ITV

Tag: Chennai

  • Aircel launches WiMAX technology in Chennai

    Aircel launches WiMAX technology in Chennai

    BANGALORE: Aircel Business Solutions (ABS), part of Aircel, has launched wireless Internet services through Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access — popularly known as the WiMAX technology — which enables ‘last mile’ connectivity using ‘near line of site’ (NLOS) wireless equipment. 

    By doing so, ABS becomes the first company in India to launch WiMAX and one among the five global operators to achieve this feat.

    “Initially, ABS aims to make Chennai ‘wire free’ using WiMAX technology enabling wireless Internet connectivity for SME, enterprise and residential use,” says Aircel Business Solutions SVP Ram Shinde, while announcing the launch. “ABS is also positive about the commercial viability and acceptance of WiMAX across varied user profiles and geographies considering the substantial growth rate of Internet subscribers in recent times” he added.

    As of now, ABS can provide pan-city coverage (more than 90 percent) across commercial areas in Chennai and has already enabled wireless connectivity for SME and Enterprise clients through WiMAX based on 802.16d standards at a speed range of 2 to 10 Mbps. This would help the end user to stay connected to the Internet and Intranet with high uptime. These WiMAX deployments use NLOS wherein the customer premises equipment (CPE) does not have to face the base station (BTS). The forthcoming 802.16e standard will be even capable of mobile Internet, states an official release.

    ABS has also deployed WiMAX Networks beyond Chennai with limited coverage in many other prominent Indian cities such as Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Cochin and Ahmedabad and would extend its pan-city coverage in a phased manner. Apart from these, ABS also plans to WiMAX another 26 cities in the near future, the release adds.

    With WiMAX, end users can have Internet accessibility based on portable technologies at an affordable price. WiMAX is unaffected by environmental or climatic disturbances and provides relief to organizations from ‘last mile’ connectivity concerns both in urban and rural areas with limited network infrastructure.

    The backend systems and processes (OSS / BSS) of ABS are highly sophisticated with end-to-end manageability from Sales Prospecting to Order Management and Internet Protocol (IP) Provisioning. All these systems are developed in-house and have the capability to accommodate future business requirements of ABS, the release adds.

    ABS is also identifying and deploying Wi-Fi ‘hotspots’ throughout the Chennai city with indoor and outdoor points backhauled with WiMAX. Internet services at these ‘hotspots’ will be enabled through pre-paid cards integrated with Payment Gateways for on-line registration and subsequently activated using the ‘Authentication, Authorization & Accounting’ (AAA) mechanism.

  • Hathway launches cable TV services in Jhansi

    Hathway launches cable TV services in Jhansi

    MUMBAI:The Rajan Raheja promoted Hathway Cable & Datacom has teamed up with the dominant cable operator in Jhansi and launched services under the name Hathway JMD SR Cable & Datacom Pvt. Ltd.

    SR Network started its operations in December 2004 and it provides cable TV services to the entire city of Jhansi.

    Hathway will provide over 90 analogue television channels to its subscribers. The cable service company will soon be launching ‘voice over cable’ services, which will enable the MSO to be a true ‘triple player’ with digital, high speed internet and voice services, according to an official statement.

    The deal Hathway has struck with SR Network is similar to the one it entered into in Kanpur in April where it operates as a joint venture with Jai Mata Di Sherawali (Sanjeev Dikshit promoter) under the brand name Hathway Jai Mata Di Sherawali Cable & Datacom Pvt. Ltd. Hathway JMD has subsequently started operations in Farukhabad and Unnav.

    Starting with Kanpur, Hathway plans to take the digital revolution forward gradually in other cities in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Kanpur will be the first city in UP which will provide Digital Cable TV transmission from December 2006.

    Hathway’s Digital Cable TV services are presently available in Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Bangalore , Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Jalandhar.

    The digital services are offered through a remote controlled digital device called the Set Top Box. The digital device is feature packed and it changes the entire TV viewing experience for the subscriber. The key features include DVD picture quality, stereophonic sound, a capacity to receive more than 1000 channels, an EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) which enables programme reservations & reminders, positioning of favourite channels, parental control, information banner and selection of channels by genre etc.

