Tag: digital cable

  • Hathway launches new music and movie channels

    Hathway launches new music and movie channels

    MUMBAI: Hathway has launched a series of four new channels in the music & movie genres as they set on an ambitious roadmap to create a robust bouquet of channels which will offer Hathway subscribers, the best of entertainment package exclusively.

    The four new channels- Djay, Lamhe, Home Theatre and Marathi Talkies have been designed and packaged in a new vibrant, dynamic and cutting-edge look providing a sophisticated, satellite-like experience to Hathway subscribers, thus, offering them wide array of content with a fresh appeal.

    In the present day & age where consumer demands are growing and content is becoming accessible across multiple platforms, several broadcasters have been launching channels in different genres to cater to varied audiences and increasing reach. It is very rare for a TV platform, especially, a digital Cable platform to come out with contemporary channels which offer the best, customised content in a way which appeals to mass segments of consumers. Hathway is one of the only large MSOs that consist of a series of in-house channels, both pan-India as well as regionally. The launch of these 4 new channels adds to the strong existing line-up and with its distinctive approach& innovation in design, content & technology, Hathway is changing the way cable channels are perceived by giving it a contemporary, modern look which can match & compete with any of the satellite channels.

    DJAY-Music Redefined and Lamhe-Music Forever are the music channels from the Hathway stable which will bring the best of new and old melodies to music-lovers. While DJAY is Infinite, Young & Energetic bringing latest Bollywood tracks from the 2000 era which will appeal to the Gen-X,LAMHE brings back the old melodious flavour in a new-age persona by reliving the golden era of 50’s to 80’s.Moving on from the music genre, the 2 new movies channels- HOME THEATRE-Entertainment Recharged & MARATHI TALKIES-Cinema Aaplapacks the best blockbusters from Hindi & Marathi cinema, respectively.  With its slick and youthful packaging, HOME THEATRE will provide the best &latest moviesfrom multiple genres like action, romance, thriller, comedy, family etc. The new entrant, MARATHI TALKIESinspired by the warm, rustic, earthy yet colourful Marathi flavour will offer the best of old & new Marathi movies.

    Commenting on the launch of the new channels,  Hathway Cable & Datacom managing director & CEO Jagdish Kumar said, “As we move ahead to build the Hathway brand and achieve our business objectives, we have set another big milestone to launch a dedicated bouquet of channels which will redefine the way consumers look at Digital Cable channels. These 4 new channels are a start to our endeavor of creating a strong bouquet in multiple genres which will add a new dimension to Hathway and offer varied content to our loyal subscribers.”

    With the digitization era moving ahead towards its sunset and fast-changing trends, consumers are looking at new avenues to consume entertainment content. Some of the best international channels in the entertainment, movies, kids, sports and other domains are built on insights of how a consumer associates with the channels as a personal tool for entertainment, in terms of its style, quality and efficacy of content. Hathways’ new channels have been designed on this very insight that content packaged in the right way and with technology upgrade is the new mantra to bringing consumers closer to entertainment. To build hype and buzz about the channels, Hathway has launched teasers campaigns both offline and online and will be doing a series of marketing activities in the coming days across Print, TV (internal and cross), Digital, PR and OOH to create consumer and trade awareness.

    Hathway Cable & Datacom Video business president T.S. Panesar said, “With DJAY, LAMHE, HOME THEATRE, MARATHI TALKIES, we have started on an aggressive journey to create a potent line-up which will match the best of satellite channels and offer similar experience to our consumers. We are changing the face of cable channels in India by investing in content, technology, design, aesthetics, packagingwhich is young & dynamic and appeals to younger audiences. These channels will add a new dimension to our business, giving us an edge over competition and help us grow to the next level. Very soon, we will reposition & rebrand the entire existing stable of channels to have a strong family. ”

    From today, 25th April, DJAY, LAMHE and HOME THEATRE will be available across the country for Hathway subscribers while MARATHI TALKIES can be enjoyed only by audiences in Maharashtra. The channels will be available on FTA basis for now and part of the BST and Prime packs. The company is also working aggressively to build strong revenue from advertising sales and subscription in days to come.

     

  • Hathway launches new music and movie channels

    Hathway launches new music and movie channels

    MUMBAI: Hathway has launched a series of four new channels in the music & movie genres as they set on an ambitious roadmap to create a robust bouquet of channels which will offer Hathway subscribers, the best of entertainment package exclusively.

    The four new channels- Djay, Lamhe, Home Theatre and Marathi Talkies have been designed and packaged in a new vibrant, dynamic and cutting-edge look providing a sophisticated, satellite-like experience to Hathway subscribers, thus, offering them wide array of content with a fresh appeal.

