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  • Irdeto to help ETV make the transition to pay

    SINGAPORE: Irdeto, which works in the area of providing content security for digital TV, IPTV and mobile networks, has announced that ETV has chosen its digital TV solution to help protect ETV and ETV2 as they get converted from free-to-air to pay TV services.


    ETV VP operations K. Bapineedu says, “ETV and ETV2 are known for providing the best of family entertainment and leading edge news, and thus, it was crucial that we protect this content with the most robust conditional access solution possible..


    “Irdeto’s reputation as the proven leader in the industry with an unparalleled record of three generations of uncompromised smart cards in the market was key in our decision to go with their content security solution.”


    Irdeto CEO Graham Kill said, “Leading broadcasters like ETV-Network realise that content security plays a key role in securing revenue. Irdeto offers a choice in proven content security solutions that support many different business models creating new business opportunities for content owners and network operators.”


    Irdeto’s India country manager Rahul Nehra says, “We are committed to curtailing piracy on local and national levels. In order for ETV-Network to achieve a successful conversion from free-to-air to pay TV services, a tried and tested content protection solution was crucial. We are pleased to be selected by ETV-Network to protect two of its key local-language channels.”

  • Star News to launch ’24 Ghante, 24 Reporter’ bulletin

    Star News to launch ’24 Ghante, 24 Reporter’ bulletin

    MUMBAI: Starting 26 June, the Hindi news channel — Star News is set to launch a news bulletin 24 Ghante, 24 Reporter. The bulletin will air at 10 pm on the week days, while the metro specific news bulletin –City 60, will air at 10:30 pm.

    Through the 24 Ghante, 24 Reporters, the news is packaged in a crisp and fast-paced, which will bring 24 news stories in 30 minutes.

    According to an official release, this pacy news bulletin is primarily targeted for viewers on the move who want a quick news roundup of the day. All the important news stories of the day will be presented in a short yet comprehensive capsule form. The fast paced ideally placed 10 pm bulletin caters to just such an audience by redefining the set parameters of news presentation.

    The news will consist of various segments- Sabse Bari Khabar, Desh, Shahar, Gunah, Duniya, Khel, Karobar, Cinema and TV.
     

  • 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.”

  • HDTV: Double digit growth expected over next 5 years

    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.”

  • What content will work on Mobile still the big question

    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.”

  • ‘Maine Pyar Kyon Kya’ producer to raise Rs 500-550 million via IPO

    ‘Maine Pyar Kyon Kya’ producer to raise Rs 500-550 million via IPO

    MUMBAI: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd (SACVL), a film production and distribution house, is tapping the capital market. The company plans to raise Rs 500-550 million through an initial public offering (IPO) to ramp up its film production business. 

    SACVL, which produced Maine Pyar Kyon Kya along with Sohail Khan productions, has appointed Allianz Securities to lead manage the issue.

    “We have a business plan to increase our production pipeline from three to five films a year. The size of the IPO should be in the range between Rs 500-550 million. We are awaiting the regulatory approvals,” says Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision chief financial officer Shyam Sunder.

    The company will offer a public issue of 37,28,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each at a premium to be decided through the book building process. The price band will be fixed later.

    The IPO proceeds will be used towards film production and purchase of equipment. SACVL has earmarked Rs 459 million for production of three films while Rs 141 million will be for equipment buying. “We have a movie by Abbas Mastan on the floor with Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu as the lead cast. The other two movies are at the pre-production stage,” says Sunder.

    The company distributes 10-12 movies a year. SACVL will be distributing Golmaal which is slated for release on 14 July. Main Hoon Na, Garv, Mujse Shaadi Karogi and Aitraaz are among the movies distributed by the company.

    The promoters’ holding will come down from 74.14 per cent to 50.85 per cent. The company’s turnover for the nine months ended 31 December 2005 stood at Rs 469 million with Maine Pyar Kyon Kya accounting for Rs 320 million while income from distribution stood at Rs 140 million.

  • Digital radio is where it’s at

    Digital radio is where it’s at

    SINGAPORE: Looks like it’s time for traditional radio stations in India to pull up their socks, as digital and internet radio is already being lapped up by about 50 million music lovers across the world.

