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  • Texas Instruments holds seminar on adoption of mobile television

    MUMBAI: Mobile sports fans around the globe are experiencing the first major international sporting event being broadcast live to mobile phones worldwide, from Europe to South Africa to North America, in the palms of their hands. Texas Instruments which manufactures wireless semiconductors hosted a press event yesterday 4 July 2006 on the potential of mobile digital TV in Munich, Germany.


    Today there are approximately 16 countries with Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) mobile TV networks in place. DVB-H is an open standard developed by the DVB Project with broad industry support among hundreds of companies worldwide. The advantages of DVB-H compared to other mobile TV standards were addressed in a panel discussion led by David McQueen, principal analyst for Informa Telecoms and Media, with representatives from TI and Nokia. The panel also discussed the potential of the emerging mobile Digital TV (DTV) market with on-the-go consumers who are hungry for content to fit their interests. Following the panel, attendees were able to experience how sports fans‘ lives are changing with mobile TV from demonstrations of TI‘s Hollywood DVB-H single chip and Nokia‘s N92 mobile device.


    McQueen says, “2006 is the year the mobile DTV picture will start to become clear with strong industry traction and international sporting events serving as the catalyst for mobile DTV growth. In fact, Informa expects $300 million in operator revenue to come just from users accessing streaming and broadcast services in June and early July to watch their favourite team play in international competition.”


    In order for mobile DTV handsets to be embraced by the mass market, the service and the technology must be affordable. Nokia director, Multimedia Harri Mannisto says, “At Nokia we firmly believe that mobile DTV will deploy beyond the initial uptake the market is currently experiencing. From the numerous consumer pilots in which Nokia has been involved, it has become clear that mobile TV is a very exciting and interesting mobile service which consumers are ready to pay for.”


    Christian Dupont, European director for TI‘s Wireless Terminals Business Unit, indicated that while the market‘s real growth will take place in the next five years, major international sporting events are sparking shorter term development. “This year we expect a substantial increase in consumer awareness for mobile broadcast TV that will in turn drive broader adoption of mobile DTV with DVB-H.


    “We are seeing the impact the first live mobile TV broadcast of a major global sporting event is having which is evidence that the entire ecosystem has taken a major step together to bring mobile TV to consumers worldwide outside of initial trials.”


    At every level of the mobile DTV value-chain, carriers, handset providers, infrastructure owners, content providers, broadcasters and semiconductor suppliers are putting increased efforts behind their mobile DTV plans supporting DVB-H. Informa believes for good reason – they predict 210 million mobile TV subscribers by 2011 and that by then ten percent of all mobile handsets sold will have a broadcast receiver, with DVB-H accounting for 63 per cent of broadcast receiver sales.


    Demonstrations shown at the press included:


    * Nokia showcased live broadcasts on its innovative Nokia N92 mobile device, the first DVB-H enabled device in the Nokia Nseries portfolio.


    * TI demonstrated its Hollywood technology – the industry‘s first single-chip mobile DTV solution on the market – and its high performance OMAP2420 processor to provide a crisp, clear viewing experience. This demonstration was displayed using a DLP Pocket Projector linked to a demonstration unit and used technology from TI‘s partners PacketVideo and Silicon and Software Systems Ltd. (S3).

  • MTV to celebrate anniversary of Live8 concert globally

    MTV to celebrate anniversary of Live8 concert globally

    MUMBAI: One year on from the historic Live8 concert, MTV Networks International is celebrating the first anniversary of the momentous music event by airing a new special this month called Live8: What A Difference A Day Made. This is being done through a partnership with Network Live. An estimated three billion people all from all over the world watched Live8, billed as the greatest show on earth, where the crème of the world’s music artists came together to perform with one message – make poverty history.

    MTV will premiere the 90-minute special reaching 480 million households around the world in major markets including US, Japan, UK, France, Germany and Latin America. In addition to providing viewers the chance to relive the music spectacular of Live8, Bob Geldof will introduce the programme by giving a retrospective on how far we have travelled since the historic event and why it’s important to remember one year later.

    The programme is a selection of highlights from most inspirational performances and presentations that took place across 10 cities including London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Ontario, Toyko, Johannesburg, Philadelphia, Moscow and Edinburgh. Live8: What A Difference A Day Made relives the moments when U2, Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Madonna, Youssou N’Dour and Dido, Robbie Williams, Pink Floyd, R.E.M., Paul McCartney and others captured the hope and optimism of the world and rallied the crowds to fight against poverty in Africa and to lobby the G8 leaders to makes promises on debt relief, Aids drugs, trade tariffs and education.

    The special will air on MTV’s channels in the lead up the G8 Summit 2006 on 15 July in St Petersburg, Russia where G8 leaders are expected to discuss international issues such as global energy security, infectious diseases and education. Live8 was executive produced by Network Live CEO Kevin Wall.