    In the present day & age where consumer demands are growing and content is becoming accessible across multiple platforms, several broadcasters have been launching channels in different genres to cater to varied audiences and increasing reach. It is very rare for a TV platform, especially, a digital Cable platform to come out with contemporary channels which offer the best, customised content in a way which appeals to mass segments of consumers. Hathway is one of the only large MSOs that consist of a series of in-house channels, both pan-India as well as regionally. The launch of these 4 new channels adds to the strong existing line-up and with its distinctive approach& innovation in design, content & technology, Hathway is changing the way cable channels are perceived by giving it a contemporary, modern look which can match & compete with any of the satellite channels.

    DJAY-Music Redefined and Lamhe-Music Forever are the music channels from the Hathway stable which will bring the best of new and old melodies to music-lovers. While DJAY is Infinite, Young & Energetic bringing latest Bollywood tracks from the 2000 era which will appeal to the Gen-X,LAMHE brings back the old melodious flavour in a new-age persona by reliving the golden era of 50’s to 80’s.Moving on from the music genre, the 2 new movies channels- HOME THEATRE-Entertainment Recharged & MARATHI TALKIES-Cinema Aaplapacks the best blockbusters from Hindi & Marathi cinema, respectively.  With its slick and youthful packaging, HOME THEATRE will provide the best &latest moviesfrom multiple genres like action, romance, thriller, comedy, family etc. The new entrant, MARATHI TALKIESinspired by the warm, rustic, earthy yet colourful Marathi flavour will offer the best of old & new Marathi movies.

    Commenting on the launch of the new channels,  Hathway Cable & Datacom managing director & CEO Jagdish Kumar said, “As we move ahead to build the Hathway brand and achieve our business objectives, we have set another big milestone to launch a dedicated bouquet of channels which will redefine the way consumers look at Digital Cable channels. These 4 new channels are a start to our endeavor of creating a strong bouquet in multiple genres which will add a new dimension to Hathway and offer varied content to our loyal subscribers.”

    With the digitization era moving ahead towards its sunset and fast-changing trends, consumers are looking at new avenues to consume entertainment content. Some of the best international channels in the entertainment, movies, kids, sports and other domains are built on insights of how a consumer associates with the channels as a personal tool for entertainment, in terms of its style, quality and efficacy of content. Hathways’ new channels have been designed on this very insight that content packaged in the right way and with technology upgrade is the new mantra to bringing consumers closer to entertainment. To build hype and buzz about the channels, Hathway has launched teasers campaigns both offline and online and will be doing a series of marketing activities in the coming days across Print, TV (internal and cross), Digital, PR and OOH to create consumer and trade awareness.

    Hathway Cable & Datacom Video business president T.S. Panesar said, “With DJAY, LAMHE, HOME THEATRE, MARATHI TALKIES, we have started on an aggressive journey to create a potent line-up which will match the best of satellite channels and offer similar experience to our consumers. We are changing the face of cable channels in India by investing in content, technology, design, aesthetics, packagingwhich is young & dynamic and appeals to younger audiences. These channels will add a new dimension to our business, giving us an edge over competition and help us grow to the next level. Very soon, we will reposition & rebrand the entire existing stable of channels to have a strong family. ”

    From today, 25th April, DJAY, LAMHE and HOME THEATRE will be available across the country for Hathway subscribers while MARATHI TALKIES can be enjoyed only by audiences in Maharashtra. The channels will be available on FTA basis for now and part of the BST and Prime packs. The company is also working aggressively to build strong revenue from advertising sales and subscription in days to come.

     

  • HBO Defined and HBO Hits now on Tata Sky

    HBO Defined and HBO Hits now on Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: Turner International India has launched HBO Defined HD and HBO Hits HD on Tata Sky.

     

    With this the two advertising-free movie channels will be available across 11 DTH and digital cable platforms in India.

     

    Turner is committed to continue bringing compelling content inside homes of consumers in India and on any device they own. HBO Defined and HBO Hits signify a new era of television viewing for the Indian consumer. We have received a very enthusiastic response from all platforms and are happy to have, Tata Sky, one of India’s leading DTH platforms partner with us,” said Turner International India MD Siddharth Jain.

     

    HBO Defined and HBO Hits feeds will be on Tata Sky channel numbers 358 and 360 respectively at a price of Rs 99 per month.

