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  • Zee Sports completes deals with foreign broadcasters for Abu Dhabi series

    Zee Sports completes deals with foreign broadcasters for Abu Dhabi series

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports has reached agreements with major international broadcasters and radio players for the DLF Cup, India-Pakistan One Day International series. The entire multimedia rights for all the major television territories have been finalised.

    For Pakistan, Zee Sports has signed agreements with PTV for their terrestrial network and on Ten Sports for C&S homes. Hum FM will provide the live radio commentary in Pakistan and the Middle East. In Singapore the matches will be available on Star Hub. For the Malaysian territory, Astro All Asia Network will broadcast the two-match series.

    For the USA, the channel has entered into agreement with Echostar Satellite for the DLF Cup. Zee will leverage its international network in the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East and South Africa, where the matches will be broadcast through its own Zee International feeds in the respective countries.

    Commenting on the deals, Zee Sports business head Himanshu Mody offers, “We are pleased to enter into agreements with various international broadcasters for telecast of this series between India and Pakistan. Our internal syndication team has been able to do a very effective job in a very short span of time.”

    Zee Sports has acquired the global media rights for all matches that India will play in non-ICC member countries. As part of the deal 25 matches will be played over a period of 5 years with an average of 5 matches per year. The global media rights comprise television, radio and Internet rights. The rights are for a period of five years from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2011.

  • China tightens control over international TV news

    MUMBAI: China’s broadcasting watchdog State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has issued a notice banning its local broadcasters from using news footage taken from foreign satellite programmes and international news material acquired from channels other than state-run.

    SARFT said in its latest notice that local television stations could draw only from the international news reports provided by the state-run China Central Television and China Radio International.

    “Recently, some foreign news agencies and media have used a variety of methods to sell international news material to domestic local TV stations, which have clear political intentions,” the notice said. According to SARFT, local broadcasters should avoid using international news material from foreign sources to make international news programmes or special coverage about international affairs.

    The new order also bans television stations using news footage taken from foreign satellite programmes broadcast with news reports from the official Xinhua News Agency. SARFT also insists that, broadcasting administrations at all levels should check up on local broadcasters and correct any wrong operations.

  • Intelsat launches open architecture content management service

    Intelsat launches open architecture content management service

    MUMBAI: Satellite operator Intelsat has introduced Ampiage. This is a new satellite-based, open-architecture, content delivery and management service for US multiple system operators (MSOs) seeking to cost-effectively upgrade to MPEG-4 and telecommunications operators (telcos) looking to enter the IPTV market.

    Intelsat CEO David McGlade says, “Our goal is to offer services that help our customers reach their goals, and Ampiage will benefit phone companies and cable operators in two very different ways. This is a game-starter for phone companies looking to launch IPTV services for their subscribers and make a video play.

    “Separately, it is also a cost-effective way for cable companies to upgrade to MPEG-4 without having to invest new capital in equipment. Lastly, Ampiage also showcases Intelsat’s ability to introduce innovative services that address new and growing markets created by the convergence of telecom and media.”

    Modelled on a “super head-end” for content distribution Ampiage will upgrade and convert video stream for MSOs from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 using state-of-the-art equipment. The move to MPEG-4 is being driven by the desire for both higher transmission quality and efficient utilization of bandwidth. The service is designed to include fully redundant facilities and transmission capacity, thus it is expected that Ampiage services will have the ‘gold standard’ service excellence and high availability for which Intelsat is known.

    Intelsat says that Telco customers will realise cost savings by taking advantage of Intelsat’s packaged offering, which, if the elements were procured separately and on their own, would cost them millions of dollars. Telco customers are expected to benefit from Intelsat’s volume relationships with content creators worldwide, its ability to secure transport rights and its relationships with coveted niche and international programmers, which will enable them to create local packages that are highly customised to demographic concentrations.

    Ampiage cost-effectively packages the acquisition, aggregation, encoding, encapsulation and encryption of licensed TV programming from content providers and has the ability to redistribute it in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 format to cable and telecom service providers. This allows MSOs and telcos either to establish or enhance their digital programming lineups quickly and with low capital investment.

    Ampiage completely centralises the aggregation of national TV programmer content and offers hundreds of video and audio channels in full digital quality. This enables telcos to efficiently bundle an attractive standard and high definition programming package with their voice and broadband services without incurring a significant upgrade cost.

    Ampiage originates from Intelsat’s Video Operations Center, where video and audio are received and processed for distribution to telco and MSO video hubs nationwide. Leveraging the complete coverage of North America offered by the Intelsat Americas fleet, Ampiage distributes the programming to regional telecom and cable service providers. Telcos and MSOs then distribute this programming content via xDSL, fiber, conventional cable networks and other broadband networks to their residential subscribers across North America.

  • FM radio players protest WorldSpace terrestrial foray

    FM radio players protest WorldSpace terrestrial foray

    NEW DELHI: It is not only the television broadcasters that are grappling with the issue of distribution and competition. Private radio broadcasters too have started sampling irritants in this regard.