    Not just that, but new ways of accessing music, (via wireless and Internet) has brought in a paradigm shift in the functioning of the traditional audio medium…

    Just a quick dekko at some facts and sweeping changes. With Podcasting gaining ground, interactive and savvy consumers are creating their own customized radio stations online. We already have have more than 40,000 radio stations podcasting live; which is a disturbing fact considering that there are only 30,000 traditional radio stations across the world. Also, the success of sites like myspace.com have gone on to show that social networking sites will become more important for selling music as compared to TV or Radio.

    Media futurist, & ThinkAndLink, CEO, Gerd Leonhard dwelled at length on the future of radio yesterday, the last day of Broadcst Asia. Addressing a packed audience of professionals from across the world, Leonhard said, “Digital & internet radio is now big in countries like UK, Japan, Korea, Scandinavia and very soon it’s going to catch on across the world. Traditional radio companies have to accept this and move ahead with the changes.”

    He further added, “The radio industry is touted to be roughly around $ 50 billion a year, constituting around 15 per cent of total advertising revenues. Now, this pie is going to be further fragmented and shared by mobile companies, and even companies like Apple, Google; even mobile companies as well as wireless companies. What has now emerged is that content owners will not hold distribution rights to their content anymore, so the only thing is to accept this and try to monetize from this. So, one will see a a new type of advertising which will be the revenue driver along with the content.

    Some relevant data which emerged from the session was that myspace.com, which currently has 28 billion page views, seems to be more important tpo advertisers than even a heavy rotation on MTV. Also, to listen to music, it’s the always with you/always on devices that are critical (2 billion mobile users, coupled with 50 million ipods). 
    When queried on his views on the Indian radio market, Leonhard said that, India along with China, and some untapped markets in Africa and Middle East will lead the rapid growth.

    Also, with the mobile and technology revolution sweeping India, the rates will fall further and people will access digital radio sooner than even other parts of the world.

  • 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.”

  • Disney channels now available on Thailand’s True IPTV

    MUMBAI: : A partnership deal has been signed between Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) and True Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd. to make Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney Channel available on True IPTV, slated to start this month.


    True IPTV Thailand‘s Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) provider, is a pay-TV service with an ‘a la carte‘ pricing model. It is available to viewers at a monthly subscription of Baht120 (US$3) for each of the commercial-free Disney channels, informs an official release.


    Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific) Senior VP and MD Nicky Parkinson said, “It has been Disney‘s strategic focus to develop compelling content and utilize leading-edge technologies in response to consumer demands of getting quality entertainment experiences in the most relevant way. IPTV is anticipated to be a major entertainment platform in Thailand and we are extremely excited to work with True, an innovative industry player providing the first IPTV here, to embrace this fast-growing opportunity and bring our two branded channels to Thai kids and families.”


    Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) MD Raymund Miranda said, “Being responsive to the technological advances of TV programming distribution is a priority for us at Disney Television and the launch of our channels on True IPTV marks an exciting milestone in our business in Southeast Asia. In the long-term, IPTV is expected to penetrate 55 per cent share of the Thai TV market and we look forward to working with True IPTV, the leader in this space, to make that forecast a reality.”


    True IPTV was launched by True Corporation Plc, Thailand‘s integrated telecom operator providing fixed line telephone, mobile, broadband and multimedia services. The company plans to expand its operations in Thailand to reach out to local audiences through selected animated programming on both Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney Channel which are dubbed in Thai. Also, number of live-action series have Thai subtitling. In addition, an English language feed is also available in appropriate areas, adds the release.


    Commenting on the partnership, True Corporation Plc MD Thiti Nantapatsiri said, “We‘re pleased to have the two Disney channels on our new IPTV offering and we‘re confident that our growing number of subscribers will enjoy Disney‘s unique brand of quality entertainment.”

  • Trai releases draft on quality of service norms for CAS Areas

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today released a draft regulation on quality of service for CAS areas.


    The draft regulation covers areas like fresh connection, transfer and shifting of cable television service, complaint handling and redressal, billing procedure and complaints, STB-related issues and complaints, change in position of channels and taking channels off the air and technical standards.


    The industry can also send its feedback to the regualor on the draft regulation, which are aimed at streamlining norms for CAS and formualting a standardised agreements amongst industry stakeholders like broadcasters and MSOs and MSOs and cable operators.