     

    “Tata Sky is committed to offering the best picture quality, sound and digital viewing experience to its subscribers and HBO Defined & HBO Hits are great examples of this,” said Tata Sky chief content & business development officer Poalo Agostenelli . “We’re pleased to provide an experience of accessing a wide variety of world class movies with the prestigious HBO original series in pure High Definition which is delightfully ad-free for our subscribers. This is truly a movie and TV series fans’ dreams come true.”

     

    The channels are also available on Dish TV, Airtel Digital, Hathway, GTPL, Manthan Digital, ABS Star Digital, DDC, JPR Network, Den Satellite (Mumbai) and Seven Star Digital.

  • Q2-2014: Hindustan Ventures: Indusind media triples capital employed

    Q2-2014: Hindustan Ventures: Indusind media triples capital employed

    BENGALURU: IndusInd Media & Communications Limited’s (IMCL) holding company Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL) reported profit of Rs 19.68 crore about 0.8 per cent lower as compared to Rs 19.84 crore and five per cent higher than the Rs 18.74 crore profit for Q1-2014.

     

    Capital employed (segment assets minus segment liabilities) for media and communications segment more than tripled (3.08 times) to Rs 295.31 crore in Q2-2014 as compared to the Rs 95.94 crore for Q2-2013 and 3.03 times the Rs 97.44 crore for the immediate trailing quarter Q1-2014.

     

    For the current quarter, HVL reported a total income of Rs 26.18 crore, 6.2 per cent more than the Rs 24.65 crore for Q2-2013 but 1.7 per cent lower than the Rs 26.62 crore for Q1-2014.

     

    However, HVL reported a loss of Rs (-2.60) crore from its media and communications segment for Q2-2014 as compared to small profit of Rs 0.5717 crore for the corresponding quarter of last year and a loss of Rs (-4.40) crore for the immediate trailing quarter. Revenue from this segment in HVL’s financials for Q2-2014 fell by 25.3 per cent to Rs 1.09crore as compared to the Rs 1.46 crore for Q2-2013. For Q1-2014, revenue from media and communications was also Rs 1.09 crore.

     

    HVL claims that IMCL has an estimated subscriber base of 0.85 crore subscribers in 36 major cities in the country and that IMCL has planned new services for the digital cable foray, apart from the broadband services like HD services, hybrid STBs for cable and internet, and value added services for digital cable. It says that the Digital Addressable System (‘DAS’) that was introduced by the government on 1 November 2012 in phases – offers a unique opportunity to IMCL to make all its subscribers addressable and monetise its subscription revenues manifold.

     

    Three other segments besides media and communications contribute to HVL’s revenue – real estate; investments and treasury; and others. While all the other segments reported small loss, investments and treasury reported a profit of Rs 24.15 crore for Q2-2014 as compared to the Rs 22.35 crore for Q2-2013 and the Rs 24.43 crore for Q1-2014.

  • Hinduja Ventures investments PAT up for Q1-2014

    Hinduja Ventures investments PAT up for Q1-2014

    BENGALURU: IndusInd Media & Communications Limited’s (IMCL) holding company Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL) reported Rs 18.74 crore profit for Q1-2014, 10.41 per cent higher as compared to the Rs 16.97 crore for Q1-2013 and 16.43 per cent more as compared to the PAT for Q4-2013. Profit from HVL’s investments and treasury segment was eroded by losses from its media and communications segment, real estate segment and the others segment.

     

    Let us look at HVL’s results for Q1-2014

     

    HVL reported a net income from operations for Q1-2014 of Rs 26.62 crore for Q1-2014 which was 25.98 per cent higher than the Rs 21.13 crore for Q1-2013 and 32.72 per cent more than the Rs 20.05 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    HVL’s total expense for Q1-2014 at Rs 6.92 crore was almost triple (more by 189 per cent) the Rs 2.39 crore for Q1-2013 and 72.09 per cent higher than the Rs 40.22 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    Revenue from media and communications segment fell by 25 per cent from Rs 1.46 crore in Q1-2013 Rs 1.09 crore. Loss from this segment more than quadrupled (went up by 308.01 per cent) from Rs (-1.08) crore in Q1-2013 to Rs (-4.40) crore in Q1-2014. This segment had reported a profit of Rs 0.6952 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    Capital employed by this segment increased 1.1 per cent in Q1-2014 to Rs 97.44 crore from Rs 96.36 crore in Q1-2013 and was 1.8 per cent more than the Rs 95.75 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    Revenue from investment and treasury segment recorded an increase of 29.75 per cent to Rs 25.52 crore in Q-2014 as compared to the Rs 19.67 crore for Q1-2013 and was 27.3 per cent more than the Rs 20.05 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    HVL’s investment and treasury segment posted a profit of Rs 24.43 crore which was 32.92 per cent more than the Rs 18.38 crore for Q1-2013 and 36.36 per cent more than the Rs 17.92 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    As mentioned above HVL’s real estate and ‘Others’ segment posted small numbers to erode the profits from the investment and treasury segment as mentioned above.

