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  • “India has a very broad market with a lot of potential, which make us more confident” – Eugene Zhang

    “India has a very broad market with a lot of potential, which make us more confident” – Eugene Zhang

    With India working towards getting into a fully digitised mode, this year’s ‘Convergence 2015’ will act as a destination where companies will showcase some of the world’s best technologies to help stakeholders achieve targets.

     

    One such company is China based Cloud Vision Networks Technology (CVN), which will be showcasing its Conditional Access System – JetCAS. And leading it from the front is the company’s CEO and president Eugene Zhang.

     

    Zhang ventured into the business in 1993, with 20 years of experience in company operation management.

     

    Since 1999, he was engaged in domestic TV broadcasting industry, and worked in Hong Kong DVN Holdings as the executive vice president of its subsidiary DVN, to be in charge of domestic digital television business and the management of all-service operation management including R&D, manufacture and sales of products.

     

    In 2010, he served in Cisco Systems as the general manager of its wholly owned subsidiary Cisco Systems (Shanghai) Video Technology in China, to be in charge of the R&D, manufacture and sales of cable television products in China.

     

    It was in 2012, when Zhang resigned from Cisco System and started his own business; after successfully raising funds from Fosun Capital Investment, he founded Cloud Vision Networks Technology (CVN).

     

    As he gears for the big day, Indiantelevision.com’s Seema Singh talks to him about his plans for India, the products on display and more…

     

    Excerpts:

     

    What products and services are you exhibiting in Convergence? Can you elaborate on the product and its benefits?

    We are exhibiting our core product Conditional Access System – JetCAS.

     

    JetCAS, the fourth generation system, is a researched and developed conditional access system by Cloud Vision Networks (CVN), with independent intellectual property rights, over a decade experience on digital TV business and advanced idea on design from absorbing international advanced technology achievements.

     

    What are the kinds of services and solutions you offer?

    Cloud Vision Networks Technology was established on 8 February, 2012. We are engaged in product technology development, production and sales of hardware and software products, technology application services and other businesses involving broadcasting and TV networks two-way transformation and digital TV in broadcasting and TV industry.

     

    Are you looking at any strategic partnerships in India? If yes, can you elaborate on the same?

    We have an excellent strategic partner in India, Xperio Labs. We will work together to develop the market of Indian broadcasting industry.

     

    Which are the regions you are available in China? How many customers do you have in China? Which are the regions you are looking at in India?

    CVN is available in more than 17 provinces and 90 cities and about 800 towns, and also covers 120 million customers in China.

     

    We do not limit the regions that we are going to provide our service and products in India to.

     

    How would you say is your service better than those of your competition?

    Our CAS has never been commercially cracked and the security level of our smartcard is evaluated as the highest international smartcard level — EAL5+.

     

    We also own other advantages, such as cost, marketing, sales capability and excellent product performance, which make CVN the leading company in broadcasting and TV industry.

     

    How much have you already invested in the technology in China and how much further are you will to invest in China?

    CVN puts more than 30 per cent of sales amount into R&D every year, and considering our quick steady development, the investment in future can only be more.

     

    Are there any investment plans in the Indian market? If yes, please share details.

    CVN will plan to invest in Indian market according to the market development of Indian broadcasting industry.

     

    What is your manufacturing capacity in China?

    Our manufacturing capacity is more than 10 million smartcards per year.

     

    Can you elaborate on the kinds of solutions you provide in different sectors? How does it benefit the stakeholders?

    Multi-direction development is always an important strategy for CVN, except the main business of JetCAS, we also dabbled in other sectors, such as Downloadable CAS, DRM, OTT middleware, Public Wi-Fi and so on.

     

    Our stakeholders are happy and satisfied to see that the profit of company is maintaining a fast growth.

     

    Have you done R&D on the Indian cable TV sector? If yes, what are the findings?

    CVN has finished a basic market research through a local professional research company in India. We are glad to see India has a very broad market with potential, which make us more confident that we can achieve a win-win goal with local customers in this beautiful country.

