Category: TV Channels

What content will work on Mobile still the big question

SINGAPORE: Though a lot is being said about mobile TV and visual content, yet what sort of content will really make waves is not very clear. At the recently concluded Broadcast Asiat 2006, one saw a considerable interest amongst vendors and operators, including broadcasters for the reduction of commercial mobile television services. Basically two methods are being used streaming and broadcasting.

For broadcasting, a number of standards have been developed to offer mobile broadcast TV, including DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T and NediaFLO.

Speaking on a session on synergies and convergance on mobile TV, on how to optimise content for the mobile, Laurant Weill, president Visiware said, “The idea is to make use of interactive tools, and deliver video content on 3G platforms. Content providers should aim to convert mini series into four minute clips or so. Also, try to repurpose the available or create altogether new content. We should also try and summarise the existing standard TV formats. Make automatic clips of a existing news programming as conusmers want to see a V-navigator experience.”

I-pop executive VP Colin Miles added, “The applications have to be synchronized with the existing TV shows and thanks to use of sms we already have interactive audience who will be more than willing to try new content.”

While mobile TV services are in their infancy and both research and adoption levels suggest that in the medium term they have potential to generate significant revenues, Juniper Research believes that the total market for streamed and broadcast TV services will increase from $136 million to more than $7.6 billion by 2010.

NPTV marketing director Laurent Chouraqui was of the opinion that the number of standards developed to offer mobile broadcasters including DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T amd MediaFlo will help the synchronization of TV content. But over a period of time content users should ease the creation of mobile content for consumers. Make automatic clips of a existing news programming as consumers want to see a V-navigator experience.

He added, “Linear content will not work on Mobile. New and interesting content will have to be developed. Like, for example the best moments of the World Cup. So, the challenge is really is developing fone minute content, special teasers and mini series.”

June 23, 2006
HDTV: Double digit growth expected over next 5 years

SINGAPORE: A recent study by US-based IMS Research estimates that by the end of 2010, nearly 87 million households worldwide would be capable of watching HDTV programming.

At a session on the Future of High Definition Television, it was pointed out that HDTV is becoming an important offering for cable and satellite TV providers. IMS research estimated that last year, about 20.6 million HDTV players were shipped worldwide. The double-digit growth expected in the market over the next five years will result in a forecast of nearly 60 million HDTV displays shipped by 2010.

Elaborating on the recent trends, Millette Burgos of Asia Pacific Broadcast said, “Depending on the country and the government, initiatives such as FCC‘s Digital Tuner mandate in the US and the HDTV broadcasting quotas in Australia and South Korea, are often the key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets.”

Countries like Australia and South Korea are proving to be the key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets as they have integrated tuning capacity. While growth in HD monitors will continue in a market where pay TV operators sell or rent the HD set-top box or HD DKR as part of the HDTV service package.

Often HDTV sets would not be enabled for pay-TV platforms, but are capable of receiving only free-to-air programmes. Of course, exceptions will exist in countries like US and S Korea where cable platforms are standardizing on Cablelabs Digital Cable ready standard.

“The good news is that many of the adoption impediments of HDTV are now being eliminated,” said IMS research market analyst Jack Mayo. “As HD content increases in availability, equipment costs drop and compression standards improve so we’re likely to see more operators implement HDTV.”

June 23, 2006
How to ride the digital radio wave – tips for tradional radio stations

SINGAPORE: With music content being distributed across the internet, mobile and wireless technology in the near future; the radio advertising market is expected to erode further in the fragmented space.

Also, with new narrowcasting services like podcasting, and consumers customiizing music videos of their own choice, what are the different needs of the new audiences, their business sustainability and revenue generation opportunities.

Gerd Leonhard, Music and Media Futurists lists down certain key lessons which came across from the special session on digital radio.

*Music companies- be visible on the net- Make your own videos and put them on Youtube, Revver, Video and Google before they do it. Get your own online radio station. Get global CD distribution (CDBaby, Amazon etc) and offer your own ringtones. Also, don’t forget to get global digital distribution and keep bloging your band’s life. (Zebralution, Orchard,

*Look beyond the traditional revenue streams- With different devices and music videos on demand available, tie up with all the possible media companies, wireless service providers. Look at charging a flat fee for content, along with digital music licenses.

