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  • Prime Focus appoints Vikas Rathee as group COO

    Prime Focus appoints Vikas Rathee as group COO

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus today announced the appointment of Vikas Rathee, an investment banking and corporate finance professional as its group chief operating officer.

     

    Rathee brings with him more than a decade of experience working with leading companies in the TMT (telecom, media and technology) sector with proven relationships and in-depth understanding of industry dynamics across US, Europe and Asia.

     

    In his new role, Rathee, will work as part of Prime Focus’ corporate leadership to position Prime Focus among target customers as a key strategic partner as well as the investor and financial community as an incredible growth story that is moving rapidly towards realising its full potential in the global media and entertainment universe.

     

     Announcing the appointment, Prime Focus founder Namit Malhotra said, “Vikas is a seasoned professional with unique combination of industry knowledge, corporate finance and capital markets experience, and M&A expertise who joins us at a perfect time, when we are at the cusp of our next aggressive wave of growth.  His inter-cultural global work experience and eye for investment opportunities are in-sync with our planned growth strategy. I have huge confidence in Vikas’ ability to accelerate Prime Focus’ growth momentum in the coming years.”

     

     Prime Focus India CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan said, “Vikas coming on broad has strengthened our leadership team and will accelerate our next wave of growth. He comes with strong knowledge of both media and IT that is a key differentiator for PFT as well. As Prime Focus grows from strength to strength, Vikas’ addition will be important in helping the team manage the business with discipline, diligence and dynamism. His industry networks and relationships globally will act as catalyst to the growth of Prime Focus”  

     

     “I am delighted to be part of the world leader in media and entertainment industry services, Prime Focus. As an investment banking professional focused on the TMT space, I have closely watched the growth, consolidation and evolution of this dynamic sector on a global scale. Prime Focus, through the last decade and a half, has made a significant contribution to this evolution not only in India, but is now also having a profound impact on the international media and entertainment industry as well. Today as a unique service provider straddling creative and technology domains, and working with some of the biggest names in this seamless global industry, Prime Focus is all set to fuel growth to the next level. I look forward to working with Namit and Ramki in making this vision a reality.” said Rathee, on his appointment.

     

    Vikas is an MBA in Finance and CFA, and comes with over 16 years of experience covering stints at Suzlon, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and ABN AMRO.

  • Extravagant India awards in Paris was nothing short of extravagant

    Extravagant India awards in Paris was nothing short of extravagant

    NEW DELHI: Lunch Box by Ritesh Batra, which missed the Indian selection to the Oscars by a whisker, was voted the best film at the Extravagant India awards in Paris.

     

    Path-breaking filmmaker Anurag Kashyap received the best director award for his film Ugly, which is also being featured in a retrospective of his films in Europe as part of the Europalia.India Festival.

     

    The late Rituparno Ghosh, who passed away earlier this year, was named best actor for his own film Chitrangada.

     

    Actress Vidya Balan received the best actress award for The Dirty Picture by Milan Luthria and Kahaani by Sujoy Ghosh.

     

    The Festival was held from 16 to 22 October in Paris. The jury for the feature films comprised Coline Serreau (director and President of the jury), Armand Amar (composer), Joël Farges (producer).

     

     The best documentary award went to Children of the Pyre by Rajesh S Jala while the renowned Pan Nalin’s film Faith Connection got a special jury mention.  

     

    The Jury for documentaries comprised Euzhan Palcy (director and President of the jury), Charlotte Uzu (Les Fims d’ici), and Claude Gilaizeau (Productions de la Lanterne).

     

    The film Allah is Great by Andrea Iannetta, which was produced by the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, won the Best Short film award.

     

    The Jury for short films was Jean-Charles Mille (distribution Premium Films – President of the jury), Abel Jafry (actor), and Benoit Blanchard (producer).

     

    The Feature Jury president Coline Serreau said: “The selection was fascinating, rich and diverse. We plunged into the movies with delight, and with the feeling to approach and to discover this boiling continent, in which all the contradictions of the world in future are at work.”