     

    What is ‘JetCas’, how does it function and help the broadcasters? Do you think a product like this will be helpful to the Indian cable TV industry as well?

    JetCAS provides a total solution on open conditional access system, which is a perfect combination with cable TV, satellite TV, analogue TV and broadband networks. It provides a controlling on payable TV and media design with its comprehensive management console, 4th generation smartcard-device technologies and network access management, so as to control programme authorisation on subscribers.

     

    What are the similarities and differences between the Indian and Chinese broadcasting and TV industries?

    Speaking of the similarities between the Indian and Chinese broadcasting and TV industries, they both have plenty of customers and broad market.

     

    Since they are both developing nations, they are filled with business opportunities.

     

    Of course there are also a lot of differences between these two countries, such as different specifications, requirements, business models, and so on.

     

    CVN’s Conditional Access System (CAS) is the most advanced digital TV encryption system in China. What is your take on the Indian CAS market?

    We are providing our best product in India, which is the securest and most reliable CAS system, because we value the Indian CAS market so much.

     

    How will digital TV change the dynamics of the broadcasting industry in the near future?

    The development of the Internet and broadband technology is making the revolutionary changes in the radio and TV industry, digitised and networked broadcasting and television has become radio and television industry development inevitable trend.

     

    Digitisation can extend cable TV channels from dozen sets to hundreds sets, the extensional channel resources can provide more kinds of services for cable operators. After digitisation, cable operators can provide not only broadcast programmes but also professional and personalised programmes; not only unidirectional broadcasting but also interactive VOD; not only radio, film and television programmes but also a variety of information service.

     

    In short, digital TV will bring more market opportunities and business models to the broadcasting industry.

  • Raaj Gupta joins Sab, Sony Pal as commercial head

    Raaj Gupta joins Sab, Sony Pal as commercial head

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television’s (SET) sister channels Sab and Sony Pal have appointed a new commercial head in Raaj Gupta.

     

    Gupta was earlier with Star India as its AVP-commercial and procurement, where he worked from November 2012 to December 2014.

     

    He started his career at Cinevistaas as senior supervising producer in February 2003 and then moved to Applause Entertainment as head-productions and operations in 2008. 

     

    Gupta was also with Mahuaa Media from May 2011 to November 2012 and with Shashi Sumeet Productions as vice president from March 2009 to April 2011.

     

  • CNN International commercial makes senior level appointment

    CNN International commercial makes senior level appointment

    MUMBAI: Sunita Rajan is joining CNN International Commercial’s executive team under Chief Commercial Officer Rani R Raad with a remit to continue building CNN’s business growth trajectory in the Asia Pacific region.

    Joining from BBC Worldwide from March 2015, Rajan will oversee an extensive client base across the breadth of the Asia Pacific region and will lead teams based across 5 offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Delhi and Mumbai and a network of representatives across Asia, overseeing the strategy to drive advertising revenue for CNN’s global portfolio of multi-platform products among Asia Pacific based advertisers. She will also be part of Raad’s management team which guides the brand’s international commercial strategy.

    With an emphasis on bespoke integrated advertiser solutions across the full range of CNN’s linear and non-linear properties, her focus will be on overseeing strategic relationships and brand partnerships across the Asia Pacific region. Her appointment comes at a time of particular momentum for the CNN brand: the leading international news brand continues to mark clear distance between its nearest competitor in all key independent viewing surveys both in Asia and worldwide and marks the second consecutive year as Asian TV Awards’ Cable & Satellite Channel of the Year and the Royal Television Society’s News Channel of the Year.

    “Sunita’s wealth of experience coupled with her dynamic leadership style will be a huge asset to CNN as we look to continue our growth path in the Asia Pacific region,” said Raad. “Her expertise fits perfectly with CNN’s multi-platform offering and she is ideally equipped to take CNN’s long-standing commercial success in the region to the next level.  She will undoubtedly prove a valued colleague to the entire Asia business across the full spectrum of our commercial activity in the region where CNN continues to enjoy a strong leadership position.”

