ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Star appoints David Butorac as president, Platforms

    Star appoints David Butorac as president, Platforms

    MUMBAI: Star has appointed David Butorac as its president, Platforms. Butorac will report to Star CEO Michelle Guthrie.

    In this newly created role, Butorac will be responsible for developing opportunities in platform businesses across Asia to enhance the delivery of Star’s content to the consumer. He will also work to strengthen the operations of Star’s joint venture platforms, especially in light of the recent launch of the Tata Sky satellite service in India.

    Commenting on the appointment, Guthrie said, “As we continue to drive more quality content to more people across Asia, the distribution platform side of our business has become increasingly important to the success of our future growth. The need for someone of David’s calibre became apparent. David’s pay-TV experience in Asia, as well as with News Corporation platforms Foxtel and BSkyB, gives him credentials that are unmatched, and we feel very fortunate to have attracted him to Star.”

    Butorac said, “With diverse services and businesses that span Asia and beyond, Star is a unique media company, and I am very excited to come on board and work with Michelle as well as with the rest of Star’s talented team. With a lot of growth still to come in the region, I look very much forward to playing a part in Star’s further development, particularly with its platform businesses.”

    Butorac will join Star in November, upon the completion of his current duties as Group COO, Astro Asia Allnetworks Plc.

    Butorac, 44, has vast experience in the field of broadcasting. Prior to joining Astro as COO in 2002, he worked for 14 years at British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) where he held a series of positions, including head of Operations, BSkyB, from 1992 to 1995 and Station Manager from 1995 to 2002. While on temporary reassignment from BSkyB, he served as Operations director for the launch of Foxtel in Australia in 1995 and undertook consultant roles for other News Corporation broadcast companies. Prior to 1989, Butorac worked in television news broadcasting in Australia and the UK, states an official release.

  • Fireworks Productions set to launch ‘CID’ comic book

    Fireworks Productions set to launch ‘CID’ comic book

    MUMBAI: At a time when the germ of an idea of Munnabhai MBBS comics hits the news pages, Fireworks Productions’ CID, after ruling Sony Entertainment Television for nine years, is already set to hit the news stands. CID’s timeless characters will shortly come alive on the comic books as well.

    Characters ACP Pradyuman (Shivaji Satam), senior inspector Abhijeet (Aditya Shrivastav), inspector Daya (Dayanand Shetty), inspector Fredricks (Dinesh Phadnis), forensic doctor Dr Niyati (Shweta Kawatra) among others, will now be comic characters as welll, states an official release.

    Says BP Singh of Fireworks, “CID Comics will be released in a 44-page all-colour format, with an international standard packaging. “This is a show that glorifies our police force. And this move is another step in the direction of our unsung heroes, who live in stress to let us live in peace.”

    “We met everyone from the makers to the market, and everyone was excited with the idea of CID comic books.

    That encouraged us a lot as the show is still going strong on-air,” explains Fireworks Productions business head Yash Patnaik.

  • MySpace to sell music to fans

    MySpace to sell music to fans

    MUMBAI: News Corp is looking to rival the success Apple has had with its online iTunes music store. The US media conglomerate is said to be looking to use its social networking site MySpace will let bands sell songs straight to fans.

    Media reports state by the end of the year, MySpace plans to allow bands that have yet to sign contracts with record labels to sell music on the site. The service will be managed by Snocap, a digital licensing company started by Napster founder Shawn Fanning.

    Artists can choose the tracks they want to sell, set the price for those tracks, and protect them with finger-printing technology. Bands upload music to Snocap’s registry. Snocap checks it against a digital database to make sure that it’s original and not, say, a copy of Madonna’s Like a Prayer, and then feeds musicians a string of code that can be placed anywhere within a MySpace profile. The digital storefronts will be available to all MySpace users by yearend.

    Unlike iTunes, where all tracks are 99 cents, musicians set their own prices. MySpace and Snocap say that they will take a cut just large enough to cover the costs of the materials. The artists will get most of the money.

  • IMG calls for review of key provisions in the Broadcast Bill

    IMG calls for review of key provisions in the Broadcast Bill

    MUMBAI: Indian Media Group (IMG), the organisation representing Indian media companies in television broadcasting, radio and print media sector, has submitted its recommendations on the proposed Broadcast Services Regulation Bill, 2006. In its proposal, the organisation has asked the government to review certain provisions in the Bill, which it thought needed a “thorough review.”

