ITV

Tag: Broadcasters

  • Interactive TV portal solution for Dutch channel launched this football season

    Interactive TV portal solution for Dutch channel launched this football season

    MUMBAI: chellomedia Interactive Services has launched a new interactive TV portal in the Netherlands on Sport1, this soccer season.

    Digital premium channel Sport1 now offers its subscribers on the UPC cable platform (UPC Digital TV) the option to switch between four Sport1 channels presented on one TV screen.

    The launch of the interactive portal fits in with chellomedia’s strategy to offer new digital services to cable network operators in Europe as well as to broadcasters and other platform owners.

    While watching a match, viewers are able to call up for extra information such as match results, current scores, player statistics, an interactive quiz and a dedicated World Cup section.

    chellomedia Interactive Services exwecutive VP Noel Leslie says, “We are developing these kind of interactive solutions for operators and broadcasters in order to help them increase and retain channel audiences and to create opportunities for new revenue streams. These converged TV and internet solutions give viewers more and more control: they have more to choose from, can access content on-demand and even participate in programmes.”

    Sport1 GM Jeroen Oerlemans says, “The launch of our Sport1 TV portal will provide great added value to our premium sports channel in the Netherlands. With this easily accessible interactivity and the possibility to view a mosaic with multiple live channels, the viewer becomes more powerful and gets more choices. We think this portal will fulfil a great need.”

    chellomedia develops and facilitates these services using its authoring and deployment solution chello mistral. This solution enables quick and simple development by members of a creative team across multiple platforms and middlewares. It is also accredited by BSkyB to deliver interactive advertising, for which chellomedia has partnerships with leading UK broadcasters and ad agencies.

    chellomedia interactive services delivers entertainment-focused, interactive applications and content which strengthen digital TV and PC-based, broadband Internet offerings.

  • Changing media scenario a challenge for broadcast training institutes

    Changing media scenario a challenge for broadcast training institutes

    SINGAPORE: As the downpour continues in Singapore, Day 2 of Broadcast Asia 2006 kickstarts at the Expo City. The first session addressed the issue of capacity building of the broadcast sector.

    In the fast changing world of technology, broadcasters have to move twice as fast just to keep to where they are. The question then arises – How will they keep up with the explosion of new technologies and report on a world that is changing so fast? Engineers, programmers and managers in a broadcasting company are quite similar. The answer to this lies in training!

    Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in Malaysia has been training broadcasters for the last 30 years. According to AIBD programme manager K P Madhu, there are five core components to training. These are:

    1) Need assessments – Current deficiencies, future requirements, assessment of training readiness, training objectives and training needs analysis.

    2) Design – Courses/programmes, media – methods/needs, planned activities, evaluation schemes, target group specific training.

    3) Preparation – Presentations, leading discussion, management of practical session, evaluation of feedback, logistics.

    4) Training Evaluation – Training appraisals by trainees, analysis of adequacy, results.

    5) Feedback to Management – Human resources, assessment of future training needs.

    “We need to look at the developmental needs of broadcasters and there has to be sustained action for capacity building of broadcasters in the region. These need to be revisited and revised every year. Summits, conferences, workshops, courses, dialogues to address different group of people like managers, programmers, executives, producers etc need to be held for capacity building of broadcasters,” said Madhu.

    However, one of the major challenges that AIBD faces in training is that there has been a huge boom in the media space and training needs have multiplied manifold. Hence, in spite of all the facilities and training requirements that AIBD has, it has been difficult to keep pace with the ever changing media scenario. “The needs are much more than we can meet,” said Madhu.

    He further added, “One of the biggest hindrance for us here is funds. While the government and the broadcasters are ready to pump in money in a whole lot of other things, they are not very keen on investing in training. To convince them to put in funds for training is our biggest challenge.”

  • Government demarcates listed sports events

    Government demarcates listed sports events

    NEW DELHI: The government has come out with a list of sports events, excluding cricket, which would have to be shared with the pubcaster on a mandatory basis whether played in India or outside.

    A government communication to broadcasters states that the list will be valid for five years, though implementation review will be done annually by the authorities.

    If Doordarshan is unable to telecast a listed event due to some reasons, then that game’s possible deletion from the list is likely to be discussed during the annual review meeting.

    Cricket related events have not been specified as there are two cases pending in the courts relating to it and involving ESPN Star Sports and Ten Sports.

