ITV

Tag: HDTV

  • DAS Phase III drives STB demand in Q3 2015; India accounts for 97% shipments

    DAS Phase III drives STB demand in Q3 2015; India accounts for 97% shipments

    MUMBAI: The set-top-box (STB) market in the SAARC region has registered record growth in third quarter of 2015, as rapid digitisation in the Phase III cities of Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) in India is driving the demand for STBs. 

    With pay-TV industry in all major SAARC countries moving toward digitisation – mandatory or voluntary – STBs of all kind from SD to HDTV and hybrid boxes are witnessing steady and robust growth.

    According to new research report from Dataxis, “The STB Market in SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)-Q32015,” STB shipments to SAARC countries have witnessed 73 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth during the Q3 2015. In the quarter under consideration, 7.34 million STBs were shipped in the SAARC region with an estimated value of $176 million. 

    India leads the STB shipments for the period, accounting for about 97 per cent of the total shipments to the SAARC region in the September ended quarter of 2015, according to Dataxis. 

    Skyworth tops the STB shipments to SAARC in the Q3 2015. The company reportedly has plans to locally manufacture STBs for the Indian market. 

    Local manufacturing in India, which accounted for just five per cent of total STBs sold during the first and second phase of seeding, is showing steady growth in the third phase. Dataxis estimates that the sale of made-in-India STBs will witness growth up to 15 per cent in the fourth phase of digitisation.

    “Local STB manufacturing in India has increased almost fourfold in the third quarter of 2015, and this is in line with our expectations. As the deadline for the third phase digitisation nears, there is high demand for STBs from the MSOs and most of the independent and small size operators are coming forward to partner with indigenous brands,” said Dataxis media analyst Sreeja VN.

    The Indian government was also proactive during the period by promoting the make in India campaign in the sector. The decisions by three major DTH players namely Airtel Digital TV, Dish DTH and Videocon D2H to opt for indigenous brands have also boosted the Indian STB industry.

    Another notable trend, according to the Dataxis Research, is the increase in demand for High-Definition (HD) and Ultra HD STBs in the region. Dataxis’s analysis of STB shipment for the Q2 2015 and Q3 2015, depicts steady growth in the volume of HD STBs shipped to India. The rise in the number of HD and UHD STBs has also contributed to a rise in the average selling price of STBs to the country. 

    The key STB vendors for the quarter are Technicolor, Skyworth, Changhong, Huawei and Coship (international vendors), and Mybox, One-eIGHT technologies, Trend Electronics, Ridsys, and Willet Communications (domestic vendors).

  • ErosNow readies six original shows with big stars; to adopt tiered premium pricing model

    ErosNow readies six original shows with big stars; to adopt tiered premium pricing model

    MUMBAI: As digital players strengthen their content, pricing and marketing strategy in the country with the impending opportunity that will be provided by 4G players, Eros International’s over-the-top (OTT) platform ErosNow has readied as many as six original made-for-digital shows.

     

    The shows will be young, fresh and edgy, which will be a differentiator from traditional television programming. Additionally, being a major player in the Indian film industry, Eros has also roped in big actors namely Bipasha Basu, Chitrangda Singh, Radhika Apte, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Ayushmann Khurrana amongst others to star in the digital shows.

     

     

    PRICING MODEL

     

    In a highly-competitive market place, ErosNow’s strategy will be to garner a large user base and migrate users to pay platform by offering premium services. The OTT platform plans to monetise its 26.5 million users under a tiered premium pricing model: (1) Advertising revenue, (2) Transaction revenue: ‘Pay As You Go’ model, (3) International Premium single tier subscription service priced at $7.99 per month and $79.99 per year, and (4) Indian quasi-premium two-tiered subscription service priced at Rs 50 and Rs 100 per month.

     

    While internet penetration is still in its early stages in India, the country’s digital ad market is poised to reach $2.8 billion by 2020 and ErosNow is eyeing a chunk of this revenue. In India, ErosNow will offer two pricing models. While in the Rs 50 per month subscription package, users can have access to all new content ad free content with subtitles, the Rs 100 per month model content will additionally also offer portability and HDTV content.

     

    The ‘Pay As You Go’ pricing model will have weekly, monthly and series passes.

