ITV

Tag: broadband

  • BBC to offer live broadband streaming of Wimbledon to UK audiences

    BBC to offer live broadband streaming of Wimbledon to UK audiences

    MUMBAI: In a move that will offer UK tennis fans even greater access to Wimbledon, the BBC has announced that, for the first time UK broadband users will have access to five courts of live tennis action during the 2006 Wimbledon Championships.

    The service, available free from BBC Sport’s dedicated Wimbledon website – bbc.co.uk/wimbledon – will feature coverage from BBC’s live terrestrial coverage and its digital interactive feeds, enhancing the site’s news, latest scores and results service.

    In addition to the live streaming of the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, tennis fans will also have the opportunity to catch any action they miss with the short, three-minute highlight packages rounding up each day’s play.

    For Wimbledon fans across the globe, these highlights will also be available to an international audience.

    BBC head of general sports Barbara Slater said, “This is an exciting opportunity that will ensure Wimbledon reaches an even wider audience. The live streaming coverage will make one of the biggest sporting events in the world available to broadband users in the UK, wherever they are at home or in the office so they never have to miss a game.”

  • BBC to air Fifa World Cup matches on broadband in the UK

    BBC to air Fifa World Cup matches on broadband in the UK

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has signed a deal with Infront Sports & Media, the company responsible for the worldwide marketing and sales of the broadcast rights to the 2006 World Cup.

    This will allow internet users in the UK to watch all the games online.

    All of the BBC’s TV games will be live and free-to-air with online viewers able to access the games at bbc.co.uk/worldcup and bbc.co.uk/sport – viewing of these matches will be restricted to those that live in the UK.

    All of the BBC’s group games as well as all the subsequent games that the BBC has in the knockout stages will be available on these sites.

    The BBC will also have the exclusive rights to England’s second round and quarter-final games should they reach that stage.

    Furthermore, the BBC has non-exclusive rights to short highlights from every 2006 World Cup game. There will be four-minute clips from all of the 64 matches available on-demand whenever users want to view them.

    For the BBC’s matches, viewers will be able to stream the same coverage and commentary as on TV as will appear on terrestrial television.

    Also, in addition to watching the games, online users will be able to hear and read about the latest action – BBC Radio Five Live will have an audio stream from 2006 World Cup game and there will also be live minute-by-minute reports on every match written by BBC journalists.

    BBC director of sport Roger Mosey said, “Our audiences now expect to get BBC Sport on television, on radio and online – and the World Cup on broadband is our biggest commitment yet to bringing people major events where and when they want them.

    “You can watch the World Cup from the BBC at home on TV – or listen in the car on your radio – and now also see full live coverage on your PC. We know that a lot of online viewing is done in the office, so we suspect this will allow people both to do their job and to keep up with the very latest action from Germany.”

    BBC director of sports rights Dominic Coles says, “The BBC has great traditions in sport but we also want to be the most modern provider of content, and our move into broadband reflects this.”

    The BBC has successfully broadcast football over the internet before, but this is by far its biggest-ever single commitment.

    In 2005 the BBC showed the final of the Fifa Club World Championship Toyota Cup Japan between Liverpool and Sao Paulo online to UK internet users.

    Similarly the BBC also broadcast online all the interactive streams from Athens 2004 Olympics.

    This latest deal follows this week’s announcement that the BBC will provide UK broadband users with access to five courts of live tennis action during the 2006 Wimbledon Championships.

    The service will replicate coverage from the BBC’s live terrestrial coverage plus the remaining digital interactive feeds. The BBC already has the broadband rights to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

  • VSNL to buy Indian ISP for Rs 750 million

    MUMBAI: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) is strengthening its broadband presence in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) segment. The telecommunications giant has agreed to buy out Direct Internet Ltd (DIL) and its wholly owned subsidiary Primus Telecommunications India Ltd (PTIL) for Rs 750 million ($16.7 million).

    US-based Primus Telecommunications Group Inc will exit from India, selling its entire 85 per cent stake in DIL. VSNL is also buying out the remaining 15 per cent held by an Indian partner. The deal is expected to be completed in a few weeks, VSNL said in a statement.

    PTIL provides fixed broadband wireless internet services to SMEs in several Indian cities. The company has close to 1,000 SME and 10,000 retail customers. Out of a total revenue of around Rs 550 million in FY 2006, nearly 80 per cent came from the SME segment. Retail business accounted for 15 per cent while Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) contributed to around seven per cent of the company‘s income.

