ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Yahoo joins forces with Telemundo for new website

    Yahoo joins forces with Telemundo for new website

    MUMBAI: Yahoo Inc. has partnered with Telemundo to form a co-branded web site, Yahoo Telemundo. Its content primarily targets the growing U.S. Hispanic audience. This new website, will replace Spanish-language internet portals previously operated by both companies.

    Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will merge staff and share advertising revenue, but neither will make any equity investment in the other. However, the details of the profit split were not disclosed.

    According to NBC Universal COO Randy Falco, “This merger provides us with an excellent platform to position Telemundo for the future.”

    Yahoo Telemundo will include content from Telemundo programming including sports, music and entertainment, directed towards Hispanics through Spanish-language, bilingual and English-language content sections.

    The companies are banking on higher advertising revenue from the merger to allow advertisers to extend their reach to the estimated 11.5 million Hispanic population in the United States.

    However, Spanish-language versions of Yahoo’s online service that cater to international markets will not be cobranded, Yahoo said.

    “This partnership is a natural evolution of the larger strategy Telemundo and its digital media team have been developing during the last eight months, a strategy that is strongly anchored on providing relevant original programming to the U.S. Hispanic consumers through multiple platforms,” said Telemundo president Don Browne. “We looked for a partner with superior audience reach, a respected brand, excellent technology and a shared vision of where the business is going. Yahoo! definitely represents all these.”

    A unit of NBC Universal Television Group, Telemundo Communications Group Inc. is a Spanish-language television network that reaches 93 percent of U.S. Hispanic households in 142 markets through its 16 owned-and-operated stations, 36 broadcast affiliates and nearly 684 cable affiliates.

  • Worldspace satellite radio to launch in Italy

    Worldspace satellite radio to launch in Italy

    BANGALORE: Worldspace satellite radio announced that WorldSpace Italia S.p.A. has received approval from the Italian ministry of communications to launch a subscription satellite radio service in Italy.

    With this authorization, the ministry has granted WorldSpace Italia the right to provide a subscription-based satellite radio and data service to consumers in Italy, and to use the frequency band 1479.5-1492 MHz for the operation of the corresponding hybrid satellite/terrestrial network.

    WorldSpace Italia anticipates launching the satellite digital radio and data service to portable and vehicular devices in 2007, using one satellite already in orbit, and a terrestrial gap-filler network to be rolled out in all major cities throughout Italy.

    WorldSpace Italia S.p.A. is a majority-owned subsidiary of Worldspace’s European holding company, Viatis Satellite Radio. WorldSpace Italia’s other partner is New Satellite Radio S.r.l., an Italian company whose primary shareholder is Class Editori S.p.A., an Italian financial, media and broadcast corporation based in Milan.

    According to an official release, New Satellite Radio, which holds a 35 per cent interest in WorldSpace Italia, has been instrumental in obtaining the Italian regulatory authorization and is expected to play an integral role in operational execution of the service in Italy, including distribution arrangements, such as OEM partnerships, content supply and acquisition and marketing.

    WorldSpace Italia intends to start rolling out this complementary network as soon as its installation plan, currently under finalization, is approved by the Ministry. At the service’s maturity, subscribers in Italy will have access to approximately 50 channels of diversified sports, talk and commercial-free music programming, the release adds.

    “We are very pleased to receive these authorizations from the Italian Ministry of Communications for the launch of our service,” says WorldSpace, Inc. chairman & CEO Noah Samara. “We look forward to working closely with our partner, New Satellite Radio S.r.l., to implement our service and establish a new generation of WorldSpace subscribers across Italy. Italy is an attractive market for us. Our research shows it to be one of the two top markets for satellite radio in Europe.”

    According to Samara, the strategy has been to roll out a European service on a sequential, country-by-country basis. “Our goal was to obtain our first terrestrial authorization in one country in 2006. We have accomplished this in Italy, which we consider to be the best near-term market for a mobile satellite radio service. We will continue to seek similar approvals in the rest of Europe to achieve our goal of a pan-European satellite radio service.”

