Tag: Sky News

Sky to launch new pay service on DTT in UK

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky is developing plans for the launch of a subscription television service on digital terrestrial television (DTT) this year.

The new service will allow programmes – including sport and movies – through a conventional rooftop aerial and a DTT box for a monthly subscription.

By bringing back pay-TV content to the DTT platform, Sky aims to create more choice for customers who are interested in upgrading from free-to-air to pay-TV. This the firm says represents an attractive commercial opportunity, benefitting from existing investments in programming and infrastructure, and attracting new customers to Sky over and above current plans for the growth of Sky’s satellite service.

The line-up of channels on the new service will offer a range of content including sports, movies, entertainment and news. The sports service will include live coverage from the Barclays Premiership and other events. Full details, including branding, pricing and the complete channel line-up, will be revealed closer to launch.

The new service will make use of existing capacity that Sky currently uses to broadcast Sky Three, Sky News and Sky Sports News. As a result, these channels will cease to be available free-to-air via DTT in advance of the launch of the pay-TV service.

Sky plans to broadcast its pay-TV channels on DTT using the more efficient MPEG4 compression technology, bringing innovation to the platform and enabling Sky to offer four 24-hour video streams in place of the three Sky channels currently available, with further improvements expected in future. The pay-TV service will use a highly secure conditional access (CA) system similar to the one that Sky uses for its satellite television service.

To access the service, customers will buy a new set-top box that includes the relevant CA software and MPEG4 decoder. It is anticipated that once the service launches multiple manufacturers will have the opportunity to produce compatible set-top-boxes and other DTT receivers.

The launch of the new service is subject to approval by Ofcom of the necessary variations to licences held by Sky and National Grid Wireless, which provides DTT transmission and multiplexing services to Sky.

Sky COO Mike Darcey said, ” We look forward to bringing some of Sky’s most popular content to digital terrestrial viewers. This will give families more choice and increase the availability of leading content and channel brands.”

February 10, 2007
News Corp takes 5% stake in web video firm Roo

MUMBAI: News Corp is buying a stake in Australian web video firm Roo. Ruper Murdoch’s media conglomerate is initially taking a five per cent stake, which can go up to 10 per cent if certain predetermined revenue targets are achieved.

Roo currently manages online global video content distribution and content syndication across many of News Corp’s properties including The Times of London, and The Australian and has content syndication partnerships with FOX News Channel and Sky News.

“We are excited to be working with News Corporation to further harness the enormous opportunity of online video across its global network of prestigious media brands,” says Roo chairman and CEO Robert Petty.

The deal with News Corp comes less than a week after Roo, currently valued at $75 million, announced the acquisition of MyVideoDaily, a Web destination and software company.

The reported $1.35m acquisition provides Roo with a proven search engine marketing strategy that introduces new users to the company’s portals and desktop applications.

January 30, 2007
StarHub spices up as Fashion TV hits the runway

MUMBAI: Singaporean pay-TV operator, StarHub will launch Fashion TV – the international channel dedicated to fashion, beauty and style – on StarHub Digital Cable. The channel will make its debut on 13 November 2006.

The info-communication company had recently launched a slew of new channels on its digital platform, including Star Chinese Channel, Vihay TV, Sky News, Channel [V] International, Foxcrime, Boomerang and National Geographic Wild.

Fashion TV will be made available on the Digital-only Add-on Tier, and customers with a digital or DVR set-top box will be able to enjoy Fashion TV for a monthly subscription of $8 ($8.40 with GST), which includes the complimentary use of their first digital set-top box.

StarHub VP cable TV services Patrick Lim says, “The customers we serve have a diverse spectrum of interests, and we aim to meet the needs and desires of all of them by offering a more comprehensive range of channels. This is certainly something local consumers can continue to expect from us.

“While there are many excellent fashion publications available in Singapore, we believe that a market exists for a global fashion channel that combines music and stunning visuals to offer viewers the ultimate fashion experience. Fashion TV brings the ritz, glamour and excitement of fashion shows ‘live’ to audiences.”

