ITV

Tag: DTH

  • Addressable platforms offer huge revenue upscale for filmmakers

    Addressable platforms offer huge revenue upscale for filmmakers

    MUMBAI: The Bollywood industry has something to look forward to from emerging addressable platforms like Direct-to-home (DTH) and IPTV.

    Tata Sky will offer several dedicated movie and audio channels as part of its product package to lure subscribers away from the cable networks. “Movie-on-demand will allow consumers to view the latest films without ad clutters. They also can do away with pirated VCDs where quality is poor. We are showing a movie on multiple timings and this is quite popular with our subscribers,” said Tata Sky head consumer marketing Vikram Mehra. He was speaking at a session on the home entertainment segment.

    Tata Sky has already touched a subscriber base of 250,000 and is on target to achieve one million within a year of operations, Mehra added.

    Film producers and broadcasters suffered from a loss of revenues due to piracy and under-reporting of subscribers by cable operators. Having had to suffer from bad video quality, film producers can now tap an additional revenue stream with its addressable system of reporting subscriber figures, said Mehra. “Digital addressable system will keep all the stakeholders happy. The ground is ready for DTH to take off,” he added.

    Home entertainment in India offers only 7-8 per cent of total revenue collections for a film, while in the US it was as high as 65 per cent, said Silicon Image president and CEO Steve Tirado, while speaking at the same session.

    As digital content travels across devices, home would form an important part of the media distribution strategy. The challenge was to work out a digital interface across various devices.

    About 73 per cent of American households would rather watch movies at home as 80 per cent of them own DVD players. “Content will roam among devices. Storage will also form a critical part of home entertainment. Scheduled viewing is in permanent decline except for spectacles and live sports,” Tirado said.

    Fighting piracy was what all the speakers agreed would be at the core of generating more revenues. “We have to evolve a strong distribution network to combat this. Besides, penetration shouldn’t be the only focus and companies have to come out with strategies to get prices up,” said Saregama India MD Subroto Chattopadhyay.

    Speaking on the international business of home entertainment, Shemaroo CEO Hiren Gada said theatrical collections accounted for 60 per cent of overseas earnings. There was potential to rake in more money from territories outside the US (which contributed 30 per cent), UK (28 per cent) and UAE (20 per cent). Piracy and high acquisition prices were among the red flags that threatened the sector, he added.

  • TDSAT asks Tata-Sky, Sun TV Group to settle differences

    TDSAT asks Tata-Sky, Sun TV Group to settle differences

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has proposed to direct-to-home (DTH) player Tata-Sky and Chennai-based broadcaster Sun TV Group that they resolve their dispute between themselves.

    According to a tribunal official, the two parties are set to negotiate a potential settlement at a meeting in Chennai that is likely to take place by the end of week.

    Nonetheless, the tribunal dispute forum has also drawn up the date for next hearing before adjourning the case to 29 November if the attempts to achieve a “lucid response” through the discussion fails.

    Tata-Sky had moved the tribunal accusing the broadcaster of refusing supply of its bouquet of channels. The DTH player approached the disputes forum after repeated requests to provide the signals of the channels of Sun’s bouquet of channels on “non-discriminatory terms” proved futile.

    According to the norms laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), all content should be made available to all delivery platforms on a nondiscriminatory basis.

    Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran has set forth plans to enter the DTH space through the still to launch commercially Sun Direct TV. He runs a string of successful channels, which include SunTV, GeminiTV, SuryaTV, UdayaTV, KTV, TejaTV, UsheTV, KiranTV, AdithyaTV, Sun News, KiranTV, GeminiTV, TejaTV, Teja News, Udaya2 and Udaya News.

  • Former Prasar Bharati chief KS Sarma takes charge as Maa TV CEO

    Former Prasar Bharati chief KS Sarma takes charge as Maa TV CEO

    MUMBAI: Soon after restructuring its shareholding, Maa TV Network Ltd has roped in former Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma to head the company.

    Sarma will chalk out the company’s expansion plans. Maa TV Network, which owns and operates a Telugu general entertainment channel, had plans to launch a music channel and spruce up the programming of its existing channel.

    “I have joined Maa TV Network as the CEO. We are in the process of formalising our expansion plans. We would be ready with it (the plans) in a month’s time,” Sarma tells Indiantelevision.com.

    The company will have a fresh infusion of Rs 500 million with the original promoter Murali Krishna Raju putting in Rs 100 million. Superstars Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi have walked in as new investors along with Matrix Laboratories Ltd (a listed company) and will together be holding 60 per cent in a purchase deal worth Rs 400 million.

    Sarma, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, recently retired as Prasar Bharati CEO. During his stint, Prasar Bharati launched a direct-to-home (DTH) service, DD Direct+, comprising free-to-air channels. Doordarshan also came out with a fine tuned self-financing scheme (SFS) and handled marketing of cricket, serials and movies.

