ITV

Tag: Italy

  • TVS revs up global design with Italian CoE launch

    TVS revs up global design with Italian CoE launch

    MUMBAI: Talk about shifting gears. TVS Motor Company has hit the accelerator on global innovation, unveiling its new Global Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Design and Engineering in Bologna, Italy. The move comes with the full acquisition of Engines Engineering S.p.A., the Italian powerhouse behind high-performance motorcycles and Motogp prototypes.

    “This Centre marks a milestone in reimagining mobility,” said TVS Motor Company chairman Sudarshan Venu. “By blending Engines Engineering’s racing expertise with our global design and engineering capabilities, we aim to deliver premium, connected, and electric vehicles that set new benchmarks.”

    The Italian CoE will act as a concept-to-product innovation hub, integrating world-class engineering teams to speed up product development, enhance design flexibility, and expand TVS Motor’s premium portfolio. It also strengthens Norton Motorcycles, supporting its ambition to craft modern luxury motorcycles that honour its iconic legacy while pushing the boundaries of performance.

    Key focus areas include digital simulation, rapid prototyping, modular platform development, AI-driven design tools, advanced materials, and global collaboration with universities, startups, and suppliers. The initiative promises faster development cycles and a pipeline of next-generation scooters, high-displacement bikes, and electric mobility platforms.

    With this move, TVS Motor is not just racing ahead in design and engineering but is steering the global motorcycle industry into a future where innovation meets performance and sustainability.
     

  • Digital i report: Netflix’s ad-tier viewing soars by nearly a third across Europe

    Digital i report: Netflix’s ad-tier viewing soars by nearly a third across Europe

    MUMBAI: Here’s some data that validates what Indian streamers have known all along and have been following for quite some time. If you want masses to consume you, then give away content at a lower price or for free – especially entertainment shows – but populate it with ads. Viewers don’t seem to mind it all.

    Global streaming media measurement firm Digital i conducted a study between November 2024 and April 2025 which revealed that viewing time on Netflix’s ‘Standard with Ads’ plan jumped 32 per cent across five key west European markets, signalling robust growth for the streaming giant’s advertising business. The Standards with Ads plan is priced at Euro 6.99 per month as against the standard plan which has a sticker price of Euro 13.99 and the premium one which costs Euro 19.99 This Standard with Ads package offers ad-supported streaming on two devices simultaneously in Full HD (1080p) and allows for downloads

    Digital i’s study  revealed  a collective rise of 152.7 million hours in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Total viewing hours on the ad-supported tier surged from 470.2 million in November 2024 to 622.9 million by April 2025.

    Germany led the charge with a 44 per cent increase, as hours viewed on the ‘Standard with Ads’ plan climbed from 81.3 million to 116.9 million. Spain and the UK each saw a 34 per cent uplift, with viewing rising from 59.9 million to 80.2 million and 150.7 million to 202.6 million hours respectively. France experienced a 26 per cent rise (from 129.1 million to 163.2 million), while Italy registered a 22 per cent gain (from 49.1 million to 60 million).

    Digital i chief analytics officer Matt Ross hailed the figures. “Netflix’s ad-supported tier has experienced strong growth in the past six months, and the increased take up has led to increased viewership across all regions,” he remarked. “This is good news for Netflix’s ad business which now boasts strong levels of reach combined with high levels of viewership.”

  • EU nations cooperate to take down pirate global streaming service

    EU nations cooperate to take down pirate global streaming service

    MUMBAI: What does it take shut a global  illegal streaming service originating somewhere in Europe?

    Try this for size: The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation  (Eurojust ). The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol). The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA). Italian, Croatian, Romanian, Swedish, Swiss, Dutch, Chinese  and the UK authorities.

    Quite a handful, right?

    Well, they all worked down together late November  to take down one of the world’s largest illegal streaming services, according to a  press release issued by Eurojust.  In a large-scale operation, over 100 searches were carried out against 102 suspects. Eleven suspects were arrested in Croatia.

    The suspects illegally distributed material from streaming services online, including films and series. They also pirated more than 2,500 television channels, mainly sports. The illegal service served more than 22 million users worldwide. They were able to make over Euros 250 million in illegal profits per month. The economic damages to the copyright holders of the material is estimated at Euro10 billion. 