    “This is a tremendous opportunity to build further growth for the global news leader across its extensive portfolio of tv and digital products in a region as exciting and dynamic as Asia Pacific,” said Rajan. “I’m looking forward to taking up this new role working with such a highly talented team.”

    Rajan will be supported in her new role by Sonali Chatterjee, Stacey Rabsatt, Atsushi Saito and Sally Young, directors respectively for South Asia, South East Asia, Japan and North Asia (including New Zealand & Australia.)

    Rajan’s media career has spanned 25 years and has included roles at Star Television, News Television (India) and BBC Worldwide, where she was most recently Executive Vice President Advertising Sales, Asia Pacific.

    Rajan joins CNN as the news provider continues to invest in all its platforms, including a recently re-launched CNN.com site and a suite of additional business programming for its international audiences.  Its ongoing leadership position in digital, social, and mobile news and information sits alongside the unrivalled TV offering which currently reaches over 385 million households around the world.

    “In welcoming her to my international executive team, I know Sunita will help shape our future success beyond her role as a senior ambassador for the business in Asia Pacific,” added Raad. “Her drive and expertise will help to further establish CNNI Commercial as the go-to home of innovative commercial propositions for those wanting to engage with our unique global audience across multiple platforms.”

    Rajan is another senior level appointment to Raad’s executive management team since CNNI Commercial was formed two years ago. In February 2013, parent company Turner International made the decision to align all of CNN’s international commercial activity – spanning advertising sales, content sales, affiliate relations, out of home distribution, business development, marketing and research – into a single operation under Raad’s leadership.

    CNNI Commercial currently oversees a global portfolio of world-class advertisers after a significant period of client retention and growth. It manages a dynamic content sales, affiliates and hotels business and has recently announced innovative new marketing initiatives to increase CNN’s reach to new audiences, including most recently the opening of the inaugural CNN Traveller Café in Abu Dhabi.

  • Discovery Communications strengthens global sports strategy with two new appointments

    Discovery Communications strengthens global sports strategy with two new appointments

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has made two new executive appointments that will further strengthen the company’s global sports expertise and strategy. While Jean-Thierry Augustin has been named president, sports strategy & development in a newly created position at Discovery Networks International, Peter Hutton has been appointed Eurosport chief executive officer.

     

    Augustin, who previously held the position of CEO at Eurosport, will report directly to Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette and continue to be based in Paris. Augustin will work closely with Discovery’s international leadership team and Peter Hutton will create a compelling sports business development strategy that utilises sports as a game-changing asset and drives new growth globally.

     

    Hutton joins Eurosport from MP & Silva Group, where he held the post of co-chief executive officer. As CEO of Eurosport, Hutton will oversee the negotiation of sports rights and lead Eurosport’s content strategy to bring renewed focus to programming, production, promotion and platforms. Hutton will take advantage of Discovery’s local infrastructure and global platforms to maximise Eurosport’s value across more than 70 countries and in 20 languages. He will also report to Perrette and will be based in Paris, with a start date of 1 March, 2015.

     

    Perrette said, “As we approach the one year anniversary of Discovery’s acquisition of Eurosport in May, our focus is now on unlocking the full value of our must-have sports content for the entire Discovery Communications portfolio to benefit our advertisers, affiliates, audiences and shareholders around the world.”

     

    “Jean-Thierry has been at the helm of Eurosport for a number of years during, which he has proved to be a tremendous commercial leader and this new role will harness his expertise to build Discovery’s global sports strategy and expertise. Similarly, Peter has excelled in the sports media business. With extensive experience in Europe, Asia and Middle East, and strong relationships with broadcasters and rights holders, he is the perfect executive to strengthen Eurosport’s position as a global leader in sports. I am excited to work with both Jean-Thierry and Peter as we take our business to an exciting new level,” he added.

