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  • Nat Geo Intl, Singapore EDB invite entries for documentary fund

    Nat Geo Intl, Singapore EDB invite entries for documentary fund

    MUMBAI: Asian stories for a global audience! National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) together with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) invite Asia’s filmmakers to submit programme proposals for the fifth season of the NGCI-EDB Documentary Fund 2006.

    The objective of the NGCI-EDB Documentary Fund is to seek out and groom production talent the region has to offer, as well as facilitate the production of global quality documentaries made in Asia.

    NGCI is primarily looking for one-hour, one-off documentaries but will consider short series of up to three episodes. This documentary fund is open to Asia-based companies and filmmakers and proposal submissions guidelines are available on www.ngcasia.com/asiafilmmaker.

    Previous seasons have received entries from countries like India and Bhutan. It has also inspired Asian films such as Body Snatchers of Thailand. This film won Best Documentary at the Asian Television Awards 2004. In that same year, Kung Fu Dragons of Wudang won World Bronze Medal at the New York Film Festivals. More recently, Hiss of Death was a finalist at the prestigious Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.

    This year, NGCI will commission 11 hours of programming. Filmmakers intending to participate and receive support from the NGCI-EDB Documentary Fund are required to submit programme proposal ideas that challenge, surprise as well as compel viewers to re-think the way we view the modern world. These works have to be dramatic stories with strong central characters and portrayed through innovative storytelling.

    NGCI executive VP, poduction Bryan Smith, said, “We have definitely noticed a flourishing of productions dealing with Asian themes and topics since we embarked on this project four years ago. With greater proficiency in filmmaking, we see more sophisticated storytelling and well-crafted documentaries.

    “We are confident that the NGCI-EDB Documentary Fund, showcased as ShowReal Asia has aided in boosting the region’s filmmaking industry and we certainly hope that its continued success will pave the way for more filmmakers in Asia to showcase their talents on a global platform in the years to come.”

    Economic Development Board director, Infocomms and Media, Quek Swee Kuan says, “Over the past four seasons, we have seen Asia’s best filmmakers produce award-winning documentaries that captured the global audience. EDB is proud to be part of this partnership with NGCI that has helped cultivate and grow the creative talent base in Singapore. This initiative will continue to push the standards of documentary filmmaking here, and bring us closer to our strategic intent of developing Singapore into a media hub.”

    Submissions have to reach NGCI by 4 September. Following the announcement of the shortlisted candidates on 20 September, a producer’s master workshop will be organised from 4 to 6 October. NGCI and EDB will announce the winning commissioned projects on 6 October.

    Selected grantees can showcase their works through National Geographic Channel’s global reach of up to 290 million viewers in 164 countries as well as of a long-term creative opportunity with the Channel.

    As with previous years, this year’s selected talents from ShowReal Asia will be mentored by National Geographic Channel’s producers.

  • Exiting X-Games get exiting sponsors

    Exiting X-Games get exiting sponsors

    ESPN-Star Sports along with its sponsors will expand its X Games Brand to include new tours in Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan.

    The ESS event management group is organising the third Asian X Games Qualifier taking place at Phuket, Thailand from 7-10 December. Toyota is continuing with its sponsorship due to the immense success of the previous X games and will take the 2000 Asian X Tour to Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan. Completing the list of confirmed sponsors of this year’s AXQ is the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

    ESS viewers across Asia, Australia, Japan, Europe and Latin America will be able to enjoy the X games, a competing sport of extreme games. The Asian version of the X games began as the qualifying round of the US summer X games which served as a platform for players of these exiting sports to showcase their talents.

    Along with their tremendous appeal to attract local people, the X games also translate into prime programming for ESS. A strong proof of this is the fact that Motor Sports giant Toyota is continuing with its sponsorship with a promise that it will sponsor the X games for another two years so that it can identify with the theme of passion and sports which Toyota says goes with its brand.