    “We welcome the opportunity to partner with WorldSpace at this exciting time for satellite radio in Italy,” says CEO and director of New Satellite Radio S.r.L. and board member of Class Editori S.p.A. Luca Panerai. “We are confident that coupling Class Editori’s extensive Italian media experience and broadcast capabilities with WorldSpace’s technology and unique platform offerings will provide a first-of-its kind listener experience in Italy. The authorization also paves the way for the Italian car manufacturing industry to be the first in Europe to provide digital satellite radio service.”

    Italy’s population is more than 58 million and nearly two-thirds of these are within the target age demographic for satellite radio service.

  • Zoom, Reliance in interactive deal for Glam Awards

    Zoom, Reliance in interactive deal for Glam Awards

    MUMBAI: Lifestyle and glamour channel Zooms goes interactive. In a unique tie-up with Reliance, Zoom’s first Glam Awards can be viewed by subscribers of Reliance World.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on the initiative, Zoom’s national head, marketing and sales, MK Anand said, “The Glam Awards is a signature event showcasing that glam in India has finally arrived. Interactive Marketing has always been high on Zoom’s agenda, and the tie-up with Reliance is yet another achievment on that front.

    “In the first phase of this tie- up, we had partnered with Reliance for a contest prior to the Glam Awards where subscribers voted for the ‘Best Glam Music Video’. They could download the full music videos selected in this category and vote for the best video. The winner in this contest was a special invitee to the Glam Awards, held recently in Mumbai. Details of the contest were aired on Zoom. Now, in the second phase, we are sharing content for the ‘Curtain Raiser’ and the ‘Glam Awards’ will be telecast on Zoom on 14 May at 9 00 pm.”

    Zoom is the first entertainment channel that will now be included in the Reliance Mobile TV bouquet. So far the only channels who have been in the bouquet have been news channels Aaj Tak, NDTV, CNBC and Times Now.

    Saying that for Reliance, this was a WAP tie up for its subscribers, Anand adds,”We are essentially targeting the upwardly mobile viewers, the imagery that can be downloaded is targeted to the youth from 15 to 34 years who also constitute our target audience. There is, therefore, a lot of synergy with Reliance.”

    “We are redefining the marketing activities by going beyond just print, online and ground initiatives for the Glam Awards. Glamour is also about high technology so this is a step in that direction. The time lag between the airing of the Awards on 14 May and being able to download the special clips it on the cell is just a few minutes,” says Anand.

    The first Glam Awards can be viewed by 5 million subscribers of Reliance World. Whether it is Kareena thanking her “best friend’ on stage or John and Bipasha’s very evident real life chemistry at the awards – it will now be accessible to the Reliance world customers. Snippets such as memorable moments, terrific performances and acceptance speeches will be content that Reliance users can avail.

    The first annual Zoom Glam Awards were held in Mumbai on 30 April.

  • Zee expands South presence with Zee Kannada launch

    Zee expands South presence with Zee Kannada launch

    BANGALORE: Zee Group launched its much anticipated Kannada channel Zee Kannada on 11 May. The 24-hour channel hit the airwaves at 5 am.

    In an official release, Zee South said the new channel was slated to capture the needs, moods, sentiments and aspirations of Kannadigas. Zee Kannada is the second south Indian language channel that Zee is launching after Zee Telugu, which was launched in May 2005.

    Says ZTL director Punit Goenka, “It’s a real delight to be in Bangalore, Zee Kannada is a tribute to the spirit of “Kannadigas”. As Karnataka happens to be the gateway of South India, it will be our constant endeavor to make it the most admired channel in South. We promise to deliver you best service and quality programs throughout our transmission and aspire to be the number one Kannada channel within an year.”

    Zee was seen promoting the launch through outdoor advertising and direct contact programs with viewers across Karnataka. Kannadigara Kanmani will be the tagline for Zee Kannada.

