ITV

Category: Television

  • Tandberg Television unveils on-demand interactive ad system at NCTA ’06

    Tandberg Television unveils on-demand interactive ad system at NCTA ’06

    MUMBAI: Tandberg Television will unveil for the first time an on-demand interactive advertising system at the NCTA National Show 2006. The company’s new dynamic ad placement solution integrates advanced video-on-demand (VOD) capabilities with advanced interactive television functionality.

    It enables operators and programmers to engage subscribers with compelling integrated advertising experiences tightly embedded in broadcast and VOD programming.

    “In an era of ad-skipping and fragmented viewership, our next generation technology will play a critical role for advertisers striving to engage their customers. Tandberg Television’s new solution offers advertisers the ability to blend the emotion of television with the precision and measurability of the internet,” said Tandberg Television Inc senior vice president marketing and business development Braxton Jarratt.

    A recent joint survey released by the Association of National Advertisers and Forrester Research found nearly 70 per cent of advertisers are concerned that VOD and digital video recorders (DVR) are rendering traditional TV ads less effective, and confirmed that advertisers will spend less on TV ads in favour of emerging forms of advertising. The new interactive advertising system from Tandberg Television helps cable deliver more effective forms of advertising that complement the evolving and complicated viewing patterns of today’s consumers.

    With the new ad solutions from Tandberg Television, operators can deliver dynamic ad placements, playlists, interactive advertisements, branded portal and t-commerce capabilities to create rich, immersive subscriber interactions. Since the system is platform agnostic, it can be extended to any delivery device where content is consumed, complete with embedded interactive experiences launched with every subscriber inquiry or response.

    The complete solution from Tandberg Television includes:

    On-demand advertising: Global management system for advanced video advertising technologies, including VOD ad placement, long-form VOD delivery and highly targeted ad systems. The AdPoint solution addresses the diverse needs of advertisers and marketers by providing innovative tools for the production, management and placement of advertising and marketing messages across platforms and methods.

    Interactive advertisements: Two-way interactive television (iTV) communication that actively engages viewers, draws them deeper into the programming and creates a unique relationship between the advertiser, the content and the operator.

    Branded entertainment on-demand: By linking from linear video to on-demand content, advertisers can tie branded content areas directly to advertisements. While viewing an ad, users can click for more information to launch on-demand sessions that provide deeper brand interactions.

    T-commerce: Secure transactions from set-top boxes allow viewers to make purchases while watching television. T-commerce is a powerful product placement and direct marketing solution for advertisers, enabling viewers to request additional information or initiate purchases directly from their television screen.

    Mobile messaging solutions: With its end-to-end mobile messaging system, Tandberg Television supports mobile marketing campaigns, including registration management, content creation and scheduling, reporting and analysis, and delivery to subscribers of all major carriers.

    The interactive advertising system delivered by Tandberg Television is based on open interfaces, enabling cable operators to easily deploy on-demand services using existing, preferred and next-generation backend components — such as video servers, access networks, billing systems and client applications — as well as future iTV applications, including gaming and merchandising.

    By enabling multiple video server vendors and complexes to co-exist in the same installation, Tandberg Television allows operators to direct content to specific servers and load balance resources across vendors

  • Endemol extends Barnicoat & Bazalgette’s contracts until April 2011

    Endemol extends Barnicoat & Bazalgette’s contracts until April 2011

    MUMBAI: Endemol has taken some significant steps in terms of retaining its key talent. The company has announced that the contracts of senior management of operating companies in Italy, the UK, the US, the Netherlands and Germany and of Endemol COO Tom Barnicoat and CCO Peter Bazalgette has been extended until April 2011.

    Furthermore, senior management in Spain and other senior management in Italy have extended their contracts until December 2008, with a renewal option year on year after that and until April 2011.

    Additionally, Endemol has introduced a number of incentive schemes to enhance talent retention, foster creativity and deliver financial commitments. For example, there are variable compensation incentives, which are paid based on business performance (mostly for delivering top and bottom line growth). In addition, there is a range of bonuses for Endemol’s creative talent, depending on the market success of formats created.