     

     

    ORIGINAL SHOWS

     

    Upping the ante on original content, the six new shows, which will soon be loaded on ErosNow are of the thriller and drama genres and range from eight – twelve episodes. Boasting of big names from the Indian film industry, the shows are likely to pull in audiences on the platform.

     

    The first show is a thriller titled The Clients starring Bipasha Basu and will have 12 episodes. The show is based in the posh ‘murky’ corridors of power in Delhi, amidst rich industrialists and powerful politicians, where a woman uses the power of her body, mind and soul to clean their mess…or does she have another agenda?

     

    The second thriller is titled Khel and stars Chitrangda Singh. The 10 episodes show gives an insider’s look at the world of Indian Premier League (IPL), and the various stake holders in it. It will offer a behind-the-scenes story of the IPL match-fixing, politics, controversies. Drugs, sex, big money & criminal syndicates all play a big part. The real games are played not on, but off the field…beyond the boundaries.

     

    The third drama titled Legacy has the tagline – ‘When Music Demands Blood’ and will star names like Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Ayushmann Khurrana amongst others. The 10 episodes show focus on the music industry wherein a young man arrives from nowhere and takes the music industry by storm. But he has a secret hidden agenda – to destroy the country’s biggest music label by creating his own.

     

    The Radhika Apte starrer Lost, will be an eight episodes thriller, which will revolve around an eight year old girl who goes missing. Her NRI parents are forced to seek the help of a suspended female cop in their search for her. An ex-human trafficker is blackmailed to join the search or else risk his sinful past catching up with him.

     

    The fifth show is a drama called Showtime, which will take a look at the 1960s golden era of Bollywood and all that goes in front as well as behind the camera. The eight episodes drama will showcase legendary men and women of the era, their love stories, heartbreaks and more.

     

    The sixth show in the young drama genre is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Fairytale. Bhansali will revisit the most popular fairytales set in modern day India in the show spanning 12 episodes. Planned in the seasons format, each season of the show will recreate one fairytale with dazzling visuals in the form of a musical with a definite twist in the tale.

     

    As part of its content strategy for original programming, ErosNow will develop shows in the various genres like drama, fiction, reality and comedies. Additionally, the OTT platform is also eyeing remakes from hit international series.

     

    Targeting key markets like India, Australia, South East Asia, Middle East, Europe and America where there is demand for Indian content and stars from the Indian diaspora, ErosNow will take a 360 degree marketing approach utilising the medium of television, cinema, radio, print, outdoor, social media and advertising networks to promote its offerings. 

     

     

    ADVERTISING MODEL

     

    ErosNow will be moving away from the CPM rates and YouTube type inventory monetisation. The service will have selective premium advertisers and synergise partnerships with celebrities endorsing brands. Apart from having pre-rolls and other real estate on the player, ErosNow will have sponsorships rather than spots and offer higher ad premium based on levels of interactivity and user engagement. It will also look at in-film placements in movies and original series.

     

     

    PARTNERSHIPS

     

    Being platform agnostic, ErosNow will collaborate with telecom companies, cable and DTH platforms, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like TV, connected and personal devices as well as with others like broadband companies and the Indian Railways to be present across maximum platforms.

     

    ErosNow has inked marketing and distribution “carriage” with all major cable operators in India. It has also integrated with DTH players in India to capture digitisation trend. Moreover, the company has also inked cable partnerships in all major markets including US, Canada, Middle East & SE Asia.

     

    For OEMs, ErosNow has partnered with some television manufacturers so all major smart TVs will have the app and will offer cross-promotions worldwide. ErosNow content and apps will be featured on all connected devices worldwide.

     

    ErosNow has also inked carriage and cross-promotion deals on mobile handsets pre-loaded with the ErosNow app. In one such deal, Karbonn will soon be launching one million smart phones with the ErosNow app embedded in it.

     

    In a deal with the Indian Railways, the OTT platform is now also the exclusive content partner for entertainment rollout in thousands of railway stations in India with RailTel. What’s more, with Google poised to boost railway Wi-Fi rollout, this will receive a huge impetus.

     

    Additionally, ErosNow app is also offered in bundle deals with major broadband players in India.

     

    Internationally, distribution partnerships have been inked with cable companies as well as new platforms in the the US. Partnerships are also in place with major telecom providers in over 50 countries.

