ITV

Tag: Digital TV

  • IMD acquires eBus, forms strategic tie-up with Aidem

    MUMBAI: London headquartered media logistics firm IMD has acquired eBus Media Network to create a substantial worldwide footprint for digital TV ad delivery, with a local presence across major countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific and a regional HQ in Singapore.

    eBus has a presence in Singapore, Australia, and in India through joint-venture with media consulting, marketing and ad sales company.

    The acquisition will also strengthen IMD‘s reach of digital TV ad delivery in the Asia-Pacific market, where eBus has established a reputation as a reliable and fast TV ad delivery provider in the region.

    IMD has also formed a strategic partnership with Aidem which will enhance the way the latter works with eBus and allowing IMD and Aidem to work together, more broadly.

    “The management and stakeholders of all three companies support these new arrangements and are excited about their prospects and all the parties are committed to work together for the long term,” Aidem Ventures EVP Kaushal Dalal.

    The new combined IMD and eBus entity will bring a faster and more efficient digital delivery solution from a single provider to the increasing number of customers that have interests in Global delivery solutions, according to a statement from Aidem.

    IMD CEO Simon Cox said, “eBus fits amazingly well with IMD in so many ways; it‘s territorially complementary, it‘s very focused on TV ad delivery just like IMD and we have the same cultural and customer-service driven values. On top of that, eBus has a brilliant technology platform created by an exceptionally talented team.”

    For its India activities, eBus has been in a joint venture with Aidem since 2010, and has built a network of broadcasters for digital delivery and distribution of television commercials. It is a Cloud Computing technology company providing HDTV commercial distribution to TV, IPTV, Web and Mobile providers across Asia Pacific.

    eBus CEO Carmine Masiello said, “IMD‘s investment in eBus will speed up our expansion in the Asia Pacific region. We look forward to being supported by a shareholder that combines financial strength with an intimate understanding of what we do and who we are.”

    Aidem Ventures director Vikas Khanchandani said, “eBus already has a Pan-India presence with over 250 channels as destinations and around 200 advertisers using the service. With IMD‘s support this coverage is set to grow wider and faster. This acquisition of eBus by IMD will help us scale up our operations in accordance with this dynamic broadcast industry and constantly innovate to keep pace with the same.”

  • Sugato Banerji moves from Airtel to What’s-On-India as COO

    Sugato Banerji moves from Airtel to What’s-On-India as COO

    MUMBAI: TV search and EPG (Electronic Program Guide) technology company What‘s-on-India on Wednesday appointed Sugato Banerji as its chief operating officer. Banerji comes in from Airtel DTH & Media where he held the position of CMO.

    At What‘s-on-India he will lead the company‘s growth strategy in the TV search, EPG and recommendations space and consolidate key partner and client relationships. Under him, What‘s-On will also look at expanding into newer international markets just as the company set up What‘s-On-Arabia in the Middle East in 2012.

    Sugato Banerji‘s move from a large corporate set-up to the new, racy, disruptive world of start-ups comes in as What‘s-On-India rapidly expands into international markets as well as launches new solutions in the domestic TV sector, in the wake of the ongoing government efforts to digitise cable.

    What‘s-on-India CEO and founder Atul Phadnis said, "What‘s-On-India is at an exciting crossroads of TV Search and new TV devices in an increasingly digitalising television sector. Sugato brings in tremendous experience in the TV and media business that would be extremely valuable as What‘s-On-India charts a new, growth and expansion agenda in the coming months."

    Banerji said, "I am excited to join What‘s-On-India at the cusp of a transformation of the TV industry into digital. Digital TV would mean more programs, more channels, increase in regional and local content, greater diversity of set-top-boxes, recorder devices, increased viewing of TV on wireless devices, leading to an explosion in the demand for sophisticated TV search, recommendations and personalisation. What‘s-On-India with its suite of new products is perfectly poised to ride this digital wave, from both ends — the broadcaster & distributor."