    To evade authorities, the suspects allegedly used encrypted messaging services to communicate and false identities to register phone numbers, credit cards, server rentals and TV subscriptions.

    On 26 November, during an international operation, the servers hosting the illegal streaming were seized and shut down, disrupting the services.

    Collaboration between authorities was set up at Eurojust to effectively pull the plug on the illegal streamer. Coordination meetings at Eurojust’s headquarters allowed authorities from Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK  to work together on the investigation and plan the operation to shut down the service and arrest the suspects. Europol supported the operation by deploying experts and analysing the available intelligence during the investigation phase. 

    The cooperation between the authorities culminated in a joint operation to take down the services on 26 November. The operation  involved over 270 officers from the Polizia Postale carrying out 89 property searches in 15 Italian regions. An additional 14 searches were conducted by law enforcement agencies abroad, including five addresses in the UK, and further searches and seizures in the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, France, Bulgaria, Germany and Croatia,  according to the AAPA.

    During  the searches in Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia, the UK  and China, over Euros 1.6 million in cryptocurrency and Euros 40,000 in cash was seized. Croatian police arrested 11 suspects. AAPA said that “the immediately seized proceeds represent only a fraction of an illegal business that is alleged to yield approximately Euros 3 billion per annum.”

    The operation was massive as can be ascertained from the results achieved:  102 suspects were identified  with the arrest of 11 people after searching 112 houses. 100 domains were blocked with 29 servers being taken away along with 27 different IPTV equipment and devices. During the searches 560 resellers names were discovered along with an assortment of drugs and weapons. 

    AAPA co-president Mark Mulready said: “We applaud the efforts of the Catania public prosecutor’s office, the Croatian state attorney office for suppression of corruption and organised crime, Europol, Eurojust, and all of the law enforcement agencies involved in these operations. The scale of these multi-jurisdictional law enforcement actions highlights the considerable challenge our industry faces when dealing with such sophisticated international pirate networks.

    “We are proud to have collaborated with our law enforcement partners to provide technical training and in-field support to assist them in successfully tackling the world’s largest pirate network.   We are very grateful to the AAPA members who supported this action day, including Premier League, Sky Group, Nagravision, Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), beIN Sports, United Media, Friend MTS and Irdeto.  We will continue to closely collaborate with law enforcement agencies in Europe and beyond to enable them to successfully identify, investigate and prosecute large-scale cross-border pirate networks.”

    The authorities involved in the actions were:

    * Italy: Public Prosecution Office Catania
    * Croatia: The Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime 
    * Netherlands: Fiscal Information and Investigation Service; Public Prosecution Service Rotterdam 
    * Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism; Direction for Fighting Organized Crime – Cyber Crime Fighting Service
    * Sweden: National unit against organized crime at the Swedish Prosecution Authority; Swedish Police Authority
    * Switzerland: Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; Federal Office of Police 
    * United Kingdom: City of London Police

  • NEXION Sponsors the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts for artists residency

    NEXION Sponsors the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts for artists residency

    Mumba: Nexion, the Indo-Italian one of the production company  of high-quality sintered stone, entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, India. This collaboration was proposed by Mallika Sarabhai, an influential figure in the city of Ahmedabad. She completed her MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and her Ph.D. from Gujarat University. Mallika established herself as an international activist, actress, and dancer in Indian classical dance.

    Mallika is the daughter of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, a prominent figure in the field of science and development in India, considered the father of the country’s space program, and Mrinalini Sarabhai, dancer of Indian classical dance and the founder of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Today, Mallika leads the Darpana Academy, preserving and promoting the rich artistic heritage of India.

    This year, Mallika Sarabhai and Nexion decided to form a three-year partnership to sponsor an artist residency at the Darpana Academy. Thanks to Nexion, India hosted Massimiliano Troiani, an Italian director and son of a master in cinematographic photography, known worldwide for his work in documentary and theatre, and Laura Fasciolo, a renowned Italian set designer with years of experience in theatrical and museum exhibitions related to iconography and bibliography.