    Also, at the time of Endemol’s recent IPO, a Long Term Incentive Plan was issued. For the management boards, senior management and the other Top 100 employees, performance shares and/or option plans were granted based on delivering a certain total shareholder’s return. For the rest of the employees a cash-based incentive plan was issued as well (of which 45 per cent was paid in 2005).

    Furthermore, Endemol also promoted senior vice president finance Jan Peter Kerstens as the company’s new chief financial officer.

  • Disney-ABC to offer hit shows online in May and June

    Disney-ABC to offer hit shows online in May and June

    MUMBAI: Get ‘Desperate’ and ‘Lost’ online! With an aim to expand its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group will be offering ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series online at www.abc.go.com.

    However, this offer will be a part of a two-month-long experiment. Current episodes of Lost, Desperate Housewives and Commander In Chief, as well as the entire present season of Alias, will be available for streaming during May and June, marking the first time a broadcast network has made multiple series available for viewing online, free of charge to consumers.

    “The evolution of ABC.com is just one piece of our comprehensive, digital media multiplatform business initiative. This announcement highlights the momentum we’ve achieved both in launching new broadband services and working with strategic partners in the digital media space, to ensure that our high-quality, informative and entertaining content is available to consumers whenever and wherever they choose,” said Disney Media Networks co-chair and Disney-ABC Television Group president Anne Sweeney.

    ABC is also exploring ways to work with its local broadcast affiliates on these online offerings as they continue to evolve. “Our ultimate goal is to find an effective online model, one in which our affiliates can take part. To that end, we’ll be sharing information from this two-month test in our discussions going forward, and working on ways for them to participate in this new method of delivering ABC programming,” added ABC Television Network president operations and administration Alex Wallau.

    “Our mission with this trial is to gather key learning about the technology and the consumers who utilize it in order for ABC.com to become the leading broadband digital entertainment experience, packed with innovative, immersive content for our viewers. In the months ahead, ABC.com will not only deliver a high quality, on-demand viewing experience to users, but will also gain valuable knowledge and research to help us better understand and serve our consumers in the rapidly evolving digital world,” said Disney-ABC Television Group executive vice president digital media Albert Cheng.

    As part of the trial, ABC has offered 10 advertisers the opportunity to test possible in-stream broadband advertising models as well as the ability to take advantage of sponsorships. The unique interactive video ads will take many different forms and will be seen within each episode. The advertisers include AT&T, Cingular, Ford, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Unilever’s Suave, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, among others.

    “We have said all along that we are dedicated to finding ways to bring our advertiser partners along with us as we embrace new ways of doing business in the world of digital media. This unique project has allowed us to offer our advertisers the ability to deliver increased effectiveness in their messaging through targeted and engaging interactive ads that offer compelling consumer experiences,” said ABC Television Network president sales and marketing Mike Shaw.

    Combining an all-new sleek, modern design with user-friendly functionality, ABC.com will offer episodes the day after they premiere on the linear channel. Consumers will be able to pause and move back and forth between “chapters” within each episode, but will not have the ability to fast-forward through advertisements. Episodes will be streamed in 16×9 formatting which offers a cinema-like feel to the viewing experience.

    Encoded and streamed in Flash 8, which offers the best video quality and allows users on both Mac and PC platforms to watch the video episode, will be offered in two different sizes. The standard viewing size is 500×282 pixels (streamed at 400kbs), and the larger viewing size is 700×394 pixels (streamed 700 kbps).

  • Disney-ABC to offer hit shows online in May and June

    Disney-ABC to offer hit shows online in May and June

    MUMBAI: With an aim to expand its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group will be offering ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series online at www.abc.go.com.

    However, this offer will be a part of a two-month-long experiment. Current episodes of Lost, Desperate Housewives and Commander In Chief, as well as the entire present season of Alias, will be available for streaming during May and June, marking the first time a broadcast network has made multiple series available for viewing online, free of charge to consumers.

    “The evolution of ABC.com is just one piece of our comprehensive, digital media multiplatform business initiative,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney-ABC Television Group. “This announcement highlights the momentum we’ve achieved both in launching new broadband services and working with strategic partners in the digital media space, to ensure that our high-quality, informative and entertaining content is available to consumers whenever and wherever they choose.”