    The mandatory sharing of feed of listed events is part of the downlinking norms, which were announced by the government in November 2005.

    Asked about the listed events released by the government, ESPN India managing director RC Venkateish said, “We are comfortable with the non-cricket list of sporting events.”

    The list of sports to be shared with DD include the summer and winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian games and Afro-Asian Games.

    On the soccer front, where the mercury is building up leading up to the Fifa World Cup in a couple of months time, the list includes the semi-final and final matches of Euro Cup and Fifa World Cup. For Asia Cup, it would be the semis, final and all matches featuring India.

    As far as domestic soccer tournaments are concerned, DD will have access to the semifinal and final matches of Subroto Cup, Santosh Trophy, Federation Cup, Durand Cup, National Women’s Football and Junior National Football.

    In tennis, all matches featuring India and the semis and final of Davis Cup will have to be shared with DD. For the Grand Slams and WTA, all the final matches (men’s, women’s, mixed doubles and doubles) feature in the government list, apart from any other matches featuring an India from quarter-final onward.

    In hockey, the World Cup semis, final and India matches will have to be shared with DD. For the Champions’ Trophy, its India matches plus the final, while on the domestic circuit, the Baton Cup and Gold Cup for Women will see the semis and finals on DD.

    In chess, the World Cup final and matches featuring any Indian from quarterfinal onward find mention in the list. Ditto for Chess Olympiad.

    The finals and India games of billiard and snooker World Cups also have made it as listed events.

  • Endemol UK & Cirque du Soleil Images sign 3 year collaboration deal

    Endemol UK & Cirque du Soleil Images sign 3 year collaboration deal

    CANNES: Producer of entertainment formats for the worldwide market Endemol via its U.K. arm Initial has signed a three-year deal with Cirque du Soleil Images to collaborate on the development and production of yearly Cirque du Soleil television specials.

    Specifically created for television, the one-hour specials will feature the best performances from Cirque du Soleil, as well as musicians and artists from around the world.

    Initial’s director of special projects Andy Ward said, “Cirque du Soleil are the most exciting, visual and popular artists in the world and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them to translate their spirit to television. Broadcasters are already very excited.”

    In addition to creating shows, Cirque du Soleil has for many years created original and innovative content for television, video and DVD and film through its multimedia division Cirque du Soleil Images. In every project, Cirque du Soleil Images aims to capture all the spirit of Cirque du Soleil shows.

    Cirque du Soleil will handle all creative content aspects of the stage show and Initial will be responsible for all aspects of the television production.

  • CAS: IBF to push for level playing field

    CAS: IBF to push for level playing field

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has decided to exhort the government to mandate all other addressable systems in the country like DTH and IPTV, for example, as was being done with CAS or conditional access system.

    This suggestion was one of the many that were discussed today by the board of IBF, an apex body of broadcasting companies operating in India, during a debate to help formulate a stand on the issue of CAS, which can be taken to the government by 7 April.
    Another issue that the IBF would note down in a communication to the information and broadcasting ministry, which is holding meetings with industry stakeholders to finalise a rollout plan for CAS, is the pricing of such addressable services.

    Though the exact words are still to be formalized, IBF sources told Indiantelevision.com it was suggested that the government should be petitioned to follow a recommendation of the sector regulator on the pricing mechanism of addressable systems like CAS, DTH and IPTV with an aim to provide a level playing field to broadcasters vis-à-vis the cable fraternity.
    In a set of recommendations on addressable systems made in 2004, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had suggested that since addressable services depend on offering a choice to consumers, unlike non-addressable system like present-day cable TV services, pricing should be allowed to be formulated by market forces and not mandated.

    Another issue that is likely to find its way in the letter for the government involves the free-to-air bouquet of channels and its pricing.

    The IBF board feels that since the scenario has undergone a change from the time CAS was mooted in 2003 when the free-to-air (FTA )bouquet was to comprise 30 channels and priced at Rs. 72 (exclusive of taxes), more channels should now be added to the FTA package for consumers in a CAS-enabled regime.

    The argument in favour of increasing the number of channels to at least 50 is backed by the fact that the subscription-free DTH service of Doordarshan will also carry more than 50 FTA channels from May. This was announced by DD today at a press conference.

    The IBF board is also likely to express its reservation against providing a la carte pricing of channels as it might be against consumer interest.

