ITV

Tag: Apple TV

  • Spuul adds blockbuster titles from Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films

    Spuul adds blockbuster titles from Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films

    MUMBAI: Spuul has tied up with Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films for its premium subscribers in India. Movies like 3 Idiots, Munna Bhai film series will be added to the catalogue of the online streaming service. 

    The movies will be available across devices like web, iOS, Android, Smart TV, Airplay and Apple TV on iOS and Chromecast on Android.

    With these additions viewers will also get access to classics such as Khamosh, Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, Kareeb, Mission Kashmir, Parineeta and Eklavya – The Royal Guard.

    Speaking about the partnership, Spuul Global CEO Subin Subaiah said, “As one of the leading providers of Bollywood content to viewers across India, we are constantly investing in growing our library by adding new, popular and blockbuster titles to our catalogue. The addition of movies from esteemed production house such as Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films to our catalogue is yet another step towards providing our 12 million viewers with fresh and diverse films.”

     

  • Spuul adds blockbuster titles from Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films

    Spuul adds blockbuster titles from Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films

    MUMBAI: Spuul has tied up with Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films for its premium subscribers in India. Movies like 3 Idiots, Munna Bhai film series will be added to the catalogue of the online streaming service. 

    The movies will be available across devices like web, iOS, Android, Smart TV, Airplay and Apple TV on iOS and Chromecast on Android.

    With these additions viewers will also get access to classics such as Khamosh, Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, Kareeb, Mission Kashmir, Parineeta and Eklavya – The Royal Guard.

    Speaking about the partnership, Spuul Global CEO Subin Subaiah said, “As one of the leading providers of Bollywood content to viewers across India, we are constantly investing in growing our library by adding new, popular and blockbuster titles to our catalogue. The addition of movies from esteemed production house such as Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films to our catalogue is yet another step towards providing our 12 million viewers with fresh and diverse films.”

     

  • Care World TV now live on Apple TV

    Care World TV now live on Apple TV

    MUMBAI: Care World TV, the global healthcare television channel is now available on Apple TV. Besides being available on Apple TV, the wellness channel is also available on popular streaming players including Roku, Yupp TV and a host of other platforms.

    Care world TV says that introducing itself on Apple TV is an attempt to take advantage of opportunities offered by digital media even with the hold of DTH today. “With technological advances the industry is going through a phase of transition. While Direct To Home (DTH) and cable is relevant today and will continue to remain relevant for a long time, it is also a fact that we are seeing action in digital media streaming services, as is evident by the success of movies and TV series providers like Netflix and Amazon.” says Care World MD Mr. Ajit Gupta.

    The channel has shows which are dedicated to health, beauty, diet, wellness, sex and also has an interactive show where audiences can consult doctors directly.

    Gupta says that Care world TV is also extending its reach through mobile apps on android and iOs, online channels and the latest being the content streaming devices. Gupta reveals,“Care World TV has become synonymous with the world of health, fitness and wellness. Nine years ago, when we had set out to explore this domain and to bring to the audiences the crux of a wholesome, healthy lifestyle, we had imagined this day to come. The channel’s reach extends via a host of platforms including Android and iOS apps.

    The channel claims that its programming is focused on physical and psychological aspect of human health, and it incorporates various aspect of the subject. “Our aspiration is to provide everyone access to legitimate advice on health and to meet this cause we will continue to evolve and better the quality and reach of our programmes,” concludes Gupta.

  • Care World TV now live on Apple TV

    Care World TV now live on Apple TV

    MUMBAI: Care World TV, the global healthcare television channel is now available on Apple TV. Besides being available on Apple TV, the wellness channel is also available on popular streaming players including Roku, Yupp TV and a host of other platforms.

    Care world TV says that introducing itself on Apple TV is an attempt to take advantage of opportunities offered by digital media even with the hold of DTH today. “With technological advances the industry is going through a phase of transition. While Direct To Home (DTH) and cable is relevant today and will continue to remain relevant for a long time, it is also a fact that we are seeing action in digital media streaming services, as is evident by the success of movies and TV series providers like Netflix and Amazon.” says Care World MD Mr. Ajit Gupta.

    The channel has shows which are dedicated to health, beauty, diet, wellness, sex and also has an interactive show where audiences can consult doctors directly.