    What‘s-On-India raised funds in Series B funding round with Intel, Nexus VP and Sequoia Capital in September 2011 and later acquired TV STREET MAPS, a TV channel distribution monitoring company in December 2011. The company also launched a series of TV search and preview apps on Android, iPad, iPhones, Windows Mobile and other platforms. The most recent announcement was that of an expansion in the Middle East via an acquisition in Jordan.

  • Airtel Digital TV services Q1-2014 losses halve as compared to Q1-2013

    Airtel Digital TV services Q1-2014 losses halve as compared to Q1-2013

    BENGALURU: Airtel’s Digital TV services business contributed Rs 490 crore or just 2.4 per cent to Bharati Airtel’s (Airtel) Q1-2014 total net revenues of Rs 20,2263 crore, but its loss for the quarter at Rs115.6 crore eroded the communications services major’s PAT of Rs1837.7 crore by 6.3 per cent.

     

    The loss for Q1-2014 of Rs115.6 crore by the Digital TV services business, was however almost half (51 per cent) of the loss of Rs 226.5 crore for Q1-2013 and about 65 per cent of the Rs 178.4 crore loss reported for Q4-2013. During FY-2013, Airtel’s Digital TV services business’s reported loss was Rs 810.5 crore.

     

    Consequently, its capital employed (segment’s assets minus segment’s losses) has eroded 34.5 per cent to Rs (-2.946.8) crore in Q1-2014 from Rs (-2,190.4) crore in Q1-2013 and by 4.7 per cent from Rs (-2,813.8) crore for Q4-2103.

     

    Revenues from Airtel’s Digital TV services business for Q1-2014 grew 34 per cent from Rs 365.8 crore in Q1-2013 to Rs 490 crore mentioned above and by 10.9 per cent as compared to Rs 441.9 crore reported for Q4-2013. During FY-2013, Airtel’s Digital TV services business had revenues of Rs1,629.5 crore.

     

    Airtel has reported a 14.2 per cent growth in its customer base for its Digital TV services from 7.4 million in Q1-2013 to 8.452 million in Q1-2014 and a 4.35 per cent growth from the 8.1 million reported for Q4-2013.

  • Thought Bubbles expands portfolio with Bubble TV

    MUMBAI: Thought Bubbles Advertising has launched its new video content creation arm Bubble TV. The new arm has begun operations with work on Ganeshotsav in the form of a festive promo for Zee Talkies.

    To be headed by founder and chief creative Manoj Motiani, the outfit will create videos with message plug-ins woven around fun, humour, ideas, emotions, opinions, spoofs, even social messages.

    The agency will be based out of Mumbai and currently has a team of four professional across design, craft and film-making functions.

    “Bubble TV is an acknowledgement of the dramatic rise of mobile, web and social networks towards brand awareness, consideration, purchases, and loyalty. With the kind of reach, innovation, experimentation, and cultural influence, they are no longer are a support medium, they are THE medium. Again this calls for new fresh content for consumer engagement and talking to them in a way they like to be spoken to,” said Motiani who has worked with agencies like Euro RSCG (now Havas Worldwide), O&M and iB&W.

    The central idea is to have brands use entertaining ways of on-screen consumer engagement on smart phones, tablets, social networks and other digital media.

    Bubble TV is an open format idea which will develop as it goes along. The focus will be on providing interesting content to electronic channels / networks.

    “We may also launch our own digital TV soon, or create brand messaging which is free from the rigidity of brand manuals to be more democratic with colloquial ways of brand connect,” adds Motiani.

    Started in 2009, Thought Bubbles has worked for several clients like Donear Suitings, RR Kabel wires, Gadgetsguru.com, Franklin Templeton, Hex City builders, RIOT clothing, Indian Health Organisation, Jawed Habib Salon Singapore.

  • TV viewing remained at record levels in 2011 in the UK

    TV viewing remained at record levels in 2011 in the UK

    MUMBAI: Thinkbox has announced that linear TV viewing figures in the UK for 2011 equaled the record high set in 2010. The average viewer watched 4 hours, 2 minutes of linear TV a day in 2011 (28 hours, 14 minutes a week), according to new figures from the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (BARB).