    Though such a line of thought had been forwarded by the broadcasting industry in the US to the American regulator, the Federal Communications Commission recently put out a statement saying that the earlier report on a la carte pricing was lopsided and individual pricing of TV channels actually works to the benefit of consumers. This too is being contested by broadcasters in the US.

  • OpenTV adds Auction and Sales modules to its multi-platform product

    OpenTV adds Auction and Sales modules to its multi-platform product

    CANNES: OpenTV Corp., which provides technology solutions for advanced digital television services, has released new Auction and Sales modules that will add support for television auctions and sales to its multi-platform OpenTV Participate product. OpenTV Participate enables viewers to participate in real-time or time-shifted competitions, votes, polls, quizzes and games, via mobile phones, web, IVR, and TV remote controls.

    The Auction and Sales modules are fully integrated with existing OpenTV Participate modules, including third party billing, fulfillment, accounts, customer care, bonus, loyalty, and marketing. Operators can now run a dedicated shopping or auction channel or individual shopping or auction events.

    As with all OpenTV Participate modules, the new Sales and Auction modules utilize wizard-based logic, enabling almost any type of sales or auction event-including the popular ‘bid up’ and ‘bid down’ auction models-to be created by non technical personnel. Support for selling content is also included, enabling broadcasters to offer pay-per-use and on-demand services such as mobile TV clips, downloads, or video streaming on any platform, states an official release.
    With these new modules, OpenTV continues to enhance OpenTV Participate’s unprecedented combination of functionality in a single, scalable system, enabling broadcasters and programmers to offer their viewers an even richer choice of interactive products and services.

    “Our vision for OpenTV Participate is to enable broadcasters to convert passive viewers into active customers by offering compelling interactive services and building a profile of their viewers’ TV habits,” said Amos Manasseh, OpenTV’s VP of Global Sales and Marketing for Participation Television. “These new modules further advance this vision as well as OpenTV Participate’s unique position in the market place, benefiting both broadcasters and advertisers alike.”

    OpenTV will be demonstrating OpenTV Participate at the upcoming MipTV/MILLA, NAB, and NCTA conferences, the release adds.

  • Hong Kong to launch digital TV next year

    Hong Kong to launch digital TV next year

    MUMBAI: The Hong Kong Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau has set up working groups with Asia Television Limited (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to ensure timely and smooth launch of digital services next year.

    Led by the Hong Kong office of the Telecommunications Authority, the groups will work with the TV stations to solve technical issues related to the transmission and reception of digital terrestrial TV, and facilitate inter-departmental coordination to ensure successful migration from analogue to digital TV at different stages.

    Media reports indicate that a new website has also been launched as part of a major publicity drive to raise awareness and improve understanding of digital TV. Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Games are the driving force speeding up the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Hong Kong. The administration will require the territory’s two terrestrial television broadcasters to start digital transmissions by next year.

    In July 2004, Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority announced the implementation framework for digital TV in Hong Kong.

    The bureau approved the investment plans of ATV and TVB for their digital TV programme service and network rollout.

    According to the blueprint, ATV and TVB will start broadcasting their existing services in both analogue and digital format (simulcasting) and launch a new digital service on the respective additional frequency channel assigned to them by 2007.

    The government has yet to decide its transmission standard. If the mainland has not promulgated a national standard before the end of 2006, ATV and TVB will adopt the European digital video broadcasting – terrestrial standard which has been widely adopted internationally.

    The government has set up two working groups, led by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, to work with the two broadcasters to ensure an integrated launch of digital TV.

    According to the government timetable, ATV and TVB shall provide their existing services in both analog and digital format by 2007.

    Subject to further market and technical studies, the government will direct ATV and TVB to cease analogue broadcasts by 2012, Lai said.

  • Esha News introduces Archives system for broadcasters

    Esha News introduces Archives system for broadcasters

    MUMBAI: News monitoring agency Esha, which tracks more than 90 channels beamed into the country, has introduced a new service targeted to the channels – Archives.

    The Archives are a tailor-made solution meant for channels that wish to maintain their telecast.
    Under Archives, Esha News takes the responsibility of maintaining such archives.

    The programmes that are aired by the channel are classified under different categories and allows easy retrieval under various permutations and combinations, in the shortest possible time to the client.