    Speaking on the initiative, Zee South channels head Ajay Kumar offers, “The Southern region has always been our priority. Launch of Zee Kannada is in continuance with our Zee South initiative. This is the first time in the television history that a channel, whose programs are fine tuned as per the viewer’s feedback, is launched.”

    Zee Kannada business head Venkat Giridhar adds, “Zee Kannada is a dream come true for us .We are highly grateful to the viewers across Karnataka whose feedback has been of immense help in deciding on the content and quality of our programmes. We are sure that our people of Karnataka will be proud to see the channel of their choice.”

  • Comcast and CareerBuilder.com launch new job search channel on Comcast.net

    Comcast and CareerBuilder.com launch new job search channel on Comcast.net

    MUMBAI: Comcast and CareerBuilder.com have teamed together to launch a comprehensive online Jobs Channel on Comcast.net. CareerBuilder.com is the exclusive content provider for the Comcast.net Jobs Channel, which now connects the nation’s largest broadband customer base to the nation’s largest online jobs database.

    Comcast’s more than nine million broadband customers can now enjoy easy and immediate access to more than one million CareerBuilder.com job postings, plus online career services and tools. Users can go to Comcast.net and click on “Jobs” to enjoy this quick, convenient access.

    Comcast.net, Comcast’s broadband portal, provides 24/7 access to the latest sports, entertainment, music, news/reviews, and communication tools. CareerBuilder.com offers comprehensive job search experience, spanning national and local positions, niche industries, and newspaper partnerships.

    “Comcast combines top speeds, a reliable network, and best-in-class content and applications to provide our customers the best broadband experience. We are pleased to add even more value to our service by launching the new Comcast.net Jobs Channel with CareerBuilder.com,” said Comcast senior vice president of internet product development Charlie Herrin.

    “We are pleased to join forces with Comcast, the nation’s largest broadband provider. The new Comcast.net Jobs Channel offers a valuable resource for employers looking to reach a vast audience of potential employees. Along with the added exposure for the jobs posted on CareerBuilder.com, millions of Comcast broadband customers now have convenient access to a complete online recruitment resource,” said CareerBuilder.com CEO Matt Ferguson.

    The site enables job seekers to locate jobs in virtually every industry, field and job type, post up to five different versions of their resume, and get expert career advice. International positions and Spanish language search options are also available. CareerBuilder.com also features a Recommended Jobs page, which automatically lists positions that match users’ resumes and search behavior to quickly pinpoint the right opportunities. Users can also sign up for regular email alerts on new, relevant listings.

  • TiVo in deal with Brightcove to offer Web TV

    TiVo in deal with Brightcove to offer Web TV

    MUMBAI: Digital video recording (DVR) pioneer TiVo Inc. is joining hands with online video service provider Brightcove to deliver web-based programming to TiVo’s broadband television boxes. This will enable TiVo users to record internet-based videos from Brightcove’s content partners.

    Initially, all content will be offered for free to TiVo subscribers and advertising will be carried within the content.

    Brightcove’s technology gives producers the solution to create online videos and then syndicate them through Brightcove’s distribution channels, of which TiVo has become the latest.

    Brightcove also has a deal with Time Warner Inc. to start distributing videos this summer on AOL’s Web portal.

  • Qualcomm, BSkyB to conduct MediaFLO Technology trial in UK

    Qualcomm, BSkyB to conduct MediaFLO Technology trial in UK

    MUMBAI: Qualcomm Incorporated and British Sky Broadcasting Limited (BSkyB) today announced that the companies have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to conduct technical trials of Qualcomm’s MediaFLO technology in the United Kingdom.

    Expected to begin during the summer of 2006, the technical trial will feature 10 channels of BSkyB content on a small number of non-commercial devices provided by Qualcomm. The technical trial is intended to allow BSkyB to closely evaluate the performance capabilities of FLO technology, an open, cellular network-agnostic wireless multicasting technology, as it continues to explore the growing number of opportunities to deliver video services to mobile devices in the UK.