*What’s in it for content creators – Niche market and mobile powered stars will emerge. Also, social networking sites will become more important for selling music than TV or Radio. More and more consumers will create customized music with interactive software. Major artists might even leave their record labels and look for directdeals as agents will thrive

*Broadband internet will seriously hurt traditional radio. Just a glimpse of the future that is already here – Just to list out some of the initiatives. There is MyRadio: www.Pandora.com, BBC Creative Futures inititative, Google videos, Nokia Visual Radio www.visualradio.com

*Understand the new consumer

MY Schedule – Time-Shifting (anytime anywhere)

MY Location – Full Mobility (NOT just on PC!)

MY Device – Full Compatibility between devices and services

MY Deal – ‘Payment Shifting’ means Feels Like Free Music

MY Playlists – ‘Editor’ Shifting’ – now, the USER selects

MY Edits – Peer Produced Content / Re-Mixing

* What’s the crucial paradigm shift- Mobile music commerce will out number commerce, A new middle class of musicians will come up. Also, wireless broadband will dominate. Sharing amd viral marketing will grow and artists will have to reach their fans no matter what.

June 23, 2006
Random House Group acquires majority stake in BBC Books

MUMBAI: The Random House Group in the UK has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in BBC Books. The deal brings together two publishers of non-fiction as BBC Books will become part of the Ebury Publishing Division of The Random House Group under Fiona MacIntyre, publisher of the Ebury Publishing Division.

BBC Worldwide will maintain a shareholding in BBC Books and the latter will continue to license relevant book publishing rights in BBC programmes. BBC Books will, as before, work within BBC editorial and commercial policy guidelines ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained over the BBC brand.

BBC Books’ recent bestsellers include David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth and Alastair Fothergill’s Planet Earth.

Random House Group CEO Gail Rebuck said, “It is exciting to announce this new relationship, which complements and enhances our own non-fiction publishing, just as BBC Books celebrates an excellent year and looks forward to a very strong autumn. We have brought together two talented creative and successful publishing teams within one division, which will continue to publish the broad and distinguished range of adult non-fiction for which both companies are widely admired.

“This combination of the best creative talent backed by Random House’s international sales and distribution capacity ensures that we can expand on existing opportunities and create new projects for the global market.”

BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith said, “We have for some time stated our intention of seeking a partner for our books business and are delighted to have reached this agreement with a publisher of the calibre of Random House. The union will bring additional scope and scale to BBC Books and enable the imprint to build further on this year’s financial success and continue to grow its enviable list. We look forward to working with our new colleagues.”

The Random House Group is one of the largest general book publishing companies in the UK. The Group is based in London with subsidiary companies in India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Group comprises four publishing divisions with 33 diverse and highly individual imprints including Jonathan Cape, William Heinemann, Chatto & Windus, Vintage, Corgi, Doubleday and Bantam Press. Novelists published by the Group include Dan Brown, Jilly Cooper, J M Coetzee, Sebastian Faulks, John Grisham, Robert Harris, Mark Haddon, Ian McEwan and Terry Pratchett.

The group’s non-fiction publishing consists of broad general non-fiction and specialist categories such as cookery, gardening, travel and business books.

June 23, 2006
Random House Group acquires majority stake in BBC Books

MUMBAI: The Random House Group in the UK has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in BBC Books. The deal brings together two publishers of non-fiction as BBC Books will become part of the Ebury Publishing Division of The Random House Group under Fiona MacIntyre, publisher of the Ebury Publishing Division.

BBC Worldwide will maintain a shareholding in BBC Books and the latter will continue to license relevant book publishing rights in BBC programmes. BBC Books will, as before, work within BBC editorial and commercial policy guidelines ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained over the BBC brand.

BBC Books’ recent bestsellers include David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth and Alastair Fothergill’s Planet Earth.

Random House Group CEO Gail Rebuck said, “It is exciting to announce this new relationship, which complements and enhances our own non-fiction publishing, just as BBC Books celebrates an excellent year and looks forward to a very strong autumn. We have brought together two talented creative and successful publishing teams within one division, which will continue to publish the broad and distinguished range of adult non-fiction for which both companies are widely admired.