    Esha News is the only monitoring services in India that is offering this tailor-made services. The company has offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

  • CAS Rollout: Three Months a More Comfortable Time Frame

    CAS Rollout: Three Months a More Comfortable Time Frame

    One after another, the complaints are gathering. Not enough set-top boxes (STBs); insufficient time to effectively and smoothly roll out conditional access system (CAS); and no marketing at all to generate a consumer pull.

    The pay TV broadcasters are at it again. Back in 2004, the government decided to withdraw CAS based on the backlash faced from broadcasters and consumers. Will history get repeated this time around?

    Looks unlikely. If the government decides to move the Supreme Court, it can at best get the implementation of CAS delayed by a few months. But the industry today is more or less settled to the fact that CAS is here to stay, sooner than later.

    A stockpile of STBs, imported in 2003 during the time government had mandated CAS, is waiting to enter into consumer homes. Unlike in the past, MSOs also have the support of their franchisee operators to push digital boxes
    _____****_____

    Valid, though, is the question thrown at the multi-system operators (MSOs): Can they implement CAS in the next four weeks?

    The MSOs say they can. There are several factors working for them this time. They have already deployed digital cable TV in small patches. A stockpile of STBs, imported in 2003 during the time government had mandated CAS, is waiting to enter into consumer homes and can by and large take care of at least the first phase of implementation (zone one) in the three metros.

    The MSOs also have the support of their franchisee operators to push forward the digital boxes. Unlike in the past, last mile operators have swung in favour of CAS for fear of losing subscribers to the direct-to-home (DTH) service providers. Concern over thrust of second and third bouquets by broadcasters has also brought them into the side of the MSOs in pushing for CAS.

    Still, a month’s time seems an impossible deadline to meet. MSOs will have to work out commercial agreements with broadcasters. In all fairness, this will take time as broadcasters have to negotiate and chalk out long term deals in an addressable system. Several considerations will have to be weighed in before arriving at a retail price structure of their TV channels. In the new era, discounts on volumes will also become an important part of the matrix.

    MSOs will have to work out commercial agreements with broadcasters. In all fairness, this will take time as broadcasters have to negotiate and chalk out long term deals in an addressable system
    _____****_____

    Though operators are in favour of CAS, there are several issues on the ground that have to still be sorted out. Flowing down the chain margins will have to be fixed for distributors and last mile operators. Commissions on sale and rental of STBs will also have to be worked out. MSOs, however, are confident that such agreements can be done in quick time. The problem is that everything can be “set into motion” once the commercial terms are settled with the broadcasters.

    A lot of ground has to be covered including launching promotional campaigns. Just looking at the logistics, one realises how Herculean the task is. A more comfortable time zone would be three months. But the ball game can change if support is extended by everybody including the government and a tough regulator to cut the errant stakeholders into size. Support from the broadcasters will also help in making CAS possible in quick time.

  • Trai asks DTH operators to file inter-connect agreements with broadcasters

    Trai asks DTH operators to file inter-connect agreements with broadcasters

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today directed DTH operators to file with the designated authority their inter-connect agreements with various broadcasters.

    This move, the regulator said, will be in addition to an existing obligation placed on the broadcasters, in terms of a 31 December 2004 directive, to file their inter-connect agreements entered with a DTH operator.

    “The amendment to (regulations) for filing by the DTH operator has been done to facilitate better monitoring and to provide for specific informational requirements relevant to DTH platform,” Trai said in a statement soon after a Delhi court directed the government to plan rollout of CAS within four weeks.

    Since the number of agreements that would be entered into by a DTH operator with broadcasters will not be voluminous as in the case of cable TV, it should be possible to provide for filing of copies of individual agreements, Trai explained, nipping in the bud any criticism of such a move.

    The regulator would separately be specifying the procedure to be adopted by DTH operators for the filing(s) after amended regulations are notified.

    On 31 December 2004, Trai had issued regulations for filing and registration of interconnect agreements entered into by broadcasters with service providers under different platforms.

    In line with the detailed recommendations of TRAI on issues relating to broadcasting and distribution of TV channels, it was stated in paragraph 5 of the explanatory memorandum to the above regulation that the agreements entered into between a MSO and a local cable operator (LCO) shall be registered with the authorized officers under the Cable Act.

    Subsequently, on 2 December 2005, these regulations were amended to bring about flexibility in adopting procedures as regard to the manner of filing, formats of filing, etc of the inter-connect agreements.