     

    Augustin joined Eurosport in 2001 as regional distribution director and following various promotions was named chief executive officer, Eurosport Group in June 2013. During this period, Augustin played a key role in the launch of Eurosport 2, which is available in 74 million homes in 51 countries and broadcasts 2,300 hours of live action every year. He also oversaw development of Europe’s number-one online sports destination, Eurosport.com which comprises 15 websites in 11 languages, and Eurosport Player, which provides live streaming of Eurosport and Eurosport 2 channels as well as catch-up TV around selected events in 35 markets.

     

    “It has been a privilege to lead Eurosport over the past several years. I look forward to applying my experience and working with JB and Peter to help utilise sports content to drive growth, and create long-term relationships with key partners throughout Discovery’s global business,” said Augustin.

     

    Hutton on the other hand, during his time at MP & Silva Group, oversaw a portfolio of rights that included the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championships, Formula 1, Grand Slam tennis and Series A football. He helped launch joint venture channels with Be In Sports in Asia, and took the business into the sponsorship market and key local rights, such as Belgian and Polish football. Before joining MP & Silva Group, Hutton’s previous roles included managing director ESPN Star Sports, senior vice president Fox International Channels Sport, as well as COO and one of the founders of Middle East and Asian broadcaster Ten Sports.

     

    “After over 30 years in sports media, I can’t think of a better brand to lead than Eurosport,” said Hutton. “I look forward to building on the great work of Jean-Thierry Augustin and his team to ensure that we further improve our line-up of world class sports relevant to our audiences throughout Europe and Asia. With the support of the Discovery teams around the world, we will deliver the best possible global and local events to our viewers and to our commercial partners.”

     

    In May 2014, Discovery increased its interest in Eurosport International to 51 per cent from 20 per cent as part of a larger strategic partnership with TF1 Group that began in December 2012. TF1 Group continues to be the majority shareholder of Eurosport France, in which Discovery holds a 20 per cent equity stake.

     

  • Kantar makes management changes at IMRB International

    Kantar makes management changes at IMRB International

    MUMBAI: Kantar has announced a change of leadership at IMRB International, which will see Preeti Reddy take over from long-serving president Thomas Puliyel when he retires in August, this year.

    Reddy, currently senior vice-president, will work alongside Puliyel during the next few months as the transition takes effect. Once president, she will report to Kantar president Wayne Levings.

    Levings commented, “Thomas has made an outstanding contribution to IMRB and the broader Indian research market throughout his long and distinguished career. Under his leadership, IMRB has continued to improve and innovate around its offering, expanded into new markets and sectors and has been consistently recognised as the leading research agency in India. He leaves with our thanks and best wishes for his retirement.”

    Levings further added, “In Preeti, we have an excellent new leader of IMRB. She brings a combination of strong client leadership, general management and consulting capabilities. With the very strong leadership team she has around her, IMRB will continue to build on its world-class foundations.”

    Reddy has close to three decades of experience in research and consulting, working with leading Indian and multinational companies. She joined the IMRB group in 2009 when she was appointed CEO of LMRB in Sri Lanka. She has previously worked in consumer consulting at Technopak, was senior vice-president at TNS India and has worked with the BAT group in India.

    Reddy said, “I’m delighted to be leading such a diversified and vibrant business which continues to define research in the region. We have a great team of experienced and highly competent managers to head our different businesses and I look forward to working with them to build IMRB into an even bigger and better business.”

    In other management changes, effective 1 February, 2015, Jasojit Mookerjea, currently responsible for International Business Unit (IBU) senior vice-president and IMRB One joint head will take on full responsibility for IMRB One as well as heading change management and managing the key account directors within the company.

    Currently IBU BAT global account director and vice president Sreeram Sreenivasan will take overall charge as IBU senior vice-president based in London. Diptya Mukherjee will continue in his role as IBU vice-president based in Calcutta. The management team at IBU is being further strengthened under the leadership of Sreenivasan and Mukherjee and the proposed changes will be communicated in due course.

