ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Comcast SportsNet garners 16 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award nominations

    Comcast SportsNet garners 16 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award nominations

    MUMBAI: Comcast SportsNet bagged 16 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award nominations. The awards recognise excellence in news, programming and individual achievement in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

    “I am extremely proud of everyone here at Comcast SportsNet. As a regional sports network, we are honored to be nominated for Overall Station Excellence. This nomination is a true testament to the depth and versatility that our staff, here at the network, demonstrates every day on the air and behind the scenes,” said Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia senior vice president and general manager Stephanie Smith.

    Comcast SportsNet was nominated for Overall Station Excellence, a new category as well as “SportsNite” for Outstanding Sports – Regularly Scheduled Daily or Weekly Program, which captured the honor the past two years. Comcast SportsNet also received nominations for Philadelphia 76ers game coverage in the Outstanding Live Sports Coverage/Series category as well as numerous nominations for Craft Achievement.

    The Emmy Awards will be presented on 9 September at the Mid- Atlantic Awards Gala in Philadelphia. All entries are judged outside the chapter’s region by panels of television industry peers with expertise in a given category who are working in comparable television markets across the country.

  • Sify slashes call rates to Gulf

    Sify slashes call rates to Gulf

    Mumbai, India, May 17, 2006 Sify Limited (Nasdaq: SIFY), a leader in Consumer Internet and Enterprise Services in India with global delivery capabilities announced new Internet call rates for Gulf from the Sify Talk Net phone services at iWay and Telecenters.

    The new call rates to the Gulf are priced at Rs.4.99 per minute for Riyadh and Jeddah, Rs.5.99 per minute to Kuwait, Rs 6.99 to Bahrain and Dhahran and Rs 8.99 to The UAE and the rest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Call rates to China & Russia have also been slashed to Rs4.99/min across India.

    Mr. Sushil Luniya, Vice President, Access Media, Sify Ltd said, “As pioneers in Net Telephony, our objective has been to make it affordable and give a higher quality user experience. The lower call rates are a testimony to that”.

    With these new rates, Sify now offers the most economical prices for Internet calls from India. The user experience at an iWay & Telecenter is truly world-class with an easy to use pay phone booth including billing and display mechanism.

    Sify offers International Voice services across 1700+ Sify iWay cyber cafes in India. Each cafe has an air-conditioned Net phone booth, which provides both privacy and comfort to the caller. The Sify Talk International Net phone call service user experience is one of a kind as Sify manages all calls over its MPLS based network for clarity of voice and reduced latency- at half the cost of an ISD call enabling users to now speak more often, as well as longer.

    About Sify Limited:

    Sify is among the largest Internet, network and e-Commerce services companies in India, offering end-to-end solutions with a comprehensive range of products delivered over a common Internet backbone infrastructure. This Internet backbone reaches 171 cities and towns in India. A significant part of the company’s revenue is derived from Corporate Services, which include corporate connectivity, network and communications solutions, security, network management services and hosting. A host of blue chip customers use Sify’s corporate service offerings. Consumer services include broadband home access, dial up connectivity and the iWay cyber café chain across 153 cities and towns. The company’s network services, data center operations and customer relationship management are accredited ISO 9001:2000.

    For more information about Sify, visit www.sifycorp.com.

    Forward Looking Statements:
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Sify undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements.

    For a discussion of the risks associated with Sify’s business, please see the discussion under the caption “Risks Related to Our Business” in the company’s report on Form 6-K for the quarter ended December 31, 2005 which has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is available by accessing the database maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

    For further information please contact:
    Mr. David Appasamy
    Investor Relations
    Sify Limited
    91-44-2254 0770 Ext. 2013
    Email: david_appasamy@sifycorp.com

    Mr. Fauzan Rahim
    Image Manager
    Perfect Relations – Mumbai
    Ph: 91-22- 2436 7155 / 039
    Email: frahim@perfectrealtions.com

  • ABC.com streaming trial provides Disney with consumer insights

    ABC.com streaming trial provides Disney with consumer insights

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Disney-ABC Television Group has announced key findings from its ABC.com streaming video trial.

    The two-month-long trial this year offered ad-supported, full-length episodes of Lost, Desperate Housewives, Commander in Chief and Alias. This marked the first time a channel made multiple series available for viewing online, free of charge to consumers. 10 US advertisers including AT&T, Cingular and Ford took part in the test.