    Gupta says that Care world TV is also extending its reach through mobile apps on android and iOs, online channels and the latest being the content streaming devices. Gupta reveals,“Care World TV has become synonymous with the world of health, fitness and wellness. Nine years ago, when we had set out to explore this domain and to bring to the audiences the crux of a wholesome, healthy lifestyle, we had imagined this day to come. The channel’s reach extends via a host of platforms including Android and iOS apps.

    The channel claims that its programming is focused on physical and psychological aspect of human health, and it incorporates various aspect of the subject. “Our aspiration is to provide everyone access to legitimate advice on health and to meet this cause we will continue to evolve and better the quality and reach of our programmes,” concludes Gupta.

  • Q3-2015: E. W. Scripps revenue up 49%; Retransmission revenue doubles

    Q3-2015: E. W. Scripps revenue up 49%; Retransmission revenue doubles

    BENGALURU: The E.W. Scripps Company (EWS) reported 49.2 per cent YoY growth in consolidated revenue from continuing operations for the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q3-2015, current quarter) at $189.69 million as compared to $123.13 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    The company’s advertisement revenue in the current quarter increased 39.8 per cent to $144.98 million as compared to the $103.70 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Retransmission revenue more than doubled YoY (was 2.4 times) at $36.29 million as compared to $15.24 million in Q3-2014. ‘Other’ revenues also more than doubled to $ 8.42 million from $4.19 million in the year ago quarter.

     

    EWS net loss for Q3-2015 increased to $24.44 million as compared to the loss of $1.34 million in Q3-2014. EWS reported net loss of $24.44 million from continuing operation as compared to a profit of $1.04 million in Q3-2014. Net loss from discontinued operations in the current quarter was NIL as compared to a net loss of $2.38 million in Q3-2014. 

     

    Net loss per basic share of common stock was $0.29 in the current quarter as compared to a net income of $0.02 in Q2-2014.

     

    EWS chairman, president and CEO Rich Boehne said, “Third-quarter performance in our core broadcast television business was aided by a comeback in automotive advertising and a leap in retransmission fees. The increase in retransmission revenue alone offset the decline in political advertising revenue in the off-cycle year.”

     

    “In our TV markets we’re setting the stage for 2016, when increases in local news ratings, a 50 percent increase in retransmission fees, and presidential election spending across an expanded footprint of potential swing states should come together for a strong performance,” he added. 

     

    “Also in the third quarter, we expanded our reach into the fast-growing over-the-top media marketplace with the accelerated rollout of our OTT video news service Newsy. This service aimed at millennial news audiences now also includes OTT distribution on Apple TV, Comcast’s Watchable, Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, Google Chromecast, PlutoTV and Xumo, with more to come shortly. Our expanded ambition for Newsy, changes in the marketplace, and our commitment to invest in this strategy led us to a pivot in the business model,” he said. 

     

    “On the audio side of our over-the-top strategy, we purchased Midroll, a leading podcast producer and advertising network, and then launched its subscription-based app, Howl, to strong response. Not only is Midroll a growing content play for mobile-media consumers, it’s also designed to be an alternative advertising model that largely defies ad blocking.”

     

    “While working to build value through our current and evolving businesses, we also used our strong balance sheet and cash flow to repurchase shares. We expect our overall financial position to further strengthen as we move through the presidential election year and top our four-year business cycle.”

     

    Segment numbers

     

    The company has four segments: Television, Radio, Digital, Syndication and other.

     

    EWS’ Television segment revenue in the current quarter increased 35.2 per cent to $157.44 million $116.44 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Operating income for the segment in Q3-2015 increased two per cent to $31.71 million from $30.51 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    On 1 April, 2015, EWS acquired the broadcast group owned by Journal Communications, Inc. The businesses acquired included 12 television stations and 34 radio stations. EWS’ Radio segment reported revenue in Q3-2015 of $20.42 million. The segment reported operating income of $4.07 million in the current quarter.

     

    EWS’ Digital segment revenues in the current quarter more than doubled to $10.86 million as compared to the $5.36 million in q2-2014. The segment reported lower operating loss of $3.64 million in the current quarter as compared to $6.21 million in Q2-2014.