    The private sector FM radio players has complained against satellite radio provider WorldSpace’s attempt to get certain licences that would help it distribute the services terrestrially also.

    According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, WorldSpace, India’s only satellite radio service, is trying to get a license for L-band terrestrial repeater from the information and broadcasting ministry, which, if obtained, will help it to transmit its services on moving vehicles terrestrially — the primary target audience of FM radio.

    “Repeaters are basically targeted at subscribers-on-move like in a car, etc. A satellite radio cannot enter into terrestrial segment by any means,” a letter to the government from the Association of radio Operators in India (AROI) states.

    Raising the emotional quotient, AROI seems to be appealing to the conscience of the government by saying, “We fail to understand why the Government of India is working on the WorldSpace application even when a proper guideline on satellite radio in India is still not available.”

    The letter goes on to add that considering FM radio in India is in a nascent stage and the FM radio broadcasters have paid “an exorbitant OTEF (one-time entry fee)”. the government should “protect FM radio industry for at least next 10 years.”

    “Before even waiting for the commissioning of the new stations, the ministry is already making plans to welcome new players into the terrestrial radio arena, directly threatening the existence of the FM Radio licensees. This is not acceptable at all,” the high-pitched AROI letter states.

    The AROI letter has been marked to prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, defence minister Pranab Mukharjee, home minister Shivraj Patil and telecommunication minister Dayanidhi Maran and I&B ministry secretary SK Arora.

    The move of AROI comes at a time when the government is working on putting in place a policy for satellite radio services, including caps on foreign investments, which would force the likes of WordSpace to restructure themselves and find majority Indian partners.

    The AROI letter is also likely to put pressure on the government to bring about stringent regulations relating to satellite radio services. The Sector regulator has already submitted a set of recommendations to the I&B ministry.

  • Mary Hockaday is BBC Radio News deputy head

    Mary Hockaday is BBC Radio News deputy head

    MUMBAI: Mary Hockaday has been announced as the BBC’s Deputy Head of Radio News, a new post working across the whole department in the UK. At present she is BBC Radio’s Editor of World Service News and Current Affairs.

    The move follows the appointment of Ceri Thomas as Editor of Radio 4’s Today programme. Ceri and Mary both deputised for Radio News head Stephen Mitchell, will be covering domestic and world affairs respectively.

    Mitchell said, “Mary has significant editorial experience both in the field and on programmes on World Service and Radio 4. I am very confident that she will now help us to transform the way we deliver our journalism across the board in the light of the major changes that are affecting our audiences and the wider BBC. Mary has been an outstanding part of the radio news family for several years and I am delighted to be able to appoint her to this important new post.”

    Part of Mary’s new role will be to further enhance coverage of foreign affairs across the department. She said, “I am really looking forward to working with colleagues right across BBC Radio News, to help deliver traditional and modern news services to big and varied audiences and to help bring closer together the editorial strength and creativity of staff from across domestic and World Service news departments.”

    Hockaday begins her new role at the end of the month. BBC Radio News will now seek to appoint a new editor of World Service News and Current Affairs, as well as a Radio newsgathering editor, to replace Ceri Thomas.

  • Randstad acquires 57% of Indian staffing company Team4U

    Randstad acquires 57% of Indian staffing company Team4U

    MUMBAI: Randstad Holding has agreed with shareholders of Team HR Services Private Limited, operating under the brand name Team4U, to purchase 57 per cent of the company’s shares, with the option to purchase the remainder of the shares over the coming two years.

    “Team4U provides a platform to further strengthen Randstad’s position in the growing Indian market, and fits with our overall growth strategy to establish a presence in the region,” the company stated.
    “Team4U helps Randstad expand its Indian business. This gives us a head start in entering the rapidly growing staffing market thanks to their market share of some 10 per cent. Team4U is a well-managed company that has experienced excellent growth over the past years, now being the fourth largest staffing company in India. We are delighted to benefit from the managerial and commercial strengths of Team4U. This will allow us to further leverage our position in India, which we first established with our majority stake in the Indian recruitment company EmmayHR in December 2005,” said Randstad Holding CEO Ben Noteboom.

    “Randstad’s expertise in staffing will enhance our capabilities for serving our clients. With Randstad as a strong partner, we will be in an even better position to continue our path of profitable growth,” said Team4U president and director Abhinav Dhawan.

    Team4U provides staffing and HR solutions services, with payroll management services forming an important part of the service offering. Headquartered in Delhi, Team4U has offices in nine Indian cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.

    The staffing and recruitment services market in India is still relatively small, but rapidly developing. Randstad already established a position in the Indian recruitment market by obtaining 51 per cent of the shares of EmmayHR in December 2005. The current transaction with Team4U provides Randstad access to the Indian staffing market.