    In May and June, ABC.com’s broadband player served over 5.7 million episode requests, totaling 16 million video streams. Based on survey research conducted for ABC by Frank N. Magid Associates during the trial, 79 per cent of those surveyed had a positive online viewing experience and 87 per cent responded that they were likely to recommend the site to others.

    The broadband player attracted a young, highly educated audience. The average age of users was 29, and more than half were college graduates. Users of the broadband player were almost equally split between males (47%) and females (53 per cent).

    The majority of online viewing for episodes occurred within the first 24 hours of their broadcast on ABC. Approximately two-thirds of those surveyed watched complete episodes, with partial viewing of episodes occurring mainly because viewers had already seen the episode on TV or were interrupted. The majority of users viewed from home, using a desktop computer. The number one reason given for viewing online was because users had missed the episode on TV.

    On average, 87 per cent of users surveyed were able to recall the advertiser who sponsored the episode they viewed. Those viewers embraced the interactive advertising, with over 50 per cent rating the advertising experience positively and 84 per cent believing that they were getting a great deal by being able to watch the episode online for free in exchange for watching the ads.

    Disney-ABC Television Group president Anne Sweeney says, “The launch of ABC.com’s broadband player was a huge step for us as we strategically reposition our websites from marketing tools to rich entertainment platforms. The research that has come out of the trial helped prove true several hypotheses regarding our consumers and their online viewing patterns.

    “With the data we have collected, we are better equipped to move forward with our advertisers and affiliates to create new multiplatform opportunities for our consumers.”

    Disney-ABC Television Group executive VP, digital media Albert Cheng says, “The research we gathered from this trial has been invaluable as we move forward with next phase of the broadband player. We have been extremely pleased with the consumer feedback from the trial, and are busy working on some minor adjustments to the broadband player in order to again make full episodes available to consumers this fall. When we relaunch, the basic concept of ad-supported, free to the consumer full-length episodes will return along with some added features to enhance the consumer experience.”

  • DD to be available now in Canada, US

    DD to be available now in Canada, US

    NEW DELHI: Finally pubcaster Doordarshan will be available in the US and Canada.

    Prasar Bharati, which manages DD, has said that it has entered into agreements for the distribution of DD India channel in Canada and the US.

    Briefing fellow parliamentarians, information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said earlier in the week that a similar distribution agreement for the UK is under finalization.

    In the UK, DD is negotiating to be on the News Corp-controlled BSkyB’s pay platform.

    DD India carries news bulletins, features on topical events, entertainment programmes, feature films, music and dance shows, including children programmes in some regional languages.

    Dasmunsi said that the content medley of DD India is expected to serve the interests and needs of the Indian diaspora.

    A study on the reach and impact of DD India channel in Middle-East countries is also on the anvil.

    DD, AIR INITIATIVES ON REVENUE EARNINGS

    All India Radio (AIR) is charging tower rentals (including maintenance charges) for the infrastructures being offered to private broadcasters during Phase-II FM service as part of revenue generating prospects.

    The rentals for category A+, A, B, C and D cities are Rs. 1.3 million, Rs 0.8 million, Rs 0.4 million, Rs. 0.3 million and Rs. 0.18 million respectively.

    According to the I&B minister, Doordarshan has also decided to charge a carriage fee amounting to Rs. 10 million per annum from private channels that are interested in becoming part of the bouquet of channels carried on its DD Direct Plus subscription free DTH service.

    What’s more, AIR has introduced on line computerized booking system (Central Window Booking) at its Central Sales Unit, Mumbai, which has been linked to all its 15 Commercial Broadcasting Service (CBS) centres for all advertisers and clients.

    The minister said AIR is constantly devising new programming formats to suit local audiences. Local variation components of Vividh Bharati stations on AM frequencies are being increased to augment listenership and attract more
    advertisers.

    AIR has also introduced 1:1 bonus scheme for spot booking to attract more advertisers.

    For the fiscal ended 31 March 2006, AIR generated revenues of over Rs 1oo crore.

    Doordarshan too has taken various steps with a view to increase revenues, including opening marketing divisions in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore and setting up of Development Communication Division
    for securing business and catering to the publicity requirements of various government agencies and public sector undertakings.

    Cable operators have now been given the option to download signals either in analog or digital mode to improve the transmission quality as digitalization increases.