     

    EWS’ Syndication and other segment reported 27.8 per cent decline in operating revenue to $0.97 million as compared to $1.35 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. The segment’s loss in the current quarter declined to $0.57 million from $0.67 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

  • WWE to launch video streaming service in Indian subcontinent

    WWE to launch video streaming service in Indian subcontinent

    MUMBAI: The wrestling space in India is sure heating up as players are moving from their gorilla position towards the ring! Close on the heels of TNA announcing its plans to launch live wrestling events in Mumbai in December, comes the news that WWE will be unveiling its direct-to-consumer subscription based video streaming service WWE Network in the Indian subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

     

    The sport of wrestling has been gaining prominence on Indian television lately. With wrestling action being a major ratings draw for Ten Sports, last year the sportscaster extended its rights with WWE for a period of five years. Not long after,Sony Six signed a long-term telecast deal with TNA wrestling, which runs through 2022. Now with WWE Network set to launch in India on 2 November, both parties are prepping up their A-Show.

     

    The WWE subscription service will be priced at $9.99 per month. It was launched in the US only last year and features premium live content as well as pay-per-view and VOD (video-on-demand) content.

     

    WWE fans in India can sign up online by going to WWENetwork.com and can watch WWE Network on their desktop, laptop and mobile devices.

     

    Subscribers will receive the first month of service free and have access to the US English language version of WWE Network. Subscribers will get access to 24/7 scheduled programming and VOD library with more than 3,700 hours of content, including Raw and SmackDown re-airs, and every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view.

     

    In addition, all 12 WWE pay-per-views will be available to subscribers 24 hours after they air in India, and will be broadcast live on WWE Network beginning in 2017.

     

    “India is a strategically important market for WWE and we are thrilled to make WWE Network available to our fans there. The global expansion of WWE Network is a key driver in our commitment to growing the WWE brand internationally,” said WWE chief strategy and financial officer George Barrios.

     

    WWE Network will be made available on additional devices, including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Roku and Smart TVs prior to Survivor Series on 22 November.

     

    WWE Network programming highlights include Breaking Ground, Swerved, The Monday Night War, Stone Cold Podcast Live!, NXT Takeover Live!, WWE 24 andTotal Divas (seasons 1-3).

  • BroadcastAsia2015 Unveils New TV Everywhere! Zone

    BroadcastAsia2015 Unveils New TV Everywhere! Zone

    MUMBAI: BroadcastAsia2015, slated for 2 – 5 June 2015 will unveil its new TV Everywhere! Zone as increasing consumer expectations place new challenges on the industry to provide more convenient and reliable access to content. With the  proliferation  of  digital  devices  and  today’s  ever-changing  market  of  always-on connectivity, content broadcasters are starting to look beyond TV to stream and monetise their content.

     

    This brings the launch of the new zone, which will be a key attraction at BroadcastAsia2015 and will explore the entire value chain of non-linear broadcasting.

     

    Need for new technologies driven by shift in consumer demands

     

    Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in competition in the broadcast industry as providers continue to develop new technologies in meeting consumer demands, to offer a social,  personalised  and flexible TV and video experience. With the evolution of  linear channel brands already underway in Asia, the region continues to grow at an exponential rate and is witnessing an increasing number of traditional broadcasters entering the IPTV, OTT space. This is also emphasised by the growth and influence of aggregated services, such as Netflix, Hulu, AmazonPrime, YouTube and Apple TV.

     

    The recent Multiscreen TV & Video Forecasts report published by Digital TV Research reveals that the number of viewers watching TV and video content on multiple screens will climb from 5.60 billion in 2010 to 11.32 billion by 2020, with TV sets’ share of total viewers falling from 73 per cent to 42 per cent during this same period.

     

    The report also predicts that by 2020, 3.98 billion people will watch content via a PC or laptop over a fixed broadband connection, an increase of 80 per cent on 2013; and smartphones viewers will reach 1.53 billion, triple the number in 2013. Tablet viewers will amount to 1.10 billion by 2020, an impressive five times the 2013 total.

     

    “There is continuous interest in the broadcast industry especially in the areas of OTT, second screen, non-linear broadcasting and social media – all to meet consumers’ demands and enhance users’ experience. BroadcastAsia is already fuelling this space in Asia and with the introduction of our new TV Everywhere!, we hope to bring together even more case studies on how new entrants are adapting to competition, and how incumbents are maturing their  offerings  to  differentiate  themselves  amongst  competitors,”  says  Mr.  Calvin  Koh, Assistant Project Director of BroadcastAsia, from organiser  Singapore Exhibition Services.