    “The proposed legislation contains various provisions, which are not only in the public interest but also in the interest of the broadcasting sector as a whole and would definitely trigger off the process of growth and development in the sector in an organised manner. However, there are certain other provisions, which need a thorough review before they are introduced in the form of Bill,” IMG said.

    Pointing out that the interest of various stakeholders is going to be directly affected by these provisions, IMG suggested that after the receipt of inputs /comments from the stakeholders, a detailed consultative process be carried out by the government with various stakeholders by way of meetings and open house discussions before finalisation of formal view in this regard.
    These are the key issues IMG has raised and its comments on the respective provisions:
    LEGISLATIVE VALIDATION:

    IMG asked for effective legislative backing that has been acting as an impediment to the effective implementation of various guidelines and policies. “Accordingly, it would be mandatory for the Broadcasting Organisations and all other stakeholders to discharge their prescribed obligations in such policies / guidelines in public interest. This would not only bring order in the sector but also provide an opportunity to the Broadcasting Sector to grow and develop in a focused manner,” it said.

    Expressing its concern on the post-Bill validity of the various regulations and tariff orders for regulating the broadcasting and cable sector Trai has issued till now, IMG suggested that a suitable provision in this regard should be incorporated in the proposed Broadcasting Bill so that these regulations and tariff orders continue to operate and apply even after the promulgation of this Bill.

    IMG has also said that, the proviso in the Bill which provides exemption to the pubcaster (Doordarshan) or such category of broadcasters from all or any provisions of this Act is inequitable and unfair and needs to be reviewed. “All the provisions of the proposed Broadcasting Bill including content code needs to be applied to Prasar Bharti/Doordarshan as well. Doordarshan is competing with other channels like any other commercial broadcasting organisation,” it said.

    PERIOD OF LICENSE:

    On the validity period of various broadcast-related licenses the government issued such as DTH, teleport and uplinking licenses for 10 years, IMG suggested that the Broadcasting Services license should also be granted at least for a period of five years. ” It is submitted that for the violation of the terms and conditions of the license the necessary powers have already been conferred on BRAI (the proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India) / Licensing Authority to suspend, cancel, revoke the license by following prescribed procedure under the Act. It is therefore, suggested that the validity period of license may please be prescribed as five years instead of one year,” IMG said in its proposal.

    IMG brings it into notice that the Act’s illustrative list of broadcasting services definitions does not contain two already established mode of Broadcasting Network Service as well as content Broadcasting Service viz. IPTV & HITS (Headend in the Sky).

    “In IPTV the content is delivered through cables / optical fibres and as such the channel delivery is akin to the delivery through traditional cable service. The attention is particularly invited to Section 2 (i) of the Bill which defines “Cable Television Network”. The IPTV squarely falls within the said definition. Accordingly, the IPTV services warrant inclusion under Broadcasting Network Service and IPTV service providers are also obliged to comply with the applicable provisions of the Broadcasting Bill including prescribed Content Code. HITS is an internationally recognised and most widely used digital mode of delivery of channels. In the Indian context, HITS is the most cost effective way of implementing digitalisation throughout the country at one stroke. It is therefore, suggested that both IPTV & HITS be included in section 2 (f) as well as section 2 (p),” IMG said.

    On the mention on the definition of Multi System Operators (MSO) in the proposed Bill, IMG said that the definition had been confined to any person who provides cable television service to multiple subscribers. “In section 2 (ss) a subscriber has been defined to mean a person who receives the services at a place indicated by him without further transmitting it to any other person. It may be pointed out that a Multi System Operator (MSO) also provides services to cable operators. It is therefore suggested that in the said definition suitable amendment be carried out so as to include the provision of service to cable operators also.” IMG also suggested that a suitable amendment may be carried out so as to include categories such as hotels/hospitals/guest houses and other similar institutions who obtain the signals for the benefit of their customers, members etc. in the definition of ‘Subscriber’.

    PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING OBLIGATIONS:
    IMG has suggested that the obligation to carry socially relevant programme, for up to 10 per cent of the commercial time, may be left at the discretion of the channels with the additional choice to the channels to fulfil this requirement of 10 per cent time for socially relevant programmes, either as part of its commercial time or as part of its programming content.