“This combination of the best creative talent backed by Random House’s international sales and distribution capacity ensures that we can expand on existing opportunities and create new projects for the global market.”

BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith said, “We have for some time stated our intention of seeking a partner for our books business and are delighted to have reached this agreement with a publisher of the calibre of Random House. The union will bring additional scope and scale to BBC Books and enable the imprint to build further on this year’s financial success and continue to grow its enviable list. We look forward to working with our new colleagues.”

The Random House Group is one of the largest general book publishing companies in the UK. The Group is based in London with subsidiary companies in India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Group comprises four publishing divisions with 33 diverse and highly individual imprints including Jonathan Cape, William Heinemann, Chatto & Windus, Vintage, Corgi, Doubleday and Bantam Press. Novelists published by the Group include Dan Brown, Jilly Cooper, J M Coetzee, Sebastian Faulks, John Grisham, Robert Harris, Mark Haddon, Ian McEwan and Terry Pratchett.

The group’s non-fiction publishing consists of broad general non-fiction and specialist categories such as cookery, gardening, travel and business books.

June 23, 2006
B.A.G Films’ Rajiv Mishra Asia-Pac secy-gen of AIR-IAB

NEW DELHI: The board of directors of AIR-IAB has nominated BAG Films radio division head Rajiv Mishra as secretary general of the global organisation’s Asia Pacific region, in a meeting held at Montevideo, Uruguay.

The International Association of Broadcasting (IAB) and Asociacion Internacional de Radiodifusion (AIR), is the non governmental organization of commercial radio and television networks of the world. It is also a consultant to the United Nation.

Mishra will present a paper on commercial broadcasting industry scenario in Asia Pacific region to AIR-IAB board of directors in a meeting slated to be held in Guatemala in October.

He will also work closely with AIR-IAB director-general Héctor Oscar Amengual for the expansion of AIR-IAB to the Asia Pacific region, especially with important private commercial broadcasting countries such as Japan, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines.

Mishra is the convener of Association of Radio Operators of India (AROI) and COO of BAG Infotainment, presently engaged in establishing 10 FM Radio stations across India

June 23, 2006
And now a interactive version of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’

SINGAPORE: Looks like weaving in interactive elements to popular TV formats for the growing number of digitally savvy audiences is the next trend to keep a show going. The new interactive version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire (KBC in India), a popular format devised by David Briggs, is not just helping the show retain a prime time but even raking in moolah.

At a packed auditorium on Wednesday morning, HTTV France Sales & Marketing director Jean Christopher Jubin said, “The show has had its run in countries like UK, France and Italy for a long time now. But the last three years, the ITV version of the show, with weaved in multi-media elements is what has helped retain the popularity of the show.”

What really is the ITV version of the show? On the digital sets, viewers can participate in the show. Though they can’t really win a million by answering multiple-choice questions but can make at least 1000 Euros per week just sitting at home. The UK ITV version of the show has a multimedia theme version, synchronized version where viewers can respond and interact with the host at the same without disturbing the ongoing game.

When queried on the business proposition and the heavy cost incurred for weaving in the interactive elements, Jubin said, “Audiences either pay for the model or then pay per time (i.e the time they play the game for). The revenue streams are also being generated as a result of a tie-up between broadcasters, producers and operators where you can charge for pay per play.

Currently the ITV version of the popular format has generated more than 2.5 million SMSs on an average per session and can earn up to 3 to 4 euros per person. So, with the digital homes in Europe the revenue will continue to see a upward trend.

June 22, 2006
Saregama to open online music store

MUMBAI: Move over Apple. Music label Saregama India is set to enter the online music market aimed entirely at the “generation on the go”.

The company is expected to launch the beta version of its online service by the end of June, while the official launch is likely to happen in August, barring any glitches. However, the company is yet to zero in on the name of the service.

The new venture will be part of the listed entity Saregama India Ltd.

Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Saregama India VP publishing and new media Atul Churamani says, “Indeed we are marching towards the digital music revolution. We have already singed in 43 South Indian music labels.”