    The X tours consists of three qualifying events to select competitors for the 2000 AXQ. The X tour is slated to stop in Bangkok (12-14 August), Taipei (9-10 September) and Singapore (7-8 September). In addition to this ESS will be organising viewing events in the Philippines and Malaysia.

  • Mobile content, digital lifestyle applications take centre stage in Singapore

    Mobile content, digital lifestyle applications take centre stage in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Convergence has brought together a showcase of overlapping technologies between the media, telecommunications and IT industries at BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT.

    From infrastructure to deployment, the shows gathered vendors with applications and solutions at different stages of the value chain for convergent technologies such as IPTV, broadcasting to handhelds and mobile entertainment. This year’s events hosted 2,339 exhibiting companies from 67 countries/regions.
     
    A total of 63,814 international attendees, of which 49 per cent were from overseas, saw the latest products and services birthed out of convergence that are expected to change the way consumers and businesses will use and interact with electronic devices. Attendance at this year’s event has increased by five per cent from 2005.

    Singapore Exhibition Services chief executive Stephen Tan said, “The convergence of technology has spawned off a whole new range of exciting digital lifestyle applications many of which were seen on the show floor. Clearly, the focus at this year’s exhibitions is on content for handhelds and the race is on among content providers to come up with new and exciting applications that will enhance mobility for both consumers and businesses. The increase in attendance at BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT and reflects a surge in industry confidence as convergence becomes reality.”

    Digital lifestyle showcase

    Ericsson showcased a video dating service where one can record a personal video message and send to new acquaintances, and a video karaoke where the user can call to see other singers and rate them as well as sing along to text and music and record it on video.

    On display at NTT Docomo was a technology that allows pet owners to see their pets as well as dispense food into the feeding bowl through their mobile phones. MyHeart by Philips Research Laboratories monitors a person’s health using intelligent biomedical clothes. The data is then sent via a wireless personal area network to a mobile phone or PDA and from there to a health care provider.

    Other mobile lifestyle applications at CommunicAsia included Bidshot – the first ever auction website that allows members to buy, and sell through their mobile phones, XFinance which is a mobile financial management tool which provides an overview of all your income, as well as Xovulation which is a mobile family planning tool.

    At BroadcastAsia, Innoxius Technologies showcased a gadget that turns a PDA into a multi-system mobile digital TV receiver for standards such as DVB-H, DVB-T, T-DMB, DAB and enhanced packet mode DAB standards in various spectrum ranges.

    French exhibitor Visiware launches the first triple-play gaming offer available on TV, mobile and broadband. Games can be played on the TV at home then continued on the mobile or internet. BroadcastAsia also hosted a DVB-H, DMB and Qualcomm’s MediaFLO feature, which demonstrated the capabilities of each standard to bring content onto handhelds.

    Launch pad for international players

    BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT remain an important platform for international players to reach Asia’s markets. This year, China’s participation at CommunicAsia grew by 45 per cent.

    “Participation in premier industry events, such as CommunicAsia, continue to be a good platform for Huawei to not only reach out to key influencers in the region, but also to deepen our relationship with existing and potential key customers. We have participated in CommunicAsia for more than five years and look forward to next year’s show,” said Huawei Technologies Asia Pacific vice-president Liu Jianfeng.

    The Korean presence on the BroadcastAsia show floor has doubled from last year. Korean Broadcasting Commission technology director Park Jun-Seon said, “Last year’s event was very successful in introducing DMB as one of the latest platforms for convergence services and this year we are here to showcase latest applications available through DMB. BroadcastAsia is a must attend event for breakthrough technologies such as DMB.”

    The exhibitions are seeing strong participation from Europe. The European ICT Pavilion, which was at CommunicAsia for the first time, provided an exciting snapshot of new, leading-edge technologies, products and applications for audio-visual, e-Government, e-health, e-security, and telecommunications.

    A strategic meeting place

    For many exhibitors, BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT were ideal platforms to showcase their latest offerings, network and meet target buyers.