    “This would give required flexibility to the broadcasters to adjust their available advertisement time as well as programming interse without compromising the overall obligation of devoting 10 per cent of the telecast time every week towards social messaging and public service programme. IMG is of the view that in this competitive business environment parting with 10% of commercial airtime every week shall have adverse financial impact on the revenues of all the channels, especially free-to-air channels whose main source of revenue is advertisement only,” IMG said

    COMPULSORY TRANSMISSION OF PUBLIC BROADCASTERS’ CHANNELS:

    “It is submitted that in view of severe capacity constraint in the analogue cable distribution, it is inequitable to allow the Prasar Bharti to have the privilege of prime band frequencies and other frequencies on cable network to the detriment of other Indian broadcasters. We are of the view that a level playing field must be created in the broadcasting sector and the privileges and benefits conferred upon Prasar Bharti needs to be reviewed. More so, when cable is a means available to satellite broadcasters for airing, unlike Doordarshan which in addition has the monopoly of terrestrial broadcasting. It is submitted that there are about 250-300 channels available over Indian sky. All the private channels being barred for terrestrial transmission are carried by the satellite, unlike Prasar Bharati. Nowhere in the world the terrestrial transmission is the monopoly of State Broadcaster. Even BBC has sold its terrestrial transmission rights some 10 years ago,” opines IMG on the issue of the compulsory transmisison of public broadcasters’ channels.

    IMG states that a blanket authorisation given to Prasar Bharti under Sub-section 3 of Section 7 to prescribe/notify the additional number and name of Doordarshan channels to be carried on prime and other bands by cable operators in the cable services is unfair and inequitable and is also quite contrary to the accepted principles of propriety. “The very broadcaster whose channels are required to be compulsorily carried has been given the power to notify such channels for re-transmission, which is totally unacceptable. These provisions need to be deleted. Either Brai or any other authority may be empowered to specify the channel (s) of national importance which are required to be compulsorily carried by cable operators and also their respective bands and frequencies. Such stipulation be made on after consulting all the stakeholders in a transparent manner”.

    MANDATORY SHARING OF CERTAIN SPORTS BROADCAST SIGNALS

    IMG pointed out that, there is no provision in the proposed Section regarding requirement of conclusion of commercial contract between the right holder and the Public Broadcaster. “It may be appreciated that broadcaster acquire rights of major sporting events by spending huge amount of money and therefore it is imperative that they should be given the freedom to secure their financial revenues in order to meet the cost of procuring such rights. It is open for the Public Broadcaster also to compete with the private broadcasters by way of participating in the bid process for acquisition of such sporting rights. Accordingly the conclusion of a commercial contract is a pre-requisite for sharing such signals with the Public Broadcaster.”

    IMG also expressed its concern over the stipulation that the right holders shall have to share live broadcast signals without its advertisement. “This is also clearly prejudicial to the event right holder who has invested huge amount of money to procure such rights. Accordingly it should be the prerogative of right holder, that in order to secure subscription and advertisement revenues, whether it shares the live feed or `slightly delayed feed’ with the Public Broadcaster. Similarly the issue of advertisement in the feed also needs to be sorted out through commercial arrangement to be arrived at between right holders and the Public Broadcaster.”

    IMG has suggested that suitable amendment be carried out in Section 6 of the Bill as the stipulation to provide rights to Public Broadcaster without any commercial arrangement, which have been acquired by a broadcaster for a valuable consideration, is clearly arbitrary, unfair and inequitable.

    ESTABLISHMENT OF BROADCASTING REGULATORY AUTHORITY:

    IMG has welcomed the institution of a Broadcast Regulator “in as much as an effective Regulator protects the consumer interest and also protects the industry in question from arbitrariness and interference of the Government of the day.” However it insisted that the Regulator must be autonomous, and independent of the executive.

    APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSONS & MEMBERS:

    IMG has expressed its concern that the powers and functions enumerated in this section clearly imply that it is not the Brai but the Government, which will actually be controlling the industry. “The power to prescribe policy guidelines, power to refuse or revoke licenses, regulating the power to prescribe the norms to evaluate and certify the content code clearly indicate that the government will be the de-facto Authority since it would be able to control the entire industry through the officers appointed by it. This is quite contrary to the view expressed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgement in the case of “Cricket Association of West Bengal vs. secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.” it points out.

    Listing various international examples in this context, . IMG suggested that it should be obligatory upon central government to consult Brai before formulating and prescribing any policy in the broadcasting sector. “This would ensure that the Regulator with inputs from all stakeholders, would also effectively contribute in the formulation of policies for the growth and development of broadcasting sector,” it said.

    NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIR CHANNELS:

    IMG has pointed out that, all the news and current affair channels qualify to be ‘Public Service Broadcaster” as per the definition in the Bill. “Thus, the Central Govt. is empowered to exempt news and current affair channels from all or any of the provisions of this Act. IMG would request the central government to clarify the above-mentioned intention of the proposed provisions. If it is so, the apprehension of the news and current affairs broadcasters would be allayed to a great extent,” it said.

    POWERS TO FIX TARIFFS:

    IMG also suggested that a suitable provision on the lines of section 11 sub section (2) of Trai Act may “please be incorporated in the proposed Bill” so as to enable the Authority to notify rates of Broadcasting Service / Broadcasting Network Service to effectively regulate the working of the sector.

  • The History Channel launches local initiatives to connect brand

    The History Channel launches local initiatives to connect brand

    MUMBAI: In April, The History Channel (THC) had repositioned itself as an entertainment channel while staying true to its core proposition of airing content with a historical perspective. As a step up to this strategy, the channel has embarked on India-specific initiatives.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, THC senior VP programming Joy Bhattacharya says, “We are taking an integrated approach which encompasses on air, online and on ground. On air we will be showing a special on the Mughals on 23 and 24 September at 10 pm titled Warrior Empire. The show will look at various aspects of their rule. Viewers will learn little known details like the Taj Mahal was built of bricks with only a marble façade. Later on we will be airing a show Jewel In the Crown.”

    THC is also looking at doing a series of 30 second to one minute interstitials called Timepieces which will kick off next month. “It will offer information on what happened this week in history. This will air during breaks of programmes. Each week a new interstitial will ai,” adds Bhattacharya.

    The channel plans to launch next year an initiative around the 150th anniversary of the 1857 revolt. “We are talking to parties like the imperial war museum in London. They have artefacts and documents of what transpired. It is good to see that they have an unbiased viewpoint of what happened in terms of what worked and did not work during colonisation. The channels’ weekly reach since the repositioning has risen by 29 per cent. Our share in the English entertainment genre has also doubled,” says Bhattacharya.

    The online initiative is a campaign called Save Your History. This will be a community sharing site that will allow Indians to share and collaborate on important historical happenings in their lives, which could be in the form of photos, precious documents and artifacts.

    For instance, a famous cricketer could put a photograph of his first bat or the first match that he played. The campaign is aimed at educating people on the importance of responsibility and commitment to saving one’s culture and heritage for the sake of posterity. Bhattacharya says that this is a good way to get a community involved with the brand.

    “We are trying to involve as many people as possible to create a community of history. We have approached several well known personalities as well on this. After all everybody has a history. The History channel site gets around 7000 page views a day,” adds Bhattacharya.

    The onground initiative involves a tie up with NGO, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural heritage (Intach). The organisation works towards promoting awarness of heritage and conservation. Both parties will aim at making history more relevant.

    “The first step of the initiative is a school contact programme. Screenings of THC’s shows like French Revolution,The Mughals, Rome and Crusades are being organised by Intach with its chapters, schools and colleges. In the first month, the activity will reach 6000 students. This way THC hopes that children will not look at history as being dull and boring,” says Bhattacharya.

    He also says that plans are afoot to include heritage walks, seminars and workshops. This way the channel hopes to build a brand that people can touch and feel. In terms of marketing activity to create awareness, spots will air on the channel. These initiatives, Bhattacharya says, will give viewers the feeling that the channel is programmed by and for Indians.

  • 4Kids Entertainment launch HD animated TV series ‘Chaotic’ at Mipcom

    4Kids Entertainment launch HD animated TV series ‘Chaotic’ at Mipcom

    MUMBAI: 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. has set Mipcom 2006 for the global launch of its new high-definition animated action adventure television series Chaotic. As announced by 4Kids Entertainment executive VP International Brian Lacey, the 40 half-hour episode series will be available to international buyers at this year’s market.

    4Kids has exclusive rights to represent Chaotic worldwide across broadcast, home video, music and merchandise licensing. According to Lacey, the high-definition animated kids television series will premiere on 4Kids TV in the US in late September, informs an official release.

    “Chaotic combines the best entertainment qualities of Pokémon – stories with heart and attitude that feature a collectable appeal for kids and Yu-Gi-Oh! – stories that build upon a compelling trading card game,” Lacey added.

