ITV

Tag: Singapore

  • Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    MUMBAI: On the heels of the luanch of the channel Vom HD launch at the recently concluded television trade eevnt in Mipcom, France Rainbow HD Holdings, a subsidiary of Rainbow Media has broadened the global channel’s reach with a new distribution agreement.

    Rainbow has tapped Zonemedia to sell the channel throughout much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

    Voom HD offers the international marketplace a lineup of high-definition (HD) programmes selected from Voom HD Networks’ 15 thematic HD channels in the US. Its content includes signature programming from Equator HD ( places and people), Gallery HD ( stories from the art world), Gameplay HD (video gaming in HD), Rave HD, (live music in 5.1 surround sound), Rush HD (adventure sports), Treasure HD (people with a passion for collecting) and Ultra HD (fashion and luxury lifestyle).

    Rainbow Media senior VP business development Glenn Oakley says, “As we strategized the best possible distribution for Voom HD, Zonemedia emerged as a particularly solid choice because of its strong track record in successfully delivering third-party channels throughout the world. Voom HD’s vast array of quality high-definition programming has great appeal to the international marketplace, and we believe Zonemedia will exploit this to the fullest.”

    TVOOM HD is already set for a November 1 launch in Scandinavia through a deal made by distribution company NonStop Television with Canal Digital. Today’s news opens the channel for business throughout even more of the world, with carriage deals already in the works for possible announcement over the next few months.

    In addition to its impending launch in Scandinavia, three Voom branded channels have been launched in Canada, operated by High Fidelity TV: Treasure HD, Equator HD and Rush HD. Korea’s SkyHD recently deployed a daily primetime Voom HD branded programming block this past September.

    Since launching its global expansion initiative at Mipcom last year, Rainbow Media has also sold over 1,000 hours of programming from its Voom HD, WE tv, Mag Rack and sportskool brands to broadcasters around the world, including India, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, UK and Australia.

  • Nokia unveils TV enabled Nokia N92 mobile phone

    Nokia unveils TV enabled Nokia N92 mobile phone

    HONG KONG: Nokia stamped its commitment to broadcast mobile TV by live simulcast demonstration of pay-TV channels on its Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) enabled Nokia N92.

    Being showcased for the first time at the Casbaa convention, which brings together the leading participants in the Asia-Pacific region’s television industry, the demonstration includes the first-ever broadcast of Casbaa TV channel that is broadcasting the conference proceedings live, and several other international pay-TV channels during the convention.

    “The first-ever broadcast of the Casbaa TV channel and several pay-TV channels on the Nokia N92 at the annual Casbaa convention gives the industry further proof that broadcast mobile TV using DVB-H technology is a reality,” 
    an official statement quoted Jawahar Kanjilal, Director, Multimedia Experiences, Asia-Pacific, Nokia, as saying.

    “With pay-TV subscriptions approaching saturation in many countries, the industry’s leading participants now have first-hand evidence of how the mobile device can help extend their broadcast footprint across the region,” he added.

    During the week of the convention, Casbaa delegates and officials have been issued with Nokia N92 multimedia computers, which will enable them to stay connected with the conference while enjoying the personal television experience.

    “Nokia is fully committed to broadcast mobile TV and the DVB-H technology, and we will strive towards an open and competitive ecosystem similar to the one that has made GSM/WCDMA-based mobile telephony so successful today,” 
    added Kanjilal.

    In September this year, Nokia and the Vietnam Multimedia Corporation, Vietnam’s leading national broadcaster and operator in digital broadcasting, announced the decision to launch commercial broadcast mobile TV services to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi by the end of 2006.

    Consumers in both cities will enjoy seven digital TV channels and a near video-on-demand service – on the Nokia N92, from a catalog of selected titles offered by VTC.

    In June this year, the DVB-H Asia Pacific Alliance (DAPA), comprising Australia’s The Bridge Networks, MECA from Indonesia, Malaysia’s MiTV, and Nokia was established to promote the sharing of best practices and to keep member companies appraised of new business and technological developments in broadcast mobile TV.

    The group will also support regulatory preparation and discussion to facilitate the adoption of DVB-H as the standard for mobile TV in the Asia Pacific region.

