ITV

Category: GECs

  • Pyramid Saimira to form JV for 100 malls, plans to raise Rs 4 billion

    Pyramid Saimira to form JV for 100 malls, plans to raise Rs 4 billion

    MUMBAI: Chennai-based theatre chain company Pyramid Saimira will enter into a 40:60 joint venture with a leading real estate company for setting up 100 malls entailing an investment of Rs 60 billion.

    The buzz is that Pyramid will sign the deal with IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects Ltd. “We are in talks with three leading real estate developers including IVRCL but haven’t concluded anything yet. All the three are listed companies,” says Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd. managing director PS Saminathan.

    Pyramid Saimira will raise around Rs 4 billion through a foreign currency convertible bond (FCCB) or a qualified institutional placement (QIP) as its share of funding for the project. “We could even go for a mix of both FCCB and QIP. We have no debt in the company and can leverage our cash balance. The equity dilution will be around 5-6 per cent,” says Saminathan.

    Pyramid will set up a special purpose vehicle for the project. The company has identified 700 locations in South India, out of which 200 it has found feasible for sustaining a multiplex or mall. In West Bengal it will have 15 locations for its malls and multiplexes, four of which will be in Kolkata. “Every location should be able to generate Rs 500 million from the second year of operations for it to be viable,” says Saminathan.

    The plan is to have 300 screens through this venture. The malls, covering 20-25 million square feet of space, will be spread across the southern states of India and West Bengal. “We will have 50 per cent of the malls dedicated for the entertainment sector,” says Saminathan.

  • Samsung strengthens DTV position in the US

    Samsung strengthens DTV position in the US

    MUMBAI: Electronics major Samsung captured the number one market share position for digital televisions in the US in 2006, according to The NPD Group’s retail tracking service.

    NPD VP industry analysis Stephen Baker says, “The industry’s overall DTV unit sales have grown 54 per cent and three million more digital TVs were sold in 2006 than 2005; and within 2006, Samsung sold more digital televisions than anyone else in the industry.

    “Samsung is the only television manufacturer that demonstrates market strength in all four digital TV categories, which includes LCD, plasma, Microdisplay and Flat Tube. According to NPD’s monthly sales data Samsung’s share position improved throughout the year with Samsung leading the market in units and dollars within the second half of the year.”

    Samsung became America’s choice for digital TVs in 2006 with total Digital TV unit share of 20 per cent, which is a significant lead on the competition. In addition, Samsung demonstrated strong category leadership in Flat Panel TVs with number one unit share of 21.5 percent and number one dollar share of 25.1 percent; Samsung grew its LCD market share (10″ and larger) to the number one position in 2006 (from the number four position in 2005) with a market share of 15.1 per cent; and its SlimFit™ line of flat tube CRT TVs claimed an overwhelming 46.1 percent unit share and a 43.7 per cent dollar share in 2006, according to NPD data.

    Samsungsays that it is the only manufacturer that produces, and is committed to leading, in all four major digital television technologies: LCD, Microdisplay, Plasma, and Flat Tube. Strong 2006 sales across each category catapulted Samsung to the number one position.

    Samsung Electronics America executive VP, consumer electronics division Tim Baxter says, “Achieving a number one market position is a significant milestone for Samsung and we are very proud that for the first time, the American public has made us their first choice for digital televisions.

    “Samsung has demonstrated its growth to demand-brand status within the highly competitive Digital TV landscape. We attribute our success to a combination of manufacturing strength, commitment to all four digital television technologies and our leading product designs.”

    In 2006, Samsung launched its 51/52 series of LCD HDTVs, which the company nicknamed Bordeaux for its wine-glass curve at the bottom of the sets. For the first time, Samsung’s TVs offered consumers a choice of luxurious lacquer-like piano-black or smooth white-pearl exterior that not only complemented consumers’ home design but enhanced it as well.

    People the firm says no longer had to hide their TVs inside bulky, space-consuming furniture; Samsung provided them with design choices that accented their home décor.

    Samsung adds that it is one of the largest panel manufacturers in the world. In fact, the company consistently increases its R&D investments each year. In 2005 alone, Samsung’s R&D investments reached 5.41 trillion KRW. Recently, Samsung SDI (one of Samsung’s group affiliates) expanded the capacity of its plasma development facility in Cheonan, Korea.