    “Chaotic will bring kids around the globe into a multi-dimensional entertainment world – a dynamic trading card game with a high-velocity web interactive element – that serves the interests of kid viewers and the needs of broadcasters alike. A kid-identifiable cast of characters and fast-paced stories, highlighted with conflict, comedy and lots of warmth give this hi-def series the hallmarks of a kids classic. Quite simply, Chaotic breaks new ground in the kids entertainment business.”

    Chaotic transports the viewers into a world filled with fantastic creatures. Magic, suspense and adventure abound in this exciting action series. This series creatively draws upon a dynamic trading card game that elevates the level of interactivity and engagement with and between kids unequalled in an entertainment property. Each Chaotic card has its own unique code, as the codes allow players and collectors to battle and trade cards in their physical and online worlds, adds the release.

    4Kids selected Bardel Entertainment, a Vancouver-based animation company to execute the animated series in hi-def format. With over 15 years experience in animation, Bardel Entertainment’s clients include Dreamworks SKG, Warner Brothers, Fox, Nelvana and Disney Interactive among others.

    4Kids Entertainment, over the past decade has produced and launched such mega-hits as Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles among others.

  • Commemorative postage stamp on LV Prasad released

    Commemorative postage stamp on LV Prasad released

    MUMBAI: The postal department has released a commemorative postage stamp on late LV Prasad, founder of Prasad Group, in Hyderabad to acknowledge his contribution to the world of cinema. The Union Minister of State for Communications and IT, Dr Shakeel Ahmad, released the postage stamp.

    Ramesh Prasad, son of LV Prasad, thanked the Government for acknowledging his father’s contribution to Indian cinema, informs the release.

    A film on the professional life of LV Prasad was also screened on the occasion. The event was attended by noted film personalities including Kamal Haasan, DVS Raju, and Ramoji Rao, who eulogized this legend.

    LV Prasad, a Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner, is a legendary name in the history of Indian Cinema. His passion for cinema is exhibited in his films which includes memorable hits like Gruha Pravesham, Ilavelpu, Sharada, Milan, Khilona, Daadi Maa, Manohara, Missamma and Ek Duje Ke Liye to name a few.

    A man of vision, his contribution to the growth of the film industry was beyond films. He also established postproduction facilities across India under the aegis of Prasad Film Laboratories.

    Prasad’s goal of providing complete wholesome family entertainment and film related education has been carried forward by his son Ramesh Prasad by the opening of The Prasads Multiplex , IMAX Theatre in Hyderabad and LV Prasad Film & TV Academy in Chennai.

    Today, the Prasad Group started by LV Prasad is 50 years old and has facilities and offices in India, Singapore, Dubai and Hollywood.

  • Zee TV’s ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhan’ breaks into Tam top 100

    Zee TV’s ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhan’ breaks into Tam top 100

    MUMBAI: Zee TV has kicked off its pre-Diwali campaign on a confident note with its brand new prime time property Banoo Main Teri Dulhaan (8 pm) establishing its presence in the Tam (CS4+ C&S-Hindi Speaking Markets) top 100 list.

    Another key property Saregama Lil Champs has also improved its position in the line up as per the latest data.

    As per the Tam data for week 35 (27 August to 2 September), Banoo Main Teri Dulhaan delivered an above 2 TVR (average) performance on 28, 29, 30 and 31 August. The best performance came on 31 August, when the soap was positioned in the 62 spot with a rating of 3.57 TVR. On 29 August came the next best score – 3.06 TVR, followed by a 2.79 TVR performance on 28 August and a 2.69 TVR performance on 30 August. The soap, launched on 14 August, had recorded an average rating of 1.9 TVR in the opening week.

    “Banoo Main Teri Dulhaan is showing good signs of becoming another hot property for Zee TV. The soap has improved its performance really well over the period, thanks to the extremely strong and innovative content. We are expecting much better results in the coming weeks. In Banoo Main…, we have tried to portray how an uneducated girl fights life’s adverse situations with so much grit and determination,” states Zee TV marketing head Tarun Mehra.

    Saregama Lil Champs is positioned in the 23rd spot in the top 100 with a score of 5.72 TVR on 1 September. This was followed by a 5.12 TVR performance on 31 August. Mehra expects the show to deliver even better ratings as it has entered the final phase now. “Lil Champs has entered the interactivity round and even the audience is involved in selecting the winners. Hence we expect the show to better its performance in the coming weeks,” he says.