    “We have found the show to be one of the means to launch and showcase our new wireline and wireless service offerings and solutions to our customers around this region. It is also a very good platform for our executives from across the globe to meet customers in this region and understand their needs so as to better our products for them,” said Ericsson Telecommunications Pte Ltd head of communications (Singapore) Jacinta Ong.

    Echolab was represented at BroadcastAsia two years back through their agents. However, this year the USA-based company considered the event important for them to book a space on their own. Echolab regional sales manager William Gray said, “BroadcastAsia presented us with a wonderful opportunity to reach some countries that are not easy to reach from the USA and also to rope in potential distributors.”

    Commenting on the CommunicAsia Summit, Lucent Technologies Singapore CTO South East Asia region Madhusudan Pandya said, “In-depth discussions on the most exciting and up-to-the-minute technologies, business solutions, and revenue-generating applications made the summit exceptional.”

    “I find CommunicAsia going beyond its name. It has truly become an international event, granting participants the world over to connect and converge more effectively and efficiently in a short duration of three days,” he added.

    Trade visitors armed with a $4.5 billion sourcing budget came looking to purchase the latest products and services and explore potential business alliances.

    “We are here to look at the different types of broadcasting technologies and compare systems to find out which ones will suit us the best. We intend to upgrade our facilities and plan to buy equipment worth millions of dollars,” said Setsiri Trisaksri from the Royal Thai Army Radio and TV, Thailand.

    “I’m a regular visitor here and this is my fourth show in a row. We are looking for small and medium enterprises, which develop niche technology. Here we find these people and we partner with them. We have been very successful in doing that and that’s why we love coming to CommunicAsia. It’s a great meeting place,” said Precision Electronics Ltd India president Nikhil Kanodia.

  • The Man’s World Show wins ‘Best Entertainment Programme’ at 2006 Asian Television Awards in Singapore

    Mumbai: AXN, the action and adventure channel for Indian viewers, received international recognition for its top rated series The Man’s World Show when it won the heavily contested “Best Entertainment Programme” category at the 2006 Asian Television Awards ceremony held last Thursday in Singapore.

    The Man’s World Show was a first-of-its-kind television programme in India that was focused on issues that matter to men in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. Irreverent and cheeky, the show was hosted by Ash Chandler and Vrajesh Hirjee, who interviewed top celebrity guests, and also gave advice about fashion, cars, gadgets and new trends, all while keeping the viewers laughing for the length of the show.

    Says Sunder Aaron, Creator of The Man’s World Show and Country Head of AXN, “AXN over the years has built a large and loyal viewership base in India. Creating an AXN original production for our viewers was the next step in meeting viewers’ needs and will help us solidify our leadership of the English entertainment genre in India. With The Man’s World Show, we were consciously trying to produce a show for men that would be different from all else seen on Indian television. Of course, we wanted all the women out there to watch too.”

    Adds Ricky Ow, General Manager of SPE Networks – Asia, is delighted with the win, “For our one-year-old AXN production unit, we cannot ask for a better start. Not only did The Man’s World Show win the ‘Best Entertainment Programme’ in Asia, but Mondo Magic Singapore was also highly commended for its entertainment efforts. Both shows have a unique and bold approach in ensuring that the entertainment value on AXN is high and yet is different from what others are doing. The awards have confirmed the quality of AXN original productions along with top flight international series such as CSI, The Amazing Race, 24 and Nip/Tuck.”

    Targeting an upwardly mobile male audience, The Man’s World Show provided the Indian viewers with advice, answers, options and ideas for their evolving cosmopolitan lifestyles. With its real life cast and characters (and a little bit of chaos mixed in), this AXN Original Production presented each episode with a different theme of importance.

    The two quirky hosts livened up the show with their fast talk and quick wits, and with the help of regular figures like Sonia the Bartender, Doctor Love, and Benny the thirty-year-old virgin, who helped shed light on everything that a man wants or needs to know.

