ITV

Tag: Etisalat

  • Times Network taps NKN Media to sell its stories in the Middle East

    Times Network taps NKN Media to sell its stories in the Middle East

    MUMBAI: Times Network, the broadcast arm of India’s Times Group, has appointed NKN Media FZC as its exclusive advertising sales partner for the Middle East. The deal gives NKN the reins to bring in ad revenue for the international feeds of Times Network, ET Now and Zoom, all of which already beam into regional homes via Etisalat, DU, Ooredoo and Starzplay.

    For Times Network, the tie-up is more than just business, it’s a bridge. With millions of Indians living and working across the Gulf, the network sees fertile ground for both connection and commerce. By leaning on NKN Media’s local expertise and market know-how, Times hopes to create fresh avenues for advertisers eager to reach a diaspora that is both sizeable and influential.

    The bouquet on offer is varied: Times Now, synonymous with sharp debates and global news; ET Now, trusted for market insight; and Zoom, Bollywood’s glossy home for film, music and celebrity sparkle. Together, they promise brands a stage where credibility meets entertainment.

    “This partnership deepens our connection with one of the most dynamic Indian communities overseas,” Times Network said, adding that the collaboration offers advertisers “a robust platform to engage with a highly influential audience.”

    NKN Media, ceo and md, Abdul Majid Khan was equally upbeat and said, “Partnering with Times Network, India’s leading media house, is a proud moment. With our global ad-sales experience, we’re confident of unlocking strong growth opportunities for both partners in the Middle East.”

    In short, the network that prides itself on making headlines has just made one of its own, by giving its Middle East audience (and the brands chasing them) a reason to stay tuned.

  • Etisalat goes live with cloud OTT service using Synamedia’s Infinite Platform

    Etisalat goes live with cloud OTT service using Synamedia’s Infinite Platform

    KOLKATA: Synamedia today announced that UAE’s largest operator, Etisalat, has launched SwitchTV, a new direct-to-consumer (D2C) service based on Synamedia’s Infinite cloud TV platform and its end-to-end video network portfolio.

    Etisalat, the leading telecommunication operator in emerging markets, chose to work with Synamedia because its technologies provide the flexibility, security and agility needed to support, monetise and scale a multi-screen service with both free and premium live TV channels, catch-up and on-demand. Of particular importance is Synamedia’s private CDN, allowing Etisalat to leverage its infrastructure and private cloud solutions to deliver content to large audiences.

    With Infinite, Etisalat can process, secure, distribute and monetise video to all consumer devices. Benefits include the flexibility to offer a choice of SwitchTV subscription packages and different movie rental models. Users can also enjoy a personalised viewing experience, making it easy to find their favorite content and deepening their engagement. With Synamedia’s cloud DVR solution, viewers can record programs in the cloud and watch them on any of their devices. Synamedia also supports Etisalat’s multi-language requirements with channels offering Arabic, Western and Asian content.

    In addition, Etisalat is deploying Synamedia’s end-to-end video network to reduce latency at every stage of the video workflow – from encoding through to the CDN and player – while also minimising bandwidth requirements. This ensures that SwitchTV gives viewers a highly reliable, consistently high-quality viewing experience with no interruptions or buffering.

    Infinite is pre-integrated with Evergent’s market-leading global revenue and customer lifecycle management platform, giving Etisalat the advantage of a comprehensive carrier-grade subscriber management solution. The integration with Evergent’s multi-tenant platform made it easy to launch SwitchTV and grow the business with targeted promotions, advanced product and offer management and bundling with other Etisalat services.

    "The SwitchTV OTT service represents a step change for the residents of UAE," said Yves Padrines, Synamedia CEO. “Thanks to our comprehensive solution, Etisalat has a flexible offering that appeals to a broad range of audiences – from those looking for free programs, to those wanting premium live experiences or to rent movies. Users have started downloading the apps and feedback on the quality of experience and features is extremely positive.”

    "SwitchTV is a game-changer for viewers across the region.  Evergent complements the Synamedia service with pre-integrated, advanced and innovative monetisation options that contribute to a seamless customer journey. Evergent is thrilled to be part of Etisalat’s digital transformation strategy with SwitchTV," said Vijay Sajja, Evergent founder and CEO.

  • India’s first global news network WION spreads its wings

    India’s first global news network WION spreads its wings

    From small steps within South Asia, World Is One News (WION), the first global English news network from India, is now taking giant strides across the world.  It has been 1 year since its first telecast and already, Indian viewers are rivetted by the country’s first truly international news channel. Particularly appealing is the fact that for the first time, Indian viewers can enjoy in-depth coverage of stories from far-flung corners of the world through a perspective and prism of their choice.