    DD’s commercial rate card is being constantly reviewed and revised to bring it in tune with market practices and the amount of bank guarantee to be submitted by accredited agencies increased from Rs 300,000 to Rs. 25 lakhs.

    Dasmunsi also said that an empowered committee, comprising Prasar Bharati CEO and other senior members of the board have been constituted for quick decisions in commercial matters and payment behaviour is regularly
    monitored.

    For FY06 DD’s total revenue earnings were over Rs. 10 billion.

  • Nick News explores the perils, pitfalls and pratfalls of adolescence

    Nick News explores the perils, pitfalls and pratfalls of adolescence

    MUMBAI: Who can forget braces, sweaty palms and awkward school dances? Adolescence? Arrrgh! Just as tweens head into a new school year, the next installment of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: The Worst Years of My Life? Surviving Middle School, on Nickelodeon, delves into all the slings and arrows of Middle School.

    Ellerbee listens to kids, and some Middle School survivors including Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart, Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), Megan Mullally (Will & Grace), Taylor Hicks (American Idol), skateboarding star Tony Hawk, and Grammy Award-winning singers Jewel and Nelly Furtado, about that speed bump on the way to adulthood called Middle School, and what it takes to live through it.

    “Whether you call it Middle School or Junior High, it’s more than a place. It’s a time, a sometimes hilarious, often painful and always challenging time. You’re too young to be a grownup but you’re not quite a kid anymore. In this episode, we give kids on the Middle School frontline, and some well-known ex-kids, an opportunity to speak out, to remind all kids that when it comes to Middle School, you’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and this too shall pass,” said Ellerbee.

    Nick News discusses issues that kids encounter during this time: the fluctuating hormones; the realities of puberty (What is it like to be you in a brand new package?); the social insecurities (I must fit in somewhere!); the necessity of keeping up with increasingly harder school work; the pitfalls of renegotiating the relationship with your parents (They used to be so normal. When did they change?); and facing the difficult choices that no one else can make for you. The simple truth is: you’re too young for this and too old for that.

    Nick News also conducted an online poll on nicknews.com, in which kids were given the opportunity to share what they think is the hardest part of adolescence. For a majority of kids physical changes are the most difficult part of growing up with 19 per cent of respondents listing body changes as the hardest part of adolescence, followed by school work (14 per cent), fitting in (12 per cent) and romance (12 per cent). Other adolescent hardships making the list were feeling embarrassed a lot (10 per cent), peer pressure (nine per cent), parents (seven per cent), pressure to succeed (seven per cent), being comfortable with themselves (six per cent) and temptation to take risks (three per cent).

  • Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 8 broadcast satellite speeds into orbit

    Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 8 broadcast satellite speeds into orbit

    MUMBAI: The Hot Bird 8 broadcast satellite of Eutelsat Communications was successfully launched today by a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 03.48 am Baikonur time 5 August. Weighing 4.9 tonnes, Hot Bird 8 is the largest and most powerful European Ku-band broadcast satellite to go into geostationary orbit.

    In less than 10 minutes after lift-off, the three-stage Proton vehicle supplied by International Launch Services (ILS) finished its climb into space, leaving the Breeze M upper stage to continue its mission for the next nine hours. The Breeze M’s engine underwent five burns to place the EADS Space- built satellite into a transfer orbit.

    The satellite was separated this morning from the Proton launch vehicle at 06.59 GMT with signal acquisition established by Eutelsat from its Rambouillet teleport near Paris. Manoeuvres that will be conducted over the next days include full circularisation of the satellite’s orbit and deployment of the solar panels and antenna reflectors, which will be followed by a series of in-orbit tests.

    Eutelsat Communications CEO Giuliano Berretta said, “Equipped with a payload which spans the entire range of frequencies at our 13 degrees East position, Hot Bird 8 takes our inter-satellite back-up to a new level of security. We are looking forward to bringing our new broadcast satellite into commercial service in October, less than six months since Hot Bird 7A went live at 13 degrees East. My particular thanks also go to our industrial partners, EADS Space for completing this important satellite programme and ILS for executing a faultless launch for our company.”

    Hot Bird 8 will assume all broadcast traffic currently carried by the 20-transponder Hot Bird 3, which will subsequently continue commercial service at an alternative location. The new satellite’s additional capacity will contribute to raising in-orbit security at Eutelsat’s Hot Bird video neighbourhood which broadcasts 950 digital channels to over 110 million cable and satellite homes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

  • Global broadband households will more than double between 2005 and 2010: InStat

    Global broadband households will more than double between 2005 and 2010: InStat

    MUMBAI: Worldwide broadband households will more than double between 2005 and 2010, growing from about 194 million in 2005 to more than 413 million by 2010.