    The other value added services such as video-on-Demand, interactive gamming etc. are also available with Hathway’s digital set top box.

    Apart from Analogue Cable TV and Digital Cable TV services, Hathway provides Cable Broadband services with high – speed connectivity from 256 Kbps onwards through the high bandwidth capability of cable. Hathway’s Broadband Internet is presently available in the cities of New Delhi, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mysore and Chandigarh.

    Hathway also has under its umbrella Cine Channel (CCC), a movie based entertainment channel and I-TV a dial – up interactive music channel that operates like a juke box and local channels like Win Cable & Win Movies.

  • MSOs get CAS authorisation letters

    MSOs get CAS authorisation letters

    MUMBAI: The government’s CAS rollout plan continues apace. All the major MSOs today received “CAS authorisations” from the sector regulator, which clears the way for the public awareness campaigns to kick on the stipulated date of 15 October.

    According to IndusInd Media & Communications executive director Ashok Mansukhani, the letters issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) are dated 30 September and authorise an MSO to operate in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai “in the areas notified under Section 4(a) of the Cable Act 1995 as per 11(2) of the cable rules 1992 as amended in 2006.”

    Says Mansukhani, “These letters clear the way for MSOs to seek authorisation from broadcasters to enter into revenue share agreements with broadcasters and operators in terms of the August 24 interconnect regulation and the August 31 tariff order issued by Trai. It also clears the way for us kick off the CAS awareness campaign by the mandated date of 15 October.”

    Executives in the Zee Group promoted WWIL (earlier Siticable) also confirmed receiving the CAS authorisation letters. 

    It was on 18 September that Trai issued a directive that the date for starting public awareness campaign by permitted MSOs in CAS notified areas will be not later than 15 October. This directive was further to its earlier order specifying standards of quality of service to be observed by the MSOs / cable operators in CAS notified areas.

    The CAS awareness campaign will last for a period of 30 days. The general directive also provides for filing of a compliance report immediately after the start as well as the end of the campaign.

    Trai had issued a regulation on 23 August specifying standards of quality of service to be observed by the MSOs/ Cable Operators in CAS notified areas of Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. This regulation had stated that multi system operators permitted to provide cable services in CAS notified areas would be required to conduct a public awareness campaign from a date to be specified by Trai.

  • Bharti Airtel inks $ 1 billion network expansion contract with Ericsson

    Bharti Airtel inks $ 1 billion network expansion contract with Ericsson

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel today announced the signing of an estimated $ 1 billion network expansion contract with Swedish telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson.

    The contract will enable Bharti Airtel to rapidly expand its mobile services footprint further and reach out to all towns and cities in 15 telecom circles in the country. The three-year service contract with Ericsson is towards the design, planning, supply and installation commissioning of Airtel networks in these circles.

    Ericsson will also upgrade the network with mobile softswitch (Media Gateway and MSC Servers), the solution that paves the way to an all-IP network. Bharti Airtel will be able to reduce the operational costs and introduce new services in a cost-efficient way.

    The scope of the agreement extends to 15 Airtel circles of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP (West), Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, UP (East), Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North East.

    Manoj Kohli, president, Bharti Airtel said, “At Bharti, it has been our endeavor to find innovative business models to deliver better customer experience. Our partnership with Ericsson is testament to this belief as it allows us to focus on delivering better customer experience even as we leverage the world class expertise of our partners to roll out our networks across all census towns by March 2007. In addition, we are also sourcing next generation products that will allow us to deliver innovative products & services to our customers.”

    This partnership will enable Airtel to channel its resources and expertise to its core areas of product innovation, value added services, marketing, branding & pricing, while simultaneously providing world class mobile services by leveraging Ericsson’s world class expertise in network management.

    “Our partnership with Bharti Airtel resulted in the first managed services contract in the industry. Speed of roll-outs plays an extremely important role in large expansions of this nature. Ericsson has demonstrated expertise in this area. We are honoured and pleased that Bharti Airtel has chosen to partner with us to expand their footprint across India” said Mats Granryd, managing director, Ericsson India.