    International collaboration

    Regional broadcasting regulators play a vital role in helping to shape the future of the industry, as highlighted by the support shown from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NBTC). This symposium initiated and jointly implemented an initiative aimed at studying the trends and market analysis in the broadcasting industry while promoting international cooperation among policy makers, regulators, and Asia’s industry players.

    Healthy industry response to new feature area

    With the opportunity to reach key buyers from the industry, confirmed participants include major players from across the world and region, such as Ali Corp, Aveco, Brightcove, Montage Tech, Quick Play, SPB TV and Vimond among others. TV Everywhere! will place a
    focus on the following technologies:

     

    • Authentication
    • Archive Management
    • Content Delivery Network
    • Connected / Hybrid TV
     

    • Delivery
    • Integration
    • Ingest
    • Interactive TV Apps
     
    • Monetisation
    • Network & Device Management
    • Playout Automation
    • Storage / Security
    • Workflow Glue Application
     

    “Clearly the media industry is in transformation with consumers being able to access content across multi-screens, fuelling unprecedented demand for online video content. The investments being made in bringing TV Everywhere solutions to market is a strong sign that broadcasters and content owners are moving up the adoption curve,” says  Mr. Dennis Rose, Senior Vice President, Asia-Pacific and Japan, Brightcove.

     

    “For those who want to launch and capitalise the TV Everywhere business model, Brightcove’s powerful suite of cloud based online video streaming, trans-coding and monetisation solutions deliver compelling consumer experiences that work across every screen,” he adds.

     

    BroadcastAsia2015, Asia’s definitive exhibition and knowledge platform for the international broadcasting, film and digital multimedia industry, will showcase the newest innovations and cutting edge technologies in 4K / UHD, NextGen Broadcasting – OTT / Hybrid / LTE / IP / Broadband / Cloud, Multi-Platform Streaming, Professional Audio and more.

     

    The BroadcastAsia2015 International Conference and Creative Content Production Conference 2015 will bring together thought leaders and like-minded professionals from the broadcasting and media arenas to share business strategies for future broadcasting and content production.

     

    Both   exhibition   and   conferences   will   be   held   alongside   CommunicAsia2015   and EnterpriseIT2015 in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands.

     

  • Lukup launches on-demand television service in India

    Lukup launches on-demand television service in India

    BENGALURU: Indian company Lukup Media has announced the launch of an on-demand TV service powered by a connected device- the Lukup Player. The device is similar to Apple TV or Google TV, but can also deliver content across multiple screens using WiFi.

    Lukup CEO Kallol Borah said, ““Our TV service is designed to meet the requirements of changing lifestyles and consumer behaviour where more and more people want their entertainment when they have time, on a device of their choice and even when they are travelling and away from home. We also want to bring content and channels not available to viewers in India currently and broaden their choice of content substantially.”

    The Lukup TV service aims to deliver a large number of TV channels in addition to those available on cable and DTH platforms. These additional TV channels will have content from multiple genres including movies, shows, lifestyle and sports. Using the Lukup Player, users will also be able to stream content on more than one screen or device – TV screens, tablets, mobile phones, wireless speakers – at any one time. The service includes unlimited recording capacity starting from 500 GB which can be upgraded without limit. Users can also download content on their mobile devices which they can access offline. With no minimum monthly subscription charges, users can pay per view.

    Lukup CFO Harsha Mutt said,” “The television and broadcast industry in India needs an overhaul since customers’ desire experiential content on a device of their choice, at a time of their liking. To cater to this demand, we are meticulously putting together an elaborate network for delivering content to our customers through an over the top (OTT) TV service. With exclusive content, movies and TV shows available on our video-on-demand platform, we aim to make life easier for our customers, inspiring them to celebrate their joie-de-vivre. Our association with various content providers is a significant step forward in this direction.”

    The Lukup TV service is currently available in Bengaluru and will be available across India in phases. The Lukup Player will be online and in retail stores from October 2014.