    This strong performance underlines viewers’ preference for watching TV as it is broadcast and on a TV set whenever possible. The many new ways to watch TV via other screens such as laptops, tablets and smartphones are growing, and a welcome solution to out of home viewing, but they are not included in Barb’s figures and are not impacting on linear viewing.

    Commercial TV channels (i.e. non-BBC channels) were responsible for maintaining the record viewing level, accounting for 64 per cent of all linear TV viewing, an increase of 1.3 per cent points on 2010. For the younger 16-34 audience this rises to 72 per cent.

    During 2011, the average person watched 18 hours, 11 minutes of commercial TV a week (2 hours, 36 minutes a day), an increase of 22 minutes a week on 2010. In the last ten years, commercial TV viewing has increased by over 3 hours, 30 minutes a week (31 minutes a day).

    Thinkbox predicts that total linear TV viewing levels will now stabilise after a sustained period of record growth. This growth has been caused by a number of factors, including:

    – Technology innovations (such as digital TV recorders, HD and 3D) that enhance the TV experience and magnetise viewers to TV sets;

    – Greater choice of TV to watch as more households switch to digital TV (97% of homes, according to the BARB Establishment Survey Q3 2011);

    – On-demand TV services which send people back to the broadcast schedules. 89% of people watch on-demand TV mainly to catch- or keep-up with missed broadcast TV (source: Decipher/Thinkbox);

    – Better measurement of TV viewing following the launch of an updated TV measurement system in January 2010, which more accurately captures viewing on second TV sets and on-demand TV viewed on TV sets in-home
    within 7 days of broadcast;

    – Excellent TV programming and a wide variety of channels which cater for all tastes

    – The economic recession encouraging people to stay in more.

    Additional, non-TV set viewing : The Barb figures do not include TV viewed on devices other than TV sets. Barb has been monitoring viewing on devices other than TV sets since 2005. Its data suggests that there is an additional 1.2 per cent of TV viewing via other devices, 2.9 per cent for 16-34 year olds.

    ‘Time-shifted’ viewing : According to Barb, 90.6 per cent of the TV watched in the UK during 2011 was watched live, as it was broadcast. Non-live, ‘time-shifted’ viewing accounted for 9.4 per cent of the UK’s TV consumption during 2011, up from 7.6 per cent in 2010 due to more households now owning a digital television recorder (DTR) such as Sky+ or Freeview+. 50 per cent of UK households now own a DTR.

    In households that own DTRs, 84.7 per cent was watched live and 15.3 per cent viewed time-shifted within seven days. This level of time-shifting has been stable since the first DTRs were released ten years ago.

    Commercial impacts: The increase in commercial viewing has also meant an increase in the number of TV ads viewed. Commercial impacts (the number of ads watched at normal speed) during 2011 were up by 2.6 per cent on 2010, and have grown by 19.6 per cent over the last five years to a new record high. The average viewer watched 47 ads a day during 2011.

    Thinkbox MD Lindsey Clay said, “These figures explain why so many tech companies want to join the TV industry. Many companies are flocking to launch new TV services or social media services that feed off people’s love affair with TV.

    “It is obvious that people want to watch TV programmes on the best screen in the home if they can and 2012 will bring more opportunities to do that with the sale of connected TVs and more catch-up TV services to the TV set. And alongside that there is now a wide variety of personal screens to watch TV on which make TV even more convenient; tablets are really delivering an excellent mobile TV experience.

    “TV continues to be the most effective form of advertising there is and the instant responses that second screens enable is making it even more so.”

  • Advertising demonstrates resilience in tough economy in the US: Strata

    Advertising demonstrates resilience in tough economy in the US: Strata

    MUMBAI: Advertising showed its resiliency this quarter by achieving solid gains consistent with spending trends from third quarter 2010, according to a new Strata quarterly survey of ad agencies.