     

    OUTLOOK

     

    Apart from original programming, the content mix on ErosNow will also comprise movies, television and music. As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, ErosNow has acquired the UK based company PingTune to enhance its music offering.

     

    Eros is also looking at carving a new window for movie premieres on ErosNow between the theatrical release and television airing. It may be recalled that Star India recently premiered Bajrangi Bhaijaan on television first and then put the movie exclusively on its OTT platform Hotstar.

     

    ErosNow is one of the pivotal pillars of Eros International’s growth and profitability plans. The company’s aim is to maximise the full potential of its direct to consumer business and aims to garner over 100 million registered users. ErosNow’s strategy is to upsell premium subscriptions to the large base. In the future, the services also plans to expand to gaming, e-commerce and other synergistic domains to monetise the large base beyond entertainment.

    With numerous OTT players like Star India’s Hotstar, Multi Screen Media’s Sony Liv, Zee Entertainment’s DittoTV, HooQ, BoxTV, Big Flix, Balaji Telefilms’ yet to launch OTT platform etc, looking to ride the OTT bus, ErosNow is gearing up to clinch the first-movers’ advantage with its aggressive plans in the space.

  • India early adapter of new technology but not IPTV: Dataxis

    India early adapter of new technology but not IPTV: Dataxis

    NEW DELHI: India stands out as an early adapter of latest technology despite being a price sensitive market, according to a Dataxis Research report.

     

    While on the one hand, India has the highest DTH subscribers as well as HDTV subscribers, on the other, public sector companies MTNL and BSNL have given up their hopes on IPTV. Airtel, ACT and Reliance are retaining the service only in few circles.

     

    India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the three countries with active IPTV subscriber base in the SAARC region.

     

    IPTV is still evolving and is not widely accepted as a pay-TV model by SAARC countries. The total active IPTV subscriber base in SAARC (adding these three countries) will be around 270,000+.

     

    Sri Lanka’s IPTV subscriber base contributes to nearly 48 per cent of the overall SAARC IPTV subscribers, followed by Pakistan and India with about 33 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

     

    Sri Lanka and Pakistan are showing high interest in pushing IPTV. On the other hand, Nepal’s internet service providers are planning to launch commercial IPTV services by the end of 2015.

     

    Meanwhile, the video markets of 12 East Asia Pacific countries tracked by Dataxis are forecast to generate total digital video revenues of $4.31 billion in 2017 – surpassing the physical video market for the first time driven by fast-growing, high-speed broadband penetration.

     

    APAC Video Market 2015 analyses the transformation of the video market across the 12 countries covered over the period 2007-18, including physical and digital video unit sales, rentals, revenues and forecasts, as well as profiling each market and the individual digital video services available.

     

    The four main markets in the region (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea) together accounted for about 96 per cent of total digital and physical video revenues end-2014, with Australia and Japan alone generating about $5.4 billion in physical video revenues, representing more than 90 per cent of total physical revenues across the region.

     

    However, South East Asia is plagued by piracy and the official physical video market is almost negligible. Unauthorised CDs, VCDs, DVDs and CD ROMs proliferate due to the lack of affordable digital content and low disposable incomes. Indonesia, for example, had 5.75 million Pay-TV subscribers by end-2014, but only two Pay-TV players offered VOD services and Dataxis estimates that just 1.5 per cent of Indonesian TV households will be VOD-enabled by 2018. 

  • India leads HDTV boom on DTH in SAARC region

    India leads HDTV boom on DTH in SAARC region

    NEW DELHI: India, which had just three true high-definition television (HDTV) channels in 2010, now leads in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region with 50 HDTV channels in Q1 2015.

     

    What’s more, the SAARC countries will see a boom for HDTV segment over the next three years.

     

    According to a new research report by Dataxis, the steady increase in HDTV subscribers and the number of HDTV channels in the region, driven by the digitisation drive could lead to robust growth in the segment.

     

    This steady increase in HDTV penetration in the SAARC region is therefore mainly due to India, which accounts for more than 90 per cent of the total HD subscribers in the SAARC countries – Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – covered in the report.

     

    The HDTV penetration in India is primarily driven by DTH players, who are aggressively promoting HDTV set top boxes (STBs) in the country. Dataxis report finds that DTH operators in India have seeded about four million STBs in Q1-2015 as compared to less than 0.3 million HD STBs seeded by multi-system-operators (MSOs) during the same period.

