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  • Next-Gen technologies drive growth in consumer telecom market: Study

    Next-Gen technologies drive growth in consumer telecom market: Study

    MUMBAI: As Internet Protocol (IP) technology becomes more pervasive in the telecommunications industry, next-generation services is increasingly driving growth in the consumer market. Although regulatory constraints and dwindling fixed-line revenues are key challenges for service providers, renewed focus on 3G (Third Generation) services, convergence and multimedia should enable them to stay ahead of competition.

    New analysis from global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan, Service Providers’ Consumer Strategies Revealed in Asia Pacific, reveals that 3G, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) are perceived as key revenue generators for service providers. In fact, most service providers have invested heavily into deploying these technologies, states an official release.

    “Growth in the Asia Pacific consumer telecommunications market will revolve around wireless, IPTV (Internet Protocol television), and other multimedia services,” explains Frost & Sullivan research analyst Aravind Venkatesh. “Moving forward, service providers will continue to leverage on key next-generation technologies such as WiMAX, IPTV and VoIP to offer innovative service packages to customers.”

    Due to declining fixed-line revenues, service providers in developed markets have to consider next-generation technologies such as 3G, wireless broadband access, IPTV and VoIP to drive revenue growth. While service providers in China and India are anxious to deploy 3G services, their counterparts in South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong are looking at media-rich 3G applications to boost revenues.

    The key challenge for all service providers in the consumer space is to maximize voice revenue and increase ARPU (average revenue per user) in the midst of increasing competition.

    Intense competition and product commoditization have resulted in service providers finding it difficult to increase ARPU and reduce customer churn. Regulatory barriers delaying the deployment of 3G services in markets like India and China have also fettered service providers. Fixed-line service providers face the dual challenge of declining fixed-line revenues and increasing fixed-to-mobile substitution, the release adds.

    “Regulatory barriers and spectrum allocation issues have been major hindrances to the rapid deployment of 3G services in some developing markets in Asia,” explains Venkatesh. “Delays in introducing regulatory frameworks have hampered the launch of innovative services based on new access technologies.”

    Innovative value-added services and lower price points are key differentiators in the fixed-line telephony segment. Fixed-line service providers should add value to their core services by offering bundled applications at competitive prices. Service providers in high growth markets such as India, China, Thailand and the Philippines can also explore new revenue streams by exploiting the largely untapped rural segment.

    The service providers’ consumer strategies revealed in Asia Pacific study is part of the Communications Services subscription. It evaluates the competitive landscape, including key partnerships and alliances, service portfolio and product strategies, and marketing and pricing strategies of seven leading telecom service providers in the region. The study also offers an in-depth analysis of the service providers’ growth strategies in the consumer segment. The leading service providers examined as part of the study are: Bharti Airtel, Chunghwa Telecom, KT, PCCW, StarHub, Telstra and True Corporation.

  • MIH Group appoints Ashish Kashyap as CEO of India ops

    MIH Group appoints Ashish Kashyap as CEO of India ops

    MUMBAI: MIH, part of the multinational media group Naspers Limited, has appointed Ashish Kashyap as the CEO of MIH’s internet operations in India.

    As the overall head for the company’s operations in India, Kashyap will be responsible for creating an organisation focused on building and operating cutting edge internet and mobile applications, unleashing consumer internet brands and also investing in start up businesses in the Indian online and digital space.

    Kashyap has over 12 years of experience spanning internet, television and radio businesses. Prior to joining MIH-Internet, Kashyap was the country head of Google India (Domestic Operations), wherein he set up the company’s India facing business from scratch. Before joining Google, Kashyap, was the general manager e-commerce at Indiatimes.com, where he was responsible for creating numerous innovations such as airline ticket auctions and tell your price amongst others. Kashyap also has had successful stints at MTV and Times FM.

    MIH Internet (India) head of investments Craig White said, “MIH operates in over 50 countries worldwide wherein we are market leaders. The Indian internet and mobile businesses represent one of the largest global opportunities for us. We see the opportunity from two prisms. First, building unique internet applications and second, investing and seeding entrepreneurial debuts. Ashish brings with him a wealth of industry experience especially in the internet business that will help us set a strong foundation in this dynamic market.”