    WION has now entered the Middle East. The channel has been launched on Etisalat – one of the biggest networks in the Middle East – in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.  Viewers in those countries can also watch WION on Du & Ooredoo.  WION’s Middle East debut comes on the heels of its launch in seven African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Botswana & Rwanda. WION is now one of India’s fastest-growing news networks. Come the months February to April, WION will be spreading its outreach to other South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

    Celebrating 25 years of ZEE in Dubai, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra said, “After a successful start in India, WION is gearing up to bring world-class journalism to the people of UAE & Qatar who have long been waiting for a global network from India.” 

    Australians, too are enjoying shows by WION. The channel has been launched on Yupp TV there while talks are underway to launch it on other platforms in Australia & New Zealand too. WION is keeping its promise of providing in-depth and non-biased coverage of global stories, a space so far dominated by the western media.

  • Reliance Jio expands India’s connectivity to the world through BBG

    Reliance Jio expands India’s connectivity to the world through BBG

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio announced the launch of a new, state of the art 8,100 km cable system, the Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG). 

    BBG provides direct connectivity to South East Asia and the Middle East, then onward to Europe, Africa and Far East Asia through seamless interconnection with existing cable systems. 

    Reliance Jio owns and operates the strategically important undersea cable landing facility in Chennai, providing a high-speed, high-capacity, low latency route connecting India to the rest of the world.“

    “We are excited about the launch of BBG as it offers not just direct connectivity in and out of India through Chennai and Mumbai but also acts as a state-of-the-art 100 Gbps extension of Jio’s 100 Gbps core network,” said Reliance Jio president Mathew Oommen. 

    He further added, “This global connectivity brings key international content hubs closer to our customers, delivering a much richer experience as an important part of driving India’s broadband adoption, enabling consumers to shift away from the current high-cost low value propositions.”

    Providing robust, reliable, low latency connectivity, BBG strengthens one of the fastest growing global internet routes. BBG has deployed the latest submarine cable 100Gbps transmission technology, utilizing wavelength add/drop branching units along the route, with an initial equipped capacity of 9 terabits per second. In addition to Reliance Jio, the BBG partners include: Dialog Axiata, Etisalat, Omantel, Telecom Malaysia, and Vodafone.

  • Reliance Jio expands India’s connectivity to the world through BBG

    Reliance Jio expands India’s connectivity to the world through BBG

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio announced the launch of a new, state of the art 8,100 km cable system, the Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG). 

    BBG provides direct connectivity to South East Asia and the Middle East, then onward to Europe, Africa and Far East Asia through seamless interconnection with existing cable systems. 

    Reliance Jio owns and operates the strategically important undersea cable landing facility in Chennai, providing a high-speed, high-capacity, low latency route connecting India to the rest of the world.“

    “We are excited about the launch of BBG as it offers not just direct connectivity in and out of India through Chennai and Mumbai but also acts as a state-of-the-art 100 Gbps extension of Jio’s 100 Gbps core network,” said Reliance Jio president Mathew Oommen. 

    He further added, “This global connectivity brings key international content hubs closer to our customers, delivering a much richer experience as an important part of driving India’s broadband adoption, enabling consumers to shift away from the current high-cost low value propositions.”

    Providing robust, reliable, low latency connectivity, BBG strengthens one of the fastest growing global internet routes. BBG has deployed the latest submarine cable 100Gbps transmission technology, utilizing wavelength add/drop branching units along the route, with an initial equipped capacity of 9 terabits per second. In addition to Reliance Jio, the BBG partners include: Dialog Axiata, Etisalat, Omantel, Telecom Malaysia, and Vodafone.

  • VSNL plans cable link to India, Middle East, Western Europe

    VSNL plans cable link to India, Middle East, Western Europe

    MUMBAI: Tata group company Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has inked an MoU with global telecom firms to construct a new submarine cable linking India, Middle East and Western Europe (IMEWE). 

    The company has joined hands with Etisalat, Saudi Telecom, Telecom Egypt, Telecom Italia Sparkle to work jointly on the new submarine cable.

    The cable will connect the major countries in the region including India, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy and France to provide interconnection facilities with several existing and emerging systems in the regions.

    The telecom consortium expects to get the IMEWE cable ready for service by mid 2008. The construction contracts are expected to be being awarded by end 2006.

    The network, upon its commissioning, will provide high-speed connectivity to the Asian, Middle East, North & East Africa and Western Europe regions, and meet their exponentially growing bandwidth requirements.