  • Zee News, WWIL to list by February 2007; Dish TV likely by March

    Zee News, WWIL to list by February 2007; Dish TV likely by March

    MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL) expects its two demerged entities, Wire & Wireless India Ltd (WWIL) and Zee News Ltd, to be listed by February 2007. This follows the approval of the demerger scheme by the Bombay High Court.

    The listing of Dish TV, Zee’s demerged direct-to-home (DTH) business, is likely to be by March. The scheme relating to the de-merger of DTH has not yet been listed for hearing at the Bombay Stock Exchange or in the Delhi Stock Exchange and will take some time. The listing date will be known only after the court gives the nod.

    “WWIL and Zee News Ltd should list by February 2007. We expect to list Dish TV by March,” says Essel Group CEO, corporate strategy and finance, Rajiv Garg.

    ZTL today announced the approval of its demerger scheme by the Bombay High Court. This paves the way for setting the record date for the demerger of the cable distribution and news and regional broadcasting businesses of Zee into WWIL and ZNL respectively.

    The Record Date is likely to fall in the latter half of December.

    The shareholders of Zee as on the Record Date shall be allotted shares in WWIL and Zee News. The respective companies would then be applying for listing of such shares to the BSE, NSE and CSE, in compliance with SEBI guidelines.

    Zee expects this process to be completed by February 2007.

  • Star revenues to grow 15 % this fiscal: MPA

    Star revenues to grow 15 % this fiscal: MPA

    MUMBAI: The Star Group is expected to post a 15 per cent year on year revenue growth at $624 million for FY June 2007 with operating profit margins at 24.3 per cent or $151 million, according estimates by Hong Kong-based research firm Media Partners Asia (MPA).

    Star’s September quarter was relatively soft (historically soft for the broadcaster in Asia) with revenue up a modest 6 per cent Y/Y to $140 million (MPA estimate) and operating income up 8 per cent to $13 million.

    While subscription revenue grew by 6 per cent Y/Y, programming costs declined over the quarter. “This leverage, however, was offset by lower ad revenue at flagship STAR Plus in India, where the decrease in advertising reflected last year’s high base comparison when revenue grew 22 per cent Y/Y due to the successful broadcast of Kaun Banega Crorepati 2,” the MPA report said. Despite maintaining leadership position, Star’s ratings have softened with Zee TV posing a strong threat.

    Tata Sky, News Corp.’s 20:80 direct-to-home (DTH) joint venture with the Tatas, has acquired around 180,000 subscribers till October-end, after having launched its services in August. The company says it is on track to add a net one million subscribers per annum.

    “The early results have been encouraging,” the report quoted News Corp chief operating officer and president Peter Chernin as having said. “Any additions are sort of immediate additional subsribers for channels and the good news is that they are at least 100 per cent reporting, which is a nice positive phenomenon in India.”

    News Corp, parent company of Star, had a sluggish September quarter with operating income at $851 million, down 6 per cent Y/Y, with a strong performance at its cable network and newspaper businesses offset by softness at its TV, movie and digital satellite units. It saw also higher than expected costs at the company’s online properties. The company reported earnings of $0.27 per share, benefiting from a $261 million gain after the sale of Sky Brasil and $136 million from the sale of its 19.9 per cent stake in Chinese commercial broadcaster Phoenix Satellite TV, in which News Corp still holds a 17.6 per cent interest.

    The company, however, expects a strong full year in FY 07 with robust growth forecast for Star Group and aggressiv expansion of MySpace into multiple Asian markets, the MPA report said.

  • Non-supply of channels: Tata Sky moves TDSAT against Sun TV

    Non-supply of channels: Tata Sky moves TDSAT against Sun TV

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the south Indian media major Sun TV Group’s reluctance to make available channels to its direct-to-home platform.

    The petition, filed today before the tribunal, alleges that the Sun TV Group has refused to supply its bouquet of channels to the DTH player. The case is scheduled for the first hearing tomorrow (15 November).

    Tata Sky approached the disputes forum after repeated requests to provide the signals of the channels of Sun’s bouquet of channels on “non-discriminatory terms” proved futile.

    Tata Sky has sought an appropriate direction in the matter from TDSAT, alleging that Sun TV has quoted unreasonable terms for supplying its signals.

    When contacted by Indiantelevision.com, Tata Sky managing director and CEO Vikram Kaushik today refrained from commenting on the development.

    Earlier speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Kaushik mentioned, “We are in talks with Sun TV, the most popular network in the southern states, but no commercial agreement is expected soon. We gave them a proposal and are in negotiations with them. But a deal is still far away.”