    “I continue to be passionate about innovating and creating disruptive consumer applications in the internet and mobile space – products and services that would make lives simpler and exciting for the Indian consumer. I am excited to join MIH’s internet business in India at a very interesting time, wherein there is a clear market opportunity on one hand and a very aggressive mandate from MIH in India on the other. I am confident I will be able to fulfil my passions and at the same time drive value for all the stake holders,” added Kashyap.

  • Cartoon Network to premier ‘Krishna: The Birth’ on Janmashtmi

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network will premiere yet another Indian animation film Krishna: The Birth on 16 August at 2 pm. What‘s more, the series will be launched on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtmi.
     
    Produced by Hyderabad-based Green Gold Animation Studio, the 75-minutes long, 2-D animation movie, Krishna: The Birth traces the birth of Lord Krishna, the avtaar of Lord Vishnu.


    This is Cartoon Network‘s second acquisition from Green Gold Animation Studio, the earlier one being Vikram Betal in 2005. This will also the first of the four planned Krishna series to be showcased on Cartoon Network.


    Krishna: The Birth takes the count of local animations acquired and showcased by Cartoon Network to 12, with four of these launching in 2006 itself.


    Turner International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman Misra said, “We are extremely enthused by the response of our audience to local animations acquired and telecast by Cartoon Network over the years. Airing locally produced shows is one of the cornerstones of the Network‘s localisation strategy and helps us contextualise the content for our Indian audiences. With the launch of Krishna: The Birth, the Network reiterates its promise of acquiring and showcasing over four local Indian animation products within this year itself, taking the total tally of home-grown animations acquired by Cartoon Network to 12! I am sure that this absolutely riveting and charming animated version of the birth of Lord Krishna, will be enjoyed by both parents and children, who have grown up listening or watching this enduring tale.”


    PMI Green Gold Animation Pvt. Ltd managing director Rajiv Chilakalapudi added, “We are delighted to be working with Cartoon Network and are thrilled at getting the opportunity to animate a personality such as that of Lord Krishna. Krishna gives us the platform to showcase Green Gold‘s Creative and technical strengths in Animation. Since its inception Green Gold has been focused towards the development of original intellectual animation properties with the assistance of powerful digital animation software tools while pushing the boundaries of constant innovation.”


    Debuting as part of Cartoon Network Theatre on 16 August, Krishna: The Birth is the enchanting tale of the miraculous birth of Lord Vishnu in the form of baby Krishna to Vasudev and Devaki. The story is set in an era when the human race was overburdened by the demonic forces of different kings posing themselves as the royal order. Perturbed by this disorder and chaos, the predominating deity of the Earth, known as Bhu Devi, and along with other Gods approached Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu promised them that he would take birth on Earth as Krishna, who would destroy all evil on the planet before the dawn of Kalyug. Krishna: The Birth‘ chronicles the events and incidents accompanying the birth of Lord Vishnu as Krishna.


    The first four parts of Krishna would cover the birth of Krishna, Krishna‘s childhood, Krishna‘s teenage, and Krishna killing Kansa. The first part of this series, Krishna: The Birth has been worked on by over 100 animation specialists and it took almost a year to make the same, from the stage of pre-production, with production taking six months

  • DirecTV US 2Q revenues increase 12% to $3.3 billion

    MUMBAI:The DirecTV Group Inc. today reported that the second quarter revenues increased 10 per cent to $3.52 billion and operating profit nearly doubled to $977 million compared to last year‘s second quarter.


    The Group reported second quarter 2006 operating profit and net income both more than doubled to $741 million and $459 million, respectively, when compared to the same period last year.


    Earnings per share were $0.36 compared with $0.12 in the same period last year. These operating results include the effect of $253 million of equipment that DirecTV US capitalized during the quarter under its lease program, which was implemented 1 March 2006, according to an official statement.
     
    “Similar to recent quarters, DirecTV US generated excellent financial results highlighted by a 12 per cent increase in revenues to $3.3 billion, a 93 per cent increase in operating profit before depreciation and amortization to $977 million and a nearly tripling of cash flow before interest and taxes to $450 million,” said DirecTV Group president and CEO Chase Carey.
     
    “In many ways, the results in the quarter reflect our strategy to target higher quality subscribers. For example, although gross subscriber additions of 863,000 and net additions of 125,000 in the quarter were below expectations, it‘s important to note that we added 11 per cent more higher quality gross subscribers in the quarter compared to last year,” said Carey.