    ABC is also exploring ways to work with its local broadcast affiliates on these online offerings as they continue to evolve. “Our ultimate goal is to find an effective online model, one in which our affiliates can take part,” stated Alex Wallau,president, Operations and Administration, ABC Television Network. “To that end, we’ll be sharing information from this two-month test in our discussions going forward, and working on ways for them to participate in this new method of delivering ABC programming.”

    “Our mission with this trial is to gather key learning about the technology and the consumers who utilize it in order for ABC.com to become the leading broadband digital entertainment experience, packed with innovative, immersive content for our viewers,” said Albert Cheng, executive vice president, Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television Group. “In the months ahead, ABC.com will not only deliver a high quality, on-demand viewing experience to users, but will also gain valuable knowledge and research to help us better understand and serve our consumers in the rapidly evolving digital world.”

    As part of the trial, ABC has offered ten advertisers the opportunity to test possible in-stream broadband advertising models as well as the ability to take advantage of sponsorships. The unique interactive video ads will take many different forms and will be seen within each episode. Participating advertisers include AT&T, Cingular, Ford, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Unilever’s Suave, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, among others.

    “We have said all along that we are dedicated to finding ways to bring our advertiser partners along with us as we embrace new ways of doing business in the world of digital media,” said Mike Shaw, president, Sales and Marketing, ABC Television Network. “This unique project has allowed us to offer our advertisers the ability to deliver increased effectiveness in their messaging through targeted and engaging interactive ads that offer compelling consumer experiences.”

    Combining an all-new sleek, modern design with user-friendly functionality, ABC.com will offer episodes the day after they premiere on the linear channel. Consumers will be able to pause and move back and forth between “chapters” within each episode, but will not have the ability to fast-forward through advertisements. Episodes will be streamed in 16×9 formatting which offers a cinema-like feel to the viewing experience.

    Encoded and streamed in Flash 8, which offers the best video quality and allows users on both Mac and PC platforms to watch the video episode, will be offered in two different sizes. The standard viewing size is 500×282 pixels (streamed at 400kbs), and the larger viewing size is 700×394 pixels (streamed 700 kbps).

    “Lost” was created by Jeffrey Lieber and J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof. Abrams, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers. “Lost,” which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii, is from Touchstone Television.

    Marc Cherry is executive producer and creator and Tom Spezialy is executive producer of “Desperate Housewives,” which is from Touchstone Television.

    “Alias” was created by J.J. Abrams, who executive-produces the series along with Ken Olin, Jeff Pinkner, Jesse Alexander and Jeffrey Bell. The series, which is filmed in Los Angeles and premiered on September 30, 2001, is from Touchstone Television.

    “Commander In Chief” was created by Rod Lurie. Steven Bochco, Dee Johnson, Rod Lurie and Marc Frydman serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Touchstone Television in association with Steven Bochco Productions.

  • Raj TV begins non-live telecast of news bulletins

    Raj TV begins non-live telecast of news bulletins

    MUMBAI: With election fever gripping Tamil Nadu media, the Chennai-headquartered Raj Television Network (RTN) has started telecasting news bulletins on its flagship channel Raj TV as non-live.

    Originally the channel is not permitted to telecast news and live programmes, as it is not uplinked from India.
    “Since the last two weeks, Raj TV has been telecasting one-and-a-half hours of news programming — exactly three half-an-hour news bulletins — as deferred live, apart from airing various election-oriented current affairs programmes” says one of the RTN promoters M Ravindran.

    Raj TV had lost the right to telecast news bulletins and live programmes when the information and broadcasting ministry terminated its teleport licence in November 2004. This was preceded by the ministry stopping broadcast of two new RTN channels Vissa TV and Raj Musix for uplinking without the necessary approval.
    Raj TV, along with another RTN channel Raj Digital Plus, were not allowed to uplink from the company’s own facility at Chennai as well as from any alternate commercial uplinking centre in India.