  • CBS launches broadband television network ‘Innertube’

    CBS launches broadband television network ‘Innertube’

    MUMBAI: US network CBS has launched a new broadband television network to capture a greater share of the booming internet advertising market.

    The network Innertube will offer streaming video of programmes developed specifically for the internet, programmes that serve as companions to existing CBS shows, as well as material from the media group’s vast library.

    The revenue model for Innertube, which is offered as free to viewers, is based on paid advertising. “In every discussion we’re having with advertisers, the discussion includes interactive possibilities,” CBS Digital president Larry Kramer has been quoted in media reports as saying.

    Kramer supported the new revenue model, describing CBS’s recent success offering an advertising-supported webcast of the annual college basketball tournament. Reportedly, the webcast drew 5 million visits, and led to more than 15 million downloads.

  • B4U’s Gautam joins UTV as film distribution, India head

    B4U’s Gautam joins UTV as film distribution, India head

    MUMBAI: B4U Network chief operating officer of India operations BL Gautam has quit the company. He has joined UTV Software Communications where he will head the film distribution business in India. He will also commercially facilitate greenlighting of movie projects.

    “Gautam has joined us. He will head our domestic film distribution business. He will also work closely with our movie project heads and be engaged in the commercial side of it like budgeting, reviewing the production process and negotiating,” says UTV Software Communications COO Ronald D’Mello. Aditya Shastri, who had joined UTV as COO motion pictures production, recently left the company.

    Before joining B4U, Gautam was with Zee Telefilms where he served as senior vice-president and moved on to become director commercial from 2000 to 2004. Prior to that, Gautam served the Indian Government as the superintendent of customs and was awarded the presidential Award in 1998 for distinguished service in that role.

    UTV has been enjoying major successes on the movie front with productions like the Aamir Khan super hit Rang De Basanti hitting the jackpot. The company has also distributed products in various territories including heavyweight titles such as Lagaan, Lakshya, Mission Kashmir, Parineeta and Viruddh.

    B4U Network is yet to announce a replacement for Gautam. The company owns and runs B4U Movies and B4U Music.

  • BBC Worldwide in content deal with European ISP T-Online

    BBC Worldwide in content deal with European ISP T-Online

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial consumer arm, has concluded an agreement with European ISP T-Online to provide content for its Video on Demand service.

    The agreement will see science, factual and arts programming from BBC Worldwide available to subscribers via T-Online’s Video on Demand portal. Additionally, a selection of the programming will soon be accessible in High Definition (HD) format.

    For the introductory price of €1.95, subscribers can view their chosen programme as often as they like within the 24-hour rental period. All that’s needed is a DSL connection, a T-Online tariff and a PC or, for use on a living room TV, a Media Receiver certified ‘Ready for T-Online Vision’.

    BBC Worldwide head of German Speaking Territories IIsabelle Helle said, “Video on demand is revolutionising the way the world watches television. Today’s agreement will allow Germany’s T-Online customers to view BBC programmes in an exciting and innovative way. It also further emphasises BBC Worldwide’s commitment to this new and important method of content provision.”

    T-Online International’s Burkhard Graßmann, said, “This agreement strengthens T-Online’s place at the forefront of next generation home entertainment, providing our customers with the opportunity to enjoy a range of films and communication services direct to their living rooms. Furthermore, this partnership gives users the possibility to see a number of documentaries in trend-setting high definition quality.”

    The announcement with T-Online follows a number of other agreements which BBC Worldwide has secured to provide content for video on demand services to such international VoD providers as Versatel in Holland, Hot Vision in Israel, Ebismedia in Italy and Telefonica in Spain.

  • Hasbro wins game & toy rights to BBC & Ragdoll series ‘In the Night Garden’

    Hasbro wins game & toy rights to BBC & Ragdoll series ‘In the Night Garden’

    MUMBAI: Hasbro has been awarded the master toy and game license to BBC Worldwide and Ragdoll Ltd’s new upcoming preschool television series In the Night Garden.

    The series is due to launch on the BBC next year. Under a multi-year, global deal, Hasbro has been given rights for a wide range of toy categories, including preschool, infant and toddler toys, games, jigsaw puzzles, creative play products, proprietary interactive formats and ride-ons. Hasbro’s product line, to be marketed under its Playskool banner, is expected to debut in the U.K. in fall 2007, with rollout to other markets, including the U.S., expected to begin in 2008.

    The 100×30-minute show for kids aged 1 to 3 was devised by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport, the creative partnership responsible for Teletubbies.

    Hasbro VP of marketing for licensed products Leigh Anne Cappello said, “In the Night Garden is a truly enchanting property with characters that will translate beautifully to a fun and engaging product line. The unique and wholesome message that In the Night Garden delivers to both parents and kids fits in perfectly with our mission for Playskool.”

    It will spotlight “a host of wonderfully silly characters living together within a happy and caring community,” according to BBC Worldwide. The series, filmed in a forest, will blend live costumed characters with computer generated animation.