    “This trend — which is driving both the top-line and bottom-line financial results — is primarily due to the ongoing changes we‘re making to refine our credit policy and dealer network. These factors played an important role in reducing DirecTV‘s monthly churn rate from 1.69 per cent to 1.59 per cent this quarter.”


    “In addition, customers are buying more premium services such as high definition programming and digital video recorders which is contributing to the strong ARPU growth of 5.6 per cent in the quarter.”


    On 1 March 2006, DirecTV US introduced a set-top receiver lease program primarily to increase future profitability by providing DirecTV US with the opportunity to retrieve and reuse set-top receivers from deactivated customers. Under this new program, set-top receivers are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives of three years.


    The amount of cash DirecTV U.S. paid during the quarter ended 30 June 2006 for leased set-top receivers totaled $253 million — $153 million for subscriber acquisitions and $100 million for upgrade and retention.

  • Next-Gen technologies drive growth in consumer telecom market: Study

    MUMBAI: As Internet Protocol (IP) technology becomes more pervasive in the telecommunications industry, next-generation services is increasingly driving growth in the consumer market. Although regulatory constraints and dwindling fixed-line revenues are key challenges for service providers, renewed focus on 3G (Third Generation) services, convergence and multimedia should enable them to stay ahead of competition.


    New analysis from global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan, Service Providers‘ Consumer Strategies Revealed in Asia Pacific, reveals that 3G, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) are perceived as key revenue generators for service providers. In fact, most service providers have invested heavily into deploying these technologies, states an official release.
     
    “Growth in the Asia Pacific consumer telecommunications market will revolve around wireless, IPTV (Internet Protocol television), and other multimedia services,” explains Frost & Sullivan research analyst Aravind Venkatesh. “Moving forward, service providers will continue to leverage on key next-generation technologies such as WiMAX, IPTV and VoIP to offer innovative service packages to customers.”


    Due to declining fixed-line revenues, service providers in developed markets have to consider next-generation technologies such as 3G, wireless broadband access, IPTV and VoIP to drive revenue growth. While service providers in China and India are anxious to deploy 3G services, their counterparts in South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong are looking at media-rich 3G applications to boost revenues.
     
    The key challenge for all service providers in the consumer space is to maximize voice revenue and increase ARPU (average revenue per user) in the midst of increasing competition.


    Intense competition and product commoditization have resulted in service providers finding it difficult to increase ARPU and reduce customer churn. Regulatory barriers delaying the deployment of 3G services in markets like India and China have also fettered service providers. Fixed-line service providers face the dual challenge of declining fixed-line revenues and increasing fixed-to-mobile substitution, the release adds.


    “Regulatory barriers and spectrum allocation issues have been major hindrances to the rapid deployment of 3G services in some developing markets in Asia,” explains Venkatesh. “Delays in introducing regulatory frameworks have hampered the launch of innovative services based on new access technologies.”


    Innovative value-added services and lower price points are key differentiators in the fixed-line telephony segment. Fixed-line service providers should add value to their core services by offering bundled applications at competitive prices. Service providers in high growth markets such as India, China, Thailand and the Philippines can also explore new revenue streams by exploiting the largely untapped rural segment.


    The service providers‘ consumer strategies revealed in Asia Pacific study is part of the Communications Services subscription. It evaluates the competitive landscape, including key partnerships and alliances, service portfolio and product strategies, and marketing and pricing strategies of seven leading telecom service providers in the region. The study also offers an in-depth analysis of the service providers‘ growth strategies in the consumer segment. The leading service providers examined as part of the study are: Bharti Airtel, Chunghwa Telecom, KT, PCCW, StarHub, Telstra and True Corporation.

  • Sony appoints Balaji’s Sikcand as chief creative director; announces other promotions

    Sony appoints Balaji’s Sikcand as chief creative director; announces other promotions

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television India has appointed Balaji creative head Sandiip Sikcand as the chief creative director of its flagship channel SET. Sikcand will report to SET India COO N P Singh.

    Apart from this new appointment, SET India has also initiated some other organisational restructuring.

    SET India executive vice president ad sales and revenue management Rohit Gupta has been given additional responsibility of the digital, licensing and telephony group. Gupta continues to report to SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta. Set India VP licensing & telephony Kaushal Modi, who has been reporting to N P Singh, will now report to Gupta.