     

    HVL estimates that it has 8.5 million subscribers across 36 major cities. The company offers over 350 channels in the digital mode. It claims to have a backbone of over 10,000 kms of hybrid fiber optic network through which it also offers broadband services with its national ISP license. IMCL has gone ahead with the first two phases of the digital revolution being ushered in by government mandated policy of digitising the cable networks. The Digital Addressable System (DAS) was introduced by the government on 1 November, 2012 in phases and offers a unique opportunity to IMCL to make all its subscribers addressable and monetise its subscription revenues manifold. HVL says that IMCL has planned new services for the digital cable foray, apart from the broadband services like HD services, hybrid STBs for cable and internet value added services for digital cable.

     

    HVL says that its real estate projects are taking off in Bangalore. Its subsidiary M/s IDL Specialty Chemicals has land in Hyderabad.

  • BBC Knowledge launches in Cyprus on Cablenet

    BBC Knowledge launches in Cyprus on Cablenet

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has signed a brand new distribution deal with Cablenet that will see the launch of BBC
    Knowledge in Cyprus for the first time from today.

    This deal follows in the footsteps of BBC Knowledge launching for the first time in Romania and Hungary in January and is the third milestone in an ambitious roll-out plan for the channel across the CEE region in 2013.

    The deal with Cablenet arrives shortly after BBC Knowledge launched for the very first time on RCS & RDS in Romania, DIGI in Hungary on 1 January and Romania’s Romtelecom on 3 January.

    BBC Knowledge will be available in the Basic package on Digital cable, reaching over 6,500 subscribers in Cyprus. BBC Entertainment and BBC World News continue to be available in the Basic package on analogue and digital cable reaching over 35,000 subscribers.

    BBC Entertainment is already shown on Cablenet in English, and BBC Knowledge will follow its lead.

    BBC Worldwide Channels SVP and GM EMEA Ian McDonough commented, “We are delighted to announce that BBC Knowledge will air in Cyprus from 1st February 2013. As we’ve already seen with recent deals in Romania and Hungary, there’s a huge appetite in the Central and Eastern European market for the kind of quality content the BBC has to offer. We are looking forward to bringing our award-winning, factual programming to viewers in Cyprus, and to this latest exciting chapter in the story of BBC channels in the CEE region.”

    Cablenet MD Nicolas Shiacolas commented, “It is our constant goal to enrich our TV bouquets with quality channels, ensuring we continually offer our customers better value. The BBC has always stood for and offered the very best in TV entertainment, so we are truly pleased that BBC Knowledge has become available for Cyprus and we can add it to our digital service.”

    BBC Knowledge showcases British factual and natural history programming. Programmes include the epic series Wonders of the Universe in which Professor Brian Cox explores the link between humanity and the origins of the universe, Richard Hammond’s Crash Course which follows the Top Gear presenter take on America’s biggest working vehicles and the major global viewing astronomical event Stargazing, an original co-commission exclusive to BBC Knowledge.

  • Cas workshop on 12 February in Mumbai

    Cas workshop on 12 February in Mumbai

     MUMBAI: While the first phase of Cas (conditional access system) rolled out on 1 January, the Indian cable TV industry is now looking at headends outside these areas in smaller cities and towns which are now keen to transition to an era of structured organizations and revenues that digital cable provides.

    Several large cable TV headends countrywide now plan to install digital headends.These new headends require a complete technology shift To facilitate the transition, Satellite and Cable TV magazine is organizing a workshop on “Cas and digital CATV” at the Hyatt, Sahar International Airport, Mumbai on 12 and 13 February.

    The workshop will have a round table discussion on Cas roll out by WWIL MD Jagjit Singh Kohli, Hathway Cable & Datacom MD and CEO K Jayaraman, Incablenet head Ravi Mansukhani and Trai representatives.

    Additional sessions will have international speakers from SIMAC Netherlands, Teleste Finland, Rover Italy, Telemann Korea as well as leading industry players such as NDS, Magnaquest, Catvision and others.
     

