz, VH1 and Zee Business. Zee Turner is soft bundling Zee Sports at a price benefit.

The third bouquet, called Breakfree, consists of Zee Action, Zee Premier and Zee Classic, which air movies of different genre and are primarily available on Dish TV DTH platform.

Zee Turner had earlier reasoned that its demand is based on a recent ruling of a disputes tribunal in Dish TV vs. Star case wherein Star was asked to make available its channel to Dish at Rs. 27 per subscriber, which is 50 per cent less than the price cable ops pay.

Dish TV had to wait for over 18 months since launch to finally manage to get Star channels on its DTH platform.

After having got powerful products like Star Plus, Dish TV has announced that it will not charge its consumers for some months anything extra for the Star channels, most of which are in the basic tier of 78-odd channels and can be had for Rs. 185 per month by a subscriber of Dish TV.

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Tata Sky launches DTH service; STB price Rs 3999, basic subscription Rs 200