ITV

Tag: Australia

  • Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    MUMBAI: On the heels of the luanch of the channel Vom HD launch at the recently concluded television trade eevnt in Mipcom, France Rainbow HD Holdings, a subsidiary of Rainbow Media has broadened the global channel’s reach with a new distribution agreement.

    Rainbow has tapped Zonemedia to sell the channel throughout much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

    Voom HD offers the international marketplace a lineup of high-definition (HD) programmes selected from Voom HD Networks’ 15 thematic HD channels in the US. Its content includes signature programming from Equator HD ( places and people), Gallery HD ( stories from the art world), Gameplay HD (video gaming in HD), Rave HD, (live music in 5.1 surround sound), Rush HD (adventure sports), Treasure HD (people with a passion for collecting) and Ultra HD (fashion and luxury lifestyle).

    Rainbow Media senior VP business development Glenn Oakley says, “As we strategized the best possible distribution for Voom HD, Zonemedia emerged as a particularly solid choice because of its strong track record in successfully delivering third-party channels throughout the world. Voom HD’s vast array of quality high-definition programming has great appeal to the international marketplace, and we believe Zonemedia will exploit this to the fullest.”

    TVOOM HD is already set for a November 1 launch in Scandinavia through a deal made by distribution company NonStop Television with Canal Digital. Today’s news opens the channel for business throughout even more of the world, with carriage deals already in the works for possible announcement over the next few months.

    In addition to its impending launch in Scandinavia, three Voom branded channels have been launched in Canada, operated by High Fidelity TV: Treasure HD, Equator HD and Rush HD. Korea’s SkyHD recently deployed a daily primetime Voom HD branded programming block this past September.

    Since launching its global expansion initiative at Mipcom last year, Rainbow Media has also sold over 1,000 hours of programming from its Voom HD, WE tv, Mag Rack and sportskool brands to broadcasters around the world, including India, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, UK and Australia.

  • Zee Sports to telecast AFC U-20 championship live

    Zee Sports to telecast AFC U-20 championship live

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports, the television partner to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), will produce and telecast the AFC Youth Championship from Kolkata and Bangalore starting 29 October to 12 November 2006.

    In Kolkatta the matches will played at the Salt Lake Stadium and in Bangalore the matches will be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

    Zee Sports is also the host broadcaster for the entire Asian region for the event and the feed will be going out to 25 Asian countries.

    The AFC U-20 Championship is held every two years and is open to players under the age of 19. According to an official statement, the future stars of Asian football will be playing in this tournament and most of them will in all likelihood represent their countries in the 2010 Fifa World Cup. This tournament also acts as a qualifying tournament for the Fifa U-20 World Cup.

    The top four sides in the AFC Youth Championship will advance to the Fifa U-20 World Cup to be played in Canada from 30 June 2007 to 22 July 2007.

    The Korea Republic claimed the AFC Youth Championship crown in 2004 with a 2-0 win over China in Kuala Lumpur.

    Countries competing in this edition of championship are Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, China, UAE, Thailand, Australia, Japan, North Korea, Iran, Tajikistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Vietnam and hosts India.

    Telecast Schedule of the AFC Youth Championship

    Match
    Date
    Time
    Korea Republic vs. Jordan 29 Oct 15:30 onwards
    India vs. Kyrgyzthan 29 Oct 18:30 onwards
    China PR vs. Australia 30 Oct 15:30 onwards
    Thailand vs. UAE 30 Oct 18:30 onwards
    Jordan vs. India 31 Oct 15:30 onwards
    Kyrgyzthan vs. Korea Rep 31 Oct 18:30 onwards
    Saudi Arabia vs Malaysia 1 Nov 15:30 onwards
    UAE vs China PR 1 Nov 18:30 onwards
    Korea Republic vs India 2 Nov 14:30 onwards
    China PR vs Thailand 3 Nov 14:30 onwards
    Quarter Finals 6 Nov 15:30 onwards
    Quarter Finals 6 Nov 18:30 onwards
    Semi Finals 9 Nov 15:30 onwards
    Semi Finals 9 Nov 17:00 onwards
    Third Place Play Off 12 Nov 15:30 onwards
    Finals 12 Nov 17:00 onwards

  • Nokia unveils TV enabled Nokia N92 mobile phone

    Nokia unveils TV enabled Nokia N92 mobile phone

    HONG KONG: Nokia stamped its commitment to broadcast mobile TV by live simulcast demonstration of pay-TV channels on its Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) enabled Nokia N92.

