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Tag: Digital

  • Digital rights management market to cross billion dollar mark by 2011: Study

    Digital rights management market to cross billion dollar mark by 2011: Study

     MUMBAI: As organizations continue to digitize content in the current business environment, there is substantial need to emphasize the rights on its usage and establish control to avoid any loss of data. This need is expected to have a huge bearing on the enterprise digital rights management (DRM) systems market.

    Frost & Sullivan (www.ITservices.frost.com) and World Digital Rights Management Market, reveal that the market was worth $369.5 million in 2005 and is likely to cross the billion-dollar mark in 2011.

    As companies continue to lose sensitive data such as financial information, customer profiles and marketing collateral through e-mail or other forms of data transfer, there is a rising need to deploy systems that not only track but also control the use of information. Theft of sensitive data can not only cause a company financial loss, but can also result in brand erosion and eventually, reduce its revenue generation capacity.

    “The need to minimize liability by ensuring that only authorized users have access to appropriate documents will have a positive impact on the demand for DRM solutions,” says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Zippy Aima. “DRM solutions enable content owners to assign specific rights such as view, copy, edit and print to files that need to be protected and these rights remain active and travel with the protected file unless changed by the content owner.”

    An official statement issued states that despite these obvious advantages, DRM vendors will find it challenging to convince companies that DRM will not severely curtail access and that organizations can meet their revenue generation goals using this technology.

    DRM systems have garnered greater attention in the media industry than in the enterprise sector. Some end users consider DRM to be a hindrance to the entertainment sector, but the success of the iPod and iTunes is an indicator of the change in consumer buying behaviour. Users are gradually regarding DRM more as ‘enabler’ than a ‘disabler’ for accessing digital content.

    “Apart from the shift in perception, the need to comply with regulations such the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Gramm Leach Bliley, and Sarbanes Oxley is also driving the market ahead,” notes Aima. “Vertical markets such as financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and energy are focusing on regulatory compliance, thus ensuring the steady uptake of DRM solutions.”

    World Digital Rights Management Market is part of the Digital Media subscription. The study provides an overview of the enterprise and entertainment DRM segments and the factors that will affect its growth in future. The study’s evaluation of the market includes revenue and demand forecasts for DRM solutions in the coming years. Also, the study identifies factors driving and restraining the growth of the market along with key challenges faced by the industry.

  • Fujitsu Siemen’s new product looks to take entertainment on the PC to the next level

    Fujitsu Siemen’s new product looks to take entertainment on the PC to the next level

    MUMBAI: European IT provider Fujitsu Siemens Computers has launched its new range of entertainment PCs. the aim is to immserse th consumer into digital entertainment.

    The firm says that the high definition images and crisp surround sound makes users feel like they have dived into the PC game, or in the audience at a live concert. The flatscreen monitors are designed to fit seamlessly into the living room says the firm.

    The Scaleo EV PC has integrated Intel Viiv technology and is now more silent thanks to an improved housing and cooling concept.

    The Scaleo EV allows instant control of all TV, DVDs, music, films, photos and radio with one remote control. With the Intel High Definition Audio and 7.1 surround sound, one can listen to the cinema-like audio quality via the stereo.

    The digital video recorder (PVR) also lets viewers pause, record, and replay from the TV. This is the hub of the digital home – music stored on the PC can be played on the stereo, photos can be accessed on the television and stormed fils can be watched on other clients as laptops. It can store up to 320 GB of data, as well as thousands of photos.

  • Digital media connectivity fuels TV viewing in the US: Study

    Digital media connectivity fuels TV viewing in the US: Study

    MUMBAI: CBS Research has revealed surprising new data showing that as the American public at large becomes more connected to digital media, the more engaged they become in primetime television programming.

    Additionally, as more TV viewers become aware of the 2009 deadline for broadcasters to switch to full digital transmissions, the likelihood of them investing in new digital TV sets increases by 40 per cent.

    Those are just two of the major findings revealed by a study CBS Research has conducted examining consumers’ attitudes towards digital media, and the role television will play in the near future.

