ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • ABU Digital Radio Convention to focus on complete digital transition

    ABU Digital Radio Convention to focus on complete digital transition

    MUMBAI: The second edition of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Digital Radio Convention will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 14 to 17 August.

    The speakers at the convention will speak to radio broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific region on when to make the complete digital transition.

    The speakers lined-up for the convention include: KBS-BTRT director Shinil Chung, Factum Electronics / WorldDAB Forum MD Kenneth Lundgren, Broadcast Systems, STRL, NHK principal research engineer Koichiro Imamura, International Broadcast Business Development Ibiquity Digital Corp director Perry Priestley, Broadcast Electronics Chuck Kelly, AMP Radio GM Michael Blackburn, Dalet director of marketing Nicolas Hans and NPR Labs VP CTO and executive director Mike Starling.

    The four day convention and workshops not only provide updates on digital radio developments, but concentrates on the implementation and application issues – the myriad of decisions on business factors, content production facilities, transmission standards/systems, receiver developments, consumer take-up and switch-over issues.

    According to an official release, around 40 experts from Asia and around the world will contribute to the event by way of presentations, panel discussions and facilitating the in-depth, interactive workshops.

    Sponsors and exhibitors of the ABU Digital Radio Convention brings in big names, which include: principal sponsor Harris; AMP, Broadcast Electronics, Broadcast Australia, iBiquity Digital Corporation, Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia AG, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), Commercial Radio Australia, THL Australia Pty Limited, Go-Mobile Pte Ltd, WorldSpace, VT Communications, Klotz Digital, Digital Integrated System Sdn Bhd (DIS), on and DMB.

    “We are delighted to be supporting this major convention which keeps broadcasters in tune with the developments in digital radio,” says Harris Broadcast Communications director, Radio Products & Strategy Rich Redmond.

    “The ABU Digital Radio Convention is the key venue for broadcasters, manufacturers and others who want the full picture of the region’s burgeoning digital future. DRM is excited to play an active role in this year’s convention, and we look forward to meeting the participants in Kuala Lumpur. The ABU is a long-time member of the DRM consortium, and we are proud of its leadership in promoting digital solutions to its own members,” Deutsche Welle director and DRM chairman Peter Senger adds.

    “An increasing number of radio broadcasters in the region are embracing the transition to digital transmission. This convention will provide an excellent platform for broadcasters and industry players to network and understand the business issues as well as new technical developments. We would particularly like to address those issues that seem to be holding up the wide scale adoption of digital radio technologies in the Asia-Pacific,” points out ABU secretary general David Astley.

  • Ficci bats for TV industry, seeks convergence norms review

    Ficci bats for TV industry, seeks convergence norms review

    NEW DELHI: Rationalisation of FDI caps in television distribution and news and non-news content, easing of policies and regulation for uplinking of channels and framing of cross-media ownership rules are some key elements that Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has suggested to give a fillip to the Indian TV industry.

    According to a Ficci submission to the government-sponsored think-tank on economic policies, Planning Commission, for inclusion in the 11th Plan Approach Paper, the TV sector currently lacks a consistent and uniform media policy for foreign investment. Some of the inconsistencies include different investment caps in foreign direct investment (FDI) in various segments.

    For instance, in television distribution (DTH) 49 per cent foreign investment is allowed with strategic FDI capped at 20 per cent. In cable, 49 per cent foreign investment is allowed, while in news content (TV and print) 26 FDI is allowed. In radio, 20 per cent foreign investment is permitted presently.

    Ficci has pointed out that convergence of technologies, services and markets is the emerging paradigm around which the communication industry is centered. Advancement of technology has blurred the line between telecom, broadcasting services and networks and under such a scenario there are urgent needs to review policies governing this sector.

    For example, Ficci has said, any regulation change must take into account emerging techs like IPTV, broadband and spectrum allocation for both broadcasting and telecom services.

    “It should be the aim of regulation to facilitate fair competition between players, competing platforms and multiple technologies in the carriage segment letting the markets decide the technology and platforms of choice,” Ficci said in a statement, adding similar suggestions have been made by broadcast and telecom regulator too.

    Ficci has noted that the content side is independent of carriage and should be largely self-regulated.

