ITV

Tag: Kolkata

  • Doordarshan launches Mobile TV in India, needs no internet

    Doordarshan launches Mobile TV in India, needs no internet

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has commenced digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in 16 cities, thereby providing mobile TV to the users.

    The sixteen cities being covered from 25 February are- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi, Cuttack, Lucknow, Jallandhar, Raipur, Indore, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Bangalore and Ahmadabad.  

    Mobile TV can be received in and around these cities using DVB-T2 Dongles in OTG enabled smart phones and tablets, Wi-Fi dongles for moving vehicles, besides the TV sets having built in DVB-T2 Tuner which are called as integrated digital TV (iDTV).

    While Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung etc., are providing iDTV, the dongles are also available in online shopping sites like Flipkart, Ebay, Snapdeal etc. It requires the user to download the software and plug these dongles in the smartphones and tablets to receive DD Signals.

    There will be no charges for watching the DD Channels. No internet connection is required after installation of the software. The public and private transportation vehicles and public places are potential environments for Mobile Television.

    Currently, DD National, DD News, DD Bharati, DD Sports, DD Regional/DD Kisan are being relayed. Only one time investment of a dongle will be required by viewers and no extra expenditure unlike streaming with internet. The TV pictures are free from “ghosting” and “snowing”.

    DTT secures greater plurality in platform ownership, ensuring that no single platform owner is so powerful that it can exert undue influence on public opinion or political agendas. The digital transition offers an opportunity to increase the production of local content.

    This in turn creates job opportunity and increases creativity and entrepreneurship. A strong DTT platform is critical for healthy competition in the TV market and to the realisation of a wide range of social benefits and most essentially an all weather reliable platform. There is no risk of catastrophic failure of total network. It provides alternative distribution platform.

    DD channels can be received on smart phones, tablets and in moving vehicles. The new audience on move are the key beneficiary of this technology. Currently, mobile TV can be received using a dongle for mobile and tablets. But the day is not far when it will be embedded inside the devices. Watching TV from a phone is interested in many situations. Public and private transportation vehicle in public places are potential environment for mobile TV services. In the DTT Transmission everybody watches the same content at the same time and it guarantees everybody the same high level of service, since they are all bathed in the same signal. So tablets and smartphones and moving vehicles find new way of watching DD Channels in India in 16 cities, which are going to increase in near future.

     

  • Royal Challenge releases #PlayBold Anthem amidst cricket fervor

    Royal Challenge releases #PlayBold Anthem amidst cricket fervor

    MUMBAI: Today’s young Indian is about stepping out of their comfort zone and making bold moves. Royal Challenge Sports Drink is all set to fuel this unwavering aspiration by giving it a single sound through an anthem that inspires the nation to #PlayBold.

    The #PlayBold anthem is being released during the cricket season as a combined voice of the nation to cheer and support the Indian cricket team. Bollywood composer Salim Merchant has created the music for this anthem starring Vishal Dadlani’s voice. The lyrics have been woven together by Sonal Dabral, chairman and chief creative officer of DDB Mudra Group.

    A vibrant video has been shot in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai with a variety of young Indians in different settings cheering and singing aloud ‘Go India’ and ‘Play Bold’ starring Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.

    Commenting on the anthem, United Spirits Marking SVP Subroto Geed  said, “Through this anthem, Royal Challenge Sports Drink is attempting to galvanize the Indian youth to follow their heart and make bold choices. We hope that the anthem’s catchphrase “Mere India, Tu Play Bold”, becomes a single sound that does not just reflect our country’s love for cricket, but goes on to become the youth anthem for India.”

    “This is that electrifying time of the year when the entire country stands united behind our team. It’s been truly exciting to create this anthem to give us all one voice to encourage our team and our country to Play Bold. The lyrics, music and video of this anthem capture this powerful emotion, and we hope it will become the voice of billion hearts.” said DDB Mudra Group CCO and chairman Sonal Dabral.

  • Royal Challenge releases #PlayBold Anthem amidst cricket fervor

    Royal Challenge releases #PlayBold Anthem amidst cricket fervor

    MUMBAI: Today’s young Indian is about stepping out of their comfort zone and making bold moves. Royal Challenge Sports Drink is all set to fuel this unwavering aspiration by giving it a single sound through an anthem that inspires the nation to #PlayBold.