    The top drivers of Zee TV, Saath Phere and Kasamh Se, continue to deliver good ratings for the channel as per the data. Saat Phere leads the 9:30 pm slot with 6.55 TVR (recorded on 1 September). Karam Apna Apna, which Star Plus launched to counter Saath Phere, has recorded its week’s best rating of 6.25 TVR on 29 August.

    Meanwhile, the 9 pm Zee soap Kasamh Se is positioned ahead of its Star Plus counterpart Prithviraj Chauhan as per the latest Tam data. The scorecard reads 6.16 TVR (Kasamah Se 30 August) versus 5.59 TVR (Prithviraj Chauhan 28 August).

    The pre-Diwali phase will also see Zee TV celebrating its 14th anniversary on 2 October. To spice up the occasion, the channel has announced a marketing campaign-contest Jeeto Zee Bhar Ke. The contest, which promises jewellery worth Rs 1.4 million for a mere Rs 14, is also aimed at promoting the channel’s prime time properties.

    The participant has to guess a secret five digit code to win the prize. The channel will endeavor to reward the viewer while at the same time also integrate the contest with programming content. Hence Zee TV will be giving out the clues to crack the secret code. Every week starting 18 September, the prime time soap characters Bani (Kasamh Se, 9.00 pm), followed by Saloni (Saath Phere, 9.30 pm) in week II and Vidya (Dulhann, 8.00 pm) in week III, will the viewer a number that will be a part of the five digits. Every week one winner, from amongst those who have guessed the code, will be able to buy Eros Jewellery worth Rs 14 Lacs for Rs 14 only, the release further adds.

    “This is our way of gratifying those people, who have been with us for long. We have integrated marketing and programming aspects into the campaign,” says Mehra.

  • Warner, Nokia sign mobile content agreement

    Warner, Nokia sign mobile content agreement

    MUMBAI: Mobile firm Nokia and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution have announced an agreement.

    Content based on Warner brands will be made available for consumer downloads through the Nokia Content Discoverer client. This feature is embedded in millions of Nokia devices currently available in markets around the globe.

    The multi-country agreement will create a dedicated Warner Bros. mobile content ‘storefront’ available to consumers through the device-resident Nokia Content Discoverer client, part of Nokia’s complete mobile content ecosystem. Compatible with leading Nokia handsets based on S60 and Series 40, Nokia Content Discoverer is embedded as an on-device portal in more than 20 Nokia handset models, comprising millions of devices currently in the marketplace through leading mobile operators and retail outlets worldwide.

    At service launch, mobile subscribers in select European and Asian countries will be able to explore the dedicated Warner Bros. Entertainment channel and discover images, tones, games and video clips. The consumer offer brings together premium and promotional content from Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, DC Comics and the films Superman Returns, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, V for Vendetta, Dukes of Hazzard and Batman Begins.

    Nokia’s global developer programme Forum Nokia director, business development and channels Brad Brockhaug, says “This agreement represents a key addition to our Nokia Content Discoverer program, providing Nokia customers with a convenient and familiar place to shop for the world’s most popular entertainment content.

    “Nokia Content Discoverer is part of a content ecosystem designed to improve access to mobile content downloads for millions of subscribers. These consumers now will be able to personalize their mobile devices with their favorite Warner Bros. content.”

    Nokia Content Discoverer facilitates easy access to downloadable content by mobile subscribers through a collection of shopping mall “stores” run by branded content providers, leading content aggregators and mobile service providers. Operators are able to build their own branded mobile shopping mall, with better positioning of content and the presence of the operator’s brand on the device, generating higher adoption. Consumers’ experience of content shopping is greatly enhanced through Nokia Content Discoverer’s advanced on-device caching of content catalog metadata which allows free browsing of the content stores in the mobile mall, as well as automatic content updates, integrated preview/prelisten and proficient content installation capabilities.

    Nokia Content Discoverer is currently embedded in select S60 and Series 40 devices available in the global marketplace, including the Nseries multimedia devices (Nokia N70, N71, N72, N73, N80 and N93), Eseries devices for enterprise users (Nokia E50, E60, E61 and E70), Nokia 5500, and Nokia 3250 handsets currently available in mainland China and on Nokia 6131 devices in China and other Asia-Pacific markets. Nokia Content Discoverer is expected to be in the hands of over 20 million consumers worldwide by the end of the year.