    However, client attraction and decreasing budgets remain the chief challenges affecting overall agency growth.


    The survey also noted a possible shift for the top advertising channel, with Digital and Spot (Local) TV now only separated by a margin of 1 per cent.


    Strata, which claims to be the system of choice for over 900 agencies and roughly half of ad agencies in the US, found that 52 per cent of respondents noted that their business is increasing compared to the same time last year (only 16.5 per cent saw a decrease in business, down 30.52 per cent from a year ago).
     
    Job growth also made a steady upswing this quarter, with 24.52 per cent of agencies surveyed noting they will hire before the end of the year (up eight 52 per cent since last year).


    When listing their biggest business challenges, attracting new
    business remains tops for agency respondents (38.52 per cent) followed closely by client spending (22.52 per cent). In fact, most feel that their business won‘t return to a strong growth period until after 2012.


    If market volatility continues, Print and Local TV would be the media most hit by ad spending cuts (Print 52 52 per cent and Local TV 24 52 per cent). The auto industry (30%) and entertainment industry (21 52 per cent) are the two top industries that agencies say are asking to cut advertising.


    The Strata survey suggests its now a tight race for the top
    advertising avenues. Local TV remains the medium of choice (35 52 per cent), though it is just barely beating out Digital (34 52 per cent), which is up 43.52 per cent since last quarter. Taking a closer look, 85 per cent say clients are focusing on Digital more than last year.


    Local cable noticed a bump as 31 per cent say they are more focused on it than they were last year (up 13 52 per cent over last year). Radio had a downturn as 37.52 per cent say that they are less focussed on it as they were a year ago. Network TV noticed an uptick with 12.52 per cent saying they are more focused on Network TV than they were a year ago (up 86.52 per cent since third quarter 2010).


    Social and mobile are helping digital challenge traditional advertising, according to Strata‘s third quarter survey. In fact, 89.52 per cent of respondents indicated that they would use Facebook in their campaigns (up 10.52 per cent from last quarter). For the first time, YouTube (39%) is the number two most desirable social medium for campaign, surpassing Twitter (37%).


    Google+ is still on the outside looking in with only 14.52 per cent planning to use it this quarter (down 47% since last quarter). LinkedIn was a strong fourth at 22 52 per cent. Mobile advertising sees the iPhone as the convincing leader with 78 52 per cent of respondents noting it is the device their clients are most interested in advertising on (down 10 52 per cent since last quarter).


    Android is closing the gap at 54.52 per cent (up seven 52 per cent since one year ago). The iPad remains strong at 46.52 per cent (up 85.52 per cent since last year). With Amazon and Apple continuing to focus on content for tablets, 69.52 per cent say that focus will make this medium more attractive to advertisers.


    Strata CEO, president John Shelton said, “If one looks for another sign of a nominally growing economy, one should look to the advertising industry right now. Attracting new business is still a challenge for agencies, but, and it‘s a key point to emphasise, client retention is stabilizing, and market volatility is not immediately effecting long-term goals and campaigns. As we‘ve seen throughout the year, the Strata survey is a good indicator of advertising growth and definitely highlighted third quarter challenges such as client attraction. But with the holidays right around the corner, it will be interesting to see if the industry can leverage short-term boosts to create long-term optimism.”


    Other key findings of the Strata survey:


    20 per cent of respondents say that they anticipate having a greater spend on Digital than Traditional within 1-3 years.


    36 per cent say that they will never have a greater spend on Digital than Traditional.


    Facebook‘s Open Graph launch did create some buzz, but agencies aren‘t quite sure yet with 64 per cent saying it is too early to tell if it will help stabilize social media advertising.


    Agencies question whether their clients see the value in Digital. In the survey only 56 per cent say their clients understand the value in Digital with 44 per cent saying that they don‘t see the value.


    29 per cent say that clients are more focussed on Local TV than they were last year.

  • Cea heralds next phase of digital TV transition in the US

    Cea heralds next phase of digital TV transition in the US

    MUMBAI: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the US is celebrating the arrival of the next phase of the historic digital television (DTV) transition.