    US broadcaster CBS chief research officer David F. Poltrack says, “This data clearly show a correlation between connectivity and primetime television viewing. Consumers who embrace the new media are the heaviest viewers of the top network primetime programs, and this sector of the audience is growing. By offering them new ways to connect to their favorite shows — whether it’s websites, podcasts, ringtones or other mobile features — we’ve been able to deepen the bond these fully connected viewers have with our programming.

    “The research also illustrates that as viewers learn about the 2009 deadline for digital transmissions their attitudes towards investing in technology, like advanced home entertainment centers, to watch their favorite shows, changes radically. These findings really demonstrate the potential the broadcast networks have to further engage the public with our content as new technology expands our distribution options.”

    The population is gradually moving up to higher levels of connectivity, This “fully connected” segment of the population, the segment with both a broadband and a digital television connection at home, has grown from 22 per cent in the fall of 2005 to over 30 per cent this fall. The ‘fully connected’ segment of the population is the segment that is most likely to watch the top broadcast network programs.

    In addition, this segment visits network television web sites and is increasingly likely to stream clips and full episodes of network television programs on the Internet. Members of this upscale, better-educated ‘fully connected’ segment are today the most engaged with the popular network programs.

    Although less than 30 per cent of the population is aware of the 2009 deadline for broadcasters to switch to full digital transmissions, approximately one-half of these people have already purchased a digital set and another 30% plan to before the changeover. Of those who are not aware, when told of the change, 40 per cent stated that they would upgrade to a digital set before 2009.

    It is clear that, as people become aware of the upcoming digital changeover in 2009, the likelihood of them upgrading their home entertainment equipment increases. This is very encouraging since previous research has shown that people watch more television after obtaining a High Definition television set.

    Just over one-half (56 per cent) of those surveyed were aware that you could watch network television programmes by streaming them over the Internet. Of those aware of this streaming option, 46 per cent have already streamed at least one programme. Of those not aware of this streaming option, whentold which programs were available for streaming, 62 per cent selected at leastone of the 33 available programmes that they probably would watch via streaming over the in the future.

    It is clear that the potential for network programme distribution over the Internet is just beginning to be tapped.

  • Intel, CinemaNow advance the burn-to-DVD entertainment experience

    Intel, CinemaNow advance the burn-to-DVD entertainment experience

    MUMBAI: Computer chip major Intel and Internet provider of downloadable videos in the US CinemaNow have announced a collaboration.

    This will allow consumers using Intel technology-based media PCs, such as those with Intel Viiv technology, to legally download and record major motion picture movie content to blank DVD discs for playback on both the PC and consumer electronics devices, including most standard DVD players.

    Intel Viiv technology-based PCs currently provide consumers with the ability to view their movie content locally on the PC, sync it with portable devices, and wired or wirelessly extend the content through their home networks to connected devices, such as large-screen TVs.

    Intel’s digital home group VP and GM of the company’s Content Services Group Kevin Corbett says, “The ability for consumers to legitimately burn premium content to DVD is one of the greatest barriers to delivering consumers the flexibility to truly enjoy digital home entertainment when and where they want it.

    “The investment by CinemaNow to advance the Burn-to-DVD service model is a major step forward in the digital distribution of content, and Intel is excited to be working with them to bring these capabilities to consumers via Intel Viiv technology.”

    CinemaNow, in collaboration with Intel, will optimise the burn-to-DVD service for PCs based on Intel Viiv technology. The enhancement will enable movie fans who wish to use the burn-to-DVD service through a large screen, or 10-foot interface, to do so from their couch. The service will be available in the early part of this year; the Burn-to-DVD solution is currently available through a standard PC, or 2-foot, interface.

    Additionally, CinemaNow unveiled plans for the delivery of additional Intel Viiv technology capabilities in early part of this year, including extending premium movie content over the home network to connected devices. This service provides CinemaNow customers with the latest Hollywood hits, music videos and independent movies while taking advantage of the capabilities provided by Intel Viiv technology.

    CinemaNow CEO Curt Marvis says, “Joining forces with Intel will help us improve our digital home distribution model. CinemaNow is the ideal platform to demonstrate Intel’s enhanced processor power and this technology will dramatically improve our burn-to-DVD consumer experience.”