    The audience was treated to episodes with themes such as “The Art of Seduction”, “The Rules of Success in the Workplace”, and “How to be the Perfect Lover”. The appearance of celebrity guests like Hollywood superstar – Will Smith combined with a bevy of Bollywood beauties like Tanishaa, Celina Jaitely, Amrita Arora, Mandira Bedi, Minisha Lamba among a host of others increased the glamour quotient on the show by leaps and bounds! The celebrities on the show were seen in a new light when they gave the viewers their very personal views on love and life.

    Says Sunder Aaron, “News of the award is especially exciting for us because it perfectly sets the stage for Season 2 of The Man’s World Show, launching on AXN in January, 2007. More on that later!”

    About AXN

    Delivering top rated series, blockbuster features, adventure-reality and first-run lifestyle sports programming, AXN is a leading international television destination among young adults 18-34. AXN is seen in 50 countries across Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, and is part of Sony Pictures Television International’s diverse portfolio of over 40 global networks. Sony Pictures Television International is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

    AXN Asia is available to more than 78 million households 24-hours daily throughout Asia in Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, South Korea, Macau, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Maldives, Mongolia and in hotels and VIP compounds in China. AXN can also be seen in 40 million cable television households on time-block basis in China. More information about AXN can be found online at www.axn-india.com.

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  • Digital lifestyle, the latest buzz word

    Digital lifestyle, the latest buzz word

    SINGAPORE: There’s a rather feel-good atmosphere here at Broadcast Asia 2006. The rain gods have stopped their onslaught on Singapore, leaving a slight chill in the air. Though the conference is nearing its fag end, professionals from across the world continue their discussions while sipping endless cups of black coffee with steamed momos.

    Apart from the other sessions on the digital space, Day Four saw a special seminar on Digital Living 2006: Trends in digital Homes & Lifestyle.

    Chalking out the company’s plans to fuel the growth of digital homes across the world, a Microsoft executive said, “Microsoft’s Media Center PCs (a digital lifestyle device) have been fuelling the digital lifestyle in the US. Almost every second PC in the US is a Media Center PC and we predict more than 19 million digital homes by 2008 across Europe. In effect we expect an exponential growth rate of more than 1,200 per cent.”

    Well, so what are digital homes? The term connotes huge plasma screens, a remote to orchestrate all the devices and automatic functioning of one’s home. It is definitely this, but in the present scenario with the proliferation of technology, consumers lapping up devices and digital content, digital home lifestyle concept has also moved much further.

    Today, hardware, software, content and service companies across the world are working hand-in-hand to complete this ecosystem with high-end connectivity and supporting technologies.

    Shedding further light on the concept, Philips MD Emmaneul Dieppedalle said, “The concept has definitely moved away from just entertainment. It is about offering a device which can integrate and personalize all the information that is there. So, along with high-speed Net connections, exchange music, video, and other content and of course video-on-demand,

    He further added, “A lot of the developments are taking place in Japan, Korea and S Asia on the consumer products side; whereas all the innovations on the PC front are happening in the US. Now, the real digital home experience phenomenon will emerge, when we try to combine the best of both the worlds.”

    From the seminar which also comprised of Awox, director and GM, Alexis Martial, Orca Interactive, Alon Laor, VP, Sales and Professional Services, what came across was the digital home is currently receiving a lot of impetus behind it with a lot of people pulling in the same direction.

    What’s the real value proposition of a digital lifestyle home? Colin Png said, “Currently there are three main hubs of connectivity – the PC, mobile and the consumer items like DVDs, MP3 players, etc. The big challenge is to interconnect all these and bring in a simplified and personalized service which can comprise Digital music, Gaming, Educational tools, Photos with slide shows, MP3 players. Live TV, video on demand record. So, here you can record your favourite TV programme and watch it whenever want. Walk from your bedroom to your living room or take that official call and you will still not miss the last bit of your favourite TV programme.”

    To take their content paradigm further, Microsoft has also tied up with Reuters for content. Here, consumers get very personalised content, which they can browse and choose from the news items along with videos, being delivered on broadband.

    Alon Laor added, “Simply put its all about time shifting and space shifting.” According to Laor, the single biggest challenge is lack of education amongst consumers and lack of connectivity between the different hardware components. Also, we are still not able to offer that one important value proposition to the consumer.