    In its submission to the Planning Commission, Ficci has suggested conversion to digitalization should be mandatory with clear time frame defined for transition to digital.

    Fiscal incentives such as waiver of service and entertainment tax and income tax holiday could be provided to operators for transition to a digital regime.

    At the same time, Ficci has criticized price regulation for digital cable providers, plugging for its discontinuation.

    Pointing out that presently India does not have a national digital policy or plan, Ficci has said existing regulatory and policy framework for the cable industry is quite inadequate in dealing with issues like digitalization, which will increase consumer choice and help in overcoming bandwidth limitations.

    Interestingly, the apex chamber of commerce has said that licensing process should be made stringent to filter out non serious players through insistence on companies’ net worth, proper declaration of subscriber base and area of operation.

    It has been pointed out that the government should look at establishing India as an uplinking (of satellite channels) hub by easing the existing policies/regulations for uplinking of channels and setting up teleports/hubs.

    A liberal FDI regime, which allows greater control over uplinking infrastructure, could attract foreign players to India, Ficci has said, pointing out that Singapore allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of uplink infrastructure of licensee companies, apart from having a tax-friendly environment.

    Surprisingly in a muted tone, Ficci has brought up the issue of cross-media ownership, which is rocking the media industry presently.

    Considering no public draft has been evolved as yet relating to cross-media ownership, absence of any draft rules or an established time frame for evolution of such rules hampers long-term investment strategy of a potential foreign investor, Ficci has noted.

  • Podcasting in the US gaining momentum

    Podcasting in the US gaining momentum

    MUMBAI: More than six per cent of American adultsor about nine million web users, have downloaded podcasts in the past month, according to The Economics of Podcasting, a report released by Nielsen Analytics.

    In a first quarter 2006 study, conducted by Nielsen Analytics at Nielsen Entertainment Television testing facilities in Las Vegas, more than 1700 participants were surveyed on their podcasting usage. About six per cent of
    respondents described themselves as regular podcast downloaders — more than 75 per cent of whom were male. The findings show that a significant percentage, approximately 38%, of active podcast downloaders say they are
    listening to radio less often.

    Nielsen Analytics GM, senior VP Larry Gerbrandt says, “The incredible popularity of podcasting is the latest demonstration of consumers’ willingness to take control of their media experiences. While essentially still in nascent form, podcasts offer free audio and video content that is inexpensive to create, easy to access and on a portable platform that has already reached mass distribution. This
    exciting new medium has only just begun to stretch its legs.”

    The Economics of Podcasting is the latest in a series of reports from Nielsen Analytics on the “uber-media consumers” who lead the media industry in terms of trends and technology.

    Key findings include

    * The most successful podcasts are garnering as many as two million downloads a month, enabling them to attract mainstream advertising. An example — Dixie Paper Company now sponsors the Mommycast Podcast Series starring Gretchen Vogelzang and Paige Heninger.

    * Overall, 60 per cent of respondents surveyed said they ‘always’ fast forward past commercials in their podcasts. Women were more likely to fast forward than men, with 67% saying they always fast forward.

    * Given the ability to skip commercials, advertisers are already devising more effective means to reach consumers, such as embedding their messages within the program content or having podcast hosts endorse their products and services.

    * The survey found that the average length of the podcasts being listened to was 44 minutes. This may change with the growing popularity of video podcasts, which generally tend to be shorter.

    * 72 per cent of respondents who regularly download podcasts say that they download an average of one to three podcasts per week. About 10 per cent of all podcast downloaders could be characterized as “heavy users”, downloading eight or more podcasts a week.

    The Business of Podcasting

    Among key findings of The Economics of Podcasting are that podcasts differ from other forms of online media delivery, such as conventional streaming and downloading. Like their largely text-based counterparts —
    blogs — podcasts are being adapted by a broad range of businesses and organizations.
    Among the various users:

    * Cable and broadcast networks are converting episodes of some of their linear programs into cost-effective, short audio and video podcasts to serve as previews and promotions.

    * Movie studios are exploring the potential of podcasting to market films and DVDs, such as a recent podcast promoting Paramount’s Nacho Libre that features its star, Jack Black.

    * Financial service firms, such as McDonald Investments and The Motley Fool, offer free podcasts on a variety of finance-related subjects.