     

    HDTV segment, both in terms of HDTV STB penetration and HDTV channels have witnessed steady growth in the last four quarters, with HDTV penetration in the SAARC countries reaching 4.2 million in the quarter ended March 2015, says the new Dataxis report titled “SAARC: HDTV Market Q1-2015.”

     

    Although, MSOs in India had a slow start in seeding HD STBs mainly due to the delay in implementing gross billing, cable operators have begun pushing HD STBs to customers in metros and other Phase II cities where gross billing is in place. HD STB seeding by MSOs is expected to gain traction by the fourth quarter of 2015.

     

    “DTH players are expected to lead the HDTV penetration in India for the next couple of years, however, MSOs are also expected to come on board as the demand for HDTV and UHD content is on the rise in the Phase II cities where cable TV dominates the Pay-TV market,” said Dataxis media analyst Sreeja VN.

  • DD moving to digitisation through Freedish and DTT: Rathore

    DD moving to digitisation through Freedish and DTT: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: The percentage of rural viewers who are accessing Doordarshan through its terrestrial network is 7-8 per cent of 170 million TV households, Parliament was told today.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressing the Parliament said that 28.73 per cent of the total expenditure of Doordarshan was spent on terrestrial distribution in the year 2013-14.

     
    Prasar Bharati has informed that it has decided upon progressive digitisation of Doordarshan’s transmission network by way of expansion of DD Freedish and setting up of a commercially viable Digital Terrestrial Transmitter (DTT) platform in harmony with the recommendations of the Expert Committee.

    In order to gain experience in digital transmission technology, Doordarshan had set up four digital transmitters, one each at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in January 2003 on an experimental basis using DVB-T system. 

    Four digital HPTs (HDTV) have been installed at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai which are ready for commissioning. Prasar Bharati has informed the Ministry that 40 digital HPTs (DVB-T2) under 11th Plan and 23 digital HPTs (DVB-T2) under 12th Plan have been approved as part of digitisation schemes. Out of 40 digital HPTs, 19 are presently under implementation. 

     

    The 19 digital transmitters include two each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The other states apart from Delhi are Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, Tanil Nadu, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

     

  • Scripps Networks to launch 1,200 hours of original programming at MIPCOM 2014

    Scripps Networks to launch 1,200 hours of original programming at MIPCOM 2014

    MUMBAI: Scripps Networks International that develops home, food and travel lifestyle content, announced that its newly established program sales and distribution division will introduce 1,200 hours of fresh content at MIPCOM 2014.

     

    This will include its network channels Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel. “The breadth of Scripps Networks offering includes a vibrant mix of home, food and travel content spanning culinary competition, adventure, food travelogues, home make-over, property and investment shows,” said International Program Licensing and Distribution VP Hud Woodle. “With genuine storytelling, compelling personalities and high entertainment value at the core of every show, Scripps Networks’ high-quality lifestyle and factual entertainment programming is a must-have for programmers.” He added.

     

    The following are a few key titles featured in the MIPCOM 2014 sales catalogue.

     

    Home                                                       

    TV icon William Shatner is going boldly into a brand new adventure in The Shatner Project (Scott Sternberg Productions for DIY Network, 6 x 30) – as project manager of his own remodel. He’s giving his outdated 1980s home a full makeover, from demolition to rebuilding and design to decorating.

     

    For third-generation alligator farmers Britney, Kasey and Chelsea Brooks, no task is too tough when you’re Growing Up Gator (2C Media for Great American Country, 6 x 30), whether it’s raising over 7,000 gators at their family farm to wrangling massive gators during rescue missions.

     

    A hit restoration series Salvage Dawgs (Trailblazer Studios, NC, Inc. for DIY Network, 52 x 30) sees co-owners of premier architectural salvage operation Black Dog Salvage bid on condemned homes and buildings in order to secure valuable vintage pieces to resell.

     

    Also making its market debut is the show House Hunters franchise, including hit spinoffs House Hunters International: Where Are They Now? (Leopard Films for HGTV, 10 x 30), where we revisit the most memorable families to check out their amazing renovations, and House Hunters: Off the Grid (Leopard Films for HGTV, 5 x 30), which takes house hunting to the extreme as buyers tour unconventional properties way off the beaten path.