    Samsung Electronics is currently planning to open a Gen8 LCD manufacturing facility in TangJeong, Korea. Because the company designs and manufactures most of its own components, it can maintain the utmost control over production quality and manufacturing costs, giving the company a distinct market advantage.

    About five years ago, Samsung decided to focus its TV resources almost exclusively on its digital television product line. The company recognized that each of the four digital TV technologies brought different advantages – and price points – to consumers and it decided to invest in each of them.

    The firm says that due to its manufacturing strength it is able to bring price-competitive televisions to market while maintaining our profitability. So its early decisions and investments are paying off.

    Samsung attributed its success to a combination of manufacturing strength, commitment to all four digital television technologies and product designs

  • Creative Eye Q3 net profit at Rs 3.3 million

    MUMBAI: Creative Eye Ltd’s net profit has posted a net profit of Rs 3.3 million in the third quarter of the current fiscal, up from Rs one million a year ago.

    The company’s revenues stood at Rs.55.2 million as against Rs 39.3 million during this period. For the nine-month period ended 31 December 2006, Creative Eye had posted a net profit of Rs 6.4 million on a revenue of Rs.155.9 million.

    Creative Eye will launch Tulsi Mere Angan Ki, a social programme, on Doordarshan at 8.30 pm every Saturday from 10 March.

  • BES Expo booming and globally accepted

    BES Expo booming and globally accepted

    NEW DELHI: All the stalls at the BES Expo 2007, to be inaugurated on 1 February, are packed. BES estimates it would need to add 20 per cent more space in the coming year, a significant rise in global visibility for the lone Indian broadcast engineering show, says AS Guin, President, BES at a press conference here today.

    Three hundred participants are here this year, among them 16 which are coming here for the first time, Guin, who is also All India Radio’s engineer-in-chief, states.
    In fact, two major participants, Joseline Josiah of Unesco’s adviser in communication and information in Asia and Ed Homan, director of operations, Ideal Systems Asia Pacific, specifically mentioned that it is the phenomenal growth of BES as an organisation, just one among the three broadcast engineering institutes in the world, that made them participate in this year’s Expo.

    Homan made a brief but sharp point in stating that there were earlier only two major such Expos, IBC and NAB. “The fact that people like us have decided to come here is because BES has earned tremendous respect as an institution and is seen globally for the tremendous work they have done in the field.

    Though Josiah’s project on community radio is the socially most exciting among the ones to be showcased here during the three-day exposition, Nokia stole the show, as a partner of Doordarshan’s project on mobile television project that is under trials at the moment.

    In fact, Pawan Gandhi, Nokia’s Singapore based head of mobile TV and Video Experience division, was practically mobbed by the media for a dekko at the mobile set he was carrying to demonstrate the ongoing project under trial. The crystal clear image and the easy channel surfing system surprised many.

    Gandhi said that the system could carry ten channels per band and in its dialogue with DD, they have felt it necessary to run at least 30 channels. The sets are at the moment not available in India, and the ones launched in Vietnam costs $700 to 800, and is a high-end product.

    Guin added that, as in the case of DD’s DTH, DD Direct Plus, which initially cost a packet per household, so in the case of DD’s mobile TV project, “prices are bound to come down as the demand rises,” hence, those who want will be able to afford this equipment in the coming days.

    Ashish Bhatnagar, honourary secretary of BES, said: “The government has silently ushered in a revolution in the form of community radio to be operated by NGOs.” He said that this is among the most promising projects in hand and will see thousands of radio centres coming up across the country.

    The government’s programme with Unesco is to make people aware and empower and train them to handle radio stations on their way, Adhikary added.

    Josiah, asked to address the media, spoke of an amazing range of products, especially those with multiple facilities, including what she described as “more than a radio”, rather a community multimedia centre with provisions for radio, Internet and other forms of communication.

    Josiah said that Unesco has been working for the past 30 years in the field of community radio and developed models relevant to various countries and cultures. These will be on show at the pavilion and there will be presentations and demonstrations.

    Another advancement BES is seeking to make is to help launch broadcast engineering courses in universities, under affiliation to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, the apex body in the region.