    But then, as Parks Associates USA director of research John Barrett, aptly said, “Consumers too crave for hi-tech technology, but it should be no-fuss technology. Digital homes should be able to make life easier for consumers.”

  • Celcom and NSS launch SecretSMS

    Celcom and NSS launch SecretSMS

    BANGALORE: Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad and NSS MSC Sdn Bhd today launched a revolutionary product called SecretSMS. SecretSMS is a simple software that encrypts SMS messages thereby offering security and privacy.

    Starting today, over 2 million Celcom subscribers with smart phones will be able to enjoy a whole new SMS experience, especially those seeking to keep their text life private, states an official release.

    SecretSMS is derived from a backbone technology called XMS (Xecure Message Service) that was developed by NSS. NSS is proud to partner with Celcom to introduce the SecretSMS to the market. Research statistics reveal that this product will appeal to the youth population who use messaging as their primary means of communications, the release adds.

    Text messages that are stored in the phones are readily accessible. Anyone can have access to your phone if it is left unattended. Some personal or sensitive messages might even get read by the wrong person without prior permission, which could eventually lead to unnecessary misunderstandings or even mishaps.

    SecretSMS transmits and stores sensitive messages that are accessible with a password known only to the mobile owners. SecretSMS is powered by 128-bit encryption that encrypts incoming and outgoing SMS’s in the transmission process. To read the encrypted messages, users have to key in the valid password. Hence, mobile users have complete control over their privacy in the SMS communications.

    XMS technology is set to penetrate the global market particularly in the US, UK, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka where NSS is already in talks with the local mobile operators and financial institutions, as per the official release.

     

  • Asian D- Cinema Summit calls for a uniform technology format

    Asian D- Cinema Summit calls for a uniform technology format

    SINGAPORE: Is the whole world soon going to be divided into the Digital and the Non Digital? Well, looks like. And not just that, but understanding the digital world seems like the only way to remain relevant in the rapidly converging media & entertainment industry.

    Broadcast Asia 2006, aptly embodies a theme, titled Digital – The Journey Forward. And to go with the theme, the mega event which is made up of exhibitions, conferences and meetings, started off bang on with ‘The Asian D-Cinema Summit.’

    The summit focused on the rollout of digital cinema, which has revolutionised the cinematic experience for moviegoers around the world. Setting the agenda for a day-long discussion, Mike Connors, chairman Connors & Associates, Singapore, began the session by shedding light on the overall scenario.

    He said, “The coming days are going to pose newer challenges for people in the movie business. Cause: digital cinema is more than just perfect images and sounds, but it impacts on how a movie is actually made (production), distribution and projection in the theatres. So, it’s not just about digital capture but also about digital delivery and projection. So, going the digital way is all about setting up systems that ensures a uniform and high level of technical performance along with quality control.”

    So, how does the movie industry flourish as well as move towards a smooth transition to a digital future? What came across was that one has to move towards one digital distribution and exhibition format. And that format is clearly complying with the Digital Cinema Specifications (DCI which came across in 2002).

    Taking the discussion further, Thomas Lim, Director, Education, Learning, Digital Media & entertainment, IDA Singapore, said, “The film fraternity across the Asian region seems to grappling with issues of complying with the Digital Cinema initiatives, to ensure great quality control. In fact, Singapore is fast emerging a great hub by playing a strong support to the industry in terms of helping comply and convert content to the norms of DCI.”

    Some of the other questions which were raised during the opening session were what are the technical developments that will help enhance the conversion to digital screens? In the future, who will bear the technology cost? How will distributors and exhibitors work out their new equations? Will we have to create fresh content as the theatres go digital? Or will moviegoers have to pay more to enjoy digital cinema.