     

    The retail customers are likely to be rehomed in VSNL while DIL will focus entirely on the SME segment. The company‘s operations will continue to be run with the old management. “The huge infrastructre of VSNL will allow DIL an opportunity to expand in the SME segment. VSNL has massive bandwidth which will offer DIL‘s operations greater efficiencies. In the past, we were buying bandwidth on a leased basis and this was consuming 60 per cent of our costs,” says DIL and PTIL founder-CEO Tilak Sarkar.

     

    This will be VSNL‘s first SME-specific acquisition in the internet space. VSNL had earlier acquired DishnetDSL for Rs 2.7 billion and Tata Power broadband for Rs 2.39 billion which gave it broadband subscribers in the retail as well as the SME segments. DIL, on the other hand, has mostly SME subscribers.

     

    “The SME segment is a lowly penetrated but growing market. VSNL sees this as an opportunity to expand its presence in the broadband space,” says an analyst.

     

    VSNL has been aggressive in acquisitions over the last one year. While it bought Tyco International‘s global under-sea fibre optic cable network unit in July 2005, recently it acquired telecoms network service firm Teleglobe International Holdings Ltd.

     

    Nasdaq-listed Primus Telecommunications, an integrated communications services provider offering international and domestic voice, VoIP, internet, wireless, data and hosting services to business and residential retail customers, had reported a net revenue of $1.19 billion in the 2005 fiscal.
  • AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    MUMBAI: American Internet service provider AOL and Clearwire Corporation announced an agreement to offer American consumers in select markets “AOL High Speed – Powered by Clearwire.”

    Consumers will now be able to access the AOL service with high-speed wireless broadband access for $25.90 per month.

    AOL president access business Joe Redling says, “Clearwire’s wireless high-speed service brings a differentiated offering to AOL members moving to broadband. This innovative approach to broadband access offers consumers additional levels of freedom and flexibility in how and where they experience AOL’s content and services – and stands to be a promising feature for new consumer segments.”

    Clearwire’s co-president and chief strategy officer Ben Wolff says, “This truly complementary relationship offers customers access to AOL’s premium safety and security features and content with a simple, fast wireless connection.

    “Clearwire’s reliable wireless broadband service combined with AOL’s wide array of content and services, presents an appealing option for online users to leverage the power of the Internet.”

    Key features of the AOL High Speed powered by Clearwire include:

    – Wireless High Speed: In addition to high speed, wireless access offers mobility, freedom and flexibility.

    – Fast and Easy Setup: Plug-and-play installation makes establishing a wireless Internet connection quick and easy.

    – Customer Service: Help that’s available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.

    – Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identity theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.

    – Content: AOL-exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and music are all more enjoyable than ever.

    – Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.

    This service connects to the Internet using licensed spectrum and eliminates the confines of traditional cable or phone wiring. A small wireless modem makes connectivity easily portable and movable within the Clearwire coverage area, allowing customers to use the service throughout their home, office or favourite local coffee house.

  • AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    MUMBAI: American Internet service provider AOL and Clearwire Corporation announced an agreement to offer American consumers in select markets “AOL High Speed – Powered by Clearwire.”

     

    Consumers will now be able to access the AOL service with high-speed wireless broadband access for $25.90 per month.

    AOL president access business Joe Redling says, “Clearwire‘s wireless high-speed service brings a differentiated offering to AOL members moving to broadband. This innovative approach to broadband access offers consumers additional levels of freedom and flexibility in how and where they experience AOL‘s content and services – and stands to be a promising feature for new consumer segments.”

    Clearwire‘s co-president and chief strategy officer Ben Wolff says, “This truly complementary relationship offers customers access to AOL‘s premium safety and security features and content with a simple, fast wireless connection.

     

    “Clearwire‘s reliable wireless broadband service combined with AOL‘s wide array of content and services, presents an appealing option for online users to leverage the power of the Internet.”

     

    Key features of the AOL High Speed powered by Clearwire include:

    – Wireless High Speed: In addition to high speed, wireless access offers mobility, freedom and flexibility.

    – Fast and Easy Setup: Plug-and-play installation makes establishing a wireless Internet connection quick and easy.

    – Customer Service: Help that‘s available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.

    – Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identity theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.

    – Content: AOL-exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and music are all more enjoyable than ever.

    – Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.

