ITV

Tag: Directv

  • NBC Universal unveils new division to boost digital media

    NBC Universal unveils new division to boost digital media

    MUMBAI: NBC Universal has formed a new business unit, the Technology Growth Center (TGC), within the media giant to focus on new business opportunities in digital media. NBC Universal has tapped Darren Feher, the company’s chief technology officer, to run the group.

    Feher will be reporting to NBC Universal’s technology and operations division president and chief information officer of Media Works John Eck.

    “Today, consumers want to enjoy media any time and any where,” Eck said. “The TGC will help fulfill this demand by providing the necessary technology to foster a greater variety of distribution methods.”
    The new division will coordinate NBCU’s approach to technology across the company’s various distribution channels.

    TGC is organized into four divisions: Technical Product Development, developing technology in the areas of broadband, iTV, electronic-sell-through, mobile and wireless, DVRs and gaming; Policy, Strategy and Standards, focusing on increasing the influence of NBC Universal’s industry positions among standards consortia and in Washington; Emerging Technology and Research, working with GE’s Global Research Center and universities; and Anti-Piracy Technical Operations, with an emphasis on forensic watermarking, cracking down on Internet piracy, and raids and investigations, stated a media report.

    The division has already developed the technology that allowed NBC Universal to digitally send its TV content to Apple for distribution on iTunes, eliminating the need for digital beta tapes. Other TGC projects underway include DVD point-of sale activation, forensic watermarking, new peer based distribution technologies, download-to-own technology, DRM standards and automatic closed captioning.

    The TGC has also launched several interactive television projects, including a service that enabled DirecTV, EchoStar and Time Warner Cable subscribers to access medal counts, athlete biographies and news during broadcasts of the Winter Olympics in February. More recently, the TGC has facilitated online voting in several NBC shows, including Deal or No Deal.

  • NDTV clocks 24.5 % growth in FY06; revenues Rs 2.24 billion

    NDTV clocks 24.5 % growth in FY06; revenues Rs 2.24 billion

    MUMBAI: Prannoy Roy’s NDTV has recorded 24.49 percent growth in fiscal 2005-06 with total revenues of Rs 2.239 billion.

    NDTV’s revenues were up from the Rs 1.798 billion recorded in fiscal 2004-05, the company has stated.

    Q4 FY’ 06 saw NDTV hitting its highest ever revenues at Rs 704.4 million versus Rs 497 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, representing a 41.73 per cent year-on-year growth.

    Expectedly, the rise in personnel costs took a huge chunk out of the company’s net with profit after tax after ESOP for Q4 FY’ 06 standing at Rs 20.1 million. If ESOPs are discounted then net profit for Q4 has increased 22 per cent to Rs 125.5 million as against Rs 102.9 million in Q4 FY’ 05. There were no ESOPs granted last year.

    Following the results, NDTV has declared a dividend of 20 per cent.

    BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

    During the year the company made significant investments in building new businesses and strengthening and consolidating its existing business.

    NDTV’s advertising base has seen an impressive growth this year. The network has added 637 new advertisers and 810 new brands in its portfolio, taking its advertising universe to over 2000. A reflection of the group’s marketing strength is also the strategic tie-up with the Microsoft Network, under which NDTV’s subsidiary, NDTV Media Ltd represents and carries out all marketing activity for MSN exclusively in India.

    The reach of the NDTV News Network’s unduplicated reach amongst C&S households has increased to 90.8 per cent, the highest amongst all news networks. NDTV has also extended its global presence across Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. This year it entered into strategic tie-ups with DirecTV, BskyB and ATN to launch NDTV 24×7 in the US, UK and Canada respectively.

    NDTV’s website ndtv.com has emerged as India’s number one news and television portal, attracting over 200 million page views and 1.2 million unique visitors every month. The focus on monetizing the website by adding transaction based portals – Travel, Gadgets, Shopping, Commodities, Profit, Movies and Music, has begun to drive revenues this year.

    “In this year the company has put in significant investments into building new businesses and going forward we are committed to maximizing shareholder value by capitalizing on these investments,” NDTV chairman Dr Prannoy Roy was quoted in the statement as saying.