     

    He added: “I hope that the Indian cinema will take from now on its just place in the French public. Long life to this festival, whose 2014 edition, I would love to already know.”

     

    Euzhan Palcy said: “This first edition of the Festival offered us an Indian cinema of a high quality and which participates of the cultural diversity which the world needs. By supporting this festival, France will continue to play its leader’s role for the cultural diversity.”

     

    Happiness Distribution is distributing Batra’s film in France on 13 December, while Kashyap’s film will be released in France in March 2014.

     

    Sophie Dulac Distribution will distribute Faith Connection by Pal Nalin under the title Kumbh Mela, Les chemins de la Foi.

    The Indian Delegation comprised Irrfan Khan (actor in Lunchbox), Prakash Jha (director of Raajneeti), Sujoy Gosh (director of Kahaani), Rajesh S. Jala (director of Children of the Pyre, Andrea Ianneta (director of Allah is Great), Film Federation of India President Bijay Khemka and Secretary General Supran Sen, Manoj Srivastava who is Head of Bollywood the film City project Marwan, Ranvir Nayar who is Director of Media India, Sutapa Sikdar (scriptwriter), and  Ramesh Tekwani, President of  “Docs & Shorts”.
     

  • Verizon Expands and Enhances Next-Generation Identity Platform to Enable Safer, More Trustworthy Internet

    Verizon Expands and Enhances Next-Generation Identity Platform to Enable Safer, More Trustworthy Internet

    Verizon Enterprise Solutions is expanding availability of its next-generation, cloud-based identity platform – Verizon Universal Identity Services – to Europe, effective immediately. The platform, previously available only in the U.S., also boasts new user-friendly features, including an updated mobile app, Quick Response code-enabled access, and a simplified end-user interface, making identities easy to manage and use.

    Verizon Universal Identity Servicesuses multifactor authentication to verify users are who they say they are by combining an individual’s username-password with a computing device that generates a one-time password or a biometric scan, such as fingerprint recognition. Once authenticated, users can securely access online content such as websites, corporate resources and even electronic medical records from their computer, smartphone or tablet. Verizon’s cloud-based identity services are an alternative to traditional solutions and provide an easier, faster, more flexibleand secure way for organizations to implement two-factor authentication.

    According to the “Verizon 2013 Data Breach Investigations Report,”weak or stolen passwords and credentials account for 76 percent of data breaches, underscoring the need for stronger online identities.

    “The bad guys are becoming increasingly more sophisticated as they continue to probe business and government networks to gain access and steal information,” said David Small, chief platform officer for Verizon Enterprise Solutions. “Verizon Universal Identity Services is transforming the business of validating online identities to provide a safer, more trustworthy Internet. Our platform will help achieve the vision of a single, trusted universal identity that individuals can use for all online activities, whether at home, at work or on the go.”

    The Verizon identity platform is available on the iOS Android, Windows and BlackBerry operating systems and can be used to validate the identities of employees, partners and customers. The platform also features legally binding digital signature capabilities, such as those required for electronic prescriptions, online tax filing and license renewals.

    In addition, anew,simplified end-user interfaceoffers administratorsan enhanced dashboard with expanded security and operations reportingthat help organizations address and demonstrate security compliance.

    “Verizon has invested in expanding the availability and enhancing the features of its next-generation, cloud-based identity platform,” said Amy DeCarlo, principal analyst for security and data center services, Current Analysis. “By focusing on the end-user experience to create an identity platform that is easy to deploy, manage and use, Verizon Universal Identity Services stands out from other identity solutions available on the market today.”

    Launched in the U.S. in 2010, Verizon Universal Identity Servicesis delivered from Verizon data centers to meet enterprise security, availability and reliability requirements.

    Said Small:“Verizon is investing today to meet the online identity requirements of tomorrow. By continuing our close collaboration with government and industry stakeholders around the globe, we are working to create a global identity ecosystem that will improve the privacy, security and convenience of sensitive online transactions.”