    All products shipped with analog television tuners will also include a DTV tuner. The milestone marks the final phase-in of DTV tuners and comes as DTV industries and consumers prepare for all-digital broadcasting in February 2009.

    CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro says, “The finish line for the transition to digital broadcasting is less than two years away, and the consumer electronics industry has reason to celebrate this latest milestone on the pathway to a successful transition.

    “As of 1 March, any product shipped with an analogue TV tuner will also include a DTV tuner, making access to the benefits of DTV a reality for more American consumers as these shipments reach the retail store shelf.”

     
    Shapiro explained that consumers are not required to purchase a new television in order to continue receiving programming after the DTV transition; owners of analog sets will be able to view broadcast television with a digital-to-analog converter box or through cable or satellite service. But in order to enjoy the full benefits of DTV – particularly high-definition television (HDTV) with its eye-popping pictures and digital surround sound – the consumer would want to purchase an HDTV.

    As part of CEA’s ongoing effort to help consumers understand the transition from analog to digital television, CEA’s Video Division Board adopted language last year for manufacturers and retailers to alert consumers purchasing an analog-only set that a digital converter box will be required as of February 17, 2009 for over-the-air reception.

    In a February 2007 letter to more than 600 retailers, Shapiro encouraged retailers to include the analog labeling language in product displays as an additional measure to ensure consumers are informed about how analog sets will receive over-the-air broadcasts after the transition. This voluntary labeling initiative is part of an industry-wide educational effort that supports a successful digital television transition. CEA also has a wealth of consumer DTV educational material available on www.myCEknowhow.com. This is a web destination for information on the digital television transition.

  • France to set pace for digital TV in Europe: Study

    France to set pace for digital TV in Europe: Study

    MUMBAI: France has set a new benchmark for European digital television (DTV) policy.

    Strategy Analytics Broadband Media and Communications service has come out with a study Digital TV Transition: Europe Watches France’s Mandates As Terrestrial HDTV Arrives.

    France’s new ‘TV of the Future’ law has taken an important step towards high definition television (HDTV) on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform by allocating capacity for HD channels and mandating HD tuners in HD-Ready TV sets.

    These decisions will have ramifications for other countries in Europe, which will watch these developments with interest. There will also be important lessons from the French approach to licensing HD channels that takes place over the next few months.

    According to this report, the decisions made in France will put increased pressure on other European countries to accelerate their own policies towards HD on DTT platforms.

    Strategy Analytics principal analyst David Mercer says, “Most other European countries are still at the discussion stage regarding the introduction of HDTV on their DTT platforms.

    “France has taken an important lead by allocating the capacity for HDTV and ensuring that future HDTVs will be able to receive these new channels. The industry will be satisfied that France has set clear policy goals on these important issues.”

    Also according to the report, France’s plan to switch off analogue television broadcasts by 30 November, 2011 remains an ambitious goal, given much of the country’s still heavy dependence on those signals. But the country’s aggressive top-down approach to policy setting gives much-needed clarity to industry decision makers, which will allow technology vendors and service providers to plan with confidence.

  • DVB-H set to be future of mobile TV: report

    DVB-H set to be future of mobile TV: report

    MUMBAI: The concept of providing television services on a mobile device is generating much enthusiasm among the wireless industry, in turn driving the growth and development of digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) technology. Overwhelming support from the wireless industry is likely to be one of the major drivers for the growth of the technology, as will be the increasing demand for content on the move. In short, DVB-H could well become a global standard similar to Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), creating an altogether new market for television viewership.

    New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, DVB-H Technology-Market and Potential Analysis, reveals that revenues in this market totaled $60 million in 2006 and is likely to reach $2.04 billion in 2010.