    CinemaNow launched burn-to-DVD in July 2006. Burn-to-DVD technology for movies takes advantage of the multi-core performance provided by Intel’s new Core 2 Duo processor. The 40 per cent more powerful Core 2 Duo processor family will allow Intel Viiv technology-based PC consumers to download and burn movies faster and more efficiently. ¹ Intel continues to work with the industry on enhancements to further the performance of these technologies.

  • Infomedia launches gadget magazine ‘T3’ in India

    Infomedia launches gadget magazine ‘T3’ in India

     MUMBAI: Infomedia India Limited has unveiled T3 (Tomorrow’s Technology Today), the gadget magazine in India. The Indian edition of T3 is published under a licensing arrangement with Future Publishing, UK’s special interest publishers, and is the 23rd international edition of T3.

    T3 is aimed at early adopters and gadget aware audiences abreast with the latest in the gadget universe. It uses photography and a blend of news, reviews and features to bring readers up to scratch with the fast paced world of consumer technology. It spans different areas including lifestyle, consumer products, cars, hi-fi, mobile, video gaming products and leisure products, informs an official release.

    The cover story of the first issue Gadgets 2.0 focuses on the new generation of gadgets taking over the world. The story covers the spectrum of digital entertainment devices from the Sony PS3 to Toshiba HD DVD Player to the Sony Ericsson W950 mobile phone.

    Other sections include a sneak peek at the N95 and the Asus Lamborghini Laptop, over 30 pages of gadget reviews and an entire section on home entertainment media. The first issue will feature supermodel Deepika Padukone as the T3 cover girl. T3 tops this up with a first-ever interview with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and film director Farhan Akhtar on their favourite gadgets.

    The monthly issue of the magazine will be available on newsstands and will be priced at Rs 100.

    Infomedia India MD Prakash Iyer said, “It gives me immense pleasure in launching the first edition of the world’s best gadget magazine in India. Our main objective to launch the magazine is to convey to the gadget crazy community that here is a magazine that is celebrating their passion. “

    Previously editor of hi-fi magazine AV Max, Nishant Padhiar is editor of T3.

    Padhiar adds, “With increasingly high disposable incomes and the start-ups of new concept tech stores, the consumer electronic industry is booming. We feel it is the right time to educate the consumer and T3 will provide all the information needed to do so.”

  • DTH wins over digital CAS – Starcom study

    Will I get fewer eyeballs for my advertising? Do I need to increase my budget to reach the same number of people through Television? Is my media plan going to become inefficient?These are just a few of the questions that a lot of Marketing Managers are asking their media agencies in the face of frequent announcements and subsequent postponements of the much awaited CAS rollout in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

    While there has been a lot of debate on how CAS will affect the Cable industry or the Advertiser, no one thought of talking to the consumer

    To understand the impact that CAS will have on the TV viewing habits of consumers, Starcom Worldwide commissioned a consumer research in these 3 metros, Chennai having already implemented CAS in 2003. This is the second wave of this research with the first one having been done in the 4 metros in 2003 when CAS was announced for the first time. This research was done among decision makers from SEC A,B & C households and has thrown up quite a few insights that can help marketers in understanding consumer perceptions and responses to CAS. Starcom also followed up with an analysis of ORG retail offtake data to understand what volumes of various categories are likely to get affected by CAS. We present here some of the key findings of the CAS research and a synopsis of the sales analysis.

    • A majority of the Consumers not willing to opt for CAS immediately
      In spite of the strength and popularity of Cable TV, only 30% consumers are willing to opt for CAS within 3 months of launch with Mumbai leading the pack at 53%.
      DTH more popular than CAS
      DTH awareness is 70% compared to only 51% for CAS
    • We attribute this to the advertising done by Dish TV over the last few months since launch and is likely to go up further with the entry of other players in this segment.
    • Most want to buy the Set Top Box outright rather than rent it
      Banks, who may have thought about financing Cable Operators for Set Top might have to shelve their plans since a vast majority (70%) of consumers prefer to buy the STB outright.
    • Compared to 2003 consumers willing to pay a higher amount for the STB
      Good news for cable operators is that the amount people are willing to spend for the STB is 30% higher than the amount they were willing to pay in 2003.
      Consumers willing to pay to watch channels of their choice and the perception is that Cable cost will come down post the implementation of CAS
    • 60% of consumers believe that they will be able to watch only channels of their choice and are willing to pay for those rather than being charged for 100 channels out of which they watch only 20. They also believe that CAS will actually bring down their monthly subscription from an average of Rs 202 to RS 162 with the drop being highest in Mumbai while Kolkata is not impacted at all.