    Dialogue is going on this, Guin said, and the BES hopes to see this happen very soon. Guin also said that though the BEShas been holding these Expos for the past 12 years, from this 13th year, they would send reports to the government about participation and developments and results achieved at the fairs.

    The expo will be inaugurated by information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi tomorrow, at Hall No. 7D, Pragati Maidan, Delhi.

  • India and the Cannes Film Fest

    India and the Cannes Film Fest

    MUMBAI: Eight months down the line, and there’s nostalgia and a longing to be in Cannes again. The Cannes Film Festival had this habit of growing on you. The high cost of living (hotel and apartment rates in Cannes rise four to six times offseason rates during the fest), and the punishing schedules for the press conferences and for the screenings notwithstanding. (Bed time is 2:30 am, awakening time is 7:00 am as the first screening is at 8:30 am and it’s a 20 minute walk from one’s apartment to the Palais des Festivals’ Grand Auditorium).

    2007 is the 60th year of the Cannes Fest, the 60th year of India’s indedpendence and a great deal of gigs are planned highlighting the world’s second or is it most attractive economy.

    Hopefully, the volume of noise will be higher this year because India’s efforts get lost in the cacophony that is the mark of the festival. The American studios, the UK independents, the Chinese film makers, Latin American and European directors attract so much of the limelight, that India’s efforts simple don’t make much of an impact. Of course, the Indian media will send back reports saying how well India is doing at Cannes, when the truth is far from that.

    Hopefully, the Indian pavilion along the Croisette will be better organized this time around. The CII – which puts the Indian participation together – needs to be patted for the initiative, but a little more organization on the ground, will mean so much for the industry. Obviously, it is learning from its experiences and this year it promises that it will be an eyepopping experience for all.

    The Indian independent film makers group – which had got the support of the Reliance group’s Adlabs in the form of a pavilion – apparently is going to be back. In a much bigger way, says film maker Aditya Bhattacharrya. “It’s become a movement globally, Almost any independent Indian outside of India who is making movies has become a part of it,” he says. “It’s good for the movie business.”

    The nostalgia that wells up is that of Tom Hanks charming one and all even as the da Vici Code got blasted as a disaster by all,Jon Voigt mumbling in an undecipherable language,. the gorgeous Maria Belluci, the maverick outlook of Wong kar Wai, the applause that Babel, Volver, Pan’s Labrynth, received, among many other classy movies which were presented at the festival.

    From the Indian perspective there is the victory of animatrix Gitanjali Rao who won a couple of awards being the sole Indian flag bearer. She in her way charmed one and all by her grace and dignity at the film mart. Then there was this group of French girls who came up to this writer pleading to meet with Karan Johar and Shah rukh Khan. The former was there they were told, the latter would not be coming. But did they meet him? Then there was the Omkara book launch, the Jagmohan Mundra’s Provoked, WEG India’s Avinash Jumaani’s lavish party near the old port, Sunil Doshi’s screening of Mixed Doubles in the Palais, the Film Producer Guild party which had more Indians than the overseas trade which is what it was meant to attract.

    In its 60th year, India’s entertainment barons have an opportunity to set things right. And leave no stone unturned while attempting to do it.

    Below is a snapshot of Cannes Film Fest 2006

    Films in competition

    * L’Amico di famiglia – Paolo Sorrentino
    * Babel – Alejandro González Iñárritu
    * Crónica De Una Fuga – Israel Adrián Caetano
    * Il caimano – Nanni Moretti
    * Iklimler – Nuri Bilge Ceylan
    * Fast Food Nation – Richard Linklater
    * Flandres – Bruno Dumont
    * Indigènes – Rachid Bouchareb
    * Juventude Em Marcha (Colossal Youth) – Pedro Costa
    * El Laberinto del Fauno – Guillermo del Toro
    * Laitakaupungin valot – Aki Kaurismäki
    * Marie-Antoinette – Sofia Coppola
    * Quand j’étais chanteur – Xavier Giannoli
    * La raison du plus faible – Lucas Belvaux
    * Red Road – Andrea Arnold
    * Selon Charlie – Nicole Garcia
    * Southland Tales – Richard Kelly
    * Summer Palace – Lou Ye
    * Volver – Pedro Almodóvar
    * The Wind That Shakes the Barley – Ken Loach