    Being showcased for the first time at the Casbaa convention, which brings together the leading participants in the Asia-Pacific region’s television industry, the demonstration includes the first-ever broadcast of Casbaa TV channel that is broadcasting the conference proceedings live, and several other international pay-TV channels during the convention.

    “The first-ever broadcast of the Casbaa TV channel and several pay-TV channels on the Nokia N92 at the annual Casbaa convention gives the industry further proof that broadcast mobile TV using DVB-H technology is a reality,” 
    an official statement quoted Jawahar Kanjilal, Director, Multimedia Experiences, Asia-Pacific, Nokia, as saying.

    “With pay-TV subscriptions approaching saturation in many countries, the industry’s leading participants now have first-hand evidence of how the mobile device can help extend their broadcast footprint across the region,” he added.

    During the week of the convention, Casbaa delegates and officials have been issued with Nokia N92 multimedia computers, which will enable them to stay connected with the conference while enjoying the personal television experience.

    “Nokia is fully committed to broadcast mobile TV and the DVB-H technology, and we will strive towards an open and competitive ecosystem similar to the one that has made GSM/WCDMA-based mobile telephony so successful today,” 
    added Kanjilal.

    In September this year, Nokia and the Vietnam Multimedia Corporation, Vietnam’s leading national broadcaster and operator in digital broadcasting, announced the decision to launch commercial broadcast mobile TV services to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi by the end of 2006.

    Consumers in both cities will enjoy seven digital TV channels and a near video-on-demand service – on the Nokia N92, from a catalog of selected titles offered by VTC.

    In June this year, the DVB-H Asia Pacific Alliance (DAPA), comprising Australia’s The Bridge Networks, MECA from Indonesia, Malaysia’s MiTV, and Nokia was established to promote the sharing of best practices and to keep member companies appraised of new business and technological developments in broadcast mobile TV.

    The group will also support regulatory preparation and discussion to facilitate the adoption of DVB-H as the standard for mobile TV in the Asia Pacific region.

    Nokia also announced interoperability agreements with Sony-Ericsson and Motorola earlier this year.

    During the FIFA World Cup in Germany this year, multivendor interoperability was showcased with the Nokia N92 multimedia computer and DVB-H enabled devices from other manufacturers, in a pilot project run by German mobile network operators E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

    In the Asia Pacific region, Nokia has participated in broadcast mobile TV trials in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan (R.O.C).

    Globally, pilots and market research studies so far have shown high positive feedback for broadcast mobile TV services.

  • Optus D1 satellite successfully launched

    Optus D1 satellite successfully launched

    MUMBAI:The Optus Networks Pty Ltd has launched into orbit a satellite — Optus D1 that will provide fixed communication and direct television broadcast services to Australia and New Zealand.

    Launched on 13 October into the orbit aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, had been builted by Orbital Sciences Corporation for Optus of Australia, was successfully launched into its targeted orbit aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on Friday, October 13.

    The Optus D1 satellite is the first of the two satellites that Orbital is building for Optus. The second satellite, Optus D2, is scheduled for completion and launch in 2007. 

    Both of the Optus satellites are based on Orbital’s Star 2.4 platform, which can generate nearly five kilowatts of payload power and can weigh over 5,000 pounds (2,500 kilograms) at launch, making them the largest and most powerful commercial communications spacecraft in Orbital’s satellite product line. 

    “The demand for satellite communication services continues to grow strongly for direct-to-home subscription television, remote and rural communications and high speed broadband services,” Optus chief executive Paul O’Sullivan said.

  • Digital arena is driving global music sales

    Digital arena is driving global music sales

    MUMBAI: Sales of digital music in the first half of this year rose by 106 per cent to $945 million when compared with the first six months of last year.

    Globally, digital sales now account for 11 per cent of the total recorded music market worldwide, up from 5.5 per cent in December 2005.

    According to a report put out by the Ifpi the US is still leading the digital revolution, with 18 per cent of recorded music sales now being made through digital channels. Digital music sales in the US increased by 84 per cent to US$ 513 million in the first six months of 2006.

    Digital music also accounts for a significant part of the overall market in South Korea (51 per cent), Japan (11 per cent), Italy (9 per cent) and the UK (8 per cent).

    The explosion in digital music services, spurred by consumer demand and a widening array of delivery channels, has seen online and mobile music sales grow from $134 million in the first half of 2004 to $945 million in the first half of 2006.