    The #PlayBold anthem is being released during the cricket season as a combined voice of the nation to cheer and support the Indian cricket team. Bollywood composer Salim Merchant has created the music for this anthem starring Vishal Dadlani’s voice. The lyrics have been woven together by Sonal Dabral, chairman and chief creative officer of DDB Mudra Group.

    A vibrant video has been shot in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai with a variety of young Indians in different settings cheering and singing aloud ‘Go India’ and ‘Play Bold’ starring Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.

    Commenting on the anthem, United Spirits Marking SVP Subroto Geed  said, “Through this anthem, Royal Challenge Sports Drink is attempting to galvanize the Indian youth to follow their heart and make bold choices. We hope that the anthem’s catchphrase “Mere India, Tu Play Bold”, becomes a single sound that does not just reflect our country’s love for cricket, but goes on to become the youth anthem for India.”

    “This is that electrifying time of the year when the entire country stands united behind our team. It’s been truly exciting to create this anthem to give us all one voice to encourage our team and our country to Play Bold. The lyrics, music and video of this anthem capture this powerful emotion, and we hope it will become the voice of billion hearts.” said DDB Mudra Group CCO and chairman Sonal Dabral.

  • Idea rolls out 3G network in Kolkata

    Idea rolls out 3G network in Kolkata

    MUMBAI:  Idea Cellular, one of the largest telecom operators in the country announces the launch of its own 3G services in Kolkata metro on 2100 MHz spectrum band that was acquired through auction earlier this year. Idea is committed to provide superior customer experience on both voice and data services and has started rolling out its own 3G network, in a phased manner, while continuing to offer 3G ICR, to give its customers a seamless and superior mobile broadband experience.

     

    As committed at the beginning of the financial year, Idea managed to launch its own 3G services in Kolkata, within a short duration of spectrum allocation.

     

    With this, Idea’s 3G network has expanded to 13 major markets in India, covering 79% of Idea’s revenue and 60% of industry revenue. Additionally, Idea offers 3G services through ICR arrangements with other telecom operators in 9 circles, providing its users seamless connectivity pan-India (except Orissa).

     

    According to  Idea Cellular COO Corporate Lakshminarayana, “Idea’s continuous investment in spectrum acquisition, network infrastructure, and brand building in the Eastern market is a testimony to our commitment to the region. With the launch of 3G services in Kolkata, it has now become the 2nd metro after Delhi where Idea has set up its own 3G network. I am confident that this will drive data usage amongst our existing users and further strengthen brand pull resulting in more customers opting for our superior network.”

     

    Idea 3G users will now experience ease of service while accessing content like mobile TV, video on demand, music downloads, online gaming, amongst many others.

     

    Idea Cellular, COO- East Anish Roy  said, “Idea has nearly 20 lakh customers in Kolkata with approximately 20% being Data users. With the launch of our own 3G network in the metro, the existing Idea 3G users will experience enhanced services, products and offerings and the new subscribers will benefit from our affordable 3G tariffs and superior network. Our strengthened 3G network will further spur our marketshare growth in Kolkata metro”.

     

    Idea has registered the highest growth in Revenue Market Share (RMS), in Kolkata and Rest of Bengal, in Q2FY16 on a YoY basis, as per the TRAI quarterly report. Its Incremental RMS for the same period was the highest amongst all players in the region, a demonstration of the faith the customers have reposed in the Idea network.  

     

    Idea has significantly bolstered its infrastructure in the state over the last few years. By the end of FY16, it will have a network of 7400 2G cell sites in the state, in addition to 1300 3G sites in Kolkata metro. The company has also increased the number of Idea service centres in the state to more than 250. With its focus on providing a world-class customer experience, Idea Cellular continues to expand and grow its presence in the state.

  • TRAI urges urban consumers to get STBs by end of month; rules out extension of Phase III

    TRAI urges urban consumers to get STBs by end of month; rules out extension of Phase III

    New Delhi,: Firmly ruling out any possibility of further extension of the deadline for digitization of cable television, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India today categorically said that cable TV services in urban areas in the country will be digital from January 1, 2016.