    Senior vice-president Vivek Gupta will head the Auto, BFSI and Telecom sectors, while the Brand Science business will be merged into IMRB One.

    Puliyel joined IMRB in 1981 as manager, overseas projects and remained with the company until 1992 before moving to set up Research International India as country manager. He returned to IMRB as president in 2000. The company has been named research agency of the year eight times since 2005 and Puliyel has twice served as president of the Market Research Society of India.

    Puliyel said, “IMRB is a wonderful place to work in. The open, empowered work environment is a great magnet for the best research talent. The freedom that the company provides makes it a great place to learn and realize one’s potential.”

     

  • Network18 appoints AP Parigi as group CEO

    Network18 appoints AP Parigi as group CEO

    MUMBAI: As part of its strategy to strengthen its leadership and businesses, Network18 has appointed AP Parigi as the group CEO, effective 29 January 2015.
     
    He will be based in Mumbai. “Parigi has built a raft of customer-facing brands, technologies, businesses and management teams. His wisdom and leadership is sure to take N18 to the next level,” said Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai.
     
    With over 40 years of experience spanning sectors including infrastructure, telecommunications, media and entertainment, Parigi has worked for companies like ENIL/Radio Mirchi, Times Global Broadcasting (Times Now) and Zoom Entertainment Network. Besides this, he has also been associated with Times Innovative Media (Times Out of Home), BPL Mobile Communications and Eros Media International.
     
    An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics, Parigi, is on the Business Advisory Council of Said Business School, University of Oxford. He is a recipient of several awards including the ‘The William F Glaser’53,’ ‘Rensselaer’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ USA.
     
    “I look forward to mentor and lead what is perhaps the most talented group of professionals in the Indian media landscape. NW18 is fortunate to have the world’s leading media brands as partners and I am keen to enhance each of these valuable relationships,” said Parigi.
  • CNN-IBN and IBN7 strengthens ad sales team

    CNN-IBN and IBN7 strengthens ad sales team

    MUMBAI: IBN Network has appointed Sakshi Jain and Manan Sheel Bhasin as assistant vice presidents – sales. As part of the new role, Jain will head the CNN-IBN display sales team for north region while Bhasin will look after the display sales of IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat for the same region.
     
    Jain comes with 16 years of experience ranging from media planning, buying and broadcast sales across leading consumer brands and television channels. In her previous role, Jain was the deputy general manager, TV Today Network, where she was responsible for the ad sales of Oye 104.8 FM for north. In broadcast sales, she was associated with channels such as Aaj Tak, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Headlines Today, Big CBS & RTL and ABP Sananda.

     

    Bhasin has been in media industry for over 12 years and has worked with brands like Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Tez, Ten Sports, ABP News, ABP Ananda and ABP Majha. He brings with him expertise of revenue and business generation and sustenance of continuous growth.
     
    In their current roles, Jain and Bhasin will focus on the overall sales strategy for driving the goals of further boosting the Network’s market share and revenues.

     

  • Dilip Venkatraman joins iTV Network

    Dilip Venkatraman joins iTV Network

    MUMBAI: iTV Network has announced yet another appointment in the leadership team by getting onboard Dilip Venkatraman as its group chief operating officer, strategy and business development.

     

    As part of his new mandate he will be responsible for planning strategic solutions and business development for the network. He will be reporting to iTV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma.

     

    Welcoming Venkatraman on board, Sharma said, “I am delighted to welcome Dilip on board as the new group COO. His strong track record of delivering growth and understanding of the industry, brands and advertisers will be a great asset for us as he joins us at this juncture of aggressive growth.”

     

    On joining the  network, Venkatraman said, “iTV Network is now at a very exciting point in its journey where it is all set to emerge as theIndia’s most profitable and largest TV News Network. I am looking forward to drive the growth momentum and add significant contribution to strengthen the network through innovative and effective strategic solutions.”