    In 2005 in the week leading to the G8 Summit and Live8 concerts, UK Prime Minister and chair of the G8 summit Tony Blair and Live8’s leading force Bob Geldof took tough questions on African poverty, debt relief and US President George Bush’s policies on climate control from MTV viewers representing 24 countries around the world – including seven African nations.

  • Music airplay: ETC, T-Series at loggerheads

    Music airplay: ETC, T-Series at loggerheads

    MUMBAI: The Zee Network owned music channels ETC and Zee Music have decided to take on T-Series, the audio company which controls a large of chunk of the Bollywood music market, over what they assert are pending dues amounting to over Rs 70 million.

    ETC Networks has issued a notice declaring that it has “with immediate effect stopped accepting bookings for telecasting of film trailers and promos of film and non film music from Super Cassette Industries Ltd (T-Series).”

    Countering the charge, T-Series has denied any outstandings and has retaliated by claiming that it is Zee that has infringed on the intellectual property rights of the entire film industry, including T-Series.

    The ETC release, meanwhile, points out, “All concerned producers who have made bookings through Super Cassette Industries may kindly note that their trailers and promos will not be telecast by us on account of deliberate and purposeful default of payment.”

    ETC has also highlighted that “all producers who are interested in telecasting their film trailers and promos of film and non film music with immediate effect as well as in future are requested to directly approach the company.” The statement further says that ETC is ready to provide “new revised and reduced rates and terms” specially for producers.

    T-Series holds the audio rights of some big upcoming releases in 2006 including Babul, Salaam-e Ishq, Jaaneman and the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Don, so how the face-off plays out could well have far-reaching implications across the industry.

  • CAS rollout: Delhi HC ‘no’ to government plea for more time

    NEW DELHI: The Indian government yet again pleaded for more time to roll out CAS — six months to be exact — but a Delhi court has refused to accede to the request, asking for a final stand on the issue by the next date of hearing.


    According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, even the broadcast regulator pleaded for two to three months time to sort out CAS-related issues like pricing of TV channels.


    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) submitted to the Delhi High Court today that it has initiated a dialogue with the industry stakeholders on issues related to CAS, which would take a few months time to complete and some consensus arrived at.


    However, the court was critical of such pleas and fixed the next date of hearing for 19 July.


    On the arguments forwarded by the government for more time, the court said the maximum that could be given is 90 days as authorities have already consumed considerable time in carrying out an earlier order of the court.


    On 10 March, the Delhi HC had directed the information and broadcasting ministry to roll out CAS in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai within a month’s time.


    The court observed that if the government is unable to sort out CAS matters, then it could also explore the possibility of going ahead with the rollout based on the Chennai model.


    Chennai is the only city in India where CAS has been rolled out and running smoothly since 2003.


    A clutch of MSOs, including Hathway and INCablenet, had filed a case against the government on CAS in the Delhi High Court late 2004, alleging that keeping addressability in abeyance had resulted in financial losses to the petitioners.


    In the representation made before the court today, the petitioners alluded to the possibility of the government having plans to do away with mandated CAS completely. In this regard they made references to the relevant sections from the draft Broadcast Bill 2006, which is currently being circulated amongst government organisations for further feedback.


    When the government counsel expressed his ignorance of a draft Broadcast Bill, leave alone plans of junking CAS by making it voluntary, the counsel for the petitioners furnished a section of the draft Bill in the court.


    Also Read:


    Delhi HC orders Government to implement CAS within four weeks

  • Fifa to organise ‘Football For A Better World’ event on 7 July

    Fifa to organise ‘Football For A Better World’ event on 7 July

    MUMBAI: Just two days before the final of the 2006 Fifa World Cup between Italy and either France or Portugal, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, will be the setting for a big football party: The ‘Football for a Better World – From Germany to South Africa’ show will kick off the four-year journey to the 2010 Fifa World Cup with a joyful celebration of football and music.Admission is completely free.

    The show features multi-platinum selling acts from across the globe. Germany is represented by Xavier Naidoo, Wir sind Helden and Die Fantastischen Vier. South American star Ivete Sangalo will bring the samba spirit, dancehall and hip hop superstars Sean Pau,l Wyclef Jean and Lumidee will be moving the crowd all night long, and further special performances by Patrizio Buanne and other special guest stars are also lined-up.

    One of the highlights of the evening will be the super-group put together spontaneously and specially for this show by African music legend Youssou N’Dour.

    This unique group features fellow African artists such as, Angélique Kidjo, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Vusi Mahlasela, MC Solaar und Rokia Traore. Freshlyground, South Africa’s top selling artists complete the high quality line-up. The show will be presented by popular German TV sports and entertainment anchors Monica Lierhaus and Matthias Opdenhövel and stand-up comedian Michael Mittermeier will present a special set of his unique brand of humour.