  • News Corp, VeriSign to form global mobile entertainment firm

    News Corp, VeriSign to form global mobile entertainment firm

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate News Corp and VeriSign have announced a joint venture to form what they claim is world’s largest provider of mobile entertainment.

    News Corp will pay $188 million for a controlling interest in VeriSign’s wholly-owned Jamba subsidiary and will combine it with Fox Mobile Entertainment assets. VeriSign operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable and protect interactions across voice and data networks anytime, from anywhere on multiple devices.

    The new company will merge a technologically advanced platform with mobile content production and delivery capabilities and will serve 30 territories with a potential reach of more than a billion mobile subscribers. The new company intends to retain the Jamster brand in the US and the Jamba brand worldwide.

    Former Fox Mobile Entertainment president Lucy Hood will become CEO of the joint venture. With key centers in Los Angeles and Berlin, the new entity will be the industry’s only vertically integrated mobile entertainment company with unique capabilities to produce, market, sell and distribute mobile content.

    News corp president and COO Peter Chernin says, “This is an important step in News Corp.’s strategy of becoming the world’s leading digital media company. We are the most powerful media company on the web with Fox Interactive Media, our aggressive digital content deals have given consumers access to News Corp programming on every conceivable platform and we have already demonstrated innovation in this emerging space with the Mobisode and Mobizzo.

    “Wireless technology gives us an enormous opportunity to reach billions of mobile phone users with our content. With this new venture we’re looking forward to inventing new and compelling ways to engage this exciting new audience.”

    VeriSign CEO Stratton Sclavos says, “We are excited to combine our unique mobile entertainment expertise and direct to consumer assets with one of the most forward-thinking media companies in the world. We look forward to working with News Corp. to create compelling, interactive services that make an impact on the next generation of wireless users”.

    Jamba was founded in 2000 and is considered a global leader in off-deck delivery of mobile entertainment. The company currently delivers content in 30 territories and has one of the industry’s most advanced technology platforms. Jamba can immediately distribute content in all of its territories, which is critically important in an industry where most of the users are young people always looking for the ‘next cool thing.’ With its cutting-edge analytic tools, Jamba has the real-time ability to track and optimise marketing, quickly reacting to consumer needs and interests in order to be able to monetize products and services.

    News Corp’s Fox Mobile Entertainment group got its start with American Idol text voting, which generated nearly 65 million text messages this past season, up from 12,000 messages in the first season in 2001. In a long list of firsts, the company also invented the Mobisodes Series category, which led with the 24: Conspiracy series, the first made-for-mobile program to be Emmy-nominated, and launched the first ad-sponsored video series Prison Break: Proof of Innocence.

    The company also launched the first media-backed cross-carrier mobile entertainment service for consumers, Mobizzo.

    The new Jamba will offer an aggregation of content from music and media companies, as well as original content created exclusively for mobile. Jamba partners include: Universal Music Group and Warner Music, among others. In addition, Jamba and Fox Mobile Studios have units that create original content ranging from the highly successful Crazy Frog, to multiple animated characters, to genres such as Manga, Activism, and X-Sports. The unit is expected to draw from not only top Fox divisions but also News Corp companies around the world.

    The new company will immediately become the largest customer for VeriSign’s Digital Content Services (DCS) group, which specialises in providing intelligent infrastructure and connectivity solutions to enable the delivery of rich content over mobile and broadband networks. Mobile operators, portals, media companies and consumer brands around the world leverage the DSC platform to power their interactive entertainment experiences. Fox’s Mobizzo unit and Jamba are existing customers of DCS.

    Under the agreement, Jamba will soon release its first products and offerings as a new entity, following the close of the transaction, including:

    MySpace Mobile Store: In an alliance with social networking site MySpace with more than 74 million users worldwide, Jamba will be MySpace’s global m-commerce partner. Jamba will build a unique m-commerce engine to enable MySpace users to download ringtones, graphics and animations from top music and media companies.

    The Simpsons Mobile: Coming soon, Jamba will exclusively offer mobile content from the series The Simpsons through the industry’s first subscription package tied to exclusive content called the Yellow Plan. Available to consumers for the first time, the “Yellow Plan” will include an array of uniquely designed Simpsons mobile content, such as wallpapers, screensavers, ringtones and video.