ITV

Tag: inaugural

  • ESPN US ties up with Sanyo for inaugural ESPN mobile handset

    MUMBAI: ESPN US and Sanyo have announced plans for Sanyo to produce the first wireless handset in the Mobile ESPN portfolio. Mobile ESPN will be rolled out across the US on 5 February 2006.
     
     

    The parties have also unveiled the Sanyo MVP. This is a multimedia phone with styling and functionality built exclusively for ESPN. Targeted to avid sports fans, the Sanyo MVP is designed to work on a high-speed Evolution Data Optimised (Evod) wireless network, enabling it to deliver the world of ESPN at ultra-fast speeds. It features an industrial design, with a jet-black housing and bold accent elements in ESPN’s signature red.

    The Sanyo MVP will give Mobile ESPN users one-touch, real-time access to personalised sports content, including the ESPN BottomLine scores and headlines service; Gamecast – a live, graphical representation of games; player and team statistics; ESPN video clips and game highlights; ESPN commentary and analysis; sports alerts and fantasy updates. Among its myriad features, the multimedia SANYO MVP will also offer a high-resolution colour display; external colour picture caller ID; built-in 1.3 megapixel digital camera with flash; video recording capabilities; MP3 music player; 16MB miniSD memory card and voice recorder.
     
     

    ESPN has also announced new branding for the upcoming wireless phone service – Mobile ESPN – further differentiating itself in a dynamic wireless marketplace. Much more than a phone, Mobile ESPN is a mobile sports communication device and service that delivers ESPN anytime, anywhere. Originally called ESPN Mobile, the company states that new name truly reflects the service’s ultimate mission—to literally serve avid sports fans with one-touch, real-time access to immersive and personalized sports content from ESPN.

    ESPN Mobile senior VP and GM Manish Jha said, “Mobile ESPN has defined a new wireless category, and with that, we are positioning the service and our marketing around the idea that life will never get in the way of sports again. We have all had that Saturday afternoon commitment that kept us from the big game. This is more than a phone—it is like putting ESPN in your pocket.”

    “We have taken our cues from the 97 million people who touch ESPN each week to create a wireless service model that is anything but traditional. That is why everything—from our unique content to our naming convention—goes above and beyond to ensure that our fans get the sports they want in a way that works for them.”

    Mobile ESPN will operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) utilizing Sprint’s nationwide network for wireless voice and data service. It will take advantage of the Sprint EVDO (Evolution Data Optimised) service, which by year end is expected to be available to approximately 143 million people. By early 2006, when the national build-out is complete, Sprint’s EVDO service will be available in approximately 64 metropolitan areas. EVDO provides broadband-like download speeds, which enables extremely fast access to ESPN’s sports content, as well as fast Internet browsing, email access and downloads.

    Mobile ESPN will offer customisable ESPN content—including real-time scores, breaking news, commentary and analysis; fantasy sports information and team management; audio and video programming; and MP3 audio playback capability—on unique ESPN-branded handsets.

  • Pakistan Government should lift ban on Indian TV: I&B minister at BES Expo inaugural

    Pakistan Government should lift ban on Indian TV: I&B minister at BES Expo inaugural

    NEW DELHI: India’s information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today hinted to the Pakistani government that it should lift the ban on Indian TV channels and help in the free flow of information. This act would further the confidence building process between the two countries.

    ”Pakistan should follow the Indian model and be as liberal in transmission of Indian contents as we are. It will strengthen people-to-people contact,” said Prasad, while delivering the inaugural speech at the 10th international conference of the Broadcast Engineering Society (BES) in the capital today.

    ”Realising well the importance of free to air transmission, which caters to a majority of the population, and, in turn, meets the larger social objective, the government is committed to extend fullest support to the public broadcasters (Doordarshan and All India Radio) ,” said Prasad.

    The statement, in a way, seems like a justification for the huge loan that the I&B ministry would be extending to DD and AIR’s parent organization, Prasar Bharati, during 2004-05, as part of the budgetary proposals announced yesterday by the finance minister.

    Dwelling on his pet subject, the dissemination of development-related information on TV channels, Prasad exhorted the private sector to have a proper balance between technological advancement and content in order to realise the larger social goals.

    The minister also said that his ministry has asked broadcast regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( TRAI), for inputs on revenue sharing and spectrum management for FM radio even as it is still considering the Dr Amit Mitra task force report on the second round of licensing in this sector.

    “We have received the taskforce report and are considering it. Meanwhile, I have asked the new regulator TRAI for inputs on revenue sharing and spectrum management in FM radio,” Prasad said.

    Earlier, Prasad conferred the BSE’s honorary fellowship to Asia Broadcasting Union (ABU) general-secretary David Ashley and a Canada-based organisation CRC’s vice-president (marketing and business development) Dr Veena Rawat.

    Also speaking on the occasion, Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma said the KU-band direct-to home (DTH) transmission would formally start from April this year. Others who spoke at the inauguration function included I&B ministry secretary Pawan Chopra.

  • Radio City premieres ‘Bollywood Sitara’ focussing on top draws

    Radio City premieres ‘Bollywood Sitara’ focussing on top draws

    MUMBAI: The Star India-backed Radio City 91 FM is launching a new monthly programme, Radio City 100% Bollywood Sitara.

    Featuring one major Hindi movie star every month, the inaugural episode will focus on Bollywood biggie Shah Rukh Khan as he shares with listeners his first crush, the biggest influence on his life, the biggest compliment he has ever received, his latest movie and will answer a number of other questions. Radio City 100% Bollywood Sitara will be aired a number of times through the day.

    As a part of the 100% Bollywood Sitara with Shah Rukh Khan, Radio City is also running a contest giving the audience an opportunity to meet the star. Listeners need to call Radio City 91 FM on 26533391and complete the slogan “Chalte Chalte Agar Aapko Shahrukh Mile Gaye To Aap Kya Bolenge?” Listeners will get to win tickets, CDs and cassesttes of the movie and one lucky winner getting to meet Shah Rukh in person, a company release says.