    FLO technology, a multicast innovation and key component of the MediaFLO system, is an air-interface technology designed to increase capacity and coverage, and reduce cost for multimedia content delivery to mobile handsets.

    The BSkyB technical trial is expected to be the first such trial of FLO technology in Europe. In addition to this technical trial, Qualcomm and KDDI have formed a joint venture to explore the deployment of MediaFLO services in Japan. Also, MediaFLO USA, a subsidiary of Qualcomm, is working with Verizon Wireless to deploy wireless multimedia services based on FLO technology in the US.

    “BSkyB is committed to offering customers flexible ways to enjoy our services. We have led the way in the delivery of mobile TV over existing platforms and we look forward to working with Qualcomm in this technical trial to evaluate the potential of MediaFLO,” said BSkyB group director of business development Stephen Nuttall.

    “As one of Europe’s largest, most successful and best-known multichannel television platform operators, BSkyB is the ideal company to team up with Qualcomm on our first MediaFLO trial in Europe. We expect this trial to demonstrate a strong validation of the value Qualcomm believes FLO technology offers both in Europe and other markets around the world. The openness of the MediaFLO system, as well as its significant advantages with respect to coverage, power consumption and cost, set MediaFLO apart from other competing technologies,” said Qualcomm Internet Service and MediaFLO Technologies president Peggy Johnson.

    Engineered specifically for the mobile environment, FLO technology is intended to offer several advantages over other mobile multicast technologies, including higher-quality video and audio, faster channel switching time, superior mobile reception, optimised power consumption and greater capacity concurrently as compared to other multicast technologies.

    In addition, FLO technology-based multimedia multicasting will complement wireless operators’ CDMA2000(R)/EV-DO and WCDMA/HSDPA cellular voice and data services, delivering content to the same cellular handsets used on these 3G networks.

  • BBC launches free HD broadcasts

    BBC launches free HD broadcasts

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC will give the UK’s first high definition viewers a curtain-raising treat of the whole of Planet Earth part one, followed by classic Dickens drama Bleak House over Whitsun Bank Holiday from 27 to 29 May 2006.

    The BBC starts the UK’s first free-to-air high definition (HD) consumer broadcasts this week, at the start of a 12 month trial of this new sharper, clearer TV format. Meanwhile research disclosed by the BBC suggests that the majority of people who know about HD expect the BBC to broadcast in HD, and to do so free to air, funded by the licence fee. They also expect high definition broadcasting to be available on all platforms including Freeview.

    The BBC’s HD stream starts broadcasting tomorrow 11 May with a promotional preview. The broadcasts will initially be available to viewers on satellite who have the right HD equipment. Sky has announced it will start installing HD set top boxes from 22 May. The BBC’s HD stream will also be carried in some cable areas in time for the World Cup, following a successful carriage agreement with NTL Telewest.

    From 9 June, the BBC’s World Cup coverage will be simulcast in HD, as will major Wimbledon matches. From July the stream will show BBC highlights in drama, documentaries, events and music for a few hours each day.

    BBC director of television Jana Bennett said, “These are small but exciting first steps in the BBC’s ambition to offer the option of high definition to all in the future. It’s clear that licence fee payers expect high definition broadcasts from the BBC, the same way they have moved to colour television, widescreen, digital radio and online services with us in the past.”

    The BBC says that HD provides sharper, clearer pictures and the potential for surround sound. It needs different technology from ‘standard definition television’ at every link in the chain, from the way programmes are shot and broadcast to the equipment in viewers’ homes.

    The BBC is conducting an end-to-end trial of HD broadcasting over the next 12 months as a test of the technology and trial of the audience appetite for the format. The findings will inform any ongoing offer. BBC HD broadcasting will start officially at noon on 11 May 2006 when the offer appears for the first time to viewers on the Sky electronic programme guide.

    GfK NOP conducted an online survey for the BBC of a representative sample of about 1,500 respondents. They were asked what they knew and thought about high definition television. Seventy three per cent of the sample had heard about high definition television. The figure was much higher for men (83 per cent) than women (62 per cent) and digital homes (77 per cent) rather than analogue homes (62 per cent).