    * The online travel agency, Orbitz, offers audio descriptions of travel destinations as a marketing tool.

    * With laptops and portable media players as ubiquitous on college campuses as textbooks, professors are making their lectures and class
    notes available as podcasts.

    Measuring Podcast Usage
    The findings of this study also point to the importance of measuring podcast usage, so advertisers and the media industry will have a
    comprehensive picture of who is using this innovative digital multimedia content.

    Gerbrandt adds, “For podcasting to reach its full potential, we will have to find the best ways to keep track of its audiences. That means
    developing accurate and comprehensive metrics that will allow podcast producers, distributors and advertisers to answer questions like: ‘Who are we reaching?’ ‘With what kinds of content?’ ‘When and how often?’”

    To that end, Nielsen Media Research, as part of its recently announced Anywhere Anytime Media Measurement (A2M2) initiative, is launching several projects that will explore how best to collect and measure podcasting data.

    The first project, to be launched this fall, will measure a panel of 400 iPod users by utilizing a software application that can be downloaded onto a PC and interface with iTunes software.

    Each time an iPod is connected to a computer to sync with iTunes, Nielsen will record all
    content accessed, and will provide detailed usage information. Starting in the second half of 2007, Nielsen also will begin testing
    its “Solo Meters” for portable media devices. The new meters will track audio and video usage on mobile platforms, whether users connect via BlueTooth(R) technology or a wired headset.

  • Discovery US enhances its online news service

    Discovery US enhances its online news service

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Discovery has enhanced its Discovery News service to include daily video webcasts, featuring breaking news in areas of increasing concern for consumers

    As the first major feature of these video webcasts, Discovery News has broken a story from Montana, where Jack Horner, renowned paleontologist and chief curator of the Museum of the Rockies discovered the fossil of a baby triceratops skull, only the sixth ever found. 

    Horner says, “Over the years people have been out here in the Hell Creek formation collecting dinosaurs and almost all that’s been collected are adults. The best thing about this little triceratops is that it is actually a baby. This is probably one of the best baby triceratops skulls
    ever found.” Horner says that the baby triceratops discovery is significant as younger
    fossils can answer many questions about the growth and development of triceratops

    The broadcaster says that the discovery reflects the type of subjects to be explored on the new
    Discovery News webcast. The news service will provide consumers fast, in-depth and relevant information in the areas of science, nature, health, travel, all things about planet earth and current affairs.

    Discovery senior executive VP for strategy and development Don Baer says, “Expanding Discovery News into broadband video taps into the public’s confidence in our ability to bring them trusted and timely factual information about some of the most important topics in the world.

    “To have landed an exclusive story of the magnitude of Jack Horner’s find, and right in the sweet spot of our core DNA of content
    strength demonstrates Discovery’s ability to cover breaking real-world news
    while expanding ways consumers count on Discovery to bring them the whole
    world.”

    Discovery News Broadband and Narrowband Features Updated daily with original short-form video that is searchable for consumers at any time, Discovery News says that it offers cutting-edge perspective and commentary from multiple video sources. The company is tapping an in-house development and editorial team.

    It has also announced an agreement for video
    content from Associated Press Television News. Other news organisation partnerships, as well as the cultivation of new journalists and
    personalities, will be announced in the coming weeks. Stories running on the video player include a segment on the recent flooding of the
    National Archives and the road to reopening its doors.

    In conjunction with the launch of the daily video news webcast, Discovery says that it has has more than doubled the amount of coverage of text-based news on its narrowband site discoverychannelnews.com, which now features 10 genre-specific subject pages across the company’s core content areas.

    Stories currently on the Discovery News text website that reflect topics of particular interest to Discovery viewers include a report on a new study related to global warming and a piece about a species of shark in danger of
    extinction, among many others.

  • Puerto Rico’s Zuleyka Rivera triumphs on Miss Universe

    Puerto Rico’s Zuleyka Rivera triumphs on Miss Universe

    MUMBAI: Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico has triumphed in the Miss Universe 2006 competition. In India the show aired on Star World early this morning at 6:30 am.

