ITV

Tag: hold

  • MTV eyes acquisitions; but puts SS deal on hold

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks is aiming at growth through acquisitions, both in the music and the kids’ space. It has, however, put its plans to acquire Chennai-based Southern Spice Music (SS Music) on hold.

    “We are not pursuing talks now. But this does not necessarily mean that we will not open them up again,” says MTV Networks Asia Pacific president Frank Brown.

    SS Music, sources say, was asking for a valuation of $10 million and MTV has not got back after that.

    Says Brown, “We plan to have at least two-three acquisitions over the next three years. This could be in the area of radio, print, production facilities and digital media. We are also interested in local language TV channels.”

    Acquisition, Brown adds, will be both for MTV and Nick. “It could be joint ventures, programming blocks, and not necessarily total buyouts.”

    MTV Networks has identified two new revenue streams, each to have a business head. Digital new media and consumer products are going to evolve as businesses with potential for fast growth, says Brown. “The boom in digital new media has happened in Japan and Korea. And it is happening in China. Along with consumer products, this will be a brand extension for MTV and Nick in India as well.”

    HUNT ON FOR CEO, COO

    The hunt is on for a chief executive officer (CEO) and a chief operating officer (COO) even as the company is planning for growth in India. “The CEO will look at business development, new launches, acquisitions and joint ventures while the COO will be handling operations,” says Brown.

    The company is eyeing launch of new genre of channels even as the direct-to-home (DTH) and the industry grows. “India is one of the fastest growing markets for us. The macro indicators are in favour of us. The youth population is rising, retail is opening up, and we see immense potential for merchandising and licensing on the back of Nick and MTV. We are strategically well positioned to ride on the boom,” says Brown.

  • ABU to hold seminars on spectrum regulations

    MUMBAI: Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is organising a series of spectrum-related events in June to generate new synergies between spectrum regulators and broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific region.
     
    The ABU is also providing specialist information on broadcasting spectrum to its’ members.

    The Asia-Pacific Technical Regulators-Broadcasters’ Forum, to be held on 8 June in Kuala Lumpur, will address regulatory issues of a technical nature with a regional perspective that concern new technologies, services, spectrum and new players emerging in the broadcasting field.

    Says ABU head of transmission technology and spectrum Sharad Sadhu in an official release, “The event has been put together with the assistance of several national spectrum regulators in the Asia Pacific. The ABU is organising such an event for the first time and we expect it to become an annual feature.”
     
     

    The Asia-Pacific Technical Regulators-Broadcasters’ Forum will be followed by the ABU Preparatory Seminar on World Radio Communication Conference -07 (WRC) from 9 to 11 June.

    This seminar will address pressing issues in connection with the International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conference 2007.

    The seminar will expose participants to spectrum-related studies being carried out in various parts of the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

    In addition to these two events, in conjunction with BroadcastAsia in Singapore on 13 to 17 June, the ABU is organising a broadcasting spectrum usage workshop on 15 June, which is to be chaired by ABU technical director Wayne Heads.

    The workshop aims to expose broadcasters and other industry players to the impact of new services on broadcasting spectrum and regional planning processes relating to spectrum usage, among other things.

    It will also focus on the types of frequency bands used for broadcasting services as well as international regulations, governing the use of broadcasting spectrum.