     

  • Americans adopt digital apps for Netflix

    Americans adopt digital apps for Netflix

    NEW DELHI: A growing number of American households are relying on dedicated set-top/plug-in devices (otherwise known as Digital Media Players) to watch Netflix on a TV set, according to a GfK study, Over-the-Top TV 2014.

     

    By contrast, video game systems – while still the most common hardware for Netflix viewing on a TV screen – are used much less than they were three years ago

     

    The report shows that 28 per cent of those who stream Netflix on a TV used a digital media player (such as Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast) to do so; this is nearly double the 2013 level (15 per cent) and roughly five times the 2011 figure (6 per cent). The surge comes as ownership of the players among all homes has increased tenfold – from 2 per cent to 21 per cent – since 2010.

     

    Streaming capabilities built into today’s higher-end TV sets have also become popular, with use of built-in streaming reported by 28 per cent of those who watch Netflix on TV – up from 20 per cent a year ago and 13 per cent in 2011.

     

    On the other hand, reports of watching Netflix on TV through a videogame system have dropped to 43 per cent – down 5 percentage points from 2013, and almost 20 per cent below the 2011 level which was 62 per cent.

     

    The new report also indicates wide generational differences in how people access Netflix. Generations X and Y are twice as likely as Baby Boomers to use a videogame system to watch Netflix on TV. Capabilities built into TV sets are highly favoured by Gen Y Netflix viewers, and both Generations X and Y show strong use of digital media players.

     

    “The wide variations in devices used – and in preferred device by age – speak to a need for Netflix and other SVoD providers to optimise the user experience for each situation,” said GfK Senior Vice President and author of the report David Tice.

     

    “Not only do the device interface and remote control need to be user-friendly, but things like on-screen font size and menus need to be age-appropriate. With a quarter of Netflix users also being Amazon Prime or Hulu viewers, there is a potential battle in user experience as well as in variety and exclusivity of content,” he added.

     

    Meanwhile, Belgian telco Belgacom which has adopted a new identity as Proximus also plans to add entertainment streaming service Netflix to its Proximus TV offering.

     

    Confirming the news, Belgacom Chief Consumer Market Officer Phillip Vandervoort said that Netflix was without doubt a very eagerly-awaited new player. “I’m proud to announce this partnership which reflects the dynamics of our new brand and enables us to offer an amazing experience to our customers on Proximus TV.” 

     

    Netflix started offering its service in Belgium on 19 September, giving people access to a wide variety of TV shows, films, documentaries and other programming, according to Advanced Television.

     

    Installation of the Netflix application on the new-generation decoders will begin at the end of 2014. ‘Ultimately all Proximus TV customers will be able to access Netflix on their TV sets,’ added the telco.

     

     

  • Google’s Android eyes TV market

    Google’s Android eyes TV market

    MUMBAI: The fight isn’t limited to content alone; the battle amongst various players is now all about who will come up with a smarter TV viewing experience. Launched recently, Google interface Android TV aims to do just that.

     

    The new interface is an extension of Google’s operating system which will take Android to the living room in the form of its upcoming version Android L. It can run on various products mainly smart TVs, set top boxes (STBs), smart watches and cars. Google’s earlier TV product, Chromecast, that was launched in 2010 as a plug-in device for television sets allowed viewers to send data from their phones and tabs on to the big screen using wi-fi. The product had failed to excite users.

     

    The USP of the new interface is that Android tablets, phones and watches can be used as remote control; all one needs is a D-pad and a microphone to send audio commands. The screen has three parts: recommendations, games and applications. It will also hold custom-made apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Pandora along with its own apps like YouTube, Hangout etc. The smart TV powered by Android TV can also reorganise its screen based on usage patterns.

     

    All of Sony’s HD and 4k (ultra HD), Phillips, Sharp and TP Vision television sets will support Android TV from 2015. Asus and Razor are the only confirmed set-top boxes to have taken up Android TV to focus on gaming.

     

    The software development kit for Android Auto will be launched later with Google’s list of nearly 40 partners such as Bentley, Ferrari, Audi, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Suzuki, Skoda and Honda.

     

    Android TV runs on various hardwares and isn’t restricted to just STBs unlike its competitors Apple TV and Amazon Fire. Its main objective is to enhance the internet viewing experience on television. Google will launch Android TV and Android L simultaneously post September 2014.