ITV

Tag: Chinas

  • OpenTV chief: India embraces new tech faster

    OpenTV chief: India embraces new tech faster

    MUMBAI: Indias readiness to embrace new technologies, opposed to Chinas cautious approach, makes the former a more attractive market for suppliers of broadcast and related technologies, says Open TV chairman and CEO Jim Chiddix.

    The difference between India and China is active acceptance of new programmes and technology by Indians. China is more cautious, Chiddix told Indiantelevision.com today, adding this openness to new global developments gives India an advantage over its neighbour.

    According to Chiddix, in quite a few areas of the broadcast industry, India is ahead of other countries and shows a healthy growth rate, which has helped in creating the right buzz in international markets.

    We expect the (Indian) market to grow faster over the next few years, driven by competition and the need of a service provider to keep ahead of others as a differentiator in services being offered to consumers, Chiddix said.

    The Nasdaq-listed OpenTV Corp is a leading provider of enabling technologies for advanced digital television services. It has signed a multi-year license agreement with Essel Group (parent entity for Zee Telefilms and DTH licence
    holder ASC Enterprise) to deploy OpenTVs software and services in Indias first private sector DTH venture, Dish TV.

    The agreement, which would also bring within its ambit Zee Telefilms cable arm Siti Cable, represents OpenTVs initial entry into the Indian pay television market that is recognized as one of the fastest growing in the Asia Pacific region.

    Pointing out that in sheer numbers only the Indian market is overwhelming, Chiddix said, Its opening up in terms of content and delivery platforms. It is a market where every technology vendor would want to be present.

    India is also not far behind global broadcasting trends where a gradual migration to digital television from analog format is being seen. If a mature market like the US still has half way to go before 100 per cent cable TV digitalisation is achieved, Indias performance in this regard is not bad, though only a small step has been taken here.

    Digital TV is inevitable. Its not only cheaper than analog, but can solve up to a large extent the bandwidth logjam being faced by industry players everywhere, said Chiddix, an award-winning cable industry veteran widely credited with setting the standard for the American cable industry’s
    broadband network architecture.

    However, Chiddix is of the opinion that though digital TV is an
    inevitability, the rate of adoption in country like India would depend heavily on political factors and policymakers willingness — or lack of it — to push for digitalization.

    Theres a political element to it all. In the US, theres an attempt to provide government subsidies on digital boxes, he explained.

    In India, however, industry players are still trying to extract some tax benefits on set-top boxes for digital services like DTH.

    According to Chiddix, newer technology is also resulting in a slow shift of power into service providers hands from that of content creators.

    Facilities like PVRs (personal video recorders) and other delivery mechanisms are enabling platform managers and service providers to come up with incremental revenue (streams), he added.

    For example, though a global concern on advertising zapping by viewers is growing, a tech-savvy service provider can now regulate the speed of that zapping when resorted to by a subscriber on his PVR.

    Chiddix feels that with newer delivery platforms springing up, riding the technology bandwagon, TV viewing is fast moving from a passive format to an interactive one where viewers are likely to do many things at the same time.

    Dish TV is soon going to offer a service where during a cricket match, for instance, subscribers of the DTH service can have access to players fact files and replays of a particular shot on the TV screen, while simultaneously watching live action.

  • Time Warner brings HBO to China’s digital TV market

    MUMBAI: Time-Warner’s HBO is making its entry in the Chinese digital television market. The country’s digital television viewers can now watch the channel programmes as China Central Television (CCTV) has signed a deal with Time-Warner to broadcast HBO’s programmes on CCTV’s pay channel First Theatre.

    As per the deal, Time-Warner will broadcast six hours of HBO programmes on First Theatre.

    Reportedly, China has two million digital TV subscribers. HBO has associated with Shanghai SMG group also in China to provide 50 American films to 20,000 pay TV users every month.

  • China’s consumer electronics production industry to top $67 billion this year

    MUMBAI: Mainland China’s production of consumer electronics will reach $67.3 billion in 2005 — up 22 per cent from 2004.
     
     

    This data is contained in the report China Industry Outlook: Consumer Electronics. It provides in-depth analysis of China’s consumer electronics manufacturing industry and examines semiconductor demand and supply and design challenges. The report was published by media company and a facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China Global Sources

    This year makers expect to produce:
    102.7 million DVD players — up 19 per cent from 2004, 88.5 million air conditioners up 33 per cent, 79.0 million colour TVs — up 12 per cent, 37.9 million in-car entertainment systems up 23 per cent, 33.5 million digital cameras — up 29 per cent, 16.5 million MP3 players — up 61 per cent and 7.9 million home theater systems up six per cent.
     
     

    Report publisher, Mark Saunderson said, “China’s consumer electronics production revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23 per cent between 2004 and 2007. ‘The industry is becoming increasingly crowded. To be more competitive makers are shifting research and production towards more advanced products such as liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs, digital TVs, DVD recorders and
    eight-megapixel or higher digital cameras. ‘In the first four months of 2005, exports of 21-inch and larger LCD TVs grew by 559 per cent compared to the same period in 2004.”

    This year television set makers will import $1.13 billion worth of components — up 15 per cent from 2004. DVD players will import $1.3 billion worth of components — up 14 per cent. Digital cameras will import $1.69 billion worth of components — up 34.5 per cent. MP3 players will import $0.37 billion worth of components — up 37 per cent.