    A point of note is that Tata-Sky is simultaneously also battling for Zee-Turner channels. Although the tribunal has directed Zee Turner Ltd, distributors of Zee and other channels, to provide its signals to Tata Sky, the issues of pricing, capacity and other related issues have yet to be sorted out.

    According to the norms laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), all content should be made available to all delivery platforms on a nondiscriminatory basis.

    Interestingly, Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran has set forth plans to enter the DTH space through the still to launch commercially Sun Direct TV. He runs a string of successful channels, which include SunTV, GeminiTV, SuryaTV, UdayaTV, KTV, TejaTV, UsheTV, KiranTV, AdithyaTV, Sun News, KiranTV, GeminiTV, TejaTV, Teja News, Udaya2 and Udaya News.

  • Bahl’s South Asia World ceases broadcast

    Bahl’s South Asia World ceases broadcast

    MUMBAI: Just two years after launch, Raghav Bahl has shut down his English infotainment channel, South Asia World (SAW).

    “The channel has discontinued to broadcast. It was not commercially viable,” a source in the company tells Indiantelevision.com. Bahl was not available for comment.

    Aimed at South Asians, TV18 founder Bahl launched SAW in the US on the Echostar direct-to-home (DTH) platform in 2004. The channel was launched the following year in the UK on Sky Digital and was distributed by Zee Network.

    Bahl had floated India World Network USA Inc, which owned and managed South Asia World. The holding company is SAW Holdings Ltd.

    Earlier at the launch of the channel Bahl had said, “South Asia World is the realisation of a dream we’ve had for five years – to create a television forum for Indians the world over. The Indian American community is the fastest growing, representing some of the richest populations in the US. This channel is not only a celebration of the life success of these people, but will also act as a platform to highlight issues that impact their progress.”

    Bahl had set up a separate infrastructure for SAW: a fully equipped studio in the Empire State Building in New York, bureaux in Washington DC and the San Francisco Bay Area, reporters from coast-to-coast in the US, and in-live news studios in Mumbai and Delhi.

  • BBC World is available on Tata Sky

    BBC World is available on Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: BBC World is now available on DTH service provider Tata Sky.

    BBC World regional director distribution and business development, Europe, Middle-East & South Asia Gerry Ritchie says, “We are very excited about our new association with Tata Sky. At a time, when India is witnessing rapid growth and change in the television and entertainment industry, Tata Sky provides us with an ideal platform to reach our target viewer with an interest in international news and events. This new agreement with Tata Sky will introduce BBC World to new viewers and increase the channel’s audience reach.”

    Tata Sky MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik said, “It is our endeavour to provide Indian viewers with a world-class satellite television service, offering the best in home entertainment. Since the launch of our service in August, we have continuously expanded our offering to include India’s most popular television channels and a host of exciting, interactive services.

    “The availability of BBC World on our platform reiterates our commitment to provide our subscribers with access to top-of-the-line content, in this case, the best of international news.”

  • BSkyB’s Q1 revenues up 11 %

    BSkyB’s Q1 revenues up 11 %

    MUMBAI: UK pay TV platform BSkyB has announced results for the first quarter ended 30 September 2006.

    Revenues increased by 11 per cent to £1071 million.

    DTH subscribers increased to 8.258 million, net growth of 82,000 in the quarter. Sky+ households increased by 139,000 in the quarter to 1,692,000, represtning a 20 per cent penetration of total DTH subscribers.

    Multiroom households increased by 46,000 in the quarter to 1,093,000, a 13 per cent penetration of total DTH subscribers. HD households increased to 96,000, net growth of 58,000 in the quarter.

    BSkyB CEO James Murdoch said, “This has been an important period for the company. We are building on our leadership in pay television and are becoming an increasingly well positioned challenger in the £20 billion combined industry for pay television, broadband and telephone services. Sky has delivered the highest first quarter subscriber growth for three years and is seeing high demand across our range of services.

    “One in three families in the UK and Republic of Ireland are choosing Sky for the widest choice in television and now almost a quarter of those families take at least one additional product from us as well. While it is still early, we are pleased with the progress since the launch of Sky Broadband and in just 15 weeks, we’ve seen a great response from Sky customers. Our preparations, pace of provisioning and investments in service and systems to manage demand are performing well. Our strategy is leading to an increase in revenue growth with overall revenues up 11 per cent in the quarter.

    “Our expansion into new areas is supported by continued growth and strong financial performance with pay television EBITDA up eight per cent in the quarter. A wide choice of quality programmes, innovative services like HDTV, Sky+, and broadband are not only attracting new customers, but also offering new services to existing customers. There’s never been a better time to join in.”

    The total number of DTH digital satellite subscribers in the UK and Ireland was 8,258,000, representing a net increase of 82,000 in the quarter and the highest first quarter net subscriber growth since 2003. Strong demand for Sky’s broad range of products led to an increase in gross additions of 14 per cent on the comparable period to 325,000; gross additions were 34 per cent higher than those recorded in the three months to September 2004.