Through Saregama online music service, songs can be downloaded to PC, copied to CD, mobile, played on a portable iPod or another digital instrument. The company will also make services and features available, including streaming videos, movies, television software, games and e-radio for purchase.

As music-buffs are hungry to get music from new convenient and flexible sources, Churamani further adds, “We are committed to make a huge music catalogue available online and are in talks with the bigges of the Bollywood industry also to share their music library.”

Churamani, however, was not forthcoming on the revenue sharing model the company has established with its associates. For the initial period, Saregama will be deriving its revenues through the pay-per-song model (Rs 12/song), according to Churamani. As of now, Saragama has an online bank of 70,000 songs. The software for the new servive has been developed and powered by mobile2win.

Saregama India already runs a service HamaraCD.com, which provides an option of creating your own audio CDs of your favourite songs. The music company has a vast catalogue cutting across all genres and languages, includes film music, devotional, ghazals and classical music, Indi pop, remixes and regional songs.

Internationally, the service is already being provided most famously through Apple’s iTunes. Napster and the recently launched Urge (a tie-up between MTV networks and Microsoft) are also in the online music game.

For India too, the digital music era is now close at hand.

June 22, 2006
Tangerine Global inks HDTV entertainment deal with Pennisula Hotels

MUMBAI: Tangerine Global, a global player in high-definition television (HDTV) programming for the five-star hospitality marketplace, has been selected by luxury group The Peninsula Hotels to provide the media company’s premier HDTV entertainment services to its hotels.

The contract makes Tangerine Global’s service available as early as this summer to Peninsula’s deluxe properties worldwide, including its flagship hotel, The Peninsula Hong Kong and The Peninsula Chicago. Tangerine Global will present its offering of programming-spanning travel, fashion, lifestyle, adventure and sports-to The Peninsula Hotels’ discerning guests.

“Our goal is to deliver a compelling entertainment experience to our guests,” says The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd GM R&D Fraser Hickox, “In addition to its high-definition entertainment on demand, Tangerine Global also offers a blend of satellite, off-air and server delivered content that creates a highly individual mix of programming tailored to each hotel’s specific needs.”

“Today’s well traveled and sophisticated consumer demands more in the way of entertainment experiences,” adds Tangerine Global CEO Stuart Levin. “We pride ourselves on offering the widest selection of high-quality entertainment programming appealing to the tastes of savvy travelers the world over. We are very pleased to work with The Peninsula Hotels as we define a new level of entertainment experience for their guests who demand the very best.”

June 22, 2006
Saregama to open online music store

MUMBAI: Move over Apple. Music label Saregama India is set to enter the online music market aimed entirely at the “generation on the go”.

The company is expected to launch the beta version of its online service by the end of June, while the official launch is likely to happen in August, barring any glitches. However, the company is yet to zero in on the name of the service.

The new venture will be part of the listed entity Saregama India Ltd.

Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Saregama India VP publishing and new media Atul Churamani says, “Indeed we are marching towards the digital music revolution. We have already singed in 43 South Indian music labels.”

Through Saregama online music service, songs can be downloaded to PC, copied to CD, mobile, played on a portable iPod or another digital instrument. The company will also make services and features available, including streaming videos, movies, television software, games and e-radio for purchase.

As music-buffs are hungry to get music from new convenient and flexible sources, Churamani further adds, “We are committed to make a huge music catalogue available online and are in talks with the bigges of the Bollywood industry also to share their music library.”

Churamani, however, was not forthcoming on the revenue sharing model the company has established with its associates. For the initial period, Saregama will be deriving its revenues through the pay-per-song model (Rs 12/song), according to Churamani. As of now, Saragama has an online bank of 70,000 songs. The software for the new servive has been developed and powered by mobile2win.

Saregama India already runs a service HamaraCD.com, which provides an option of creating your own audio CDs of your favourite songs. The music company has a vast catalogue cutting across all genres and languages, includes film music, devotional, ghazals and classical music, Indi pop, remixes and regional songs.

Internationally, the service is already being provided most famously through Apple’s iTunes. Napster and the recently launched Urge (a tie-up between MTV networks and Microsoft) are also in the online music game.

For India too, the digital music era is now close at hand.

June 22, 2006