    Films out of Competition

    * The Da Vinci Code, by Ron Howard (Opening Film)
    * Transylvania,by Tony Gatlif (Closing Film)
    * United 93, by Paul Greengrass
    * X-Men: The Last Stand, by Brett Ratner
    * Over the Hedge, by Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
    * Election 2 (aka Triad Election ), by Johnnie To
    * Clerks II, by Kevin Smith
    * Silk, by Su Chao-pin
    * Shortbus, by John Cameron Mitchell
    * An Inconvenient Truth, by Davis Guggenheim
    * Boffo! Tinseltown’s Bombs and Blockbusters, by Bill Couturie
    * Volevo Solo Vivere, by Mimmo Calopresti
    * Bamako, by Abderrahmane Sissako
    * Ici Najac, a vous la terre, by Jean-Henri Meunier
    * Avida, by Benoit Delepine
    * El-Banate Dol (aka These Girls ), by Tahani Rached
    * Zidane, A 21st Century Portrait, by Philippe Parreno ,Douglas Gordon
    * Nouvelle Chance, by Anne Fontaine
    * The House Is Burning, by Holger Ernst
    * Chlopiec na galopujacym koniu (aka The Boy on the Galloping Horse ), by Adam Guzinski

    Un Certain Regard

    * 977 – Nikolay Khomeriki
    * A Scanner Darkly – Richard Linklater
    * Bihisht Faqat Baroi Murdagon – Djamshed Usmonov
    * Bled Number One – Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
    * Cum Mi-am Petrecut Sfarsitul Lumii – Catalin Mitulescu
    * El Violin – Francisco Vargas Quevdeo
    * Gwaï wik – Oxide Pang & Danny Pang
    * Hamaca Paraguaya – Paz Encina
    * Il Regista Di Matrimoni – Marco Belloccio
    * La Californie – Jacques Fieschi
    * La Tourneuse de pages – Denis Dercourt
    * Luxury Car – Chao Wang
    * Meurtrieres – Patrick Grandperret
    * Paris, je t’aime – Gurinder Chadha, Bruno Podalydès, Gus van Sant, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas, Christopher Doyle, Isabel Coixet, Suwa Nobuhiro, Sylvain Chomet, Alfonso Cuarón, Olivier Assayas, Oliver Schmitz, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Wes Craven, Tom Tykwer, Gérard Depardieu, Frédéric Auburtin, Alexander Payne
    * Salvador – Manuel Huerga
    * Serambi – Garin Nugroho, Tonny Trimarsanto, Viva Westi, Lianto Luseno
    * Suburban Mayhem – Paul Goldman
    * Taxidermia – György Pálfi
    * Ten Canoes – Rolf de Heer
    * The Unforgiven – Jong-bin Yoon
    * 2:37 – Murali K. Thalluri
    * Uro – Stefan Faldbakken
    * You Am I – Kristijonas Vildziunas
    * Z Odzysku – Slawomir Fabicki

    Winners

    * Palme d’Or (Won by Ken Loach for The Wind That Shakes the Barley)
    * Grand Prix (Won by Bruno Dumont for Flandres)
    * Prix de la mise en scène (Won by Alejandro González Iñárritu director of Babel)
    * Prix du Jury (Won by Andrea Arnold for Red Road)
    * Prix du scénario (Won by Pedro Almodovar for Volver)
    * Prix d’interprétation féminine du Festival de Cannes (Won by the cast of Volver including Penelope Cruz)
    * Prix d’interprétation masculine du Festival de Cannes (Won by the cast of Indigènes)
    * Prix un certain regard (Won by Chao Wang for Luxury Car).

  • Star looks to give mobile users a Plus experience

    Star looks to give mobile users a Plus experience

    MUMBAI: In an effort to tap into the burgeoning mobile sphere, Star India is launching the platform Plus by the end of February.

    Star is hoping this initiative will help users go beyond using the mobile for text and voice. It is being positioned as a solution for consumers to catch up on television, sports, movies, shop and bank on the go.

    Speaking on this, Star Mobile Entertainment senior VP Viren Popli says, “The mobile service is a particularly valuable tool for those who do not have access to the net. They can access the digital world. You do not need to change your phone. You need GPRS to download the application for free. There will be a monthly fee of around Rs 2 for the content. Of course ringtone downloads or purchases will be billed separately.