     

    Food

    Scripps Networks’ food programme Bite This with Nadia G (Tricon Films and Television for Cooking Channel, 14 x 30) and Restaurant Redemption for Asian cuisine.(Lion TV for Cooking Channel, 26 x 30).

     

    Travel

    Scripps Networks’ travel series transport adrenaline seekers and voyeuristic travelers alike. From the depths of the jungle comes Hotel Amazon (Crazy Legs Productions for Travel Channel, 6 x 60), a fascinating look at the grueling experience of building a world-class resort in the middle of the Amazon.

     

    The ultimate house gazing road trip goes beyond the gate in Mega Mansions (Indigo Films for Travel Channel, 6 x 30), as viewers get an exclusive look at America’s most enormous and opulent mansions.

     

    Take a trip with adventure seeker Don Wildman as he explores America’s most extraordinary monuments and intriguing events and characters in Monumental Mysteries (Optomen Productions, Inc. for Travel Channel, 40 x 60).          

     

     

  • 820 UHD channels in world by 2025: Report

    820 UHD channels in world by 2025: Report

    MUMBAI: A new report by research firm Northern Sky Research (NSR) says that by 2025, there will be over 820 ultra HD (UHD) definition satellite channels across the world. This, according to the research, will lead to greater customer retention and higher average revenue per user (ARPUs).

     

    Although every region will be able to have at least a few UHD channels through DTH, IPTV and cable TV, much of it will be provided by DTH operators. It will account for nearly 560 4K and 8K channels while cable TV and IPTV will account for 260+ channels.

     

    NSR analyst Alan Crisp says that while HD TVs remained expensive for several years, the price of 4K TV is eroding very quickly.  This should lead to faster adoption and creation of UHD content. Revenue growth is forecast to reach $370 million from capacity leasing for 4K content. This will be not just in developed but also in developing countries where a few UHD channels could be the difference in attracting subscribers to the tune of tens or even hundreds of thousands even with relatively lower ARPUs.

     

    “In years past, and with previous technological advancements relating to TV content, we have seen a number of hurdles, not least of which has been the prohibitively high cost for end-users to attain TVs suitable for new content. With HD about 15 years ago, this was a major sticking point. Conversely, with UltraHD, this hurdle is eroding quickly, with UHD compatible TV sets reducing in price to as low as $1,000 today”, notes Crisp. “Further, NSR notes that as compared to HDTV, a number of satellite operators and DTH platforms, from regions as diverse as North America to South Asia, are investing heavily in UHD content and UHD compatible set-top boxes”, adds Crisp.

     

    Currently, Videocon d2h and Tata Sky are the only operators in India who have announced their involvement in UHD services that will roll out soon.

     

    In the medium term, it will be a niche market but will soon be mainstream in developed regions. The intense competition in developing countries would mean utilizing UHD as a differentiator.

  • DD plans for multiplex transmitters at 630 locations for SDTV, HDTV, and mobile TV

    DD plans for multiplex transmitters at 630 locations for SDTV, HDTV, and mobile TV

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has drawn up a long term plan to have a ‘multiplex‘ of five transmitters each at 630 locations to provide a competitive platform.

    Each of these multiplex transmitters will have two for standard television, two for high definition TV, and one for mobile TV services.

    Stating this in an action-taken report to the Parliametary Standing Committee on Information and Technology, the information and broadcasting ministry has said it is in discussion with the department of telecom for release of more spectrum.

    The I&B Ministry has asked the telecom department to give spectrum for various broadcasting services in the UHF Band V since the frequency band 700 MHz – that is, 698 to 806 MHz – has been earmarked for international mobile telecom services by the World radio Conference 2007.

    As part of digitisation of its terrestrial networks, DD is planning to set up 630 digital transmitters which comprise 230 high power and 400 low power transmitters. Projects for establishment of forty digital transmitters (SDTV) and four high definition digital transmitters have already been taken up under the Eleventh Plan.

    It is felt that in view of its long-term plans, the total spectrum requirement of DD will be met in Band-IV (470-582 MHz) and eight channels in Band-V (582-646 MHz).