    “Many participants in the wireless industry support the DVB-H technology as it is an open industry standard, and this non-proprietary feature of the standards is likely to vastly assist its growth in the wireless market,” notes Frost & Sullivan research analyst Nagarajan Sampathkumar. “Furthermore, DVB-H delivers an improved end-user experience over current video streaming services that utilize cellular networks, while also providing, broadcasters, cellular operators, handset manufacturers and silicon providers with tremendous growth opportunities.”

    This apart, the quality of service (QoS) is likely to be better due to the use of a dedicated broadcast network. Additionally, though DVB-H claims speeds of 25 frames per second (fps), trials show practical speeds of 15-16 fps, which seem to be sufficient for existing screen sizes and resolutions. However, in future, these speeds are likely to increase to 20-25 fps for fixed digital TV in Europe.

    Despite the promise, one of the biggest challenges to adoption of DVB-H by mobile operators is the issue of business and revenue models. With DVB-H, mobile operators are likely to prefer to continue operating in their area of domain expertise service provisioning, billing, and customer care and therefore, broadcasters would have ownership of the content and the overall visual experience.

    “Hence, mobile operators would need to differentiate their offerings and provide value to ensure customer loyalty and remain profitable,” says Sampathkumar. “This also means that mobile operators are likely to serve only as a link to customers and would not be in a position to negotiate for better revenue splits with others in the value chain.”

    Service providers would be required to work very closely with content creators, aggregators, and broadcasters, and ensure secure content and support digital rights management in an effort to protect copyrighted content. While revenue issues could be addressed through subscription models, event-based, pay per view, and even interactive services, the most important challenge is likely to be the optimizing of battery life of the handsets, the study concludes.

  • Most Americans are unaware of Digital TV transition: Study

    Most Americans are unaware of Digital TV transition: Study

    MUMBAI: The majority of US households that receive their television signals over the air are still unaware of the digital TV transition.

    This is despite the fact that an estimated 22 million over-the-air homes need to make some kind of digital decision by 12 February, 2009, according to a Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) survey.

    The bulk of the survey participants—61 per cent—had no idea that the DTV transition was taking place. 10 per cent said they had limited awareness, while 25 per cent said they were somewhat aware or very aware. While some respondents were aware of the digital transition, 53 per cent had no idea when analogue transmissions were scheduled to be turned off.

    In order for the DTV transition to be successful, consumers must be well-informed and primed to adapt successfully to the new technology. This cannot occur unless there is a comprehensive, coordinated national consumer outreach effort. Therefore, APTS is urging Congress to designate targeted funding for consumer outreach on the switch from analog to digital. During APTS Capitol Hill Day 2007 from 13-14 February more than 200 executives and volunteer board members of local Public Television stations are scheduled to ask Congress to recognise Public Television’s unique outreach ability in the community and provide funding for those efforts.

    APTS president and CEO John Lawson said, There are more than 21 million US households that get their TV exclusively free and over the air, and we know these homes are heavy viewers of Public Television. That puts us, working with our partners, in a strong position to provide information about the digital transition to the people who need it most.”

    APTS is spearheading a coalition of trade and interest groups to compete for the $5 million Congress set aside for consumer education in last year’s DTV transition bill. The diverse group includes the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Consumer Electronics Association, American Library Association and Women Involved in Farm Economics. In addition, APTS is now a part of the DTV Transition Coalition, a separate but related effort led by the National Association of Broadcasters.

    The need for vigorous outreach efforts is evident when looking at analog consumers’ attitudes and awareness toward their options for digital TV reception after the transition. Roughly 45 per cent of respondents to APTS’ survey said they will either “do nothing” or “don’t know” what option they will take to obtain digital signals. 19 per cent will purchase a converter box, 17 per cent are likely to sign up for cable TV service, and nine per cent will sign up for satellite TV. Another nine per cent indicated they would buy a digital television set so that they can continue to receive over-the-air broadcasts.

    The survey also found that at least 38 per cent of analog households would “definitely not” or “probably not” select a particular video service provider if they didn’t offer Public Television channels after the DTV transition. This suggests that the lack of Public Television offerings by video providers will cause a serious barrier to these analog households in choosing cable or satellite to receive digital television.