    Nokia also announced interoperability agreements with Sony-Ericsson and Motorola earlier this year.

    During the FIFA World Cup in Germany this year, multivendor interoperability was showcased with the Nokia N92 multimedia computer and DVB-H enabled devices from other manufacturers, in a pilot project run by German mobile network operators E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

    In the Asia Pacific region, Nokia has participated in broadcast mobile TV trials in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan (R.O.C).

    Globally, pilots and market research studies so far have shown high positive feedback for broadcast mobile TV services.

  • AXN goes mobile to spread the buzz

    AXN goes mobile to spread the buzz

    MUMBAI: The mobile is increasingly becoming a way for channels to reach their consumers. A case in point is the action oriented AXN.

    AXN Mobile, a mobile Wap entertainment portal by AXN, is ready to be launched in Asia and will be available to consumers from early November 2006.

    Now viewers acros Asia will not only get to catch high-octane action and adventure programmes on TV; supplement their programme knowledge and have fun with games and contests via the website; live the AXN lifestyle by participating in specially formatted made-for-TV challenge-reality shows… but to top it all off, AXN Mobile is now available to continue providing the AXN buzz while on the move – giving consumers an adrenaline-charged “power snack bar” to get them freshened up for their next appointment.

    Through the mobile AXN is looking to catch viewers whether they are on a lunch or coffee break from work, commuting on public transport to meet friends, or soaking their stress away in the Jacuzzi.

    AXN Mobile offers exclusive streaming video on demand (SVOD) services and downloadable personalisation products such as ringtones and wallpapers from the channel’s flagship programmes that have garnered a huge loyal following around the region.

    In Singapore and Malaysia, AXN has expanded its partnership with affiliates like StarHub to carry the mobile products on their platform and with Astro to distribute AXN mobile to major telcos. In the Philippines, AXN has partnered with Smart Communications. Direct deals with major telcom firms are also in negotiation in Hong Kong and Taiwan, which will be announced at a later date.

    The channel says that a clear differentiation about AXN Mobile, is the exclusive made-for-mobile contents offered to consumers, in an effort to ensure the desirability and relevance of AXN Mobile. Unlike other mobile TV services that are mostly an extension of the TV contents (like news updates or the linear channel service), AXN offers a library of video clips from its stable of signature shows that are specially produced for streaming via mobile.

    AXN Mobile will be available in various Asia markets in early November, in conjunction with the much-awaited premiere of AXN’s biggest original production – The Amazing Race Asia. Special made-for-mobile contents have been created that will allow viewers of The Amazing Race Asia to supplement their knowledge of the show – like host Allan Wu’s Host Video Diary, where he shares his thoughts at the end of each race day; interviews with eliminated teams on their reflection of what may have caused their elimination and their thoughts on which team they believe will emerge victorious.

    In the final stages of the race, viewers can also download clips of interviews with the remaining teams after every episode to see what would be each team’s strategy going into the next leg of the race. These videos will serve to “whet the appetite” of viewers as they wait in anticipation for the next episode. Of course, there will also be the ever-popular “unseen footages” or “behind-the-scene” shots of the funny moments, big arguments or even too-hot-for-TV catfights…

    Similar offerings from other shows like Mondo Magic Singapore and The Contender are also in the pipeline, as well as a special segment known as AXN Moments featuring great moments of fun, courage, and laughter from some of the best daredevil record-breaking challenges from AXN original productions and events.

    SPE Networks Asia GM Ricky Ow says, “AXN has always been a leading trendsetter, being the first action and adventure channel, the first to bring the reality craze to Asia, the first in Asia to take on such a mega scale production like The Amazing Race Asia. And now we will also be the first to provide a true-blue entertainment WAP portal that allows our viewers to have a seamless, well-rounded, enriching entertainment experience that complements their TV viewing.

    “Mobile technology is very much a part of our viewers’ lifestyle, our core audience being the working executives and professionals. With the rapid advancement and pick-up of mobile technology in Asia, we feel that it is the right time to venture into mobile TV, and I am confident that our viewers will appreciate the unique content offerings we have.”

  • Skycom to develop HDTV STB in Singapore

    Skycom to develop HDTV STB in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Skycom Satellite Systems is being selected by MediaCorp to develop a High Definition TV set top box in Singapore for the HDTV trial starting June 2007 for a period of six months.

