ITV

Tag: over

  • Trai looks into voice, data over cable

    MUMBAI: After having dealt with some of the pressing matters of the broadcast industry, broadcast and telecom regulator has now trained its guns on removing hurdles in implementation of broadband solutions, including looking at ways to deliver voice and data over cable.

    On Friday, an industry-regulator panel, under the chairmanship of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) advisor Rajendra Singh, met to discuss the various issues and create a bump-free roadmap for implementation of broadband solutions

    The importance of the first meeting of the committee on broadband and telephony over cable TV network could be gauged from the fact that the panel is looking into ways of allowing voice and data over cable.

    However, for such technologies to become a reality, nation’s cable infrastructure has to be spruced up and from a one-way broadcast medium has to be turned into a two-way interactive medium.

    Architectural consideration is of paramount importance and, thus, one of the issued raised was that financial institutions should finance cable operators or any body interested in venturing into this business.

    A Trai official, who was part of yesterday’s meeting, told Indiantelevision.com, “The meeting explored various possibilities of making delivery of broadband solutions hassle free. As part of this, the impediments and bottlenecks too were discussed in the first meeting of a panel that is likely to submit its report to the regulator in a month’s time.”

    Another issue that came up was that of high customs duty on cable-related equipment. A suggestion from the industry was to have customs duties of broadcast and cable equipment at par with those levied on telecom hardware, which is on the lower side.

    The 12 member committee, amongst others, comprises Trai advisors Rakesh Kakkar, A K Bhatnagar and S N Gupta, representatives of cable companies like Siti Cable, InCablenet, Ortel Communication and independent cable ops such as Vickky Chowdhry.

    The next meeting of this panel would be held on 21 October in Mumbai. After getting detailed feedback from other members, Trai would compile them in the form of a report.

    Telecom-cable operators’ partnership has the potential of increasing not only the penetration of cable TV from the present 61 million homes, but also values-added services and broadband solutions.

  • Intel, Morgan Freeman ink deal to distribute movies over the Internet

    MUMBAI: Intel has signed a partnership with actor Morgan Freeman and producer Lori McCreary’s company Revelations Entertainment to distribute movies over the Internet. The scheme will allow consumers to download first-run, pre-DVD release films via a broadband connection.

    The formation of the new company – ClickStar – was announced by Freeman and Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini at the Allen and Company Sun Valley Conference.

    ClickStar’s strategy is to create an online service in which consumers can access, pay for and download first-run, pre-DVD-release films and artist-created entertainment channels in their homes. This new online destination will be designed to give filmmakers a vehicle to connect directly with fans and offer consumers a new way of experiencing home entertainment. ClickStar will enable new business models resulting in increased revenue opportunities for the film industry.

    “ClickStar addresses the growing worldwide consumer demand for digital content — especially filmed entertainment. Our goal is to deliver first-run premium entertainment to film fans around the world and to make film easier to buy than to pirate,” said Freeman said.

    “This is a significant step that will transform the consumer’s entertainment experience in the digital home. With Intel’s new digital entertainment platforms and ClickStar’s exciting new digital entertainment service, consumers will be able to watch first-run films and premium content from the comfort of their living rooms,” said Otellini.

    ClickStar will be led by former Sony Pictures executive Nizar Allibhoy. The company’s strategy is to provide the marketing and distribution expertise required to enable the release of first-run films before they’re released on DVD and delivered directly to Intel’s digital home entertainment devices.

    ClickStar is working with top artists, producers and distribution companies worldwide to build a compelling slate of exciting films that will be available in theaters as well as online. The parties involved with ClickStar share a common belief that consumers want to enjoy digital entertainment and that the best way to address piracy is to deliver compelling and better protected entertainment experiences.

  • Testing Times: Zee-Bhaskar seek damages over media campaign

    NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: After reporting news, media companies are making news. Literally.

    The Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel group and Bhopal-based Bhaskar group have dragged the big daddy of news paper business, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd, publishers of Times of India and Economic Times, to court over breach of copyright laws relating to a media campaign and sought Rs. 1,000 million in damages, apart from an apology.
     

    The civil suit, filed by the Essel-Bhaskar combine through Diligent Media in Mumbai high court, was heard today.

    The petitioner has claimed that its advertisement campaign for a proposed print medium product — `SPEAK UP, ITS IN YOUR DNA’; was “hijacked” by the Times of India group to suit a campaign for Maharashtra Times, a publication of the Times group. It has also been stated that the action of the rival amounted to infringement of copyright laws with a view to derive “unfair business advantage.”
     
     

    When contacted, Essel Group vice-president Ashish Kaul said, “It certainly was disappointing to see a group of repute indulge in unfair practices.”

    When contacted, The Times of India brand director Rahul Kansal says, “TOI has chosen not to comment on this issue for the time being until we formulate what we want to say in this matter.”

    The matter came up for hearing today in the court of Justice D.G.Karnik. The counsel for the defendant (TOI group), while stating that the plaintiff had offered not to pursue any legal action through a letter dated 29 March if an unconditional apology is tendered, requested time till 4 April from the court to consider the offer.

    According to information available the court heard both the sides and directed Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd not to issue any further advertisements similar or of the same nature as that of the plaintiff. The matter will be heard on Monday.

    The Essel-Bhaskar combine, which had announced plans of launching Hindi and English newspapers, had plastered the whole of Mumbai with a teaser campaign that had a picture of a man with the tag line `Speak up, It’s in your DNA.’ Reportedly, the TOI group hurriedly unveiled a campaign, prepared late last week, for a regional newspaper and added the words `Maharashtra Times’ to the DNA tagline to read `Speak Up, it’s in your DNA— Maharashtra Times.’