  • Sunny Deol and Harman Baweja to star in Shilpa Shetty’s production

    Sunny Deol and Harman Baweja to star in Shilpa Shetty’s production

    Bollywood actress, entrepreneur and judge, Shilpa Shetty, is ready with her new move of a producer for her upcoming film Dishkiyaaoon.

     

    The film stars our very own Sunny paaji and Love story 2050 actor Harman Baweja. The two actors will be seen sharing the screen space for the first time.

     

    Shilpa Shetty tweeted a teaser poster of the film which shows Harman Baweja pointing a gun to his head in the backdrop of a snakes and ladder game.

     

    Shetty also has recorded two songs with a new music director Palash Muchchal. Surprisingly, the newbie is just 18 years old!

     

    It seems that, Shetty wants to introduce new talents in the film industry. New entrant Ayesha Khanna has been roped in to play the female lead.

     

    The film which is slated to release on 10 January has completed its shooting schedule in Europe.

  • Buyers treated to Koffee with Karan

    Buyers treated to Koffee with Karan

    CANNES: Barely has Mipcom 2013 taken off and Star India seems to have sprung a huge surprise on buyers gathered at Cannes.

    It’s Koffee with Karan, being served hot and fresh at the world’s largest content fest before it returns to screens back home.

    That’s not all. The network is equipped with a host of other series and thousands of films from its library, and is particularly betting big on the epic saga – Mahabharat – which is already on air on Star Plus since 16 September.

    Star India’s ammo includes the thriller series Savdhan India and Humne Li Hai…Shapath from sister channel Life OK’s portfolio as well as Arjun which is currently being telecast on the network.

    Star India vice president Ashutosh Mordekar exults: “While we are looking at selling the Mahabharat format to countries which look at it as mythology, there is also a huge chunk of countries which think of it as a costume drama coming from India and are interested.”

    So Star India also plans to position Mahabharat, a la Korean costume dramas that are very popular with global audiences.

    “We are looking at tapping central and eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS region. We are hoping for a good Mipcom this year,” says Mordekar.

    Having succeeded in selling Life OK’s Devo Ke Dev… Mahadev to Mauritius and Eastern Europe, the network is looking at expanding the market base of the hit series.

    Nach Baliye, India’s Dancing Super Star and Channel V’s teenage crime series Gumrah are among the other show formats the network is looking to license this year. Star India will also hunt for new formats for Life OK as well as its new channel Star World Premier HD.

    About the propensity for Video on Demand (VoD), Mordekar says: “In India too, there is a huge shift from linear TV to non-linear and to VOD and we are also looking at creating content to occupy that space. We are coming up with branches to fulfill the VOD need of our viewers.”

    So while it’s early days at Mipcom, indiantelevision.com will keep a watch out for deals cracked in markets the channel plans to tap.

  • Star gears up for MIPCOM

    Star gears up for MIPCOM

    MIPCOM is where the ‘stars’ align for business. And so it is that Star India will be participating for the eighth consecutive time at MIPCOM this year, armed to its teeth with content including Hindi and regional programs.

    There’s no undermining how important MIPCOM is, even for an established entity such as Star India, whose programs have takers not only in India but all over the world. Star India vice president Ashutosh Mordekar puts it well saying: “MIPCOM is the biggest aggregation of content buyers and sellers across the globe. It provides a platform to showcase our content to buyers across the world.”

    Ashutosh Mordekar believes the market provides an opportunity to meet and transact with new as well as existing clients

    Mordekar also believes the market provides an opportunity to meet and transact with new as well as existing clients.

    Star will be focussing on markets like Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS region and Central Asia.

    Coming to what’s new from the Star stable, Mordekar says: “Star is showcasing the epic Mahabharat which is the most expensive show coming from India. The show is already garnering interest across Asia and Europe, and buyers have already indicated their interest.”

    Explaining why Indian content is very well accepted in global markets, he reasons: “The world is currently opening up to Indian content in a big way. Indian content is at present just breaking out. We are at the end of stage one, where the content has been sampled in various countries through initial foothold deals and the success of these shows has created a huge interest in fresh content coming from India.”