    High-ranking dignitaries such as the General Secretary of the UN Kofi Annan, South Africa president Thabo Mbeki, Fifa president Joseph S Blatter, the president of the 2006 Fifa Organising Committee Franz Beckenbauer, as well as the Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit will be addressing the show audience in Berlin and millions of television viewers watching the broadcast in over 120 countries. The former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela will be joining in via a video message from the 2010 host country.

    In keeping with the upcoming change in venue for the soccer World Cup legends of African football will also grace the stage with stars such as George Weah, Roger Milla and Abedi Pele unveiling a special treat for the Berlin audience. The Giant video screens at the Fan fest will replay the greatest moments of the 2006 Fifa World Cup and provide the context for all the evenings entertainment. Fifa will also highlight its Official Charity Campaign “6 villages for 2006” in conjunction with SOS Children’s Villages. This project aiming at creating six new SOS children’s villages in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine, and Vietnam, providing a new home to at least 800 children in need.

    With this show, the world governing body of football wants to emphasise the power of football far beyond the boundaries of the pitch by bringing together with artists, football icons and world leaders to deliver a joint message to the world. The show, broadcast from Germany’s biggest public viewing event the Fan Fest Berlin, will spotlight the “Football for a Better World” alliance, which will allow the implementation of one of the main goals of world football’s governing body, which is to strive to build a better future through football, especially in Africa, but also throughout the world.

  • Singapore TV personality Allan Wu to host AXN’s Amazing Race Asia edition

    Singapore TV personality Allan Wu to host AXN’s Amazing Race Asia edition

    MUMBAI: One of the action oriented AXN’s biggest on ground initiatives for this year is The Amazing Race Asia. Like its American counterpart, the reality show will see contestants from different Asian countries running from one location to another on specified modes of transport to emerge as a winner and get $100,000.

    The host of the show will be Singapore-based TV personality Allan Wu. He has in the past participated in the US reality series Fear Factor which also airs on AXN. As had been reported a few months ago by indiantelevision.com, over 1,000 teams had applied to participate in the race.

    As a marketing initiative, AXN will conduct a series of road shows in the region to engage the public. AXN will be holding the Amazing Race Fan Tour from July to October. The places it will visit are Delhi on 8 October, Korea on 8 July, Bangkok on 5 August, Singapore on 26 August, Kuala Lumpur on 9 September and Manila on 30 September.

    AXN says that it was searching for a host that could not only relate to various Asian cultures but who would be able to keep up with the intense physical demands of the race.

    SPE Networks Asia GM Ricky Ow says, “Having participated in another world-class TV show, Allan Wu understands what it takes to be the host of The Amazing Race Asia. He embodies the spirit of AXN and The Amazing Race Asia. As a big fan of The Amazing Race, Allan will be able to give interesting insight to the Asian version of this hit reality show.

    “And it doesn’t hurt that Allan is easy on the eyes. His good looks and natural charisma will offer a different appeal from the US version, and will definitely ‘Wu’ new fans for The Amazing Race Asia.”

    AXN has also announced a raft of sponsors for the event. They are Malaysia Tourism and Promotion Board, and the regional sponsors are: Official Camera Partner – Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, Official Airline Partner – AirAsia, Caltex, MSN, Official Mobile Partner – Nokia, and Official Hospitality Partner – Bintan Lagoon Resort and Bintan Resorts. Ford is a local sponsor.

    Production on The Amazing Race Asia finished last month. Post-production work will shortly commence and the show will air in 13 episodes across Asia later in the year.

    Each team comprises of two people with a pre-existing relationship like husband – wife, mother – daughter.

    As with the US version, participants will be perpetually guessing their next destination as venturing into the unknown has always been the entertaining hallmark of the show. This sense of the unknown puts everyone on a level playing field.

  • Nokia conducting mobile TV trials in Sweden

    Nokia conducting mobile TV trials in Sweden

    MUMBAI: Mobile firm Nokia has announced a new commercial DVB-H pilot in Stockholm with Teracom in Sweden. Nokia is supplying the Nokia Mobile Broadcast System 3.0 and Nokia N92 mobile TV devices to the pilot which will last from October to December 2006 and includes 400 consumers. The project is a co-operation between ATG, Boxer, Nokia, Sveriges Radio, Sveriges Television/UR, Telenor and Teracom.

    The pilot participants will be able to watch 14 TV channels and listen to four radio channels in the Stockholm city region, where a network has been built for high quality indoor and outdoor coverage. The objective is to evaluate what Swedish consumers think about commercial broadcast mobile TV and thus gauge market potential.

    ATG, Boxer, Sveriges Radio and Sveriges Television will provide content for the pilot. The test will be delivered using Nokia Mobile Broadcast Solution 3.0, and the pilot participants will use mobile devices from Nokia, the Nokia N92. Teracom will be responsible for the network, the broadcast and operating of the platform.