    DD also has frequency assignment in 700 MHz band in two carriers: (745 MHz and 795 MHz each with a bandwidth of 20 MHz for mobile video link and Channel 54 (734-742 MHz) for digital terrestrial transmitters (DTT) in the four metro cities.

    Furthermore, the Ministry says it is estimated that at least 96 MHz of spectrum will be required for four operators to start mobile TV services.

    The Ministry has also pointed out that under NFAP (National Frequency Allocation Plan) 2008, the frequency band 585-806 MHz is predominantly for broadcasting services including mobile TV.

    However according to the draft India Remarks for NFAP 2011, it was suggested that the UHF Band V be bifurcated with 585-698 MHz going to digital broadcasting and 698-806 MHz be given for IMT applications.

    Following the note by the I&B Ministry not to bifurcate this frequency, a committee has been set up with officials of the department of telecom and I&B Ministry.

    When it was revealed that the frequency band 625-675 MHz is being given to the defence ministry, it was pointed out by I&B Ministry that this disturbs the entire band and therefore the defence ministry be asked to relocate its frequency beyond 646 MHz so that the broadcasting spectrum remains contiguous.This matter is now with the Empowered Group of Ministers on vacation of spectrum.

  • $99 bn spent on internet ads globally in 2012: GroupM

    MUMBAI: Global internet advertising at $99 billion has amounted to 19.5 per cent of the total ad investment for 2012, according to GroupM‘s This Year, Next Year: Interaction 2013 report. This justifies GroupM‘s prediction in last year’s report that said internet ad spends that year will surpass $98 billion.

    Global internet advertising, according to GroupM, posted a 16.2 per cent growth over the year-ago period.

    Geographically speaking, North America led the list with internet spends to the tune of $38.3 billion (38.69 per cent of global internet ad spends) followed by the Asia Pacific region at $30.6 billion (30.91 per cent) and Western Europe in third place with spends of $ 24.1 billion (24.34 per cent).

    In 2011, the spends on internet advertising stood at $84.8 billion. Back then, it made up 17 per cent of the total global advertising investment. In 2011 too, North America led the pack in terms of overall digital ad spending with an estimated $34.5 billion; Asia-Pacific came in second with $24.8 billion followed by Western Europe with $21 billion.

    The study is part of GroupM‘s media and marketing forecasting series drawn from data supplied by parent company WPP‘s worldwide resources in advertising, public relations, market research, and specialist communications. The study has expanded its scope since last year, adding six new countries to its research bringing the total to 26 countries.

    The study predicts that in 2013 digital advertising spending will reach $113.5 billion globally, a spike of 14.6 per cent from 2012. This is estimated to be 21 per cent of all measured advertising investment in the year. North America will continue to be the region with the highest internet ad spends with an estimated $42.8 billion; Asia-Pacific is predicted to follow with $36.8 billion and Western Europe is estimated to see ad spends in the range of $26.6 billion.

    In the U.S., digital ad spends reached $35.4 billion in 2012, a 23 per cent share of the overall domestic market and a 10 per cent increase over the previous year, according to the study. This year those figures are expected to reach $39.7 billion for a 25.4 per cent share and a 12 per cent increase over 2011.

    GroupM global chief digital officer Rob Norman said, “The internet no longer belongs to the old world and eastern Asia, nor does it depend upon evolution of infrastructure conceived a generation or more ago, but instead reaches every continent and economically active individual. Ken Olsen, founder and CEO of Digital Equipment said in 1977, ‘There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.’ It turns out that he may, inadvertently, have been right. Why have a computer in your home when you can have computing anywhere you like?”

    Norman also touched upon the issue of the rise and impact of online video. “Tablets created an entirely new and original mechanism of media consumption in less than three years. Tablets combine the display quality of HDTV, the interactivity of the PC and the location awareness, touch interface and app ecosystem of the mobile phone. Media is being re-imagined for the tablet and is increasingly seen as the future home of what we have always described as the print industry, the decline of which is precipitous with ever-fewer exceptions,” he sated.

    According to the report, e-commerce per user will stand at $859 in 2013, a 64 per cent increase since 2007. International e-commerce total adds up to $917 billion for 2012 with a run-rate growth of 18 per cent to a predicted $1.1 trillion in 2013. This volume of e-commerce generates an estimated 40 per cent of online paid-media ad investment today.