     

    This service connects to the Internet using licensed spectrum and eliminates the confines of traditional cable or phone wiring. A small wireless modem makes connectivity easily portable and movable within the Clearwire coverage area, allowing customers to use the service throughout their home, office or favourite local coffee house.
  • MTV launches broadband and mobile community platform in Korea

    MTV launches broadband and mobile community platform in Korea

    MUMBAI: MTV Asia Pacific has entered into a collaboration with Korean multimedia developer Wizmax to launch a customizable on-demand music and entertainment broadband and mobile community platform in Korea called MTV BoomBox.

    The venture has established a state-of-the art prototype that will serve as a model for customisable MTV platforms in the broadband and wireless content services arena across Asia.

    MTV Boombox will be an online entertainment destination utilizing state of the art technology across online and mobile platforms. The service will provide Korean consumers a digital community featuring local and international MTV programming on-demand, a wealth of user-generated content and a vast library of local and international music video and audio downloads, all celebrating the vibrant culture of music. MTV Boombox marks the first MTV-branded broadband network in Asia and the first video-based music community site to launch in Korea.

    Featuring a combination of free and paid streaming and downloading services including MTV programming, music, music videos, radio and more, MTV Boombox will allow users to customise their experience with video blogs, podcasting, file uploading and personalized homepages all designed to seamlessly connect with PCs, mobile phones and MP3 players. MTV Boombox will roll out in three phases beginning in May with full applications available to consumers by the third quarter of the year.

    MTV Asia Pacific president Nigel Robbins says, “Korea’s advanced technology allows us to deliver our world-renowned content in ways never seen before, and sets the tone for our future digital growth throughout the region.”

    Wizmax CEO Geoffrey H. Keum says, “The strategic alliance between the world’s best content provider and Wizmax’s digital multimedia service and technology will certainly make a global impact. MTV Boombox will introduce the next generation of new media services to Korea and throughout Asia.”

    MTV Boombox will provide users with an entertainment gateway, showcasing music and pop culture in MTV’s distinct editorial voice with applications allowing the user to customize and share their experience with others. Along with full episodes of original programming such as TRL Seoul available on-demand.

    MTV Boombox will also feature video clips from shows like Laguna Beach and access to events like the MTV Asia Awards. MTV says that the new venture also allows a wealth of sponsorship opportunities including full TVC streams and exclusive sponsored content not available on the free to access sections. Sponsors can provide MTV Boombox subscribers click-thru content such as the pre-release of music, performances and MTV series only available on broadband.

    MTV Boombox also offers advertisers creative re-skins reflecting corporate branding, all seamlessly integrated into the look and user-friendly design of MTV Boombox.

    MTV Boombox is the sixth MTV-branded broadband network launched by MTV Networks. MTV Overdrive was launched in April 2005 in the US, followed by the September launch of a customized service for Latin America called MTV Revolution. mtvU, MTV’s US-based college network, launched Uber in 2005, marking the company’s first network to be available in its entirety on broadband.

    Another localised service for MTV Overdrive launched in conjunction with the debut of MTV Canada in March 2006 and MTV Overdrive in the U.K and Ireland launched last month. The company has plans to launch additional online, on-demand services for MTV and Nickelodeon internationally throughout the year.

  • Cartoon Network US announces a new broadband venture

    Cartoon Network US announces a new broadband venture

    MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Cartoon Network and Viz Media have announced a joint venture called Toonami Jetstream.

    The broadband service which launches on 17 July 2006 will provide on-demand, full-length streaming episodes of a number of hit animé and action series, including acclaimed hit series Naruto and Samurai Jack. In addition, users will also be able to watch full-length episodes of series like Hikaru No Go, Mar and The Prince of Tennis that are not currently offered on US broadcast or basic cable television.

    Cartoon Network and Viz Media will jointly manage and administer acquisitions and programming. Each week, new episodes will be added to the site while previous episodes will also be available through the Toonami Jetstream archive. Toonami Jetstream, an online extension of Cartoon Network’s long-running and successful Toonami action-adventure television franchise, is a free service, supported by advertising that includes both banners and streaming video ads.

    Cartoon Network senior VP, GM new media Paul Condolora says, “Cartoon Network has long been the dominant TV provider of the best animé and action. And we were the first to stream, in 2001, full-length animé series online. Now, with this joint venture with Viz Media, we will give our fans the chance to view popular shows on-demand and follow new series that cannot be seen anywhere else.

    “We also believe that this will bring new fans to the action/animé genre, create interest in new shows and build the overall popularity of Toonami on Cartoon Network.”