    This is the second mobile TV pilot in Sweden where Nokia is one of the main suppliers of DVB-H technology. Recently Nokia had announced a new contract with TeliaSonera Sweden for a complete DVB-H pilot system, including Nokia Mobile Broadcast System 3.0 and Nokia N92 mobile TV devices, underpinned by Nokia’s hosting and systems integration know-how.

    Fore the uninitiated DVB-H technology complements existing operator networks, optimising capacity and quality. It offers consumers the chance to enjoy high quality terrestrial digital broadcasts along with voice telephony and internet access all in a single device. Broadcast mobile TV will offer new business opportunities for mobile service providers, content and broadcast companies, infrastructure and handset manufacturers as well as technology providers.

    The feedback from different mobile TV pilots has been promising. Results from pilots on broadcast (DVB-H) mobile TV services among consumers in Finland, the UK, Spain and France have revealed clear consumer demand for such services as well as important indications over future business models for commercial mobile TV services.

  • ABU delivers excellent results for Commonwealth Games

    ABU delivers excellent results for Commonwealth Games

    MUMBAI: The Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) has announced that over a billion people had access to free-to-air coverage of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, stretching from Mongolia in Central Asia, down to the Republic of Timor Leste.

    ABU’s head of sport in Melbourne John Barton says, “We have built the biggest television platform in Asia and the Pacific for the Melbourne games and we will continue to see it grow over the years, especially with New Delhi hosting the next event in 2010.”

    Televising multi sport events such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games on free-to-air television would have lasting economic benefits for a nation, says Barton.

    “We are not just investing in a sporting contest. It is much greater than that. We are showcasing the character of a host nation, its many cultural and commercial assets, and the character and values of the competing nations. That was why it is extremely important for the events to be seen on the free-to-air television markets around the world where their countrymen could share the highs and lows that come with the great sporting occasion.

    “Governments and broadcasters have a dual responsibility to make sure that their athletes and teams are given due recognition on television for their years of effort and training. So when they step out onto the international sporting stage they know that their nation is with them, right at that moment, sharing their joy or sadness” he adds.

    Governments in Asia are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on sporting infrastructure, facilities, coaches and new training methods. “Asia is thriving as a regional sporting powerhouse with the increasing numbers of Olympic champions. But without television, which has been the engine for growth for many years, that development could be arrested,” he added.

  • Spike TV’s Blade premieres with 2.5 million viewers

    Spike TV’s Blade premieres with 2.5 million viewers

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom’s cable channel for men Spike TV has announced that its first original action show Blade: The Series, which premiered a few nights ago, saw 2.5 million viewers tuning in. This is the highest premiere in its history for an original series. The show takes off from the vampire films Blade, which star Wesley Snipes.

    Additionally Blade: The Series was the number one entertainment show for the night with men 18-34 and 18-49. It tallied triple-digit gains in all key male demos versus last year including up 517 per cent in M18-34 (2.6 rating, 680,000 viewers), up 472 per cent in M18-49 (2.2, 1.17 million), up 277 per cent in viewers (2.5 million), and up +247 oer cent in household rating (2.0, 1.8 million).

  • Spiderman creator Stan Lee working on a reality show

    Spiderman creator Stan Lee working on a reality show

    MUMBAI: Comic creator legend Stan Lee, who created Spiderman and X-Men among other superheroes, will premiere a reality show from his company Pow! Entertainment on US broadcaster NBC’s Sci Fi Channel later this month.

    Who Wants To Be A Superhero? kicks off on 27 July 2006. This is a six-episode, one-hour weekly competition reality series that will challenge a lucky few to create their very own superhero and reward the winner with the best reality competition prize yet: immortality. Each contestant begins

    with an original idea for a superhero, a self-made costume, and their best superhero mojo. From thousands of hopefuls, Stan Lee chooses 11 finalists who must live together during the entire competition in a secret lair. There they will begin their transformations — and the competition begins for the opportunity to become real-life superheroes. Over the course of the series, they will test their mettle, try to overcome their limitations, and do what it takes to prove that they truly are super.

    The finalists will leave their former lives behind and live as their brainchild heroes 24/7. Stan Lee, who is taking a leaf from Donald Trump’s Apprentice, will be both judge and jury. As each week progresses, Pow!’s aspiring heroes will be challenged with competitions designed to test their true natures. The superhero contestants will be tested for courage, integrity, self-sacrifice, compassion, and resourcefulness — all traits that every true Stan Lee superhero must possess.

    In the end, only one aspiring superhero will have the inner strength and nobility to open the gates to comic-book immortality. The winner of this six-week competition will walk away with their character immortaliaed in a new comic book created by Stan Lee. The winning character will also appear in a Sci Fi Channel movie.