    Of those that were aware of high definition:

    87 per cent said that they expected the BBC to broadcast in high definition in future;
    93 per cent expected those broadcasts to be free to air;
    95 per cent expected HD broadcasts to be available on all platforms – satellite, cable and Freeview;
    88 per cent disagreed that HD viewers should pay a higher Licence Fee.

  • Fox makes ‘24’, ‘The Shield’ available on iTunes

    Fox makes ‘24’, ‘The Shield’ available on iTunes

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox and Apple have announced that shows from Fox, FX, Speed, Fuel TV and the 20th Century Fox Television library is now available for purchase on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).

    The launch, which features 16 series, including 24, Prison Break and The Shield is the largest to date on iTunes and spans several genres – drama, comedy and reality genres, plus several classic favorites. iTunes now offers over 90 TV shows for $1.99 per episode for viewing on a computer or iPod.

    Fox Digital Media president Peter Levinsohn said, “As this partnership demonstrates, were committed to delivering our content to consumers in as many ways as possible. Today, with some of the worlds premier television content, Fox is bringing unprecedented depth in a single launch to the iTunes store.”

    Fans can now purchase current dramas like 24 and Prison Break, comedies like Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Stacked; reality series, including Fox’s Unan1mous, FXs Black. White, and 30 Days; and favorites from the 20th Century Fox Television library, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Lost in Space.

  • VSNL buys out 7 Star’s cable internet business

    VSNL buys out 7 Star’s cable internet business

    MUMBAI: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) is on a shopping spree. The telecommunications giant has bought out the internet business of 7 Star, a major cable network in Mumbai.

    The deal gathers significance as it allows VSNL last mile access and offers an expansion route through cable operators. Telecom operators like Reliance Infocomm and Bharti have been eyeing the retail broadband market but been unable to see rapid growth.

    Though the acquisition price could not be confirmed, market speculation is that VSNL has paid around Rs 70-80 million. The cable TV operations are outside the deal. 7 Star runs cable TV operations in the western suburbs of Mumbai and offers cable internet through LAN (local area network) connections.

    “We have acquired the internet business of the 7 Star group—Sevenstar.com. We cannot disclose further details due to confidentiality reasons. We continuously evaluate options for growing our presence in the internet and broadband space,” confirms a VSNL spokesperson. 7 Star promoters were not willing to comment on the deal.

    The cable internet subscribers of 7 Star will be migrated to the Tata Indicom Broadband brand over a period of time. “7 Star will continue to assist us in managing the customers,” says the VSNL spokesperson.

    Analysts say VSNL was willing to pay a higher price because 7 Star was almost a monopoly internet player in the area where it was servicing cable TV operations. The stretch included the western belt of Andheri and Santa Cruz in Mumbai.

    VSNL has tied up with around 2000 cable operators across the country to overcome the problem of last mile connectivity. VSNL executive director N Srinath had earlier said allying with operators and sharing their network was one of the best options the company had.

    For strengthening its broadband presence in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) segment, VSNL on Monday announced it had entered into an agreement to buy out Direct Internet Ltd (DIL) and its wholly owned subsidiary Primus Telecommunications India Ltd (PTIL) for Rs 750 million. While DIL will focus entirely on the SME segment, the retail customers are likely to be rehomed in VSNL. The earlier acquisitions of VSNL included DishnetDSL for Rs 2.7 billion and Tata Power broadband for Rs 2.39 billion which gave it broadband subscribers in the retail as well as the SME segments.

    Is VSNL looking at tie ups with cable operators for IPTV service as well? “VSNL currently is providing broadband and content services, in conjunction with cable operators. The company will continue to look at offering various value added services that is of mutual benefit to VSNL and the cable operators,” says the spokesperson. Reliance Infocomm, Bharti and other telecom operators have plans to rollout IPTV but have been unable to resolve the last mile connectivity.