    The study also reveals that the average percentage of consumers’ “media time” spent online has risen from 21 per cent in 2007 to a predicted 30 per cent in 2013. In 2011, it was 19 per cent.

    Additionally, it was also found that investment in print media continued to lose share while digital media investment continued to gain. While print accounted for 14 per cent of the media time spent in a day, it attracted about 24 per cent of investment, down from 48 per cent. The decline of print advertising reflects falling circulations in the old world, but its share of the world‘s media day has been surprisingly stable, and even increased in 2011, thanks to China.

    % shares of the media day (26 countries)
     
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    2013f
    Online
    21
    22
    25
    26
    27
    29
    30
    TV
    42
    42
    42
    41
    39
    38
    38
    Print
    15
    16
    15
    14
    16
    14
    14
    Radio
    16
    19
    19
    18
    18
    18
    18
    Total
    100
    100
    100
    100
    100
    100
    100

    These figures thrown up by the GroupM report substantiate the media communications conglomerate‘s confidence in the medium. The year 2012 saw media communications networks focus on digital capabilities with the big guns going on a shopping spree around the world.

    UK-based WPP, led by media honcho Sir Martin Sorrell, made as many as 18 digital buys across the globe with America’s AKQA being the crowning jewel in its acquisition trophy. The company made some strategic investments in the Indian subcontinent as well with the acquisition of Indian digital services agency Hungama Digital and Pakistani digital agency Converge Technologies.

    France based Publicis Groupe was also aggressive in its digital aspirations and made 13 acquisitions in the digital ad agency space, three of which were in India. Other media agency networks like Havas Media, Dentsu and the Interpblic Group have also taken the acquisition route to strengthen their digital capacities. Havas underwent a restructuring that made way for an exclusive Digital Umbrella in order to better integrate its digital arm with its creative and media businesses.

    The advertisers too seemed to be gung-ho about the medium with almost every major brand making sure it gets its share of limelight in the digital space. Brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Mercedes and McDonald‘s made use of tools like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter apart from display ads to influence and engage the audiences.

  • IMD acquires eBus, forms strategic tie-up with Aidem

    MUMBAI: London headquartered media logistics firm IMD has acquired eBus Media Network to create a substantial worldwide footprint for digital TV ad delivery, with a local presence across major countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific and a regional HQ in Singapore.

    eBus has a presence in Singapore, Australia, and in India through joint-venture with media consulting, marketing and ad sales company.

    The acquisition will also strengthen IMD‘s reach of digital TV ad delivery in the Asia-Pacific market, where eBus has established a reputation as a reliable and fast TV ad delivery provider in the region.

    IMD has also formed a strategic partnership with Aidem which will enhance the way the latter works with eBus and allowing IMD and Aidem to work together, more broadly.

    “The management and stakeholders of all three companies support these new arrangements and are excited about their prospects and all the parties are committed to work together for the long term,” Aidem Ventures EVP Kaushal Dalal.

    The new combined IMD and eBus entity will bring a faster and more efficient digital delivery solution from a single provider to the increasing number of customers that have interests in Global delivery solutions, according to a statement from Aidem.

    IMD CEO Simon Cox said, “eBus fits amazingly well with IMD in so many ways; it‘s territorially complementary, it‘s very focused on TV ad delivery just like IMD and we have the same cultural and customer-service driven values. On top of that, eBus has a brilliant technology platform created by an exceptionally talented team.”

    For its India activities, eBus has been in a joint venture with Aidem since 2010, and has built a network of broadcasters for digital delivery and distribution of television commercials. It is a Cloud Computing technology company providing HDTV commercial distribution to TV, IPTV, Web and Mobile providers across Asia Pacific.

    eBus CEO Carmine Masiello said, “IMD‘s investment in eBus will speed up our expansion in the Asia Pacific region. We look forward to being supported by a shareholder that combines financial strength with an intimate understanding of what we do and who we are.”

    Aidem Ventures director Vikas Khanchandani said, “eBus already has a Pan-India presence with over 250 channels as destinations and around 200 advertisers using the service. With IMD‘s support this coverage is set to grow wider and faster. This acquisition of eBus by IMD will help us scale up our operations in accordance with this dynamic broadcast industry and constantly innovate to keep pace with the same.”