    The network has also created a new enabling and technical services group, which will be under Anjani Kumar, who has been heading HR and admin functions for the network so far. The new group that Kumar will head comprises human resources, information technology, post production, administration and web and new media activities. Kumar will continue to report to Singh.

    Speaking on the new appointment and restructuring, Dasgupta said, “Sandiip comes to SET with a lot of experience in the creative domain. I am sure he will contribute in the process of driving the creative vision of our flagship channel and take it to new heights. Leading the digital and licensing group will give Rohit an opportunity to further grow and consolidate a new revenue stream for the company that has got huge potential and is the gateway to future. Also, creating the enabling and technical services group under Anjani will help bring in more efficiency into our working system and provide a seamless access to resources across the network.”

    Singh added, “Sandiip’s appointment comes at a time when the network has taken up several challenges and we are sure, with an illustrious career behind him, Sandiip will bring in fresh perspective and creative excellence to the channel. The restructuring also shows our agility to alter structures as per the needs of time and keep moving our best people in the most challenging roles.”

  • Sanskar TV brings exclusive shows of Ganga Aarti and Yamuna Aarti

    Sanskar TV brings exclusive shows of Ganga Aarti and Yamuna Aarti

    Sanskar TV brings exclusive shows Of Ganga Aarti everyday at 5:50 PM Yamuna Aarti everyday at 4.45PM

    Mumbai June 24, 2006: It is the union of cosmic energy with physical being. It is the meeting of spirituality with eternal power. It is an expression of ether on earth. This surreal act fo surrender is shown with chants and hymns exclusively on Sanskar TV-The Channel of India.

     

    In spite of the waves of change taking place every minute, the core of the Indian belief in its interconnectedness of life remains unchanged. It is a simple act of thanksgiving when we offer our gratitude and place a lit earthen lamp in a small cup made out of leaves along with a few petals of fresh flowers. This beautiful island of fire, life and fragrance is then put onto the life sustaining waters of the Ganges at the culmination of the Ganga Aarti. Even today this act is carried out every day at Harkipaudi in Haridwar and it is a standing testimony to this immutable undercurrent of Indian thought. This is the town where the Ganga enters the plains.

     

    Sanskar TV, in its committeemen to India, exclusively brings you this moment of thanks giving and sense of gratitude to the eternal everyday as Ganga Aarti at 5:50 PM only on Sanskar.

    Before Ganga Aarti is the time for Yamuna Aarti everyday on Sanskar TV at 4:45 PM in Mathura. It is the land where Krishna performed his cosmic leela or play. After he was born in the prison cell of Mathura, his father Vasudev aided by several celestial forces stole him out of Mathura, across the raging river Yamuna and into the house of Nand in Gokul. The river Yamuna is intimately connected to Lord Krishna’s pastimes. The Lord Krishna sanctified the River Yamuna from the beginning of His transcendental pastimes in the world. While His father Vasudeva was crossing the Yamuna with baby Lord Krishna for a safe place at Gokul on the other bank of the river from Mathura, the Lord little foot fell down in the river, and by the dust of His lotus feet the river at once became sanctified.

     

    Sanskar TV is a spirituality channel that imparts insight into humanity and goodwill. It is a free to air channel on Thaicom – 3.

     

    Media Contact
    Neelam Gupta – 98200 70564
    Vedika Tripathi – 98703 32920
    nr2image@gmail.com
    NR2- The Image Engineers

  • Tanishq announces 10th Anniversary Bonanza- Series of offers to entice customers this season

    Tanishq, India’s innovative jewellery brand has announced exciting offers to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. The celebrations entitle Tanishq customers across the country to a 10-gram silver coin on purchase of 10-15 grams of 22k gold jewellery and a 0.5 gram gold coin on every purchase of 15-gram of 22k gold jewellery.

    The studded jewellery range also has a special offer of a 0.5 gram gold coin on every purchase of diamond jewellery worth Rs 10,000 or coloured stone jewellery worth Rs 15,000. Consumers can avail the Tanishq Anniversary offer from July 1 to 31, across all Tanishq showrooms in India. This offer is not valid on the purchase of gold coins and solitaires.

    This special offer is a celebration of the decade long success of Tanishq and its special bonding with the consumers. Tanishq has announced the special offer in a scenario where the price of gold is unstable and will make this offer irresistible to those consumers who are either postponing or staggering their gold purchases due to the rise in gold prices.