    “Though, the answers to these queries will emerge in the time to come, it looks like we are getting there,” said Al Barton VP, Sony Pictures Entertainment, USA. He added, “Last year we were here speculating the specifications laid down to go digital but this time for people involved in the film business, we are here really to discuss how more countries have start adopting to digital screens. The systems which have worked in the US can also be applied in other parts of the world, in spite of the fact that the scenario does is differ from region to region. Like, France has independent producers and Germany is a country where most of the prints are used twice in the country. So, we’ll have to come to a flexible solution for digital films being distributed across the world.”

    The opening session also looked at the various technological challenges that the digital world will pose for the industry. Equipment manufacturers will have to invest in compatible equipment so as to help theatrical projectors to create a uniform and compatible digital cinema. But hopefully, as the market gets more competitive, the price of the equipment and its installation which were previously thought to be a major barrier to digital cinema will become increasingly affordable.

  • ‘CNN Future Summit’ global initiative launches 15 June

    ‘CNN Future Summit’ global initiative launches 15 June

    MUMBAI: Starting 15 June, CNN will showcase CNN Future Summit: Of Man and Machine. The international news channel unveiled this interactive two-year programming initiative, CNN Future Summit is designed to stimulate debate on technological advances that will shape tomorrow’s world.

    In a global initiative, CNN has compiled a think tank of the world’s leading futurologists, which, combined with an extensive multi-media open forum on CNN.com, will explore the potential impact of scientific innovation.

    In an official statement issued today, the first of four one-hour roundtable discussions, hosted by Michael Holmes from Singapore. For this, the panelist lined-up includes Alan Colman, CEO and chief scientific officer of ESI in Singapore (widely known for his work on cloning Dolly the Sheep in 1997), Joanne Pranksy billed as the world’s first robotic psychiatrist, University of Lausanne cultural and social anthropologist Daniela Cerqui, University of California synthetic biology department founding director Jay Keasling and Humanoid Robot Research Center, Korea’s Humanoid Robot Research Center Jun-Ho-Oh.

    CNN International senior VP Rena Golden says, “The world class caliber of our panelists for this first discussion is testament to the esteem in which CNN Future Summit is already held by both the scientific community and the general public. We are delighted that such an illustrious group has been chosen by the nominating committee to lead our global discussion and help form a vision of our future.”

  • GV Films to acquire majority stake in Singapore-based Tamil channel

    GV Films to acquire majority stake in Singapore-based Tamil channel

    MUMBAI: GV Films will be acquiring 70 per cent stake in Tamil Box Office, a Singapore based satellite movie channel that is currently owned by Pixei Box Office Pte Ltd. 

    “We are planning to acquire about 70 per cent in the channel. We already have the funds and the additional funding, if required, will be done through a second round of placements – via FCCB and preferential allotment of shares. The content for the channel will mainly come from the GV Films movie library,” says GV Films chairman Mahadevan Ganesh. 

    Ganesh said that the channel would be promoted globally after the acquisition. The acquisition of Tamil Box Office will mark the production house’s foray into the broadcast business.

  • Steve Waugh to host a reality TV show; signs up with Imagine Omnimedia

    Steve Waugh to host a reality TV show; signs up with Imagine Omnimedia

    MUMBAI: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has signed up with Singapore-based Imagine OmniMedia to host a reality television show. Waugh will in the process be supporting Indian cricket by launching a talent hunt to find the next Indian cricket superstar.

    The broadcaster which will telecast the show is not finalised yet. Imagine OmniMedia is in talks with all the broadcasters to showcase the talent hunt.

    The show is likely to be co-produced from India between Imagine OmniMedia of Singapore and a local production house.

    A nationwide search will culminate in the selection of a group of top contenders and finally, through a tough elimination process will identify a single cricket star who will get a chance to play with the leading personalities of the sport. In addition to offering a large cash prize amount of which is undisclosed, the show will launch the winner’s career in the cricket world, according to an UNI report.

    A battery of ex-international and national cricket celebrities will work in conjunction with Steve Waugh. The panel of judges is likely to consist of Gavin Robertson, also a former member of the Australian cricket team, and renowned Indian ex-cricketers, the report adds.