  • DD threatens legal action over ESS’ highlights

    NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: A delayed response if ever there was one. More than a day after ESPN Star Sports announced that it had secured a deal with Prasar Bharati to air daily two-hour highlights packages of the ongoing India-Pakistan cricket series, the pubcaster is crying foul.
     

    A senior official in Prasar Bharati tells indiantelevision.com that Doordarshan is planning to serve a legal notice on ESPN Star Sports in the matter.

    According to the official, “The terms and conditions of our offering of video clips for cricket was meant only for news channels and ESPN Star Sports clearly does not fit into that category. Moreover, the terms and conditions (in regards to video clips) make it clear that cricket programmes cannot be built up by using such footage. ESS’ daily highlights programme has been titled “Showdown”.
     
     
     

    As already reported on indiantelevision.com, DD was charging news channels Rs 6,000 per minute for any cricket footage that exceeded two minutes of the days on-field action. Going by that calculation, ESS would be paying DD a measly Rs 360,000 a day for the highlights package even if one were to calculate the full two hours as being the time covered. And if ESS were to only pay for footage used, then actual payout would in all probability be much less.

    When contacted, ESS India MD RC Venkateish made an interesting comment. According to Venkateish, “Whatever we are doing has been discussed and agreed upon between Doordarshan and ESS.”

    Another point of note is that while DD mopped up just Rs 16.9 million as advertising revenue during the Mohali Test match, the pubcaster has billed 15 channels a total of Rs 25 million for using cricket video clips of the first Test.

    At least as far as DD is concerned, “ESS poaches daily highlights package” would about sum up its views on the private sports broadcaster’s action. On the face of it that is. Venkateish’s assertion of course puts an entirely different light on the matter.

    PRASAR BHARATI OFFERS TO PAY BCCI Rs 945 MILLION FOR TELECAST RIGHTS:
    According to a statement by I&B minister Jaipal Reddy in Parliament today, the pubcaster has “offered to pay” a sum of Rs 945 million to the Indian cricket board as the rights fee for the Indo-Pak series.

  • Disney spends over a million dollars on Eisner, Iger security

    MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Disney spends quite a packet to make sure that its CEO Michael Eisner and COO Bob Iger are safe.

    The company revealed that it has spent $735,000 in its latest fiscal year on security systems, security advice and personal protection services for Eisner.

    Disney also spent more than $470,000 in the fiscal ended 30 September 2004 on similar security protection for Iger

    Media reports indicate that disclosures about the security measures — which cost Disney a similar amount the prior year — came in the proxy statement Disney issued in advance of its annual meeting. This will take place on 11 February.

    Iger, who also didn’t receive any new stock units in 2004, earned $8 million in salary and bonus for the latest fiscal year, and received $3.5 million in payouts for previously awarded long term incentive plan grants. In 2003, Iger received $5.4 million worth of salary and bonus, and $1 million in stock units.

    Regarding Eisner’s and Iger’s security systems and services, Disney said that the measures are incurred as a result of business-related concerns, not for the personal benefit of the executives, and thus should not be classified as compensation.

    Meanwhile a report in Dow Jones states that Disney has agreed to formalise the separation of the positions of chairman and chief executive. This should pacify shareholders who want a permanent split of the two jobs.

    As part of a negotiated settlement, Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds has withdrawn its shareholder resolution filed in advance of the 2005 annual meeting in light of the company’s pledge to amend its corporate- governance guidelines.

    In a separate release, Disney said that the board has amended its corporate- governance guidelines to “embody” the policy after input from shareholders. Disney chairman George Mitchell said, “The board policy, now embodied in the guidelines, embraces principles of good corporate governance that the company is committed to pursuing.”

  • Wright takes over as Lowe Worldwide CEO & president

    MUMBAI: Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide ex-chief strategy officer Tony Wright has been named Worldwide CEO and president of Lowe & Partners Worldwide.

    At O&M, Wright was leading the strategic process for key multinational clients, as well as for global new business development. He assumes his new responsibilities from Jerry Judge, the agency’s current CEO. Judge will continue as CEO of The Partnership division of Interpublic, which encompasses a number of agency brands.
     
     
    According to Interpublic CEO and president David Bell, “Back in mid-2001, Jerry signed on to do a four-year job at Lowe and help us address a number of issues at the company. He has been successful in putting together a management team that will help build a more powerful agency. As is usual in the course of business, we had put together a succession plan at Lowe. We’re convinced we have found the right leader for Lowe now, which is why we’ve decided to accelerate management transition at the agency. Jerry respects that decision.”
     
     
    Judge added, “After having overseen one of the biggest mergers in advertising history between Lowe and APL, I am proud of the steps we have taken to futurise the agency. I am also proud of our strong new business record this year. I will be working with David to ensure a smooth transition through the end of 2004.”

    Talking about Wright, Bell said, “Tony is an exceptional talent. He has proven his ability to succeed as both a leader at top creative agencies and as an effective steward of major global brands. His intellect and rigor, as well as his energy and passion for great work, will all be valuable in restoring Lowe to its traditional place among the first rank of global creative agencies.”

    “From my earliest days in the business, I have always considered Lowe as one of advertising’s most admired brands. I am very much looking forward to joining the agency and working with the team there. I believe Lowe is uniquely positioned to address the paradox clients must increasingly confront — how to get big, highly creative ideas quickly from an agency that is also able to think and execute globally,” said Wright.

    Prior to joining Ogilvy & Mather in 1995, Wright was a partner in the successful New York creative agency, Berlin Wright Cameron. From 1986 to 1992, Wright made his name as a planner and strategist at Chiat Day, where he is credited as having been the driving force behind the immensely successful “Energizer Bunny” campaign, which continues to this day. Wright began his career in London at Hedger, Mitchell, Stark, a leading British creative agency.