  • [V] to be largest pay-TV music service provider in S’pore

    [V] to be largest pay-TV music service provider in S’pore

    MUMBAI: Channel [V] is set to expand its music offering in Singapore with the addition of two Chinese music services – Channel [V] Taiwan and Channel [V] Mainland China – on StarHub Digital Cable on 1 February.

    With this, [V] will become Singapore’s largest pay-TV music service provider with three music channels: Channel [V] Taiwan, Channel [V] Mainland China and Channel [V] International, which was launched on StarHub last November.

    Catering to the increasing demand for quality Chinese music, youth and lifestyle programmes in the Singapore market, Channel [V] Taiwan and Channel [V] Mainland China will be available on StarHub Digital Cable’s Chinese Plus II package.

    “We are delighted to expand our partnership with StarHub by launching Channel [V] Taiwan and Channel [V] Mainland China on the platform,” said Star executive vice president content, Ross Crowley. “It underscores our commitment to bringing more exciting entertainment choice for viewers across the region. Starting from tomorrow, Singapore viewers will be able to tune in to the hottest Chinese music events and most talked-about youth and lifestyle programmes that have been thrilling audiences in Taiwan and mainland China.”

  • StarHub, Visiware to bring triple play gaming to Asia

    StarHub, Visiware to bring triple play gaming to Asia

    MUMBAI: Singapore based pay-TV operator StarHub and French company Visiware, provider of interactive TV games channels, announced the launch of Playin’TV Triple Play -the first triple-play gaming offer in Asia that will be made available to customers of StarHub from 1 February 2007.

    Games like Sudoku or Carrot Mania on Ice are some of the interactive games that customers can subscribe to through StarHub’s mobile platform and the Internet for free due to Visiware’s Playin’Code technology.

    This means that they will be able to enjoy the games anytime, anywhere, on any of StarHub’s media platforms -TV, mobile and online. They can pick up from where they ended a game, without having to start from scratch. The company is also exploring ways to enhance the Playin’TV service by incorporating contests, real-time leaderboards and multiplayer games that will allow gamers to pit their skills against other players.

    StarHub vice president Cable TV services Patrick Lim said, “StarHub’s advantage as a fully integrated information, communications and entertainment provider is its ability to offer customers access to a converged suite of services across different product lines. We have consistently worked to incorporate new technologies that allow us to present our customers more breadth and depth in content applications, and Playin’TV Triple Play is an example of the fruit of such efforts. Customers can certainly expect more of such innovations from StarHub.”

    “We are delighted that Playin’TV Triple Play is now making its entry into the Asian market. StarHub’s efficient and advanced network provides us with the opportunity to effectively deploy true triple-play content, to allow fans of Playin’TV to enjoy the games even when they’re on-the-go,” said Visiware executive chairman Laurant Weill.

    Playin’TV, a 24-hour interactive games channel, was launched on StarHub Digital Cable in August last year.

  • LG earns Cablelabs certification for two-way interactive digital cable HDTV

    LG earns Cablelabs certification for two-way interactive digital cable HDTV

    MUMBAI: Paving the way to integrated digital cable-ready HDTVs with two-way interactive capability, LG Electronics recently showcased a TV platform in the US.

    The LG plasma HDTV has achieved certification status as Ocap-enabled interactive digital television set, including the multi-stream CableCard (M-Card) system, from a recently concluded certification by Cablelabs.

    LG’s 42-inch OpenCable plasma HDTV set (42PC1DN) was honoured with a 2007 CES Innovations Award — features built-in Ocap technology, M-Card capabilities and interactive capabilities, as well as high-definition content and interactive services like Video-on-Demand and Pay-Per-View. The LG 42PC1DN has been honoured as a 2007 CES Innovations Award recipient.

    This retail device can connect directly to a local cable TV system, and receive current advanced interactive cable TV services, as well as be ready for future interactive applications –without the need for a separate digital set-top box (STB). Ultimately, a common US platform for delivering interactive cable applications would be enabled by implementing the OpenCable specification, a process in which LG is an active contributor.

    The company adds that it is committed to commercialising retail interactive digital cable-ready TVs and STBs to accelerate the rollout of OpenCable and Ocap across the North American Cable industry. LG says that it has now have advanced devices capable of receiving and displaying advanced cable services such as program guides and video-on-demand (Vod) without requiring separate cable STBs.

    In parallel with ongoing inter-industry standardisation efforts, it will continue working with the cable industry to commercialise this platform.

    LG’s close collaboration with Cablelabs and cable TV operators has enabled the company to develop products that run cable services including an interactive programme guide, Vod and other interactive applications and services. “At the same time, LG is continuing to explore additional new features to maintain product leadership and be a market differentiator.