    Saunderson adds, “In 2005, China’s electronics industry will use US$59.85 billion worth of ICs. It is expected 94 percent of this amount will be
    imported. This represents a huge opportunity for companies looking to sell their components and solutions to China’s finished-product manufacturers.”

    Designers using more advanced technology
    Import figures for digital single-chip ICs show that manufacturers are using more complex technology in their designs.

  • China’s IPTV market set to explode

    MUMBAI: Market research group Analysys International has predicted that Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) will become the next global industry, with a potential market of 200 billion RMB.

    The China IPTV market will mature into a huge market, reaching 16.7 billion RMB in revenue and 16.65 million in the predicted number of users by 2009. The firm has released a study Focus Report on IPTV China-2005. It says that the information contained in the report helps dispel misconceptions that this industry that is full of obstacles and provides high-valued results for business models based on a thorough understanding of the industry.

    The report notes that IPTV features the combination of advantages and characteristics of telecommunications, television and the Internet. Its development signifies a great revolution, moving away from the traditional networks and TV industries by achieving real interaction. However, the early stages of market cultivation posed many threats and risks while the potential for business opportunities has attracted many players.

    The study further notes that uncertainty of regulations, insufficient hardware platforms, long-term obstacles of an immature value chain and unclear business models are the main concerns of key players. But despite all these obstacles, users of IPTV in China will reach 1.17 million by the end of 2005; 2007 will be a year strong growth year for IPTV users and finally the growth rate will slow down, reaching 16.65 million users by the end of 2009.

    The report gives the example of Internet game provider Shanda who had shown its ambition to become a leading provider of IPTV to Chinese homes with its own DVB (set-top box) attracted a great deal of attention recently. Analysys International in the report has also provided advice on tactics such as payment methods, monthly fees and content preference for key players like Shanda.

  • China’s Tom Online, Beijing Music Radio enter strategic alliance

    MUMBAI: With the coming of the digital entertainment tide, Tom Online Inc., a leading mobile Internet company in China today launched TOMusic Plus, in partnership with Beijing Music Radio which is the flagship music media in China.

    The partnership between the two is set to manifest itself through traditional themed products like music releases and entertainment news but formatted in cutting-edge technology, leveraging on Tom Online’s wireless value-added service platform to create a new mobile digital entertainment brand.

     

     
    Riding on Tom Online’s leading wireless value-added service (VAS) platform, TOMusic Plus is a brand new way to enjoy songs and music for the young and trendy group of music lovers, without compromising intellectual property. With this, not only will users be able to enjoy music more freely, but through this new way of ‘transmitting’ music, a new business model across the industries including Internet, mobile telecommunications, and music media will emerge with TOMusic Plus at the forefront of this value chain innovation, said an official release. Tom Online expects the new service will increase its user base resulting in higher profits for the company.
    Through this partnership, TOMusic Plus will allow users to vote for their favorite songs or singers directly from their mobile phone on the China Music Billboard hosted by Beijing Music Radio. Tom Online and Beijing Music Radio believe that through this cooperation, the China Music Billboard will further strengthen its leading position in China’s music industry, broaden music lover’s participation on the billboard, and allow users to interactively participate in the polling process, resulting in the dawn of a new mobile digital entertainment era, the release added.

    Commenting on this launch, Tom Online executive director and chief executive officer Wang Leilei stated, “Love for music comes naturally to young people. More and more youngsters are after a more interactive and fresh entertainment experience. TOMusic Plus perfectly satisfies this requirement.”

    Reflecting on the potential of this evolving industry, Wang stated, “TOMusic Plus is not only a new form of entertainment evolved under the mobile Internet age, but also an illustration of the bright future for China’s digital entertainment industry, based on the wireless VAS platform. Tom Online is determined to be the leader and pioneer in this industry!”

    Beijing Music Radio general manager Shao Jun said, “It has become a trend to integrate the entertainment and Internet industries as their target audiences are becoming the same. Beijing Music Radio has been cooperating with Tom Online in terms of online content services since 2001. Now that we are in closer partnership we are empowered to build a new era in China.”

    A series of roadshows will be organised throughout China from 13 May to the end of June aiming to introduce TOMusic Plus services to millions of users across the country, setting the mobile digital entertainment trend in China.

  • BBC signs deal with China’s sina.com for English education

    MUMBAI: This is an initiative by the beeb to spread English China. BBC Worldwide and BBC World Service will provide educational content for an English language teaching service via mobile telephones in China.
    The contract, between BBC Worldwide and Sina.com, China’s largest website, will enable the 200 million mobile telephone users in China to learn English through their mobile telephones. It is the first time that an international educational content supplier has used mobile technology in this way.
    Users will receive a daily text message on their mobile containing a phrase in English together with the Chinese translation; they can then log onto Sina.com to listen to and read the phrase as part of a longer dialogue, and to read explanations about the language.
    The messages will cover a range of business, sport and lifestyle topics, from “Danni quashes those Justin rumours” to “Do you know how to get into this computer?” . The message are designed to extend the user’s English language repertoire and encourage them to log on to Sina.com to expand on the material contained within the text message.
    The Beebs use of this on the move technology is not surprising considering that China is the world’s single largest mobile telephone market. The market for learning English in Beijing alone is an estimated $2.8 billon per annum. An official release informs that students spend on an average 20 per cent of their income on learning English.
    The mobile telephone service and a complimentary website will be available in China from April.