    RTN had no other choice but to move out of the country and uplink from Bangkok late last year. This arrangement, as already mentioned, prevents RTN from broadcasting live programmes and news. Due to this handicap, Raj TV has already lost out on two big events that were drawing in audiences: the Tsunami of 2004 and the controversy over Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi. Now, it seems, the channel is in no mood let another bonanza — the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections — go.

    “Since Raj TV is the only neutral channel in the politics-heavyTamil broadcast arena, our news and current affairs programmes used to rule the ratings before we lost the licence. We enjoy a good support from the advertisers and have decided to charge the best rates in the market. And, elections are something you can’t afford to skip as a broadcaster,” says Ravindran, adding that the channel has been charging advertisers Rs 9,000 per ten seconds for slots in these bulletins.

    The RTN promoters are confident that Raj TV will be able to telecast live news bulletins at the earliest. Having won an approval from the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry in 2005 March to uplink its channels from a commercial teleport in India, RTN is presently waiting for the final green signal for the Wireless Protocol Clearance (WPC) from the telecom ministry, which is headed by Dayanidhi Maran, the elder brother of Sun TV supremo Kalanithi Maran.

  • Walt Disney Internet Group signs distribution agreement with Boonty

    Walt Disney Internet Group signs distribution agreement with Boonty

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has inked a distribution agreement with Boonty, a global expert in the digital distribution of video games, to make some of WDIG’s most popular downloadable games available to consumers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.

    The agreement further raises WDIG’s profile in the downloadable games category and expands its ability to deliver digital content across multiple platforms.

    Disney fans across Western Europe can now access exciting games in local language featuring favourite Disney characters, including The Lion King Grubalicious, the Little Mermaid Bubble Blast, Pirates of the Caribbean Pinball and Aladdin Magic Carpet Racing, by going to Boonty’s network of major portals and online retailers such as T-OnLine, Alice, AOL, TF1 and Eurosport.

    “The Walt Disney Internet Group intends to make Disney games content readily available to a broadening audience of consumers around Europe by expanding our distribution channels with leading aggregators. Boonty has the expertise, reach and robust infrastructure required for effective digital distribution, and we are pleased to add them to our network of partners,” said Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe managing director Attila Gazdag.

    According to media research consultancy Screen Digest, the European casual gaming market is expected to reach close to $400 million by 2009. Much of this growth is coming from the non-traditional gaming audience – up to 65 per cent of casual game players are female and 48 per cent are aged 35-54 – who are particularly attracted by the Disney-branded games experience.

    “We are seeing the gaming industry embrace digital distribution globally with increasingly sophisticated services. The intuitive interface and design simplicity of the Disney games are very appealing to our users and we are delighted to be able to add this content to our portfolio,” said Boonty founder and CEO Mathieu Nouzareth

  • Sivasankaran buys 14.98 % in Sahara One for Rs 1.2 billion

    Sivasankaran buys 14.98 % in Sahara One for Rs 1.2 billion

    MUMBAI: If the news and radio space swung into acquisition mode early this year, it is the other areas of media business which are now attracting investors. NRI businessman C Sivasankaran is pumping in Rs 1.2 billion to acquire 14.98 per cent stake in Sahara One Media & Entertainment Ltd.

    Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported that Sivasankaran was in talks to put in around Rs 1.2 billion for a minority stake in Sahara One. Ernst & Young had valued the company at Rs 7 billion.

    Sahara One will make a preferential allotment of 32,25,000 shares (of Rs 10 each) at Rs 372 per share to Aircel Televentures Ltd (Sivasankaran’s company). With this divestment, the promoters will hold 73 per cent, according to a Sahara Group spokesperson.

    BCCL’s (Times Group holding company Bennet Coleman & Co Ltd) stake will be less than 6 per cent and Aircel Televentures will have 14.98 per cent while the rest will be with the public.

    “Aircel Televentures has recognized the potential of the movies and TV business in which Sahara One operates and agreed to invest. The funds generated through this move will be utilised in expanding our business in movie and television business,” the spokesperson said.

    The Sahara One board has approved the proposal of issuing the equity shares to Aircel Televentures on preferential basis. The board, which met today, has also called for an Extraordinary General Meeting of the company on 8 May. The shares will be issued subject to shareholders’ approval.