    While it is generally felt that the production value of Indian content has gone up in recent times, is it really up-to-speed with international standards? “Yes! The last couple of years have seen a huge leap in the production value of our shows. Be it HD, Dolby 5.1 Sound etc. – the production values today are comparable to the best in the world,” quips Mordekar.

    About the platforms the network plans to target at MIPCOM, he says: “We are going to be in discussions for exploiting our content on IPTV, mobile, VOD (Voice on demand) or free-to-air platforms.”

    Optimistic about the results of participation, Mordekar is looking forward to this year’s fest.

  • Keane announce Berlin show to be broadcast live into cinemas across the world on 6th november

    Keane announce Berlin show to be broadcast live into cinemas across the world on 6th november

    Keane are excited to announce they will be performing at the iconic Goya in Berlin on 6th November 2013, whichwill be the first in a series of music events, presented by Music Screen, to be broadcast live into over a thousand cinemas across Europe, North and South America.

     

    Only 300 tickets will be available for this exclusive show on 23rd September, 10am UK, 11am Euro time at http://keane.seetickets.com

     

    Screening information will be available atwww.keanemusic.comfrom 23rdSeptember.

     

    Over the past ten years Keane have become one of the world’s most successful and admired British bands.  They have sold over 11 million albums worldwide and had many hits including ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, ‘Everybody’s Changing’, ‘Is It Any Wonder?’, ‘Crystal Ball’, ‘Silenced By The Night’ and ‘Spiralling’. They have performed 700 shows in over 40 countries including an acoustic performance on the Great Wall of China.

     

    Throughout their career, Keane have continually embraced technology becoming the first band to release a single on USB stick and the first to stream a live performance in 3D. They have always been passionate about giving fans a unique live experience and this show brings the two together in a city that has been such an inspiration to them over the last ten years.

     

    Bernie Spratt Music Screen’s Chairman says, “We’re delighted to have Keane as our inaugural artist. This concert, produced exclusively for a worldwide cinema audience will deliver a unique experience.”

     

    ‘The Best Of Keane’ features 18 fan favourites, plucked from the band’s five consecutive UK Number One albums, alongside two powerful new songs, ‘Higher Than The Sun’ and ‘Won’t Be Broken’. The Deluxe version of the album will also include a collection of the band’s exceptionally strong B-sides.  The super deluxe edition contains the two discs from the deluxe edition (The Best Of and B-sides) and an exclusive DVD of a special acoustic set, for which the set list has been chosen by Keane fans.

     

    Track listing:

     

    1. Everybody’s Changing

     

    2. Somewhere Only We Know

     

    3. Bend and Break

     

    4. Bedshaped

     

    5. This Is The Last Time

     

    6. Atlantic

     

    7. Is It Any Wonder?

     

    8. Nothing In My Way

     

    9. Hamburg Song

     

    10. Crystal Ball

     

    11. A Bad Dream

     

    12. Try Again

     

    13. Spiralling

     

    14. Perfect Symmetry

     

    15. My Shadow

     

    16. Silenced By The Night

     

    17. Disconnected

     

    18. Sovereign Light Cafe

     

    19. Higher Than the Sun

     

    20. Won’t Be Broken

  • U2opia Mobile Pioneers USSD Gateway on Cloud with Tigo Group

    U2opia Mobile Pioneers USSD Gateway on Cloud with Tigo Group

    New Delhi, August 6, 2013 – Singapore-based mobile technology start-up, U2opia Mobile, has pioneered the next wave in value added services by extending their USSD platform and hosting a USSD gateway on cloud.

    USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a session-based technology that enables access to social and content services on mobile without an Internet connection. Among its most popular implementations is Facebook for USSD, which allows users to access Facebook on mobile, without internet. Its other implementations include access to Twitter, Google Talk and a host of content services.

    With this innovation, the final barrier is removed for any telecom carrier to implement USSD services on its network, as it removes all dependency on the carrier’s own USSD gateway.