    Massimiliano staged a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, incorporating both Italian and Indian cultural elements. The show, which featured Mallika in a leading role, premiered at the 44th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival of Natarani, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, and will be going on tour.

    Darpana Academy of Performing Arts founder Mallika Sarabhai expressed her joy in the collaboration stating, “Working on Macbeth with Massimiliano was a delightful experience. His diverse background as a theatre director, filmmaker, and puppeteer aligns well with the varied artistic fields at Darpana. The synergy between our culture and artistic approach allowed for the emergence of new and exciting elements during the collaboration.

    She added, “The collaboration between Darpana and Nexion has been fueled by a shared passion for the arts. Nexion’s founder, Luca, recognizes the humanizing power of the arts and believes in providing support without interfering with the artistic vision. “

    Nexion CEO Luca Majocch said, “Since its inception, we have brought the Italian way of doing business to India. With our commitment to societal contribution, we seamlessly align with Darpana Academy, celebrated for its rich legacy in promoting art and culture. Massimiliano’s participation in the residency further underscores our shared dedication and efforts. This commitment extends to our core values, where we prioritize people’s well-being through the consistent delivery of high-quality products. Our holistic approach interweaves cultural exchange and community well-being, creating a meaningful connection between our values and endeavors.”

    Massimiliano Troiani, Italian Director, mentioned, “Embarking on a collaborative journey with Darpana is a captivating experience within a culturally rich environment, where artistic and technical talents seamlessly unite. My initial collaboration dates back to 2000 when I directed a performance inspired by the ancient Latin tale Aeneid. This journey emphasizes the lasting connection between India and Italy over the years, based on cultural connections that go beyond mere economic or political factors. Italy has contributed to scholars like Giuseppe Tucci and Weaver, enriching the understanding of Indian culture. Indian philosophy continues to captivate Italy, from poetry to pedagogical studies, as exemplified by Maria Montessori, who found inspiration in meeting Mahatma Gandhi.”

    The goal of the production was to create a cultural bridge between Italy and India, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of both nations. The collaboration not only celebrated art and creativity but also contributed to strengthening ties between local and international communities, promoting cultural exchange, mutual learning, and the well-being of the community.  Ahmedabad, as a meeting point between the two realities, is also where Nexion’s central office and production facility have found their home.

    Here, in the heart of this city, Ahmedabad, not only products and projects come to life but also human connections that transcend geographical boundaries.

     

  • Broadpeak’s mABR solution optimises Live sports OTT delivery in Italy

    Broadpeak’s mABR solution optimises Live sports OTT delivery in Italy

    Mumbai: Broadpeak, a provider of the content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, together with Italian telco operator TIM, is optimising live sports OTT delivery with an advanced multicast ABR (mABR). Using Broadpeak’s mABR solution, TIM is delivering Live third-party sports content to subscribers with an improved quality of experience (QoE).

    “Thanks to Broadpeak’s mABR solution, which optimizes network performance for streaming services, we provide the best technology for assuring an excellent customer quality of experience,” said TIM’s head of technology and innovation Crescenzo Micheli. “As a pioneer of multicast ABR technology, Broadpeak has solid experience and a reputation for delivering superior-quality live OTT content.”

    Broadpeak’s mABR solution includes the BkE200 transcaster server, nanoCDN™ agent, SmartLib library, BkM100 video delivery mediator, BkA100 analytics, and BkA200 video delivery monitoring. The BkE200 transcaster server pulls source ABR streams and embeds them into multicast, reducing delivery costs while also solving scalability and potential quality issues.

    “Streaming quality must be perfect in order to better enjoy OTT content, thanks to ultra-broadband connections,” said Broadpeak president and CEO Jacques Le Mancq. “TIM is leading the way for premium OTT delivery with our mABR solution, which will support live OTT delivery on smart TVs and other connected devices.”

    CVE, the prime contractor, ensured a smooth deployment, providing outstanding coordination and local support.