    Skycom Satellite Systems has manufactured different models of Satellite and Terrestrial set top boxes being sold directly to end users, TV Operators as well as OEM manufacturing for various established brands.

    In this HDTV STB project, which is considered the first in the world, Skycom Satellite Systems is the main development center using technologies from Singapore, India and HK/China, according to an official release.

    With less than six months to start from concept development, to product and software development, comprehensive testing in laboratory and with Mediacorp and ST engineers, plus the boxes to be manufactured and delivered in June, the official launch date of Singapore HDTV service,the mission is critical with huge time pressure.

    And it is foreseen that there is requirement to integrate IPTV function with DTT box or vice versa. For example, Skycom box, with further R&D development, can receive the IPTV service(s) that may be launched in Singapore.

  • Buena Vista to distribute Jet Li’s first Chinese film on TV

    Buena Vista to distribute Jet Li’s first Chinese film on TV

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has received the television distribution rights to
    Fearless, starring international action superstar Jet Li, produced by Bill Kong and directed by Ronny Yu.

    This is BVITV-AP’s first Chinese-language feature for television distribution. 

    Under this agreement, BVITV-AP has the rights to distribute Fearless in various markets across Asia including Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The martial arts epic is expected to make its television debut later this year on Star Chinese Movies in Singapore, the Philippines and Taiwan, where it has been licensed by BVITV-AP.

    Coming from the producer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers, Fearless is based on the tragic life of one
    of China’s most renowned martial arts masters Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910) who is played by Jet Li and supported by an international cast lead by Japanese actor Nakamura Shido. 

    BVITV-AP senior VP, MD Steve Macallister says, “We are thrilled to be extending our portfolio with this Asian box office hit and underlines our commitment to carefully enhancing our portfolio with quality local content. We look forward to the movie’s continued success as it launches later

    this year on Star Chinese Movies in various markets across Asia.”

    Star GM Chinese programming Jason Siu said, “We are delighted to work with BVITV-AP in adding yet another blockbuster to Star Chinese Movies, the world’s most powerful Chinese movie channel. We are confident that Fearless, with its huge box office success and the mass appeal of Jet Li, will give viewers another spectacular viewing experience.”

    The film was recently released in theatres in the US. It opened in various Asian markets earlier this year including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, and has
    grossed nearly $60 million to date at the worldwide box office.

     

  • World Poker Tour to introduce progressive platforms, content at Mipcom

    World Poker Tour to introduce progressive platforms, content at Mipcom

    MUMBAI: World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE) will attend the global television trade event Mipcom in Cannes, France, from 9 – 13 October 2006.

    The firm works in the area of poker entertainment. It also claims to be behind the worldwide poker television boom. WPTE will offer new sponsorship, licensing and programming opportunities for 2007.

    To foster increasing worldwide penetration, the WPTE aims to build its international partnerships via joint-ventures, local programming, merchandising, and other strategic alliances. WPTE will showcase the World Poker Tour Season IV, the flagship show in poker television at Mipcom.

    Executives will also present the premiere season of the Professional Poker Tour (PPT), which is currently airing on the Travel Channel in the US.

    WPTE executive director of international distribution Gary MacKinney says, “We look forward to leveraging a premiere tradeshow like Mipcom to strengthen relationships and create opportunities to further expand poker throughout the globe. The World Poker Tour will continue to add international stops while exploring locally-produced televised tournaments in key markets.”
    WPT programming currently airs in 154 countries, including Spain, Canada and Philippines. It recently inked pacts with Kanal 5 in Sweden, Macau Cable in Macau and MediaCorp in Singapore.

    WPTE executive VP Robyn Moder says, “When the WPT made its television debut five years ago, it incited a national poker phenomenon that continues to escalate.

    “As the WPTE begins to roll-out its international formats, we hope to use our excellent and well-seasoned production experience to help our international partners create for their audiences compelling poker programming of the same magnitude.”

  • IBC to offer its new show, ‘VIP Passport’ at Mipcom

    IBC to offer its new show, ‘VIP Passport’ at Mipcom

    MUMBAI: Taking viewers behind the velvet ropes and into the first-class life of a jet-setter, International Broadcast Communications (IBC) is bringing LUX Entertainment’s VIP Passport to Mipcom’s global marketplace.