    Viz Media executive VP John Easum says, “Toonami Jetstream will provide our current fans and new fans alike with unlimited opportunities to view our popular hit shows such as Naruto. It will also give us the opportunity to share with our fans an unprecedented variety of Japan’s newest and most exciting animated series. We are thrilled to be expanding our strong relationship with Cartoon Network. Viz Media is one of the industry’s leading licensors of Japanese animation and Cartoon Network is the preeminent broadcaster of Japanese animation and we believe that our collective forces will make Toonami Jetstream the online destination of choice for action-adventure animation fans.”

    Five series are currently slated for the July launch of Toonami Jetstream. In Naruto, an evil Nine-Tailed-Fox demon that terrorised The Hidden Leaf Village was sealed inside the body of a baby in order to end the decimation of the village. A rule that forbade anyone to tell him that he possessed the spirit of the Nine-Tailed-Fox left Naruto unaware of why the villagers shunned him. Now a teenager, he attempts to earn the villagers’ respect by training to become the village’s top ninja.

    As Naruto develops his skills, he must learn to control his special powers to become the respected master ninja. Through exciting adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right versus wrong.

    Samurai Jack which is one of Cartoon Networks most popular shows encounters an array of cultures and civilisations as he travels the world seeking the portal to send him back to his own time. A man of few words, Jack relies on his mental and physical training as a warrior to help him fend off the evil wizard’s forces.

    Hikaru No Go tells the story of Hikaru Shindo, a young student who stumbles across a dusty old Go board while exploring his grandfather’s attic. Trapped inside is Fujiwara-no-Sai, the ghost of an ancient Go master that enters Hikaru’s consciousness, allowing him to communicate with the spirit. Sai, newly awakened, wishes for nothing more than to play Go again. Urged on by Sai, Hikaru reluctantly begins playing Go. As he begins to appreciate the complexities of the game, Hikaru makes it his quest to become the ultimate Go champion.

    Mar features Ginta, an average 14-year-old boy, until a mysterious portal suddenly transports him into the fairy tale realm he envisions in his dreams, the World of MÄR. In MÄR, Ginta acquires super human strength and Babbo- a talking magical weapon knows as an ARM. Together, Ginta and Babbo embark on a quest to save the World of MÄR from total domination by the evil chess pieces.

    In The Prince of Tennis the backdrop of middle school tennis serves as the setting for this sports drama and coming-of-age story. The Prince of Tennis, created by Takeshi Konomi, depicts the on-and off-the-court adventures of Ryoma Echizen, who joins the Seishun Academy tennis team, known for being one of the most competitive teams in Japan. With his undeniable talent (and sometimes shamelessly cocky attitude), Ryoma is ready to lead his team to victory.

    Viz Media works in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content.

  • Asian VOD broadcaster Anytime signs distribution deal in Taiwan

    Asian VOD broadcaster Anytime signs distribution deal in Taiwan

    MUMBAI: The Asian video on demand (VOD) channel Anytime has reached a distribution deal in Taiwan with the interactive broadband platform TDMC.

    TDMC TV chairman Zhong Zhen says, “The deal gives TDMC TV customers a variety of content from the Hollywood studios over a secure ADSL broadband connection to a set-top box. The channel launches in Taiwan this month.

    “Anytime has output deals with more Hollywood studios and Asian content creators than any other video on-demand channel. The new Anytime channel on TDMC TV will give viewers in Taiwan easy access to the most popular, up-to-date entertainment, when they want it.”

    The Singapore-based Anytime has existing carriage deals in Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand, and the rights to license into 14 territories in Asia Pacific. Shareholders include CPE Holdings (Sony), Fox Media Services, Warner Bros. Entertainment, YTC Group, the Macquarie Bank Group and US based Coote/Hayes Productions.

  • 3G adoption to broadband economy: CII

    3G adoption to broadband economy: CII

    NEW DELHI: A new study projects that India will have 21.3 million 3G users (11 per cent of total mobile lines) by 2010.

    Within two years, India will take over Japan to become the third largest mobile market in the world after China and the US, the study, `Enabling India’s Broadband Economy-The 3G Way’, says.

    Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has carried out the survey in association with the US-based research firm The Yankee Group.

    The report tends to highlight migration from 2G to 3G is inevitable, which makes it imperative for India to get prepared at the earliest to boost its economy.

    This, in turn, is also likely to help the country’s economy achieve double-digit growth, which at present is approximately 7-8 per cent.

    “3G services will usher in greater range of handsets, services and applications that will positively impact the growth of India’s broadband market,” The Yankee Group programme manager (wireless /mobile), Asia-Pacific Farid Yunus said while unveiling the report.