    Sahara is also planning to raise up to $50 million, for which it has obtained an enabling resolution. “Sivasankaran’s investments will be used for expanding the business. We also plan to raise up to $50 million,” a company executive said.

    Sahara is launching a music channel, adding up to a bouquet of general entertainment and movie channels. Sahara Group also owns a string of news channels.

    Sivsankaran’s first media investment was in ETC Networks where he held 40 per cent stake. He went on diluting equity and exited from the company which was later acquired by Zee Telefilms.

  • Sun TV raises Rs 6.3 billion through IPO

    Sun TV raises Rs 6.3 billion through IPO

    MUMBAI: Sun TV Ltd. is set to fix a price of Rs 875 per share, mopping up Rs 6.3 billion ($134.2 million) from its initial public offering (IPO) of 6.9 million shares.

    The IPO has received an overwhelming response and has been oversubscribed 47.05 .times. Total bids received from investors stood at 324110480. Sun had fixed Rs 875 as the price at the top end.

    The IPO offered a fresh equity issue of 68,89,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each for cash. The shareholding of Sun TV Ltd principal promoter Kalanithi Maran will now reduce to 89.99 per cent from 99.99 per cent (61,999,969 shares).

  • SCM sells digital TV solutions business to Kudelski

    SCM sells digital TV solutions business to Kudelski

    MUMBAI: The California headquartered SCM Microsystems, which provides solutions that open the digital world has sold its digital TV solutions business to the Swiss based Kudelski Group. It has got $11 million in cash for the deal.

    Kudelski Group chairman and CEO Andre Kudelski says, “SCM pioneered removable security for digital broadcasting and has helped build a market for open systems in the digital TV industry. Removable security modules will become a key enabler of digital pay-TV services as the retail market continues to grow and develop.”

    SCM Microsystems CEO Robert Schneider says, “The sale of our Digital TV business furthers our strategy to consolidate and restructure our organisation around a more focused business model. With one headquarters and operational center in Germany, one development facility in India and a seasoned sales team in the U.S., we believe that we will be able to take advantage of market opportunities more efficiently and cost effectively.

    “Going forward, we intend to put our entire attention on leveraging our smart card and media reader businesses by providing industry-leading solutions for emerging markets such as e-health, e-passport, secure physical access, electronic payment and digital photo printing.”

    Under the terms of the agreement with Kudelski, SCM will sell substantially all of the assets that relate to its digital TV solutions business, including its office building in France, certain inventory, contracts, trademarks and intellectual property.

    In addition 40 employees in Europe and Asia are expected to join Kudelski’s newly created business focussed on providing secure pay-TV modules compatible with consumer electronic products for the digital TV industry. The products that Kudelski is acquiring include SCM’s DVB and OpenCable compliant conditional access modules, used to securely decrypt digital television broadcasts, as well as
    controller chips used in set-top boxes that interface with the decryption modules.

    The Kudelski Group works in the field of digital security. Its technologies are used in a wide range of applications requiring access control and rights management, whether for securing transfer of information (digital television, broadband Internet, video-on-demand, interactive applications, etc.) or to control and manage access of people or vehicles to sites and events.

  • Sify launches online magazine store

    Sify launches online magazine store

    MUMBAI: www.sifymall.com, the online store on portal Sify has launched magazine subscription service online.

    The store has magazines from both Indian and foreign publications across categories like advertising, audio/video, automotive, aviation, beauty and fashion, business, films, music, travel and leisure and women to suit users interests.

    Sify senior VP, interactive services, Surya Mantha says, “Our aim is to ensure that the best offers are always available on SifyMall for users to experience real value for money. Be it the popular Deal of the Day, occasion based online gifting, or shopping online, we work to ensure customer delight in a number of ways. Our online magazine store extends this philosophy with subscriptions that offer real value to users with a wide range of magazines to suit their interests. We’ve also redesigned SifyMall to enhance the shopping experience for our users”.

    All a user needs to do is to go online on www.sifymall.com to the Magazine Store, and choose the title of his/her choice from an array of 130 magazines, with more to be added in future. The magazines are arranged conveniently by topic, publishers as well as alphabetically for users to locate the magazines of their choice easily and quickly.