  • Radio Mirchi swells ad rates by 25%

    Radio Mirchi swells ad rates by 25%

    MUMBAI: On the heels of recently launching new radio stations in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur, the Entertainment Network India Ltd, which manages the brand Radio Mirchi has introduced a hike in spot prices ranging between 10 and 25 per cent for all their stations.

     

    The prices for their older network of seven stations – Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune & Indore – have gone up by 25 per cent and for the newly launched stations an increase of 10 per cent has been announced from the introductory prices of April when the stations were launched, according to an official release.

     

    Radio Mirchi sales head Naveen Chandra says that the price increase was part of the normal price increase the brand takes every September.

     

    Radio Mirchi, Chandra adds, “Radio Mirchi had quickly attained leadership status in the Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur markets and added to its significant lead over its competition in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkota.”

     

    Chandra further states that Radio Mirchi was the only medium to provide large numbers of urban audiences when compared with TV where audiences are increasingly fragmenting and the reach is significant outside of the urban areas. Radio Mirchi for instance delivers 15.5 million listeners on a daily basis in its 10 cities of operation, compared with a reach of 9.9 million for Star Plus and a cumulative reach of 10.1 million for all the No. 1 newspapers in these 10 markets.

    Given the fact that radio is 60 per cent as effective as television in building awareness, while coming at a cost of just 14 per cent, it was felt that pricing for radio could increase marginally in the Indian context.

     

    In the April – June 2006 period, Radio Mirchi’s revenues grew by 63 per cent compared to the same period last year, informs an official release.

  • Inox Leisure Q1 net doubles to Rs 83.7 million

    Inox Leisure Q1 net doubles to Rs 83.7 million

    MUMBAI: Inox Leisure Ltd’s net profit has more than doubled to stand at Rs 83.7 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2006, as compared to Rs 40.8 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Total income was at Rs 40.53 million as against Rs 22.57 million during this period. Inox has launched two new properties, Inox Darjeeling and Inox Kota, to take its tally up to 41 screens in 11 multiplexes across 10 cities. In June, Inox also entered into a term sheet for an all share swap deal with Calcutta Cinema Private Limited (CCPL) for acquiring CCPL and its brand of multiplexes – ‘89 Cinemas.’

    Inox plans to take its screen count up to 108 screens by mid-2008, spread across 26 multiplexes in 18 cities. Inox Nagpur with three screens and Inox Chennai with five screens are scheduled to open in August and September 2006 respectively.

  • Inox to acquire Calcutta Cine Pvt Ltd

    Inox to acquire Calcutta Cine Pvt Ltd

    MUMBAI: Leading multiplex operator Inox Leisure Limited is acquiring Calcutta Cinema Private Limited (CCPL) in an all-share-swap deal. This will allow Inox to get a firm foothold in West Bengal, adding up to its presence in Kolkata.

    CCPL, which runs its business under the brand 89 Cinemas, plans to commence its second three-screen multiplex at Durgapur in West Bengal within 15 days. The company also runs a four-screen multiplex at Swabhumi in Kolkata.

    The two companies are in the process of appointing an independent valuer. “We have agreed that the valuation will be on the basis of a discounted cash flow model over five years. CCPL is merging its operations with Inox,” says Inox Leisure Limited director Deepak Asher.

    CCPL will have 8-10 properties over the next two years. “We will be able to enhance our pan-India presence in movie exhibition by gaining a strong foothold in West Bengal,” says Asher. Inox presently operates two multiplexes in Kolkatta (Elgin Road and Salt Lake) and one in Darjeeling (Laden La Road).

    Inox also plans to open new multiplexes in Diamond City, Jessore Road with five screens and at Kharagpur with four screens. The agreement with CCPL will take Inox’s tally of multiplexes in West Bengal and Assam up to 13.In addition, CCPL has tied up properties for building and operating six other multiplexes in West Bengal and Assam. CCPL also has an understanding with Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited (Bengal Ambuja) – a leading real estate developer in East India – which gives CCPL preferential access as the preferred multiplex operator to all properties being developed by Bengal Ambuja.