    Market research firm In-Stat notes that of all broadband households today, 12.8 per cent are already regularly viewing professional content via online content aggregators.

    Traditional broadcast TV networks are finally figuring out that they need to capitalise on “all this personalization stuff” or they will have deep trouble ahead.

    The Pay-TV services have realised that personalisation is the trend for the future, and they won’t be left behind while TV keeps expanding onto the Internet.

    Although online content aggregators are in the early experimentation stages of rolling out video services, they will have some dramatic revenue-generating opportunities in the next five year. The worldwide market for online content services is expected to expand by a factor of 10, growing from about 13 million households during 2005 to more than 131 million households by 2010, the high-tech market research firm says.

    In-Stat analyst Gerry Kaufhold says, “AOL, Google, Yahoo!, MSN, Apple, major broadcast TV networks, Pay-TV services and local TV stations are all working on ways to blend their video assets with personalised TV services.

    “The future of television is slowly being defined online, where the big Internet portals are finding ways to blend professional video with their high-touch services that follow consumers from screen to screen during the course of a typical day.”

    Although there has been much hype about multimedia home networks, low-cost portable storage devices that can move content throughout the home via sneakernet may win the favour of consumers because luggable media provides low-cost, high availability and convenience.

  • IOC in $72mn deal with Korean broadcaster

    IOC in $72mn deal with Korean broadcaster

    MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the Olympic broadcast rights in Korea to SBS, the privately-owned terrestrial commercial broadcaster in South Korea. SBS will have all rights on any audiovisual medium in the territory.

    The agreement, valued at $ 33 million for Vancouver 2010 and London 2012, and $ 39.5 million for the 2014 and 2016 Games, includes for the first time Olympic coverage in both North and South Korea. It also shows a significant increase of 109 per cent from the current broadcast rights agreement (2002–2008) with the Korean Pool which runs until the Olympic Games in Beijing.

    In line with the IOC’s policy to ensure maximum coverage and exposure for the Olympic Games broadcast, the agreement ensures that 250 hours of the Olympic Games and 150 hours of the Olympic Winter Games are broadcast on Korean free-to-air channels, along with an “Olympic Games’ Daily Highlights” programme, which will be shown in prime time.

    IOC president Jacques Rogge said, “This significant agreement is an excellent outcome for the IOC and for the people of Korea, who are avid Olympic Games fans. This deal ensures a broader reach and greater coverage with a dedicated and enthusiastic new broadcast partner. This deal will mark the end of our relationship with the Korea Pool. We look forward to their collaboration on the Beijing Games and thank them for their partnership in previous Games”.

    IOC executive board member Richard Carrión, who led the TV rights negotiations in Korea, said, “Korea is arguably the world’s most advanced media market in terms of broadband penetration and early adoption of new technologies. This new contract with SBS will allow the deployment of a full spectrum of new media rights as well as extending the coverage of Olympic Games into North Korea. The financial aspects are also favourable for the Olympic Movement. We are very pleased with this outcome.”

  • Punjab Government to pass anti-piracy bill in September

    Punjab Government to pass anti-piracy bill in September

    MUMBAI: The Punjab government has decided to pass a bill to prevent piracy in September. The decision was conveyed to film maker Yash Chopra, by the chief minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, post a meeting between the two.

    In the meeting, Chopra apprised the CM of the grim scenario that the industry was facing because of the threat of piracy. Captain Singh took note of the points and declared his government’s resolve to take firm steps to combat the menace.

    Chopra said, “At Yash Raj films, we regard piracy as a cancer that is afflicting the whole industry. The Indian film industry loses a whopping Rs.17 bn annually due to piracy. If not checked right away, it will cause the eventual destruction of this great industry that provides livelihood to thousands of people. And for a creative person there can be no greater tragedy than seeing his labour of love debased in poor quality reproductions where hardly 10 per cent of the creative thought comes across in the manner it was intended.”

    Yash Chopra has been at the forefront of the anti-piracy movement in the industry for a while now. Through his efforts, and otherwise, various government and regulatory bodies, have begun to take note of the dangers of piracy and have passed regulation to combat the same.