    “Once a user downloads the application he will see nine buttons. These are TV, Sports, Music, Movie, Lifestyle, Community, Downloads, Info Services and Help. TV has a TV guide. We also offer mobisodes of our shows. This is basically a summary of the episode that has just aired. You can also get wallpapers. As far as information services are concerned we have a few partners. For banking we have tied up with HDFC. It allows you to access your account, ask for a cheque book.”

    Popli adds that in the travel, segment there are two partners – Travelguru and makemytrip.com. One can buy tickets and make hotel reservations. Star has also tied up with Infomedia for the Yellow Pages service. Here you can search for phone numbers. For astrology there is a tie-up with Dinesha Speaks. The sports section has a news desk for cricket, hockey, golf, tennis etc. One can also get ball by ball updates.

    In the movies section one gets clips, news and reviews. For music the firm has tied up with Universal Music. One can get information on new releases, classics etc. One can listen to clips before deciding whether or not to make a purchase. Popli adds that as of now five to 10 per cent of mobile phones in India have GPRS. Hopefully in two years time with services like this launching 30-40 per cent of phones will have GPRS.

    He says that the service took six to seven months to set up. One criteria was that the user should not have to change his/her phone. Also the interface needed to be easy to use. Right now the interface is in English but Star is looking at making it available in other languages as well. Going forward Plus’ aim will be to add to the depth and breadth of the services it offers.

    For instance, in TV in the future one might get other channels’ schedules and have clips from there besides the Star bouquet. That is one reason why Popli says the name Plus was given to the service to separate it from the Star brand name. The firm is also examining the possibility on introducing mobile blogs, mail as time goes on.

    In the Lifestyle section one can get information on cars courtesy a tie up with Overdrive. Then there is a tie-up with T3 for gadget news. Computing information comes courtesy Chip. Design tips will be provided by Better Interiors. Fans of audio can learn what is happening thanks to a tie up with AV Max. If one wants to buy a car for example one can put in a price range and then see what is available. A review will be there and then one can ask for a test drive.

    The Community section will offer Midnight Chat on Channel [V] as well as shopping. One can also blog here.

  • Mobile entertainment market could hit $ 77 billion by 2011

    Mobile entertainment market could hit $ 77 billion by 2011

    MUMBAI: Juniper Research predicts that the mobile entertainment market is set for a new era of rapid growth as 3G environments become more commonplace, applications built for mobile predominate and more users in the mass market exploit the mobile phone as a multifunctional communications and entertainment device.

    The value of the mobile entertainment market, including music, games, TV, sports and infotainment, gambling and adult content is forecast to increase from $17.3 billion in 2006 to nearly $77 billion by 2011, driven by mobile TV, video rich applications and a buoyant Asian market. This may be rapid growth but there are still a number of barriers.

    Juniper Research Mobile Entertainment Series principal author commented,” The face of mobile entertainment is expected to change significantly over the next five years as next generation mobile services continue to be rolled out around the globe and take up steadily increases. As 3G services become commonplace, sophisticated mobile entertainment products and services can reach the mass market and provide the sort of anywhere anytime entertainment that has been predicted for some time, but not really delivered.”

    However, he added a note of caution, “Whilst the potential to generate dramatically increased revenues is certainly there, many uncertainties affecting sections of the market still exist and could put a break on growth – the development of legislative environments for mobile gambling and adult content, and the success of broadcast mobile TV trials currently underway or planned, are just two examples.”

    Dramatic changes in service delivery are forecast, but some aspects of market structure will not change. The Asia Pacific region currently provides the largest market for Mobile Entertainment services and contributes over 40% of global revenues. Despite more rapid growth in North America and in developing markets, the Asia Pacific region is forecast to retain its leadership through to 2011, when it will still contribute 37% of global revenues.

  • ‘B’cast pros will benefit from tec choices at Expo’ : AS Guin – Engineer-in-chief at AIR and president, BES

    ‘B’cast pros will benefit from tec choices at Expo’ : AS Guin – Engineer-in-chief at AIR and president, BES

    The NGO Broadcast Engineers Society is holding its 13th Expo this year from February 1 to February 3 at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. It is a much larger exposition this year, and with the government setting the cut-off date for digitalisation, will showcase technology options. Possibly the most socially significant technology presented will be the low-band community radio system, supported by Unesco.