    In Japan, Italy and Spain mobile dominates the digital market, accounting for 85 per cent, 76 per cent and 78 per cent of the overall sales respectively. Online downloading is more prominent in markets such as the UK, Germany and the US, where online sales account for 70 per cent, 69 per cent and 64 per cent of digital sales respectively.

    Physical music sales declined in the first half period, down by 10 per cent worldwide. This led to total music sales falling by four per cent in the period to $8.4 billion in trade values ($13.7 billion in retail values). Piracy and competition for consumer spending contributed to the first half fall.

    There was growth in some markets, such as Japan (12 per cent), South Korea (5 per cent) and Australia (6 per cent), counter-balanced by declines in Germany (-4 per cent), the US (-7 per cent) and France (-9 per cent).

    Ifpi promotes the interests of the international recording industry worldwide. Its membership comprises over 1400 major and independent companies in more than 70 countries. It also has affiliated industry national groups in 48 countries. Ifpi’s mission is to fight music piracy; promote fair market access and good copyright laws; help develop the legal conditions and the technologies for the recording industry to prosper in the digital era; and to promote the value of music.

  • Damian Grammaticas new South Asia correspondent for BBC News

    Damian Grammaticas new South Asia correspondent for BBC News

    MUMBAI: BBC News has appointed Damian Grammaticas to the post of South Asia correspondent, based in the BBC’s hub bureau in Delhi. A well-known journalist with over a decade’s experience reporting for the BBC from various parts of the world, Grammaticas will be reporting on news stories from South Asia across BBC World television, BBC World Service radio and the BBC News website, according to an official statement.

    BBC south Asia bureau editor Paul Danahar says: “At a time when India, and indeed South Asia, is holding focus on the global stage, the BBC is committed to its role, as the world’s leading broadcaster, to report on the developments in the region to the rest of the world. Damian is an experienced journalist. His sensitivity and understanding of local perspectives has always reflected in his reportage. I am very pleased that he is joining the South Asia bureau. His insightful reporting will add to the BBC’s newsgathering strengths in this region.”

    Damian Grammaticas adds: “This is an exciting time to be reporting on South Asia. Some of the most important stories of our day are concentrated here – be it India’s rise as a future global giant, or the struggle to control international terrorism, or the enormous changes brought by the region’s economic development. Reflecting the intricacies of these events, and the millions of individual, human stories they entail, is my challenge. It’s my privilege to be a witness to such important times.”

    In his previous assignment as the BBC’s Moscow correspondent, he has reported extensively from the countries of the former Soviet Union. He fronted the BBC’s coverage of the important news events such as the ‘Orange’ revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, the conflict in Chechnya, the resurgence of Russia under president Putin, the lasting effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and the tragic Beslan school siege.

    Prior to that, he was the BBC’s Hong Kong correspondent, when he covered stories from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines, including the Philippines revolution that overthrew president Joseph Estrada, the deposing of president Abdurrahman Wahid in Indonesia, the Bali bombings, and the brewing crisis over North Korea’s nuclear programme.

    He was also involved in the BBC’s reportage of the war in Afghanistan, including the battle at Tora Bora in 2001, and the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He has also done short stints of reporting from Israel and Washington, informs the release.

  • Cartoon Network to set up interactive Internet sites

    Cartoon Network to set up interactive Internet sites

    Cartoon Network plans regional websites in different regions across the Asia Pacific. The network will launch a site for Australia by mid year. Other sites planned are for India in English, Taiwan in Mandarin and so on.

    Turner International’s Hema Govindan said that the key difference between the TV channel and the site will be new, interactive elements introduced via the World Premier Tool.

    “For instance, hypothetically speaking, in a chat room, Johnny Bravo will have a dialogue with people visiting our website. It will also be specific to the country the website is being built for. The cultural cues will be very , very different. The characters we champion, the interactive elements will be different.” Govindan said that the net could consider regional sites in Indian languages at a later stage, similar to it’s channel strategy.

    She added that the channel penetration’s was 10 million at present, and plans were to extend penetration beyond urban India. “The tune in will only come with more localisation and customisation. We are also looking at initiatives like Get Tooned, when we actually animated five Indian kids and put them on air as interstentials.”

    The channel has featured five kids in Australia and New Zealand, five in South East Asia, 5 in Taiwan and five in India. Research has shown that Indian kids would like to see winners. Because of that, the channel plans to showcase more Indian kids as winners in cartoon form in the new future.