    Most people want to take a wait and watch approach and they will wait till there is enough indication that CAS is here to stay and they see enough of their peers converting in the first few weeks. Once the initial seeding takes place CAS penetration might start growing exponentially.

    Finally what is the implication of the CAS rollout on sales. The following chart demonstrates the methodology followed to arrive at the percentage of sales that are likely to get impacted.

    The affected volumes likely to be: Soaps targeted at the lower SECs : 1.1%
    Metro focused Ketchup : 6% Private Insurance Companies : 10%

    While most FMCG marketers can breathe easy, the ones who sell premium products/brands and are dependant on South Mumbai, South Delhi and the Municipal areas of Kolkata should have contingency plans in place But even for most of such marketers, the impact will not be more than 10% to 15%.

     

  • Hathway ready for the digital big fight

    Chief executive K Jayaraman is setting the tone for Hathway Cable & Datacom‘s duel in the digital era.Part of his aggressive ploy is to expand the network in newer markets through alliances with cable operators. His proposal to them: Hathway will invest and build the digital and broadband side of the business while allowing cable operators to retain earnings from their analogue operations and carriage fees.

    Jayaraman believes this will carry appeal to cable operators who do not have the financial resources to fight off competition from digital delivery platforms like direct-to-home (DTH). He is setting up a team to map out the growth potential in non Hathway areas.

    Jayaraman is also taking the acquisition route to widen Hathway‘s footprint. Local cable networks in Chandigarh, Mohali and Kanpur were gobbled up early this year to gain foothold in new territories, all northern prosperous markets where digital cable and broadband have potential to take off.

    Such buyouts, though, will be selective and limited. But coming after years of inaction, Hathway sees an opportunity in growing along with the digital market. “Competition from DTH is good as it will change the way cable TV has been functioning and open up the digital market. If cable TV can respond positively, it will increase our ARPU‘s (average revenue per user) and correct our business models,” says Jayaraman.

    Competition also means that Hathway will have to protect its own turf as DTH gets aggressive with full content and more service providers. With Tata Sky preparing for launch soon and Subhash Chandra‘s Dish TV recently sewing a deal with SET-Discovery for a whole host of channels including Sony TV, Max, Discovery and Ten Sports, the writing is on the wall: cable will have to move in fast to migrate its customers from analogue to digital.

    Jayaraman‘s initial task is to defend Hathway‘s direct points and the creamy customers of the local cable operators. “We will have to persuade our direct customers and the top-end subscribers of our local cable operators to opt for digital cable as they will form the main target for DTH service providers,” he says.

    So far, that has been an agonisingly slow process. Hathway has managed to deploy just under 50,000 digital set-top boxes (STBs), mainly in its direct points. The distribution chain has not been supportive and, as Jayaraman says, only one-fifth of the last mile operators (LMOs) have been co-operative.

    Hathway Cable & Datacom chief executive K Jayaraman

    For energising the chain, Hathway is giving operators Rs 400 per digital STB. And on niche content, the multi-system operator (MSO) parts with a 50 per cent share on margins. Besides, operators who buy STBs on bulk are given discounts. “At the retail level, the LMOs will have to figure out what they want. It is in their interest to protect their networks,” says Jayaraman.

    But how does Hathway woo customers and make them switch from analogue to digital? One way is to offer bundled packages along with the cable internet services. The idea is to lock in customers with ARPUs over a longer period while driving sales of digital STBs.

    There are various schemes launched over a month-long period. Internet subscribers who have been sitting with Hathway for two years will be given the digital box free to use for a year. They will also have the option to buy the box for Rs 500 (box costs Rs 3375) but have to remain as Hathway‘s internet customer for the whole year.

    Boxes are available at Rs 1,000 for one-year-old customers. And for an existing internet subscriber who has not completed a year, the box is sold at Rs 2750 while Globus (retail store) coupon of Rs 500 is given along with a 20 per cent discount on Onkyo Home Theatres. New internet customers who subscribe to a minimum period of six months will have the option to buy the box for Rs 1000.