    Yunus added: “India’s mobile market is growing at an impressive rate and will only be bettered with improved coverage in rural areas and mobile penetration. Regulatory bodies and policy makers will have to address contentious issues like spectrum, which are critical for growth.”

    If both CDMA and GSM operators launch 3G in 2006, the report states, 0.2 per cent of total mobile users or 0.3 per cent of the total urban mobile users in the next six months.

    Interestingly, the CII-Yankee study lauds the government-controlled BSNL’s decision to show interest in 3G in its latest GSM tender. Pointing out that it’s a key development, the report says most Indian operators will launch 3G services in quick succession.

    “Based on international experience and early adopter profiles, 3G ARPU (average revenue per user) should be roughly three times (of) 2G ARPUs in the first year. This will gradually decline as lower spending late adopters migrate to 3G,” the study points out.

    The report provides valuable insights into rural coverage, mobile penetration, handsets, services and applications, alternate technologies, regulations and policies and related issues. The present study is an attempt to leverage and use ICT tools for sustained economic growth of India.

    Keeping in view that there are only one million broadband customers in India at present, against a target of 3 million by December 2005, there is a need to exploit the 3G technologies to better broadband penetration, particularly in the congested urban areas, the report emphasizes.

    Industry representatives present during the unveiling of the report agreed that key factors needing attention include 3G license and handset costs, quality of service, content and the rate of technology advancements, which is presently higher than the rate of deployments.

  • Disney-ABC to offer hit shows online in May and June

    Disney-ABC to offer hit shows online in May and June

    MUMBAI: Get ‘Desperate’ and ‘Lost’ online! With an aim to expand its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group will be offering ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series online at www.abc.go.com.

    However, this offer will be a part of a two-month-long experiment. Current episodes of Lost, Desperate Housewives and Commander In Chief, as well as the entire present season of Alias, will be available for streaming during May and June, marking the first time a broadcast network has made multiple series available for viewing online, free of charge to consumers.

    “The evolution of ABC.com is just one piece of our comprehensive, digital media multiplatform business initiative. This announcement highlights the momentum we’ve achieved both in launching new broadband services and working with strategic partners in the digital media space, to ensure that our high-quality, informative and entertaining content is available to consumers whenever and wherever they choose,” said Disney Media Networks co-chair and Disney-ABC Television Group president Anne Sweeney.

    ABC is also exploring ways to work with its local broadcast affiliates on these online offerings as they continue to evolve. “Our ultimate goal is to find an effective online model, one in which our affiliates can take part. To that end, we’ll be sharing information from this two-month test in our discussions going forward, and working on ways for them to participate in this new method of delivering ABC programming,” added ABC Television Network president operations and administration Alex Wallau.

    “Our mission with this trial is to gather key learning about the technology and the consumers who utilize it in order for ABC.com to become the leading broadband digital entertainment experience, packed with innovative, immersive content for our viewers. In the months ahead, ABC.com will not only deliver a high quality, on-demand viewing experience to users, but will also gain valuable knowledge and research to help us better understand and serve our consumers in the rapidly evolving digital world,” said Disney-ABC Television Group executive vice president digital media Albert Cheng.

    As part of the trial, ABC has offered 10 advertisers the opportunity to test possible in-stream broadband advertising models as well as the ability to take advantage of sponsorships. The unique interactive video ads will take many different forms and will be seen within each episode. The advertisers include AT&T, Cingular, Ford, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Unilever’s Suave, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, among others.

    “We have said all along that we are dedicated to finding ways to bring our advertiser partners along with us as we embrace new ways of doing business in the world of digital media. This unique project has allowed us to offer our advertisers the ability to deliver increased effectiveness in their messaging through targeted and engaging interactive ads that offer compelling consumer experiences,” said ABC Television Network president sales and marketing Mike Shaw.

    Combining an all-new sleek, modern design with user-friendly functionality, ABC.com will offer episodes the day after they premiere on the linear channel. Consumers will be able to pause and move back and forth between “chapters” within each episode, but will not have the ability to fast-forward through advertisements. Episodes will be streamed in 16×9 formatting which offers a cinema-like feel to the viewing experience.

    Encoded and streamed in Flash 8, which offers the best video quality and allows users on both Mac and PC platforms to watch the video episode, will be offered in two different sizes. The standard viewing size is 500×282 pixels (streamed at 400kbs), and the larger viewing size is 700×394 pixels (streamed 700 kbps).