  • Animal Planet’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin killed while filming documentary

    Animal Planet’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin killed while filming documentary

    MUMBAI: One of television’s popular personalities Steve Irwin has passed away. Irwin who is well known to viewers of Animal Planet for Crocodile Hunter died after he was wounded by a stingray barb to his heart. He was filming a sequence on Batt Reef in Australia for his daughter’s new TV series.

    Media reports state that a helicopter rushed paramedics to nearby Low Isles where Irwin was taken for treatment, but he was dead before they arrived. A stingray’s barb is said to be as dangerous as a rifle bayonet.

    He is only the third person in Australia to die from being stabbed by a stingray. Irwin became famious on television for placing himself in precarious situations with animals like snakes and crocodiles. His fascination for animals stemmed from the fact that he grew up near crocodiles, trapping and removing them from populated areas and releasing them in his parent’s park.

  • Sify Limited promotes Sivaramakrishnan to president of portal biz

    Sify Limited promotes Sivaramakrishnan to president of portal biz

    MUMBAI: Sify Limited has announced the promotion of V.Sivaramakrishnan as the president of its portal business. Prior to this, he held the position of vice president of the iWay cyber café chain business.

    With over 18 years of experience in marketing consumer brands, Sivaramakrishnan has a track record of managing brands, sales, and customer service for global market leaders such as Procter & Gamble and Ford, both in India and abroad. During his career with them, he has led brand, sales and customer service teams, championing marketing and sales initiatives for brands such as Vicks, Pampers, Old Spice, Ford Fiesta, Ford Ikon and the Ford Endeavour, informs an official release.

    He is a management graduate from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi and as part of Ford’s Asia-Pacific marketing leadership team, first in the US and subsequently in the UK, Sivaramakrishnan has led the development and launch of Ford’s new generation of small cars, the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion, into markets like Australia, Japan, South Africa, and China. He was also part of the Ford India marketing leadership team and led the successful launch of Ford’s Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta and Endeavour in India. In his previous role as Vice President of the iWay cyber cafe business, he was instrumental in leading their transformation from Internet browsing centers to becoming e-stores by introducing break-through alliances and initiatives, adds the release.

    Commenting on his appointment, Sify Limited CEO and managing director Raju Vegesna said, “I am very pleased to announce Siva’s promotion as President, Sify Portals. In his earlier role as Vice President of the iWay cyber café chain business, Siva brought a deep insight and understanding of consumers, and executed initiatives to grow business revenues through innovative services, products and promotions in synergy with our portal strategies. While we will see the result of these efforts going forward, I believe that he will bring a fresh perspective to how we grow our portals and online advertising business both in India and overseas. With his rich experience in building brands, understanding of media, marketing and consumer behaviour, I am confident he will play a key role in further strengthening and growing our portal business in tandem with our access strategies.”

    Sivaramakrishnan said, “I am really excited about this opportunity as it will enable me to bring to bear all of my previous experience with consumers, brands, marketing, media and the Internet in building our portals business. The Net is the most exciting medium of our times, and it will be our intention to maximize the opportunities presented by this versatile medium for compelling and relevant online content for Indians, to add to the quality of their lives. This includes extending the leadership we have in broadband content with www.sifymax.in, our popular portal www.sify.com, our city-centric broadband portal strategies, and www.samachar.com, the most popular site for non-resident Indians.

    “I will also be involved in growing the online advertising business with marketers as they begin to understand the flexibility, focus and power that online advertising gives them for cost effective brand promotions, and overseeing Sify’s consumer brand marketing for both the portals and access businesses for greater synergies. I believe this will be the most exciting and challenging phase of my career, and I look forward to making a difference to Sify’s pioneering efforts for exciting India-centric online content in synergy with our access businesses,” he added.

  • Zee Sports back on Hathway; Incable blackout stays

    Zee Sports back on Hathway; Incable blackout stays

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports is back on Hathway Cable & Datacom in Mumbai, but has reached no agreement yet with Incablenet.

    The case with Incablenet comes up for hearing in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) tomorrow. Incablenet had moved the TDSAT, seeking restoration of signals as “Zee Sports had not served a 21-day notice before blacking out the signals.”

    Sources say signals, however, were restored to Hathway today as the multi-system operator (MSO) had agreed to enter into a commercial agreement.

    Zee Sports was put back on cable networks in Pune after the Pune District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed Zee Sports to restore the signals till further hearings on 21 September. Zee had restored the signals in Pune following the order, but moved the Commission.

    Zee Sports has the exclusive telecast rights for the DLF Cup between India, Australia and West Indies. The tri-series will last till 24 September.