    “This project is significant for CVE because we’ve invested heavily in video-over-IP technology throughout the years,” said CVE’s CEO Luca Catalano. “CVE is happy to be an active part of the delivery of the mABR solution available for CDNs. This is an important milestone for the transition of the video world toward IP, and we’re proud that our IP knowledge and expertise made such a big, positive contribution to the deployment of the Broadpeak mABR solution.”

  • EURO 2020 Finals break viewership records in UK

    EURO 2020 Finals break viewership records in UK

    New Delhi: The Sunday-night high-octane clash between Italy and England in UEFA Euro 2020 was watched by over 31 million viewers in the United Kingdom, setting a record for the highest viewership ratings in British broadcasting history.

    According to the BARB figures shared by overnights. tv, an average of 29.85 million watched the entire match which was broadcast on both BBC and ITV. The viewership peaked at 30.95 million during the extra time, when both the teams were trying hard to up their score from 1-1 at London’s Wembley Stadium.

    The game went down to the wire and ended with England facing a painful penalty shootout exit, dashing hopes of millions of English fans who were hoping to see the trophy come home for the first time since 1966. However, Italy reigned over the game and clinched the trophy continuing its 34-match winning streak in the game.

    According to BBC, the combined viewership on both BBC One and ITV made the final match one of the biggest TV events in the UK since the funeral of princess Diana in 1997.

    In Italy, the game was broadcast on Radiotelevisione italiana (Rai), the national public broadcasting company of Italy. According to Rai, throughout the match an average of 18 million people tuned in, representing a 73.7 per cent market share, reported Variety.

    In India, the official broadcaster Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) made the most of the football fever that has swept the country over the last few weeks. While the latest viewership numbers are yet to come in, the previous data showed that the 19 June match between Portugal vs Germany was among the most-watched matches in the tournament. The defending champion Portugal led by Cristiano Ronaldo was defeated by 4-2 in the match in the group stage.

  • Netflix India: New survey reveals that India ranks highest in watching Netflix with pets

    Netflix India: New survey reveals that India ranks highest in watching Netflix with pets

    MUMBAI: Love for our pets has reached epic heights – special pet taxi services in Mumbai, sick leave for dogs in Italy, emotional support peacocks in the US – so it should come as no surprise that our four-legged friends have infiltrated our entertainment habits as well. According to a new survey released by Netflix, when it comes to watching TV, most Indians (75%) find pets to be the best binge partner. 88% of Indian members have watched Netflix with their pets, as compared to 74% globally.

    After all, watching a show with pets mean no spoilers and no cheating. The best binge paw-tner? You bet! Not only do pets not hog the remote or judge your entertainment tastes (well, maybe), they make the perfect partners for the company, the cuddles (44% of Indian members have turned to their furry friends for comfort during a sad or scary scene) and even the conversation (39% have talked to their pet about the show or movie they were watching).

    Though you should be warned that pet bingeing can also be ruff. A considerable number of respondents (43%) have moved from where they were sitting, so their pet would be more comfortable, several (31%) have bribed them with treats to watch longer, and some (30%) have even gone so far as turning off a show because their pet didn’t appear to like it. The snuggle is real.

    So what are the shows everyone is barking and meowing about? Dog and cat owners in India are likely to go for comedy with a high dose of drama and adventure. Bring on Friends from College, Alias Grace, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. The one show that brings all streaming species together is Stranger Things…#justiceformews.

    Looking for some brand new shows that you can now stream or download to watch with your partners and paw-tners? We recommend Lost in Space (premiering April 13) for a thrilling journey with the Robinson family.

  • India’s GoQuest sends cooking reality format to Italy

    India’s GoQuest sends cooking reality format to Italy

    MUMBAI: GoQuest Format, the formats’ arm of GoQuest Media based out of India, has optioned its exciting cooking reality format, Kitchen 50-50 to YAM112003, part of Endemol Shine Group Italy. GoQuest has confirmed that this deal was a fruition of MIPTV meetings held in April 2017.

    Kitchen 50-50 is a cooking reality format where two home cooks or professional chefs fight it out in one kitchen to win a cash prize of US$ 10000 (Rs 6.5 lakh) in every episode. The specialty of this kitchen is that there is only one of each appliance and each contestant gets to use it on a first come, first serve basis.