     

    Prior to this, Venkatraman was the CEO of CNN-IBN and IBN7, owned by the Network18 group. With over 23 years of profound corporate experience, including three years in USA he held many key positions at the India Today Group and the Zee Network. A Graduate in Public Administration, he also did his management programme from IIM Bangalore, and the Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School, Boston. 

  • Ajay Trigunayat turns entrepreneur, to launch VOD platform in October

    Ajay Trigunayat turns entrepreneur, to launch VOD platform in October

    MUMBAI:  After quitting the Times Television Network (TTN)  English Entertainment channels as CEO in April last year, Ajay Trigunayat has moved on to an alternate path, as he will now don the hat of an entrepreneur. Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, he says, “I have begun working on a new venture which is a VOD platform called Action Quality Time (AQT).”

     

    The platform will see a launch towards October or November 2015.

     

    “I had conceptualised the idea around five to six years ago but then I was occupied working at TTN,” he adds.  The platform will have a combination of Indian as well as foreign content for audiences. In terms of language, it will not be restricted to just English as major Indian languages too would be available for audiences.

     

    Trigunayat says that currently talks and strategic plans are on to build a robust platform.

     

  • ESPN’s SportsCentre anchor Stuart Scott passes away

    ESPN’s SportsCentre anchor Stuart Scott passes away

    MUMBAI: Stuart Scott, one of ESPN’s signature SportsCenter anchors, died after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 49.

     

    Scott is survived by his two daughters, Taelor, and Sydni; his parents, O. Ray and Jacqueline Scott; and his three siblings Stephen Scott, Synthia Kearney, Susan Scott and their families.  His girlfriend, Kristin Spodobalski, along with support from his loving family, close friends and colleagues, were with him as he underwent through several surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and clinical trials.

     

     ESPN president John Skipper said, “ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott.” Providing a few anecdotes about the man, he added, “Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments?   Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set?” Skipper went on to add that the passing away of Scott had “left a void that can never be replaced.”

     

    On 16 July 2014, Scott accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs.  During his speech, he shared his approach to fighting cancer. “I said, I’m not losing. I’m still here. I’m fighting. I’m not losing.  But I’ve got to amend that.  When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer.  You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live.  So live.  Live.  Fight like hell,” he said as he provided his mantra to live long.

     

    For 21 years, he was arguably the most recognizable and quotable personalities and one of the most popular sportscasters around the world. His catchphrases, including his most famous “Boo-ya” and “As cool as the other side of the pillow,” have become an integral part of pop culture.  

     

    After joining the network in 1993 for the launch of ESPN2, Scott became a leading voice on ESPN’s SportsCenter, where he anchored the 11pm show. During his career with ESPN, Scott covered a slew of major events, including the NBA Finals, Super Bowl, Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series, the NCAA Final Four and more.

     

    From 2007-2011 Scott was the host of ABC Sports’ weekly NBA Sunday studio show, ESPN’s NBA studio show, and served as a host during the NBA Finals Trophy presentation each year. Scott also hosted numerous ESPN and ABC series and specials, including Dream Job, Stump The Schwab, ESPN’s 25th Anniversary Special, and The ESPY Red Carpet Show. In addition to this busy TV schedule, he had also worked as a regular contributor to ESPN: The Magazine, ESPN Radio, and ESPN.com.

     

    Most recently, Scott was in the anchor chair alongside his longtime partner, Steve Levy, when ESPN re-launched SportsCenter on a new set. He not only interviewed most of the world’s top athletes, but also interviewed top celebrities, newsmakers, and politicians. Scott interviewed and played a televised game of one-on-one basketball with President Barack Obama, one of his two interviews with the President, and conducted numerous one-on-one interviews with the likes of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Denzel Washington and President Bill Clinton.

    At North Carolina he played wide receiver and defensive back for a club football team.
    He was diagnosed with cancer in November 2007, and dealt with recurring bouts of the disease