ITV

Tag: Digital satellite

  • Digital TV household penetration touches 62% in UK

    Digital TV household penetration touches 62% in UK

    MUMBAI: Britains regulator Ofcom has come out with a ‘digital television update’ for the first quarter of 2005. The report analyses data provided by the main digital television platform providers.

    The report reveals that by 31 March 2005 digital television penetration was estimated to have reached 61.9 per cent of UK households; an increase of 2.5 per cent points from 59.4 per cent from the previous quarter.

    Key trends that the report highlighted include:

    •     By 31 March 2005, the total number of digital television households grew by 643,517 to 15,417,398.
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    •     BSkyB added 87,000 subscribers bringing its total number of UK subscribers to 7,349,000 at the end of Q1 2005. [Source: BSkyB results, Q1 2005]
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    •     The number of Digital Terrestrial Television (Freeview) only households saw a significant increase at the end of March 2005, with DTT households now estimated to have passed the 5 million mark for the first time (estimated 5,059,350). An increase of 466,430, from 4,592,920 at the end of the previous quarter, December 2004. [Source: Freeview Q1 2005 sales figures, GfK market research, Ofcom market estimates]

     

    •     Estimation of to be free-to-view digital households over 5.5 million . This figure consists Freeview viewers plus free-to-view digital satellite homes.
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    •     Total number of homes using free-to-view digital satellite is estimated to be around 445,000. Figures include viewers who are no longer Sky subscribers but still receive the public service channels through their set-top boxes, as well as Solus card viewers. [Source: Ofcom market estimates]
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    •     Total number of subscribers to cable television (analogue and digital) is now just under 3.3 million.
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    • Digital cable increased by over 30,000 and now accounts for over 2.5 million of the total. [Source: ntl and Telewest Broadband Q1 2005 results
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    • Three per cent of households continued to subscribe to analogue cable during the first quarter of 2005, bringing the total proportion of households receiving some form of multi-channel television to just over 64.9 per cent.
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    • In calculating Digital Terrestrial Television households an adjustment has been made to account for the number of households which have digital TV on more than one set. Latest estimates suggest that 25 per cent of Freeview set-top boxes are in households that already have digital (either Freeview, Sky or cable) on their main set. Sky and cable subscriber figures already account for multi-set users.
  • MTV Intl launches Nick in Italy

    MTV Intl launches Nick in Italy

    MUMBAI: Paramount Comedy and Kids brand Nickelodeon from the Viacom stable will debut in Italy on the Sky Italia digital satellite platform.

    The two Italian language services will broadcast exclusively to Sky’s Italian subscribers as part of the family entertainment basic tier. While Nickelodeon has commenced airing, Paramount Comedy launches on 1 December 2004.

    The new ad-supported services expand MTV Networks portfolio of brands in Italy, which currently includes the 24-hour terrestrial channel MTV Italia. MTV Italia MD Campo Dall’Orto said, “We are thrilled to be embarking on this exciting new project with Sky. Given their fantastic creative heritages, international track records and reputations for innovation, I am confident that both Paramount Comedy channel and Nickelodeon Italia will receive a warm welcome from Italian viewers.”

    Like its sister channels in Spain and the UK, Paramount Comedy will be specifically tailored for the local market with a mix of original Italian and international comedy television programmes and films. The channel targets Sky Italia’s young up-market audience.

  • BBC switches off analogue feed

    BBC switches off analogue feed

    NEW DELHI: From today, BBC World will switch off its analogue signal on PAS 10 in South Asia and the Middle East. This is part of BBC World’s ongoing process of digitalisation across the region, which began last October with the introduction of a digital signal on PAS 10.

    The free-to-air digital signal on PAS 10 will now fully replace the former analogue signal.

    Jeff Hazel, BBC World’s director of sales and distribution, in an official statement said: “This is the final reminder to any viewers who haven’t already made the change. Fully replacing the analogue signal with the digital signal is part of BBC World’s dedication to bringing viewers the highest quality signal with which to enjoy and appreciate BBC World’s quality news.”

    The downlink frequency for the digital signal is: 3974 Mhz. No decoder cards are needed. Distributors and viewers will require a Digital Satellite Receiver to continue watching BBC World.

  • Digital satellite Telugu channel Maa TV launching soon

    Digital satellite Telugu channel Maa TV launching soon

    After a barren period, channel launches appear to be again happening. In the offing is a new digital Telugu regional language channel – Maa TV.

    The channel is being launched by Maa Television Network Ltd, a Hyderabad-based broadcaster and entertainment company that plans to unveil the new channel very soon. Test transmission will commence from 11:42 am on Sunday.

    Disclosing this D Rajendra Prasad, executive director and spokesperson for Maa TV, informed that the channel will be a combination of programming that ranges from dramas, serials, long plays, sitcoms, chat shows, music, current affairs, interactive programmes, documentaries, movies and live performances. The channel will telecast for 18 hours a day.

    An initial investment of Rs 250 million is going into the launch of Maa TV which will be a pay service from Day 1 of operations.

    The channel is promoted by Ramakrishna, the founder of Siti Cable in Andhra Pradesh, an official release says. The promoters expect to generate a total business of Rs 220 million in the first year of operations.

    On the sales and distribution front, Maa TV hopes to reach 75 per cent of viewers in the state in the first three months of its launch. The promoters claim that their long experience in the cable industry will enable them to reach the targets that they have set themselves.

    The channel will be beamed off APR -1 (Insat 2E) satellite and 3/3 (Zonal Beam) transponder.

    Together with Maa TV, a cable channel – Maa Cinema – is also in the pipeline. The company claims it already has more than 2650 films in its kitty and is planning to procure rights of more films.

    Whatever be the plans of the channel, it will be taking on two well established free-to-air channels in Gemini TV (part of Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Network) and Ramoji Rao’s Eenadu TV. And how subscribers are expected to take to a brand new pay channel when there are two free channels offering quality fare already in existence is anybody’s guess.