    Additionally, NDTV has entered into an agreement with Genpact a leading business and technology services company, to jointly offer outsourcing services to the global media and entertainment industry. This is the first of its kind Media Process Outsourcing company in India which will focus on providing cost effective, high quality media services.

    This year also heralded NDTV’s entry into high end-consultancy for news services. The company has entered into a joint venture agreement with Astro Broadcast of Malaysia to provide consultancy for setting up news channels in Malaysia and Indonesia. The Indonesian channel will be launched shortly.

    The NDTV Group, together with other strategic investors, also acquired a minority shareholding in 3 radio companies that hold licenses for FM radio broadcasting in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata under the brand name of RED FM. The company sees tremendous cross media synergies in extending its presence in the radio sector.

  • TiVo and DirecTV extend relationship for three years

    TiVo and DirecTV extend relationship for three years

    MUMBAI: The creator and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVR) TiVo Inc., and digital television service provider DirecTV, Inc. announced a three-year extension to the TiVo-DirecTV commercial agreement.

    Existing DirecTV TiVo subscribers will be able to continue to receive the TiVo service, with TiVo providing ongoing maintenance and support. In addition, TiVo and DirecTV agreed not to assert patent rights against the other. The agreement also extends the advertising relationship between the two companies. DirecTV will continue to service existing DirecTV receivers with TiVo service. While specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the recurring monthly economics of the agreement are similar to the economics for DirecTV receivers with TiVo service activated since 2003.

    “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with DirecTV that will allow us to continue to provide our service to the more than 2 million DirecTV TiVo households. As the pioneer in the DVR market, we have created a service that is highly valued by consumers because of our technology, the wide range of our unique features and the unparalleled ease of our user experience. This agreement reflects TiVo’s popularity among DirecTV subscribers and importantly respects the value of our intellectual property as well,” said TiVo CEO Tom Rogers.

    “By extending our agreement with TiVo, we are ensuring quality support for DirecTV customers who already own a DirecTV TiVo unit. We are pleased to cooperate with TiVo in a way that will best serve DirecTV and our DirecTV TiVo customers,” said DirecTV chief technology officer Romulo Pontual.

  • DirecTV expands Intl programming platform with Korean language package

    DirecTV expands Intl programming platform with Korean language package

    MUMBAI: DirecTV is continuing to grow its international programming platform, WorldDirect, with the addition of three leading Korean-language networks – MBC, YTN, and Christian Television Systems (CTS).

    In addition, DirecTV also offers the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), a top-rated Korean network, which launched on the WorldDirect platform last year.

    SBS, MBC and YTN will be available as part of the new DirecTV KoreanDirect package, which is currently available to DirecTV customers nationwide for $26.99 per month. CTS will be available on an a la carte basis for $4.99 per month, according to an official release.

    DirecTV International VP Aaron McNally said, “DirecTV is offering the Korean community living in the United States not only the best Korean-language programming lineup, but also the leading English-language program offering as well. We are truly a one-stop shop for the best television viewing experience available. By partnering with the leading networks in Korea, DirecTV is able to provide a superior programming lineup compared to its competitors, and deliver a programming package that keeps the Korean community informed, entertained and connected to their homeland.”

    SBS, a top-rated Korean network, has designed its programming to feed the needs of all its viewers by providing content that is both informative and entertaining. MBC

    MBC is a top-rated, 24-hour Korean network. “M” stands for “Munwha” in Korean, which means “culture” in English. MBC offers programs such as news, sports, cultural programs, variety shows, drama, comedy and documentaries.

    YTN is the only 24-hour a day, comprehensive Korean news channel. The network, encompassing local branches and 100-plus foreign correspondents bringing news from over 50 major cities around the world, provides Korean-Americans with up-to-the-minute news and events coverage from Korea and around the world.

    Founded by the Korean Primary Christian Denomination, CTS is a gospel broadcasting channel serving Christian Koreans in the United States. For more information on how to receive KoreanDirect, customers should call (800) 378-3309.

    The DirecTV WorldDirect platform has launched 39 channels that deliver a wide variety of new programming in multiple foreign-languages, including Russian, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Italian and Ukrainian, to underserved ethnic markets throughout the United States.

    DirecTV customers will need to use a WorldDirect services satellite dish that is capable of receiving both international and English-language programming. In some markets, customers who subscribe to a local channels package will require a second smaller dish.