    According to the press release, Inox also plans to expand its network with new multiplexes in Hyderabad, Chennai, Jodhpur, Lucknow, Raipur, Kolkata and Bangalore. In addition, Inox also has a strategic alliance with the Pantaloon Group of Companies which provides it with preferential access, as a multiplex operator, to all real estate developments which the Pantaloon Group of Companies and funds managed by it, are developing or otherwise associated with.

    “89 Cinemas is an emerging multiplex chain with a strong regional focus in Eastern India. The proposed merger will enable Inox to build a very strong presence in the region and the inorganic growth opportunity will create great value for Inox shareholders,” Asher says.

    CCPL CEO Debashis Ghosal commented, “We believe that the proposed merger with Inox – India’s most profitable multiplex chain – will create tremendous value for CCPL shareholders, enabling them to partake in the value creation by Inox, as well as enable Inox to build a formidable presence in Eastern India”.

    The proposed merger is subject to due diligence, final approval by Shareholders, Creditors and the High Court. Enam Financial Consultants Pvt. Ltd. is acting as Advisor to this Transaction., “We are delighted to have acted as Advisors to this transaction. We think the proposed merger is a great fit with Inox’s national footprint and 89 Cinemas strength in the eastern region. The proposed merger perhaps marks the beginning of the consolidation phase in the multiplex industry,” says Salil Pitale of Enam

  • Setting up broadcast regulator to cost government Rs 601 million

    Setting up broadcast regulator to cost government Rs 601 million

    NEW DELHI: The proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai) is likely to cost the government Rs 601.1 million to set up, which includes recurring and non-recurring expenses.

    According to projections made by the information and broadcasting ministry, the annual cost on pay and allowances of officers and staff of Brai would be Rs 85.7 million, with the chairperson’s remuneration being the highest wherein the monthly financial implication would be Rs 60,000.

    Non-recurring expenses have been pegged at Rs 124.7 million, which include basic infrastructure for Brai. The Indian government is proposing to set up Brai under the yet to be enacted Broadcasting Services Regulation Act. The functions of Brai will be to oversee the broadcast and cable industry in all its entirety with powers ranging from granting licences for any type of broadcasting services to ensuring quality of services to monitor content beamed on radio and TV channels.

    It has also been proposed that Brai have five regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati.

    There would be six full-time members of the regulatory authority, apart from the chairperson, with everybody’s term of office being for five years or till the time they attain the age of 65 — whichever being earlier.

    The chairperson or any other member would not be eligible for a second term, but a member can be eligible for appointment as chairperson for the remaining part of his term.

    Even though Brai is being set up as an independent organization, the government would keep a control over it through a government official of not less than additional secretary’s rank who will act as the chief executive of Brai.

    A draft note, prepared by the government, states that the secretary of Brai would act as its CEO and the federal government would make available a panel of not less than three officials for a selection to be made.

    All broadcast and cable related cases pending before the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), presently acting as the broadcast regulator, and the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will be deemed as transferred to Brai once it is set up.

  • Mid-Day Radio Go 92.5 relaunches as Radio One 92.5

    Mid-Day Radio Go 92.5 relaunches as Radio One 92.5

    MUMBAI: Radio Mid-Day Go 92.5 FM has undergone a change in its brand identity as well as positioning of the FM channel. From a niche player, Go 92.5 FM is set to create a mark as a mass player. Towards that end the station has undergone a name change to Radio One.

    Radio One is a Mid-Day Multimedia and BBC Worldwide venture.

    Earlier this year, BBC Worldwide Holdings B.V. entered into a deal with Mid-Day Multimedia Ltd to invest Rs 318.5 million for a 20 per cent stake in Radio Mid Day West (India) Pvt Ltd.The venture has bagged licenses to operate FM stations in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pune. While the Mumbai station is operational, other metros like Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi will go on air in the next few months.

    Interestingly, one of the radio brands from the BBC Worldwide stable is called BBC Radio 1. BBC Radio Service also runs BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Five Live in the UK. 