    The Tamil Nadu government passed a similar bill in 2004, and since then Yash Chopra has been in talks with the Punjab CM, and finally his efforts have borne fruit. With the Punjab government taking a similar step, the anti-piracy movement has taken a significant step forward.

    Chopra adds, “I would like to thank the government of Punjab for having taken this significant step, and would request other state governments to lend their support to the anti-piracy movement. We are always on the alert to the threat of piracy, but only with support from state and national governments can we bring about the change that is so sorely required.”

  • Delhiite Irfan Alam crowned Zee’s ‘Business Baazigar’

    Delhiite Irfan Alam crowned Zee’s ‘Business Baazigar’

    MUMBAI: “Ali, your worst fears have come true. The dark horse seems to have taken away the top prize,” said Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra giving his characteristic side glance to Ali Ismail, who was till then a hot favourite for the Business Baazigar title.

    Then, moving on, he dropped the bombshell with his final declaration. “Irfan Alam from Delhi is the Business Baazigar.”

    At a colourful ceremony held at the Taj Presidency, in south Mumbai’s swank Cuffe Parade area, Zee Telefilms thus came up with the winner of the country’s first ever business reality show, Business Baazigar. After more than two hours of intense drama, the reversal of fortunes saw Irfan Alam, the wild card entrant into the finals, stealing the show. Irfan snatched the top prize from the other two finalists Puneet from Chandigarh and Ali Ismail from Mumbai in a closely fought contest marked that road an emotional rollercoaster.

    The jury, in a surprising turn of events, offered one of the Mini Baazigar winners – Irfan Alam, the opportunity to compete for the grand Business Baazigar title and win full funding for his idea. The condition for this entry was that he would forfeit his Mini Baazigar winnings of Rs 2 million. As they say, fortune favours the brave (in this case the one with the most self belief). Irfan took the chance and emerged the winner.

    The dramatic decision of the jury to name Irfan as the Business Baazigar came as a complete surprise to the audience who had voted for Puneet (47 per cent) and Ali (30 per cent) over Irfan (23 per cent).

    According to an official Zee spokesperson, Zee will provide the full funding to the business idea put forth by Irfan. Meanwhile, Puneet and Ali will be receiving partial funding. The finale episode will be telecast on 12 August at 8 pm.

    Irfan, who was earlier voted out of the show, had gone on to win a Mini Baazigar project – which Zee offered to the best ousted contestants – with his idea to systematise the working of cycle rickshaws in Delhi by bringing them under one roof, raise their standards of living and simultaneously provide the public a better, more efficient transport system. He plans to generate revenues from providing value added services and using the rickshaws as mobile advertising media. His innovative project and the confidence he displayed to score an initial victory with the project impressed the judges and got him a wild card entry into the finals.
    Speaking on the culmination of his pet project, Chandra revealed Zee’s plans to launch a second season of Business Baazigar. “We want to make the show even better in our next attempt. This time we received about 200,000 entries and in the next edition we expect about million entries. We want suggestions from all the business leaders to make the show even more vibrant in our next edition.”

    Felicitating the winners on behalf of sponsor Aditya Birla Group, Rajashree Birla pointed out that the show fitted very well with Aditya Birla Group’s vision. “Business Baazigar really went along with our social vision of reaching out to people and tapping their entrepreneurial potential,” said Birla.

    Zee TV business head Punit Goenka said, “We are glad to announce India’s first Business Baazigar, after several months of hard work undergoing gruelling tasks. Irfan has proved worthy to be Business Baazigar. This show is an exceptional one that has intense reality drama, besides the unique concept. Business Baazigar again attempts to bring life to a commendable business idea. We are glad to have Aditya Birla Group as our partners in this noble venture of supporting a deserving business idea.”

    The grand event had as its guest of honour Union minister of commerce & industry Kamal Nath. The event was attended by the who’s who from Mumbai’s business community consisting of names such as aviation minister Prafful Patel, former I&B minister Ravishankar Prasad, Vijaypath Singhania, Mukul Kasliwal, Kishore Biyani, Shashi Ruia, Naresh Goel and Ramesh Agarwal. Among the media bigwigs present were Madison Communications CMD Sam Balsara, Lodestar Universe CEO Shashi Sinha, FCB Ulka MD Anil Kapoor and Euro RSCG CEO Ishaan Raina.