    By deploying the USSD gateway on cloud, implementing USSD services becomes a plug-and-play process for any operator, vastly reducing the time and resources required. It successfully removes all hardware dependency from the process, making its implementation, as easy as a single-day process.

    The first deployment of USSD gateway on cloud has been with the Tigo Group across El Salvador, Paraguay and Bolivia and the service has already racked up close to 70,000 users in the space of two weeks.

    Commenting on the innovation, Sumesh Menon, CEO, U2opia Mobile, said, ‘While services powered through Fonetwish were a runaway success in practically every country we entered, deploying services through the host carrier’s USSD gateway did present a layer of complexity. There would invariably be issues relating to hardware, bandwidth and so on, thereby increasing the time needed for implementation.

    By deploying the USSD gateway on cloud, that complexity is removed and the process is practically plug-and-play. It opens up a world of opportunity for every carrier globally, to provide value added services to their non-smartphone user base.’

    U2opia Mobile pioneered the implementation of social and content services through their USSD platform Fonetwish in 2010 and now have operations in 25 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, catering to millions of users in 6 global languages across 40 telecom carriers.

    The mobile technology start-up creates applications catering across the handset spectrum – from basic/feature phones to smartphones. With financial backing from Matrix Partners, they have offices across Singapore, India, Dubai and San Francisco.

  • Operators see opportunities in OTT cable and broadband services

    Operators see opportunities in OTT cable and broadband services

    NEW DELHI: The Growth of OTT Content: Opportunities and Challenges for Service Providers, a new global survey of cable and broadband operators, finds that most are fairly optimistic about the potential impact of over-the-top services, with 70 per cent saying the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

     

    The results were part of a survey of operators in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa conducted by Incognito Software, a provider of broadband software provisioning and service activation solutions.

     

    “The widespread growth and popularity of OTT content across multiple devices is forcing cable operators to rethink their business models and how best to add value to their subscribers – and the survey results show that there is no single answer when looking at operators of different sizes and across multiple geographies,” said Incognito Software President and CEO Stephane Bourque. “Whether operators take a positive or negative view of OTT content, one thing is constant: their network usage is going to increase.”

     

    The study also found that nearly 82 per cent of respondents have already upgraded their network infrastructure to cope with increased subscriber bandwidth usage and that 75 per cent of the providers who reported a growth in bandwidth consumption attributed the increased demand to streaming video sites.

     

    In terms of managing OTT consumption, the survey found that the most popular approach was fair usage policies (40 per cent), followed by bandwidth caps (34 per cent), and proprietary OTT services (22 per cent), the company reports.

     

    Nearly half of the providers in North America utilise bandwidth caps as their primary means of managing OTT, the survey found. Fair usage and service add-ons are the next most common approaches (33 per cent).

  • VTB Capital acquires minority stake in Russia’s Tricolor TV

    VTB Capital acquires minority stake in Russia’s Tricolor TV

    MUMBAI: VTB Capital acquired a minority stake in National Satellite Company, the largest Russian satellite TV operator operating under “Tricolor TV” brand.

    With its subscriber base over 12.4 million (registered subscribers) including paying subscribers of 9.12 million as of 25 March, Tricolor TV is the leader of Russia‘s pay TV market and one of the largest pay TV providers in Europe.

    VTB Capital as a global investment bank and a financial investor will help Tricolor TV to increase value of its assets and get prepared for an IPO in few years.

    VTB Capital Global Head of Private Equity and Special Situations Tim Demchenko noted, “Investment in Tricolor TV is further step in implementing VTB Capital‘s private equity strategy to invest in consumer-related industries in Russia. We believe its strong market position and countrywide footprint will enable the company to capitalize on opportunities in rapidly growing Russian pay-TV market and successfully complete IPO in the next few years.”

    National Satellite Company CEO Alexander Makarov said, “Partnership with VTB Group is a strategic step which will allow the Company to get prepared for the next level of Company‘s development.”