    The 18-year-old delegate from Puerto Rico was crowned at the conclusion of the 55th edition of the show. Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell and actor/singer Carlos Ponce (7th Heaven), hosted the show from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

    Miss Universe 2006 was chosen by an international judging panel which included the television drama Las Vegas star James Lesure; NBC’s latest winner from the business based reality show The Apprentice Sean Yazbeck and television writer/creator Marc Cherry Desperate Housewives.

    Singer Chelo performed his new song Cha Cha during the show and 28-year-old opera-sensation Vittorio Grigolo performed selections from his debut album In The Hands Of Love. Throughout the two-hour event, the delegates competed in three categories; swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

  • Parliament television channel ‘Lok Sabha TV’ launched

    Parliament television channel ‘Lok Sabha TV’ launched

    MUMBAI: Lok Sabha Television (LSTV), a dedicated satellite channel to telecast live proceedings of Lok Sabha or Lower House of Parliament and air programmes on important public issues, hit the airwaves today.

    LSTV will function as a 24-hour channel, telecasting programmes of national interest when the Parliament is not in session.

    In addition to the live telecast of Parliament proceedings, the programming line up of LSTV comprises a series of live and recorded programmes. The channel will offer a mix of panel discussions and educational and informative programmes.

    To start with, LSTV will have programmes such as Today’s Agenda, Party Stand, Awaaz Aap Ki / Street Talk, Sansad Se Sadak Tak, Village Voice / Gram Sabha, Know Your MP, Review by the Chair, and The Issue this Week. Viewers, who have missed the day’s live action, can catch up with the developments through House Highlights, scheduled for 7:30 pm and 11 pm.

    The channel also promises to offer cultural programmes such as music and dance, plays especially staged for LSTV, fortnightly film and more.

    According to media reports, LSTV has been launched on an initial investment of about Rs 80 million for hardware and the annual recurring expenditure will fall in the range of Rs 120-150 million. The channel expects to meet the operational expense through advertising, which is initially open to public sector units only.

    The channel is being supervised by former information and broadcasting secretary Bhaskar Ghose, who got a mandate from Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee some months back to do a feasibility report on TV channels dedicated to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (Upper House).

    What is not clear at this moment is, whether such dedicated parliament TV channels cannibalise advertising revenue from pubcaster Doordarshan, which depends heavily on public sector undertakings for advertising support.

  • Rupert Murdoch plans to divide wealth equally between children

    Rupert Murdoch plans to divide wealth equally between children

    MUMBAI: Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has said that he plans to divide his wealth equally among his six children. In an interviw on US broadcaster CBS’ Charlie Rose Show he added that if he died tomorrow, his four elder children would decide who among them would control the family trust’s 30% control of the media conglomerate. Murdoch has also said that his two younger children through his third marriage to Wendi Deng will not have a role in the future of News Corp.

    This reports indicate settles confusion over who will take over the reins once Murdoch steps down. It was this confusion that led to a fight that saw Lachlan Murdoch quitting the company last year. The four children from Murdoch’s first two marriages Prudence, Lachlan, Elizabeth and James will control the family’s controlling stake in News Corp once he dies.

    “If I go under a bus tomorrow, it will be the four of them will have to decide which of the ones should lead them,” he said.

  • NBC to air Madonna tour in November

    NBC to air Madonna tour in November

    MUMBAI: NBC will airMadonna: The Confessions Tour Live.

    This is a two-hour special and will air in November 2006.The special will be taped this summer at Wembley Stadium in London, UK during the pop icon’s worldwide sold-out 25-city Confessions Tour and marks the first time that NBC will air a concert of Madonna.

    NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says, “Madonna is one of the greatest artists of our time and never fails to generate excitement. We think this is going to be a big event for television.”

    The concert special will feature songs from the artist’s recent multi-platinum Warner Bros. Records release “Confessions On A Dance Floor,” which debuted at No. 1 in 29 countries and has sold over eight million copies around the globe. The broadcast will also include some of Madonna’s greatest hits from her career.

    The broadcaster has also struck a deal for the sitcom Nobody’s Watching. The pilot episode has been downloaded 600,000 times on youtube. The show’s concept centers on Derek and Will, two young television addicts from Ohio who are frustrated with the dreadful state of television programming.

    As a result, they decide to become the subjects of a reality show when a major network gives them the opportunity to create their own sitcom. Unaware that the network executives are manipulating and recording their every word and move, the two continue their crusade to develop what they hope will be great television.