Fashion TV CEO and president Michel Adam Lisowski says, “As the definitive fashion channel, Fashion TV has been very well received in Asia, and we are confident that the refreshing, uniquely sophisticated content on the channel will not only win over keen fashion buffs, but also the general Singapore audience who appreciates beauty and style.”

Fashion TV is the fashionista’s ticket to all the hottest fashion events around the globe. From the catwalks of New York, Paris, Milan and London, to glamourous red carpet events – Fashion TV is there on the front lines, poised to present up-to-the-minute news on every aspect of the fashion industry.

Shows like Fashion Week and Fashion Event deliver the world of international fashion home to viewers, while Midnight Hot – one of the most popular segments on Fashion TV, serves up a visual feast for viewers at midnight, as the world’s top supermodels parade in the season’s trendiest lingerie and bikini outfits.

Fashion TV also celebrates the personalities who make it all happen in the cutting-edge world of fashion. The designers and photographers featurettes give viewers an in-depth look at the creative process behind the work of designers, stylists and photographers who inspire the latest trends, while “First Face” and “F People” give the low down on the lifestyles of models and celebrities who dictate what’s in and what’s not in the fickle fashion scene.

Fashion TV also has the latest tips and fashion finds – all that the fashion and beauty fan needs to hit the streets. Viewers will receive expert tips to revamp their wardrobe and makeup via programmes like Hair and Make-up, Now in Stores and Tendances. Hair and Make-up reveals the beauty secrets behind the most dazzling hairstyles and makeup; Now in Stores highlight one’s shopping spree must-haves; while Tendances showcases the season’s most coveted accessories.

The channel’s Fashion and Film and Fashion and Music programmes take viewers behind-the-scenes of the latest films and music videos, and give them an exclusive glimpse of the elaborate makeup, styling and costume designing that takes place on the set of upcoming movies and music videos.

This month Fashion TV profiles acclaimed designer, Roberto Cavalli, who started with humble beginnings in the late 60’s when he created his own fashion line inspired by art made from patchwork of different fabrics. He had his first taste of fame in the mid-90’s when his new line of clothing drew a celebrity clientele that included Madonna and Kate Moss. Cavalli was chosen as the favorite menswear label in Florence in 2002, and Cavalli was picked by Fashion Group International as Designer of the Year. Check out Cavalli’s latest inspirations on Fashion TV this November.

Come December, Fashion TV will present the latest spring/summer 2007 fashion looks ‘live’ from shows in all the fashion capitals around the world. Book a spot next to the catwalk by tuning in to Fashion TV!

Viewers can refer to the On-screen TV Guide or StarHub’s Online Programme Guide at www.starhub.com/cabletv for the schedule of the programmes on Fashion TV, and customers can call 1630 or 1633 to subscribe to the channel from 13 November 2006 onwards.

November 8, 2006
Sky News’ head Nick Pollard to quit in September

MUMBAI: Sky News’ head Nick Pollard who ran the network for a decade is set to quit in September. He will be succeeded by the current executive editor John Ryley as the head of the network.

The announcement of Pollard’s opting to leave the organisation comes eight months after the channel’s expensive re-launch last October, inform media reports.

In January Pollard admitted that recent months had been “the toughest time in Sky News history” after viewers reacted negatively to the relaunch, which failed to attract new viewers.

Under his leadership, Sky News was recognised for its live reporting from the field of events such as the Asian tsunami, the Iraq War and the Kosovo crisis when the channel was the first to provide live pictures from inside Kosovo on liberation day.

Since the October relaunch, Sky has featured less rolling news and more distinct programmes plus the introduction of new presenters such as Eamon Holmes and James Rubin.

Before joining Sky as head of news in 1996, Pollard spent 13 years at ITN where he was executive producer of News at Ten. He began his career as a local newspaper journalist in 1968, before moving to the BBC where he remained until 1980.

May 8, 2006