     

    Indiantelevision.com’s Sujit Chakraborty met AS Guin, engineer-in-chief at AIR and president, BES, to find out what’s on offer this year.

     

    Excerpts:

    The BES Expo is just a few days away. What are the new things expected this year?

    There are many changes in respect to last year. The participation has grown manifold and instead of the earlier venue of Hotel Taj Palace, as in 2006, this year we have to shift to a much larger arena, the Pragati Maidan, which gives us 20 per cent additional space.

    In terms of revenue, what is BES’ business model?

    Here too, there will be a 20 per cent rise in receipts. There will be 16 new companies who will take part for the first time. BES depends mainly on revenue from the exhibitions and membership. We have 1,600 members across the country, and we expect the number to grow further next year. We have to cut some of the costs, but then we also plan to start an educational programme, which will be no-loss, no-profit.

    What are the major technological windows that you wish to open this time?

    The biggest is of course the community radio solutions and mobile TV and radio. These would be most important in terms of both business and community service, with local NGOs being able to broadcast on their own radio, with all the support of AIR experts. Even our retired engineering staff is willing to offer their services free to persons willing to set up local channels.

     

    As I told you, we have 1,600 members across the country and they give us a tremendous outreach to help spread the low-band community radio movement. We are very excited about this programme, which will be a prime exhibit this year.

    Who all are supporting this event?

    The event is supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting , Government of India, and endorsed by International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers and also by Prasar Bharati, Asian Broadcasting Union, UNESCO, IGNOU and Department of Information Technology, Government of India.

     

    UNESCO is going to showcase its low-cost technological innovations and is with us at BES EXPO 2007, and will push forward the community radio programme. They are going to present suitcase radio, hand-wound sets (which need no battery or electricity to run) solar-powered FM transmitters, and other radio equipment compatible with Indian conditions.

     

    They will also set up in their stall a community multi-media centre, including radio, internet, and content networking programme, with live content programming.

    Many private sportscasters have announced their mobile programmes and one is running already, but these show snaps only. So how is your system going to be different?

    No, ours will be a full streaming. This will not be clips. In fact, this will completely shift prime time to office time, with people seeing DD or hearing AIR news and programmes on their way to office. These will not be clips, but as you see or hear news.
    ‘New technology will always remain in the public domain, because of the sheer scale of operational costs, which the private sector would find very difficult to match‘

    Is this Prasar Bharati’s own technology?

    There is technology available in Europe and the US. The latter is using the MediaFlo. technology and Europe is using DVB-H. MediaFlo is a proprietary system, while DVB-H is an open system. An expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recommended DVB-H .With Secretary level approval a final decision is still awaited.

    What are the technical and operational differences in the two?

    DVB-H is IP-based and an open platform, where as MediaFlo has proprietary elements MediaFlo has less channel switching time than DVB-H. Both employ battery-saving techniques. They have different encoding and modulation schemes.

    What is the delay, and how long would it take?

    The proposal has been sent to the Planning Commission, which will study it and will have to sanction money. This could take eight to 10 months.

    What will be the outcome of the event?

    Broadcast professionals will be highly benefited in enhancing their knowledge about emerging broadcast technologies and also have a look and feel of new broadcast equipment systems in the exhibition. It will help the broadcast planners to choose viable and right technologies for their digitalisation plans.

    You have said that AIR and DD will turn digital during the 11th Plan. What is the cost you are looking at?

    For AIR, we have asked for something like Rs 5,900 crore and for DD another Rs 6,000 crore. But these are very large sums of money and chances are we might not get it all during the 11th Plan itself. But even if we get something like half of this, we could go digital and AIR could have seven digital channels. The output would be almost FM quality.

    Would these channels be available on the normal radio sets we use today?

    No, that technology is not available so far and even in the west, it is very costly, about $80 for a digital radio handset.New technology will always remain in the public domain, because of the sheer scale of operational costs, which the private sector would find very difficult to match.