    “Kitchen 50-50 represents an original take in the crowded world of food formats for television,” said YAM112003 GM – TV production department Alberto Rossini. “It’s lively, fresh and funny, and we are very pleased to bring such a format to the Italian market.”

    GoQuest Media MD Vivek Lath said: “This is one of our first formats to be distributed worldwide after years of readymade content distribution. We are confident of YAM112003 giving it the best treatment. The fun and drama in Kitchen 50-50 infuses tension of a reality and drama of a daily soap.”

    YAM112003, part of Endemol Shine Group, is a production company, creative agency and event agency with experience in terms of strategy, creativity, production, distribution and content management. GoQuest Formats, the formats arm of GoQuest Media from India, distributes, creates and co-creates non-fiction format for television channels and digital platforms around the world.

  • Virtual screens to start replacing TVs & theaters in a year, consumers expect: Ericsson

    MUMBAI: Ericsson ConsumerLab has reported that seven out of 10 consumers believe that virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will become mainstream in media, education, work, social interaction, tourism and retail. Consumers expect virtual screens to start replacing televisions and theaters in less than a year.

    For VR and AR to merge with physical reality and become mainstream, 5G is crucial to provide mobility, improve social experiences and address nausea concerns.

    Ericsson has published its latest ConsumerLab report – Merged Reality – revealing insights into how consumers expect virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to merge with physical reality, and that 5G will be a key technology for such experiences to become mainstream. The report reveals that when boundaries between people’s perception of physical and virtual reality start to blur, this could result in a drastic impact on lives and society. The way we live, work, and consume information and media will fundamentally change.

    Realities will not merge if the user is tethered to a computer or cut off from physical reality. Early adopters of VR/AR expect next-generation networks like 5G to play a central role. Thirty-six per cent have expectations on 5G to provide VR/AR mobility through a stable, fast and high-bandwidth network. Thirty per cent of early adopters also expect 5G to enable tethered headsets to become wireless.

    Key findings of the latest report include that seven out of 10 early adopters expect VR/AR to change everyday life fundamentally in six domains: media, education, work, social interaction, travel and retail. Media is already being transformed and consumers expect virtual screens to start replacing televisions and theaters in less than a year.

    The qualitative research in the report included an innovative focus group discussion series completely in VR with participants from North America and Europe, as well as traditional focus groups with current users of VR from Japan and South Korea. A series of qualitative VR tests with 20 Ericsson employees were also done to understand how lag in VR can trigger nausea.

    In the quantitative part of the study, the report presents insights from a survey of 9,200 consumers in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the UK and the US, aged between 15-69 with awareness of the concept of VR.

  • Zee Tamil to produce Season 3 and 4 of DNA in India

    Zee Tamil to produce Season 3 and 4 of DNA in India

    MUMBAI: Zee Tamil, a general entertainment channel of the Zeel group has bought the format DNA to India for the third time in a row. The Singapore based content distribution and production agency Bomanbridge Media announced the renewal deal with Zee Tamil, for seasons 3 and 4 of the hit family game show format.  Renewal of Season 2 was announced in the January of this year. 

    Zee Tamil will produce another 26 episodes each for season 3 and season 4 of the show. This simple and fun game show divides parents on one side and children of any age on the other side of the studio.  The contestant stands in the middle and has to play the game of matching the parents and children together through entertaining and unexpected challenges. Every day, a prize is awarded to the person who manages to identify all the pairs.

    This show has been produced in Spain, Italy, India and Indonesia. DNA. is currently one of the top-rated game shows on TV across Tamil Nadu in India. 

     “Bomanbridge is thrilled to announce yet another renewal of this great family format, demonstrating that India is happy to take the DNA challenge. The success of the show proves that great formats can enjoy longevity while helping foster family togetherness,” said Bomanbridge Media CEO Sonia Fleck. “Bomanbridge continues to distribute great formats around the region that earn our partners faithful audiences,” she added. 

     “Zee Tamil knows how to produce great programs and we are pleased that DNA will continue to be on their schedule for some time. This unique show gets the entire family involved while having a great time,” said  Bomanbridge director of Sales and Business Development, South Asia Arpit Agarwal.