    VIP Passport will take viewers into the exotic lifestyle of five American jet-setters as they party at the hottest nightclubs, dine at the most exclusive restaurants, shop at the trendiest boutiques and party at the finest locales around the world.

    The 13-episode weekly series serves up extravagant settings, with intriguing plotlines—sure to leave viewers craving more.

    “The world is obsessed with the lives of today’s socialites,” says Founder and president of IBC Jon Helmrich.

    “VIP Passport allows viewers to virtually experience a fantasy lifestyle. It takes you into a world full of the hottest parties, the finest champaigne and the world’s most exotic cars. I am confident that this visually stunning show will be a hit at this year’s market.”

    Destinations for the series include Paris, Milan, Monaco, Rome, Belize, Singapore, Tokyo, Las Vegas, New York, Miami and Los Angeles among others.

    The new weekly one-hour program has been cleared on the FOX Television station group in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and is on track to be cleared in 85% of US television households by 30 October 2006, when the first-run series debuts in broadcast syndication.

  • Disney said to be looking at a theme park in Singapore

    Disney said to be looking at a theme park in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Disney is said to be looking at the possibility of a theme park in Singapore. It is talking to Singapore authorities on the matter.

    Media reports indicate that Disney has been in discussions with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on a possible theme park in Marina East, which will cover a land area of around 30 hectares. The site in question is an empty plot of land beside the new 18-hole Marina Bay Golf Course at Tanjong Rhu, operated by a unit of NTUC Club.

    Market talk indicates that Disney could get prime land to build the theme park without going through a tender. It will unsettle bidders for a family-themed integrated resort with casino on the resort island of Sentosa.

    Reports indicate that in the 1990s, Singapore almost had its own Disneyland in the Seletar area. However, Disney wanted land that was four times bigger than its Tokyo attraction but was not prepared to spend its own money.

    Coming back to the current scenario, bidders for the Sentosa site include Genting International PLC (G13.SG), which has promised to build a Universal Studios theme park if successful, and a joint venture between Kerzner International Ltd. (KZL) and Southeast Asia’s largest developer CapitaLand Ltd. (C31.SG). The tender for the Sentosa site closes next month.

  • Asianet completes one year in Singapore

    Asianet completes one year in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Asianet has completed its first year of operations in Singapore. To celebrate the occasion, the channel conducted a special Onam show in association with Singapore Malayali Association on 26 August.

    The function was inaugurated by Singapore Republic president S R Nathan, in the presence of Asianet MD K Madhavan and ambassador K Gopinatha Pillai.

    Popular entertainment personalities such as Sheela, Gopika and Jayasurya also participated in the function. An orchestra, participated by music director M Jayachandran, singers Sujatha, Rimi Tommy, Shwetha and Afzal added glitter to the function.

    Lakshmi Gopalaswami’s classical dance and comedy skits participated by popular Malayalam mimicry artists also made the occasion a memorable one.

  • India to play Australia, Windies in September

    India to play Australia, Windies in September

    MUMBAI: This is one series that should have Zee Sports seriously pushing it as a prime property. Just ahead of the Champions Trophy in October, India will be playing a tri-series against Australia and the West Indies in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

    “The triseries of seven One-Day Internationals between India, Australia and West Indies [is] scheduled to be played in September this year in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as part of the newly formatted Neutral Venue Schedule,” Zee News quoted the BCCI as saying in a statement issued here.

    The series falls under the neutral venue matches that Zee had secured rights to in April with whopping $219.15 million bid (average of $ 8.77 million per match) for 25 matches spread over the next five years. .

    The triseries was approved by the Marketing Sub-committee which met in Mumbai on 28 July, Zee News quoted the BCCI statement as saying.

    The format of the tournament is a league where each of the three teams will play each other twice and the top two will go through to the Finals.

    Singapore will host the first three ODIs while Kuala Lumpur will host the following four matches (including the Finals).

    The Indian board will handle the marketing and sale of television rights, while Cricket Australia will manage and consolidate all ground handling for the series, the BCCI statement adds.