    Sky+ the firm says continues to exceed expectations, with over 20 per cent of all Sky households now taking the product. At 30 September 2006, the number of households subscribing to Sky+ was 1,692,000, an increase of 139,000. During the quarter, the Group reduced the price of Sky+ for existing customers, removing the necessity to take a Multiroom subscription, and thereby allowing them to upgrade at the same attractive rates as new joiners.

    Sky HD subscribers more than doubled during the quarter to 96,000, the fastest ever customer take-up of an additional Sky product, and already representing three times the sales levels achieved by Sky+ in its first year.

  • Zee Tele Q2 revenues up 38% at Rs 4.6 billion; Net Rs 333 million

    Zee Tele Q2 revenues up 38% at Rs 4.6 billion; Net Rs 333 million

    MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra’s Zee Telefilms Limited today reported second quarter consolidated revenues of Rs 4.64 billion representing a 38.1 per cent growth over the corresponding period in the previous fiscal where it stood at Rs 3.36 billion.

    Consolidated operating profit stood at Rs 338 million, after expensing of initial investments in new activities viz. Zee Telugu, Zee Smile, Zee Sports and others, amounting to Rs 832 million (17.9 per cent of consolidated revenues).

    As a result, consolidated operating profits of continuing businesses were Rs 1,171 million, higher by 28.4 per cent over to the corresponding quarter last year.
    Profit before tax for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was Rs 409 million while net profit was Rs 333 million, down 21.6 per cent from the Rs 425 million recorded last year.
    The results announced are after consolidating the financials of ETC Networks Limited (ETC) for the second quarter of FY2007.

    2Q FY2007 – Highlights
    Advertisement revenue Rs 2,107 million – up 42.6%
    Subscription revenue Rs 1,930 million – up 10.6%
    Zee TV now leader in 9-10 pm & in 6-8:30 pm time band
    Siticable acquires 250,000 last mile cable connections
    DishTV enhances content offering, Star bouquet available from August
    DishTV subscriber base now 1.5 million

    Said Chandra, “Zee’s second quarter results prove the continued strength of our content business and a growing presence across new genres. Not only are we growing our content business, we have been very successful in integrating it with new platforms like DTH, with significant growth potential. The performance reflects our success in delivering superior content to viewers and stronger relationship with our consumers.”

    Chandra added, “We are also happy about some recent developments relating to our business. There is continued monitoring of High Court for implementation of CAS in the notified areas of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata by December 31, 2006. This will additionally help in bringing about addressability on cable. On DTH, DishTV further enhanced its offering from August when the Star bouquet was also made available to subscribers and now DishTV has the most comprehensive content on any pay television service, whether cable or satellite. All these have extremely positive and long term impact on our business.”

    Commenting on the restructuring exercise, Chandra continued, “The restructuring exercise is underway and is expected to be completed by January 2007. There has been some delay from our earlier expectation of November 2006, due purely to a number of adjournments of court hearings. When completed, the restructuring would result in four listed companies ready to exploit the vast emerging opportunities in each line of business. The next several years would provide tremendous growth opportunities for all these four businesses.”

    Punit Goenka, whole time director and responsible for content creation, commented, “Zee TV continued to increase its viewership share from 25% in 1Q FY2007 to 28% during 2Q FY2007, along with a significant growth in time spent. During the quarter, average gross ratings points (GRPs) of Zee TV remained at 240 levels, while recording peak GRPs of 270 in week 36. The growth momentum has been led by widespread success of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs, Saat Phere and Kasamh Se, while our new launches Dulhan and Betiyan have been very well received. Betiyan touched a TVR of 5 in its first week. Zee TV now has five programmes in the Top 20 and 12 programmes in the Top 50. It has leadership in the 9 pm to 10 pm time band, and between 6 pm to 8:30 pm on weekdays.”

    “Zee Cinema continues to be the No. 1 movie channel, and increasingly is becoming a reach channel for the advertisers. Zee Marathi has improved its viewership by 16 per cent during 2Q FY2007. Zee Bangla has improved its viewership by 60 per cent and has gained leadership position in the 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm time band. Zee Sports continues to build on the back of Cricket Tri-Series in Malaysia between India, Australia and West Indies. We will continue to reinforce our competitive advantage and deliver more value to viewers and shareholders.” Goenka added.

    Elaborating on the performance, CEO Pradeep Guha said, “We are pleased with the strong operating results, content business delivered in the second quarter. We once again outperformed the market with unmatched connection with our audience and remain focused on building on our progress. Looking ahead, we are confident that continued execution of our content strategy would result in a revenue growth faster than that of industry.”