     

    This will completely take away perhaps the only joy of millions of poor Indians who are totally dependent on AIR for news and entertainment, besides the public services as on health and agricultural advice. Well, the decision to go digital, across the world, has been taken, so this will have to happen. In any case the cut-off date set by the government for transition from analogue to digital is 2015. But then, as demand goes up, the prices will come down. A normal radio handset now costs Rs 200, and these sets will cost something like Rs 500, at the most, with cheaper technology coming in. But do remember that the audience will have a choice of seven channels.

    Any other benefits on offer for this costly technology?

    Interactive broadcasts and a number of value-added services will be possible. Well, one of the most important things will be the pro-active role AIR will get to play in disaster management. We will introduce a system all across the channels on the coastal belts, which will be integrated with the early warning systems. Thus, whenever an early warning is triggered off the computer linkage with the radio stations will ensure that the channel would automatically switch over to transmitting the warning, with the ongoing programme switched off. Once the warning has been issued, the radio station would switch over to the normal ongoing programme. This will give a huge lead time for people to evacuate.

    How do you see prices coming down?

    Take the example of DTH. When it started the companies were asking for Rs 5,000 per dish, but we are now giving our DTH, DD Direct Plus at Rs 1,200. So this depends on two things, content and demand.

    Who are you looking to as technical collaborators?

    You see, the US has HD radio, and Korea uses DMB but that’s mostly for TV. China uses DRM technology for external services. We have spoken with China about DRM .It has shown a keen interest and once the two countries collaborate, the prices of receivers would dramatically come down. China would have to collaborate to set up factories in India, because if we have to import, prices would be very high.

    What are the network plans?

    The digitalisation process would start with all the studios. It would be the Short Wave transmissions that would go digital first. Each state capital would have one Short Wave transmitter and there will be three transmission complexes with five transmitters per complex for national digital radio coverage. These complexes will be suitably located., Each complex will transmit five digital channels across the country, including regional language channels. This will mean that these channels will be accessible across the country. So, a Bengali in Mumbai would not have a problem if he wishes to hear All India Radio Kolkata.

    Being a public broadcaster, how do you think the private players would match your line of thinking?

    Interestingly, I think that introduction of new technology will always remain in the public domain, due to the sheer scale of operations and costs that private enterprise would find it difficult to match. This is a Plan expenditure with government support. Only after it is introduced in the country will public private participation happen. For example, the private players have invested a huge amount in Phase 1 and 2 of FM, which is in the analogue mode. AIR is proposing digital FM in the near future, using DRM+, or DAB or HD Radio technology. But forget replacing the existing transmitters, even initial investment will not be easy for the private entrepreneurs, unless the receivers for digital broadcasting become low cost and catch the imagination of the public.
  • B.A.G declares Q3 net profit up 33% at Rs 12 million

    B.A.G declares Q3 net profit up 33% at Rs 12 million

    MUMBAI: Anurradha Prasad’s B.A.G Films today announced its financial results for the quarter ended 31 December 2006. Net profit was up 33 per cent at Rs 12 million while revenues were up 20 per cent to Rs 109 million.

    The company has a presence in the programming, films and new media business segments, besides running a media school.
    During the quarter, B.A.G launched two new shows – Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se on Star Plus and Yeh Vaada Raha on ARY Channel, Dubai.

    B.A.G’s movies report card was quite disappointing though with “Zindaggi Rocks”, starring Sushmita Sen, and directed by Tanuja Chandra, proving a monumental flop. The company also released Punjabi film “Mannat” during the quarter.

  • News Corp takes 5% stake in web video firm Roo

    News Corp takes 5% stake in web video firm Roo

    MUMBAI: News Corp is buying a stake in Australian web video firm Roo. Ruper Murdoch’s media conglomerate is initially taking a five per cent stake, which can go up to 10 per cent if certain predetermined revenue targets are achieved.

    Roo currently manages online global video content distribution and content syndication across many of News Corp’s properties including The Times of London, and The Australian and has content syndication partnerships with FOX News Channel and Sky News.

    “We are excited to be working with News Corporation to further harness the enormous opportunity of online video across its global network of prestigious media brands,” says Roo chairman and CEO Robert Petty.

    The deal with News Corp comes less than a week after Roo, currently valued at $75 million, announced the acquisition of MyVideoDaily, a Web destination and software company.

    The reported $1.35m acquisition provides Roo with a proven search engine marketing strategy that introduces new users to the company’s portals and desktop applications.