    The pilot for the series had been lying virtually dormant since last eyar until it became available on www.youtube.com several weeks ago. It attracted a good fan base.

  • Two students stand Taller, Stronger and Sharper to represent Mumbai at the Horlicks Wiz Team National Finals

    Two students stand Taller, Stronger and Sharper to represent Mumbai at the Horlicks Wiz Team National Finals

    Mumbai, July 24, 2006: Horlicks, the only Health Drink in India that has been proven to make kids Taller, Stronger and Sharper returned to Mumbai with its highly successful and India’s largest inter school festival, Horlicks Wiz Kids 2006 and Horlicks Wiz Team city finals. The city finals culminated in great excitement with two students emerging as the winners who will form the Horlicks Wiz team 2006 from Mumbai and will represent the city in the national finals in November 2006. Bigger than ever before, in its third successive year, the event received participation from more than 2,00,000 students from over 1500 schools and was held at Bhaidas Hall, near Mithibai College, Mumbai

    Horlicks Wiz Kids 2006 by ACTIVITY provided an enjoyable and enriching platform for students to encourage participation and team spirit through a variety of competitions on diverse subjects such as literature, art, singing, dramatics and others. The Horlicks Wiz Kids inter school festival helps students develop the ability and confidence to express their views and talents and not restrict themselves to only academics.

    Talent activity comprising of Style Act, Short Play, Fusion Group Dance and Group Melody gives students the confidence to perform in front of a live audience and showcase their talents. Under Vocal activity, competitions such as Quiz, Hindi Antakshari, Extempore, Speaker of the Year and Air Crash enables students to be quick and attentive, sharpen memory skills and encourage them to express themselves through speech and music. Students learn how to be creative and convey their thoughts and opinions through Literary activity which includes English Creative Essay Writing, State Language Essay writing and Calligraphy. Art activity involves Painting, Pencil Sketching, Greeting Card Making, Pot Making, Collage and Mehndi Design to bring out the innovative and creative talents in every student. Competitions related to Creative activity such as Little Cook, Flower arrangement, Still Photography allows students freedom to experiment with their creativity. Drawing and Fancy Dress competition at the Kids activity and some competitions at the Informal activity such as Face Painting, The Search and Crossword encourage students to start young and perform in an informal atmosphere.

    Horlicks Wiz Teams 2006 is a unique personality and talent search for students who epitomise the Horlicks Generation: Taller, Stronger and Smarter. The winners of the Horlicks Wiz Team 2006 in Mumbai were chosen following an elaborate evaluation procedure. The students were judged on their performance in three rounds: the written elimination round, the interview round and a final selection round on the main stage comprising of the talent round, the versatility round and the judges’ question round. Students were evaluated on their overall personality, stage presence, confidence, self-awareness, communication and interpersonal skills, critical thinking, creativity, decision-making and problem solving ability, stress management and emotional quotient. The two students will now compete against 48 students from 24 other cities at the grand finale.

    “Horlicks Wiz Kids and Horlicks Wiz Team enhance each student’s ability to stand tall, to be sharp and to be strong in all aspects of development, creating a Taller, Stronger, Sharper generation which has the ability to keep pace with the changing world. Horlicks Wiz Kids encourages and provides students with a healthy environment of participation and self improvement,” commented Mr Subhajit Sen, Vice President, Marketing, Glaxo SmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

  • Manorama News launch deferred to 17 August

    Manorama News launch deferred to 17 August

    MUMBAI: Print major Malayala Manorama’s television venture Manorama News is now looking for an August launch. According to channel sources, the news channel will be unveiled on 17 August. The channel was earlier targeting a mid-July launch.

    Malayala Manorama is launching Manorama News under the banner of its recently launched television initiative MM TV. The channel is headed by Anil George in the capacity of chief operating officer. Manorama News will be headquartered in Aroor, near Kochi, where the company has set up its news studio. Two smaller studios have been set up in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode as well.

    Manorama News will be locking horns with the existing Malayalam news channels Asianet News (Asianet), Indiavision and People TV (Kairali TV). The total market offers an advertising pie of Rs 2 billion and the news channels command approximately 25 per cent (on the upper side) of the total ad pie, according to industry estimates.