    “We have started all these initiatives for the last one month. We are rewarding our customers for their loyalty while locking them for a longer period. We feel bundling will help as DTH can‘t ptovide such services. We are in a unique position compared to the other MSOs as we have a substantial broadband subscriber base,” says Jayaraman.

    Hathway is backing up the price incentives with a dose of marketing, unprecedented in the Indian cable TV industry. Discount coupons, roadshows, FM radio stations, hoardings, interactive contests – all these media vehicles are being used to promote digital cable. And it has a staff of 70 people on sales and customer support for the digital services. “Our monthly ad spend is Rs 800000-100000. We are now selling 5,000 boxes a month which is still low, but there has been an improvement in offtake,” says Jayaraman.

    Tieing up with companies for discounts and co-branding is another exercise Hathway has started. “We are going to tie up with Citibank for a co-branded credit card which we will offer to our internet customers. For our digital cable, we are in talks with Onida for discount offers,” says Jayaraman.

    Lining up premium content is not a focus area. Hathway, though, has launched an ad-free dial-up interactive music channel I-TV through its digital services. The channel, which is currently available in Mumbai and Pune, will also be taken to other cities. Hathway has also introduced gaming on its digital services last month, for which it has selected NDS technology.

    Expanding the digital services to new cities is also part of Jayaraman‘s plans. After launching in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune, Punjab will be the next stop.

    Hathway is creating another arsenal for its fight against DTH. Plans are on to launch VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services by the end of the fiscal. Having built a two-way infrastructure for broadband, this is a natural progression for the MSO. “We had tested for analogue telephony with Bharti but feel VoIP is a better route for us. VoIP test is going on in Mumbai. We plan to launch at least in two cities this fiscal. We can bundle cable TV, broadband and VoIP services to customers which will add to our revenue streams,” says Jayaraman.

    As the digital platforms gather force, nobody knows who will win the big fight. But, as Jayaraman says, cable will have to develop a well-rounded revenue stream if it has to survive the race.

  • NDS to deploy full end to end system to Romania’s DTH platform Boom TV

    MUMBAI: News Corporation‘s NDS Group has announced that a leading digital satellite pay-TV broadcaster in Romania, DTH Television Group has contracted NDS to deploy a full end-to-end system including NDS VideoGuard conditional access, MediaHighway middleware and EPG on their newly launched digital pay-TV platform, Boom TV. NDS is the provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV.

    The platform had launched in May to homes in Romania. The NDS VideoGuard will protect all content delivered to new digital subscribers.

     

    DTH Television Group chose the full end-to-end system to secure their premium subscription content and will also take advantage of new services offered by NDS, including interactive TV applications, informs an official release.

    NDS Group chairman and CEO Dr Abe Peled said, “We‘re delighted that DTH Television Group has selected our proven solutions for their new service, Boom TV. This is an important contract for NDS as Romania, which has a population of over 40 million, is a significant TV market with the highest TV viewing figures in Europe by a wide margin. It also signals our expansion into the high-growth Eastern European broadcasting market, which we will continue to develop over the coming months and years.”

     

    Boom TV CEO Isaac Waldman said, “NDS is an important partner in being able to offer our subscribers enhanced TV services to make their viewing experience more entertaining.”
  • Panasonic & IBM to showcase GenNext digital entertainment models at National Association of Broadcasters Conference 2006

    Panasonic & IBM to showcase GenNext digital entertainment models at National Association of Broadcasters Conference 2006

    MUMBAI: Panasonic, the brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is best known, and IBM Corporation has demonstrated for the first time a collaborative environment which enables next generation digital entertainment models at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Conference 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The companies have been working together to develop a standards-based ecosystem that will facilitate the implementation of “download and burn” entertainment models to consumer electronics devices that are SD Memory Card-enabled.

    This technology demonstration combined leading-edge Panasonic digital entertainment devices and world-class IBM technology to showcase Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) opportunities throughout the world.

    In an official statememt, Panasonic is considered by many to be the leader in CPRM consumer devices throughout Japan, and is collaborating with IBM to build worldwide support for CPRM adoption.