    Commenting on the offers that have been announced, Tanishq marketing and merchandising manager Aanchal Jain said, “Gold has become the most sought after commodity today, given the rise in gold prices customers are looking for more value whenever they buy gold jewellery. Our offers will appeal to customers who are looking for the best deals in quality, purity and value added offerings.”

    Tanishq, India’s only national jeweller offers gold and gem-set jewellery (in 22 and 18 carat gold) in over 6000 traditional, western and fusion looks. The Tanishq retail chain currently includes 81 exclusive boutiques in more than 62 cities, making it India’s first and largest jewellery retail store chain.

  • Trai’s Open House Discussion in Bangalore and Delhi

    MUMBAI: The TRAI will be holding Open House Discussions (OHD) in Delhi (on 23.2.2006) and Bangalore (on 21.2.2006) on the Consultation Paper issued on 2.1.2006 on issues relating to convergence and competition in Broadcasting and Telecommunications. The details on date(s), Venue(s) and Time of the OHD have already been placed on the TRAI Website www.trai.gov.in.

    2. All interested agencies / individuals are invited to participate. The consultation paper is available on the TRAI Website www.trai.gov.in. A gist of the comments received from stakeholders has been placed on the TRAI website. Issues posed for public consultation will also be available at the venue of the Open House Discussion.

    For any clarification, please contact Shri Rakesh Kacker, Advisor (B&CS), Ph. 011-26713291, Fax No. 011-26713442; E-mail: rkacker@trai.gov.in.

  • Cartoon Network to premier ‘Krishna: The Birth’ on Janmashtmi

    Cartoon Network to premier ‘Krishna: The Birth’ on Janmashtmi

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network will premiere yet another Indian animation film Krishna: The Birth on 16 August at 2 pm. What’s more, the series will be launched on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtmi.

    Produced by Hyderabad-based Green Gold Animation Studio, the 75-minutes long, 2-D animation movie, Krishna: The Birth traces the birth of Lord Krishna, the avtaar of Lord Vishnu.

    This is Cartoon Network’s second acquisition from Green Gold Animation Studio, the earlier one being Vikram Betal in 2005. This will also the first of the four planned Krishna series to be showcased on Cartoon Network.

    Krishna: The Birth takes the count of local animations acquired and showcased by Cartoon Network to 12, with four of these launching in 2006 itself.

    Turner International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman Misra said, “We are extremely enthused by the response of our audience to local animations acquired and telecast by Cartoon Network over the years. Airing locally produced shows is one of the cornerstones of the Network’s localisation strategy and helps us contextualise the content for our Indian audiences. With the launch of Krishna: The Birth, the Network reiterates its promise of acquiring and showcasing over four local Indian animation products within this year itself, taking the total tally of home-grown animations acquired by Cartoon Network to 12! I am sure that this absolutely riveting and charming animated version of the birth of Lord Krishna, will be enjoyed by both parents and children, who have grown up listening or watching this enduring tale.”

    PMI Green Gold Animation Pvt. Ltd managing director Rajiv Chilakalapudi added, “We are delighted to be working with Cartoon Network and are thrilled at getting the opportunity to animate a personality such as that of Lord Krishna. Krishna gives us the platform to showcase Green Gold’s Creative and technical strengths in Animation. Since its inception Green Gold has been focused towards the development of original intellectual animation properties with the assistance of powerful digital animation software tools while pushing the boundaries of constant innovation.”

    Debuting as part of Cartoon Network Theatre on 16 August, Krishna: The Birth is the enchanting tale of the miraculous birth of Lord Vishnu in the form of baby Krishna to Vasudev and Devaki. The story is set in an era when the human race was overburdened by the demonic forces of different kings posing themselves as the royal order. Perturbed by this disorder and chaos, the predominating deity of the Earth, known as Bhu Devi, and along with other Gods approached Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu promised them that he would take birth on Earth as Krishna, who would destroy all evil on the planet before the dawn of Kalyug. Krishna: The Birth’ chronicles the events and incidents accompanying the birth of Lord Vishnu as Krishna.

    The first four parts of Krishna would cover the birth of Krishna, Krishna’s childhood, Krishna’s teenage, and Krishna killing Kansa. The first part of this series, Krishna: The Birth has been worked on by over 100 animation specialists and it took almost a year to make the same, from the stage of pre-production, with production taking six months.