     

    In a press release Trai also advised consumers of urban areas who are still receiving cable TV services without Set Top Boxes to avail and install these before the cut-off date in order to receive uninterrupted TV.

     

    Trai said it had been taking steps for creating awareness amongst consumers and stakeholders by holding workshops and consumer outreach programmes about the implementation of DAS. Trai held a meeting with major stakeholders of the broadcasting and cable TV sector on December 1 with major stakeholders in the sector. Trai had earlier asked all stakeholders to inform it by 28 November for pending interconnect agreements or if they were facing any problems.

     

    The broadcasters, direct-to-home operators and multi-system operators were asked to carry out exhaustive consumer awareness programmes about digitization of cable TV services so that the remaining customers in the urban areas are able to install STBs before the cut-off date of December 31. 

     

    Broadcasters of TV channels were asked to send advance intimation by December 7 to the cable operators about non availability of TV channels for retransmission in analogue mode to the consumers from January 1, 2016.

     

    Trai noted that the progress of seeding STBs in DAS Phase-III notified areas is ‘satisfactory and a good number of customers are getting the benefits of digitization’.

      

    Trai said that while Phase -I had covered the four Metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai by October 31, 2012; Phase II covered cities with a population more than one million (38 cities) by March 31, 2013.

     

    Phase -III is aimed at covering all Other Urban areas (Municipal Corporation/ Municipalities) except cities /towns/areas specified for corresponding Phase-I and Phase-II by December 31, 2015. The final phase will cover the rest of India by 31 December 2016.

     

    The list of urban areas covered under Phase III of digitization is available on the website of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (www.mib.nic.in).

     

    At the outset, TRAI said cable TV is one of the most popular medium of mass entertainment and education and there are presently more than 100 million cable TV subscribers.

  • Jackie Shroff is brand ambassador of Mumbai International Film Festival

    Jackie Shroff is brand ambassador of Mumbai International Film Festival

    New Delhi, 25 November: Renowned actor Jackie Shroff is the brand ambassador for the 14th edition of the Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films in January next.

     

    A record 831 entries have been received for the competition and selection process for the short listing films to international, National, Technical, New Media and Animation competitions has been initiated by the Festival Directorate.

     

    The Jury for International and Nationals competition for the festival being held from 28 January to 3 February will comprise celebrated film makers and personalities from India and abroad.

     

    In another major shift, the screenings of the films in the Festival will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Until now, the Festival has been held at the Tata Centre at Nariman Point.

     

    The inauguration and closing functions will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi at 5.00 pm on 28 January and 3 February respectively.

     

    This Festival which is held every alternate year is organized by the Films Division and is supported by the Maharashtra Government.

     

    Films Division Director General and MIFF Director Mukesh Sharma said at a press meet at the 46thInternational Film Festival of India in Panaji, Goa, that it is for the first time in the history of MIFF which began in 1990 that a mainstream artiste will be the brand ambassador of the documentary festival.

     

    A National Award winning actor, Shroff who was present said he will promote MIFF extensively thanks to his love for the short films.

     

    Sharma said Shroff accepted the invitation when he was told about the festival and the role it plays in promoting the documentary movement in India. He said Shroff regards documentaries as catalysts for social change and is planning to make short films to spread awareness about dreaded diseases and on social issues. Shroff was also present.

     

    Buoyed by the warm reception to the MIFF zone screening of competition films in National category in cities other than Mumbai during the 13th MIFF, screenings will be held simultaneously in New Delhi, Chennail, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Lucknow, Nagpur and Thrissur. MIFF zone is aimed at taking the competition films to film lovers who are unable to travel to Mumbai for the MIFF. Screenings will also be held at the University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai.

     

    The oldest and largest festival for non-feature films in South Asia, MIFF attracts filmmakers and cineastes from all over the world, thanks to the quality of films in the competition and other sections.

     

    Cash prize worth Rs 5.5 million, Golden Conches, Trophies and Certificates await winners in competitions including technical categories.