    The showcase includes new models that enable consumers to burn digital entertainment content obtained via the internet on physical media like SD Memory Cards; the ability to download and play content on SD Memory Card-enabled devices like mobile phones, TV’s with SD Memory Card capability, and other SD Memory Card-enabled devices; and IBM’s Media Hub framework that establishes a rich Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) ecosystem that helps clients take smart, evolutionary steps toward implementation of their SOA strategy in order to meet their business needs.

    “Through this demonstration, Panasonic wants to focus on showing a total approach toward achieving an excellent mobile entertainment solution for the customer, and CPRM is an essential part of that,” said Tetsuro Homma, general manager, SD Solution Group, Panasonic AVC Networks Company, the Matsushita Electric divisional company that is responsible for plasma TV, digital cameras, personal computers and other digital products.

    “IBM has the combination of technology, service experience, research and consulting know-how to help build worldwide support for CPRM adoption, ” said Homma.

    “This joint initiative is consistent with Panasonic’s worldwide insistence on the highest quality in the customer’s entertainment experience, whether in HD Plasma TVs, where we are the US market and technology leader, or in the mobile entertainment experience that will be demonstrated by Panasonic and IBM at the NAB Show,” added Panasonic Corporation of North America VP and chief technology officer Dr. Paul Liao.

    For the demonstrations at NAB 2006, Panasonic has been given access to IBM DMTS (Digital Media Transaction Services), a web service plug-in that enables the flow of entertainment content protected by CPRM technologies. In addition, IBM was given access to Panasonic’s broad line of SD Memory Card-enabled devices, some of which use SD-Audio and SD-Video specifications, in addition to new SD Memory Card-enabled devices, currently being evaluated for the use of CPRM functionality.

    “IBM is building on our commitment to an open digital media framework. By working together with Panasonic on this type of advanced enterprise CPRM technology, we will enable people to leverage content in new and exciting ways,” said IBM Media & Entertainment, Digital Media general manager Dick Anderson.

  • BBC’s broadband learning service for children begins a storytelling trial

    BBC’s broadband learning service for children begins a storytelling trial

    MUMBAI: BBC jam (bbc.co.uk/jam) the UK pubcaster’s new broadband learning service for 5 to 16 year olds, has begun a three-month Augmented Reality (AR) storytelling trial.

    AR is a concept which allows users to interact with virtual 3D objects in real time, by using their own hands, rather than a mouse or a keyboard.

    The trial will enable users to see themselves on a computer screen, holding and moving the 3D characters as they explore the specially-created story (bbc.co.uk/jam/trial/ar).

    AR works by mixing the live video from a digital camera with animated 3D models, which are made to appear in the hands of the user.

    This is achieved by special software which tracks patterns, printed on paper, in each video image. AR technology allows learners to literally pick objects off the page and explore them in a highly rewarding way.

    The animated characters are able to interact with other objects and each other; they are even able to walk off the page.

    Building on technology developments that have led to BBC using AR in the broadcast of BBC News and BBC Sport, the BBC is now able to bring the same technologies to the homes and classrooms of the public.

    To be involved in the first trial all users will need is a standard PC, a webcam and a broadband internet connection. Free software access will be provided and users will be asked to fill in two short feedback forms during the three-month pilot.

    This first trial uses a brand-new story by the award-winning children’s author, Rob Lewis. Written especially for five to seven year olds, it supports shared reading, at home or at school.

    During the trials there will be user guides, teacher notes, tutorials and technical support available and a space to share personal experiences with other participants.

    The BBC has been working with the collaboration of an open source community called AR Toolkit, to explore the use of the technology in broadcasting. They would now like to see it used in classroom and homes.

    The team has recently carried out two projects with teachers and pupils in the BBC’s 21st Century Classroom (21CC) – a digital learning centre in central London, dedicated to exploring creative and cutting-edge uses of technology in teaching and learning; they are now looking to gauge the general public’s reaction.

    If the trial is successful then the BBC hopes to launch further subjects for different ages to explore, learn and create. The pubcaster believes that AR has the potential beyond purely learning as a fun and initiative way of interacting with digital content in collaborative ways for both children and adults.