    BBC Radio 1 specialises in popular music and targets the 16-24 age bracket. It was launched in September 1967.

    “With Radio Mid-Day becoming a national player in seven major metros around the country, it was only natural that we would evolve what we were doing in Mumbai into what is going to be a robust national play,” says Radio Midday CEO Rajesh Tahil.

    “As a single city player, being niche made sense, but a national presence gives us the opportunity to go back to the drawing board and look at opportunities to shed our niche image and broaden our markets, both in terms of audience and revenue,” Tahil adds.

    Commenting on the opportunities that the Phase II licensing allows for the growth of private FM in India Tahil adds, “For both Mid-Day Multimedia and the BBC, being a significant national radio player is of great strategic significance.”

    Radio Mid-Day and operating head of the Mumbai station Radio One Shariq Patel said, “We have tested the new format and have seen a healthy improvement in numbers from our own internal tracking. With FM becoming a truly mass medium, we’re on our way to building a mass brand.”

    The company has also brought about a change in its programming strategy. According to a statement issued today, the change in programming for the Mumbai station will be the first big change in the play-out of the national brand through which Radio Mid-Day aims to become the number one station in the cities it transmits.

    “The new radio station will still have the flavour of Go and the essence of what the brand stood for, which is fun, energy and exuberance reflecting the city of Mumbai. This will all remain though the language and the context changes a little,” says Radio Mid-Day VP programming and brand Vishnu Athreya. “For us, music and Bollywood are an integral part of the programming mix. Hindi music itself has come a long way and the attitude that Abhishek Bachchan reflects in a new Bollywood film or the fact that Himesh Reshammiya queues up playlists at a club shows us the new age of a changing audience.”

    The company is also optimistic about the new format giving a boost to revenues. “As the market share (audience) of the radio station increases, we are certain the share of revenue will increase as well. Already we have seen interests from a wider list of advertisers that may not have considered us a necessity earlier,” Radio Mid-Day VP advertising sales Avinash Pillai, who has recently joined, concludes.

  • Radio City strenghtens workforce; appoints Mumbai, Chennai station heads

    Radio City strenghtens workforce; appoints Mumbai, Chennai station heads

    MUMBAI: Music Broadcast Pvt. Ltd (MBPL) owned Radio City has, as part of its overall growth plans in the second phase of FM expansion, aggressively expanded its workforce recruiting over 70 professionals in the last 70 days.

    The appointments have been made across all levels in the sales, marketing, programming and technical departments. The two top-level recruitments have been Krishna Iyer and Madhusudhan who have been appointed as the station heads for Mumbai and Chennai respectively.

    An MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Iyer comes from the advertising industry, having worked with agencies such as Lowe, Enterprise Nexus and JWT over the last 14 years. The company claims that Iyer’s skills and expertise in working with creative teams will help Radio City, Mumbai retain its leadership position in the FM space and further strengthen and drive its innovative content and communication platform.

    Madhusudhan has over 10 years experience in organisations like ANP Sanmarg Life Insurance, Idea Cellular and HCL-Nokia. He will be instrumental in Radio City’s launch in Chennai.

    Amidst this recruitment drive, Radio City Delhi and Lucknow vice president and station head Amritendu Roy, has put in his papers citing personal reasons after a two-year stint at Radio City.

    Under his stewardship, Radio City Delhi consolidated its listenership and increased it to over two million in Delhi and the NCR. He also spearheaded major content innovations and interactive station promotions in Delhi. According to an official release, his stint at Radio City Lucknow has helped strengthen Radio City’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by furthering private-public partnerships to support various causes.

    Radio City national HR head Ashish Gharde said, “Radio City aims to be the best employer in the media industry. Our recent recruitment drive has been phenomenal and also a huge challenge, especially due to the limited talent available within the radio space and the dynamic situation in the media industry. In such a scenario, we had to look outside and I am glad that we have been largely successful in putting together a talented team across all our stations. Retention is also a key issue and we have initiated measures to retain and upgrade skills of key personnel within Radio City. Having said that, Amrit’s decision to leave will be a setback for us and surely he’ll be missed.”