     

    The festival will also honour a veteran personality from the Indian documentary fraternity with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award that carries a cash component of Rs. 500,000, trophy and citation, Sharma added.

     

    The festival will have, apart from International and National competition, screening of films in MIFF Prism, Jury retrospectives, Animation and other packages from different countries and festivals, children’s documentary films, North East DD package, FD and PSBT films, homages etc, making it a wholesome viewing experience for the delegates of MIFF-2016. The festival will also have master classes by master film makers, workshops, seminar and Open Forum by IDPA.

  • Sony Pix brings Spectre to Pix Premiere Nights

    Sony Pix brings Spectre to Pix Premiere Nights

    MUMBAI: Sony Pix is all geared up to offer its fans the biggest amazement of the year by partnering for Spectre, the latest James Bond movie, a day before its theatrical release in India exclusively for Pix Premiere Nights. The exclusive screening of the film for Pix Premiere Nights is scheduled on 19 November 2015.

     

    Get set to watch the latest Bond thriller  across the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Chennai. Pix Premiere Nights, the largest integrated on ground brand property in the English movie category is a unique proposition for the viewers to exclusively watch the premiere of the latest Hollywood movies one day before its theatrical release in India. Spectre will be screened in 11 screens across 8 cities.   

      

    Sony Pix has previously hosted Pix Premiere Nights for Robocop (2014), The Hobbit: The battle of the five armies (2014), Amazing Spider Man 2 (2014) and Fantastic Four (2015) among others.

  • TRAI won’t withdraw call drops penalty, to carry another audit in Dec

    TRAI won’t withdraw call drops penalty, to carry another audit in Dec

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reiterated that the newly-introduced penalty for call drops slated to come into effect from January will not be withdrawn.

     

    In a meeting with the chief executive officers of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to apprise them about the findings of the drive tests conducted recently in Delhi and Mumbai, TRAI said an audit of networks in Mumbai and Delhi had shown showed unsatisfactory network quality.

     

    TRAI, which had carried out special independent drive tests for Cellular Mobile Telephone Services in the Mumbai and Delhi in June and July and then in September this year, will carry out fresh audits in December to review the situation. There were no significant improvement in the performance of the TSPs.

     

    The findings of these tests along with a consolidated analysis of the reports were uploaded on TRAI website.

     

    The service providers had stated in their meeting with TRAI that they had taken and continue to take a number of steps to improve the quality of network in these areas and that the quality of service had improved.

     

    In the meeting, the findings of the test drive were discussed and the service providers were requested to take action for further improvement of the network conditions.

     

    TRAI officials agreed to share with service providers and other stakeholders the independent drive tests carried In other major cities – Surat, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad.

     

    The service providers had stated that there are a number of other issues affecting quality of service of the network resulting in call drops. The Authority assured it would extend whatever help possible to the telecom service providers.

  • Q2-2016: HT Media revenue up 7.3%, PAT down; radio revenue up 20.5%

    Q2-2016: HT Media revenue up 7.3%, PAT down; radio revenue up 20.5%

    BENGALURU: HT Media Limited (HT Media) reported 7.3 per cent growth in total income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q2-2015, current quarter) at Rs 601.55 crore as compared to the Rs 560.88 crore in Q2-2015. The current quarter’s TIO was 2.4 per cent more than the Rs 587.18 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    HT Media’s radio segment (Fever 104 FM) reported a 20.5 per cent increase in operating revenue to Rs 29.34 crore (4.9 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 24.34 crore (4.3 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and 19.7 per cent more than the Rs 24.52 crore (4.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

    (2) The figures mentioned in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise.

     

    The company’s profit after tax (PAT) in Q2-2016 fell 17 per cent to Rs 36.42 crore (6.1 per cent margin) from Rs 43.89 crore (7.8 per cent margin) in the corresponding year ago quarter but was 46 per cent more than the Rs 24.95 crore (4.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Advertising and Circulation revenue

     

    HT Media’s advertising revenue grew by 6.7 per cent in Q2-2016 to Rs 475.2 crore (78.8 per cent of TIO) from Rs 444.4 crore (79.2 per cent of IO) in Q2-2015 and grew 1.4 per cent from Rs 467.5 crore (79.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Circulation revenue in the current quarter at Rs 75.4 crore (12.5 per cent of TIO) grew 5.2 per cent as compared to Rs 71.7 crore (16.1 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 and increased 3.3 per cent from Rs 72.9 crore (12.4 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Segment-wise performance

     

    Three segments contribute to HT Media’s numbers – (1) Printing and publishing of newspapers and periodicals (Publishing) (2) Radio and (3) Digital.

     

    HT Media’s publishing segment reported 5.4 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 538.08 crore (89.4 per cent of TIO) from Rs 510.75 crore (91.1 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter and grew 1.1 per cent from Rs 532.44 crore (90.7 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    The publishing segment reported operating profit of Rs 65.36 crore, which was 2.5 per cent lower than the Rs 67.04 crore in Q2-2015 and 17.6 per cent lower than the Rs 79.29 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    HT Media has four FM radio stations – Fever 104 in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Radio segment revenue numbers have been mentioned above. HT Media’s radio segment reported operating profit of Rs 3.84 crore, which was 42.2 per cent lower than the Rs 6.64 crore in Q2-2015 and 42.5 per cent lower than the Rs 6.68 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    The company’s digital segment reported 36 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 33.91 crore (11 per cent of TIO), which was 36 per cent more than the Rs 24.93 crore (4.4 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter and 11 per cent more than the Rs 30.56 crore (5.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016.

     

    Digital segment reported higher loss of Rs 18.35 crore in Q2-2016 as compared to the Rs 14.70 crore in Q2-2015, but lower than the loss of Rs 23.88 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    The company reported unallocated losses of Rs 15.40 crore in Q2-2016; loss of Rs 11.90 crore in Q2-2016 and loss of Rs 20.01 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Company Speak

     

    HT Media chairperson and editorial director Shobana Bhartia said, “Our performance this quarter has been satisfactory despite subdued economic activity and tepid markets. Our English publications saw a growth in revenue even after factoring in a base effect, and this was driven by growth in both HT Mumbai and Mint. Hindustan continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and saw high growth rates. We successfully acquired the stations of our choice in the Phase-III FM auctions. The digital business grew in terms of revenue and saw a fall in losses. We are excited by the opportunities on offer, the prospects of our various businesses and are confident of executing on our plans in the coming months.”

  • Reliance Jio Infocomm extends free 4G wi-fi service in Kolkata

    Reliance Jio Infocomm extends free 4G wi-fi service in Kolkata

    KOLKATA: Reliance Jio Infocomm, the company owned by Mukesh Ambani’s flagship Reliance Industries, has said that four more areas in Kolkata will turn into wi-fi enabled zones by next month.

    In February, the company rolled out a free 4G wi-fi service at Park Street, enabling Kolkata as the first metro city with a 4G-enabled high-speed internet service.

    South City to Lords crossing, Medical College to Barnaparichay Mall and the areas around Lady Brabourne College, National Medical College and Don Bosco School, and Rashbehari crossing to Hazra crossing, are the new public wi-fi zones where the services are likely to be stretched. Two more zones were added last month — Gariahat-Golpark and the area near Jadavpur 8B bus-stand.

    Sources said that it takes a week to set up power connectivity with access points so the system and the wi-fi zones are likely to be active by the end of this month or in the first week of May.

    Sources further added that the company is extending the service to four more areas because of the increasing demand for data services. 

    Around five lakh users have availed of the free wi-fi service since it was rolled out at Park Street on 5 February. Park Street has around 230 wi-fi routers online, allowing around 9,200 people to connect to the wi-fi network at a time.

     

    While inaugurating wi-fi in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that in around next two months, the whole city will be connected with wi-fi.

    The Chief Minister further said that the company has laid down the cable connectivity covering 2,000 km, and around 250-300 km cable laying work was likely to be completed soon. “Reliance Jio Infocomm has completed more than 90 per cent of the work,” she said.

    The company, which is investing around Rs 3,300 crore to roll out 4G in Bengal, plans to offer the free service as part of a sampling experiment. The official commercial launch will take place later.