ITV

Tag: Sony

  • Tribune Digital Ventures buys out What’s-ON

    Tribune Digital Ventures buys out What’s-ON

    MUMBAI: Atul Phadnis’ What’s-ON, a television search and electronic programme guide (EPG) data provider for India and the Middle East, has been acquired by Tribune Digital Ventures, a technology and innovation arm of Tribune Company.

     

    The move expands Tribune’s TV listings and video metadata footprint to more than 50 countries in 30 plus languages, reaching more than 600 million pay TV subscribers.

     

    What’s-ON provides EPG data and TV search products for 16 countries, including India, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Indonesia, Kenya and Sri Lanka.  Today, What’s-ON delivers data for more than 1,600 TV channels and helps power more than 50 million set-top boxes through the region’s top cable and IPTV services.  What’s-ON customers include some of the biggest TV networks, service providers and consumer electronics manufacturers, such as Star TV, Discovery Networks, Hathway Cable, Qatar Telecom, Samsung and Sony.

     

    Earlier this year, Tribune had acquired music and video technology and metadata leader Gracenote.  The company’s sizable presence in EPG data in Europe, combined with Tribune Media Services’ (TMS) presence in North America, immediately positioned Tribune as a leading provider of TV data, as well as music, around the globe.  The addition of What’s-ON further extends this reach and strengthens Tribune’s position internationally.

     

    “The acquisition of What’s-ON fits with our broad strategy of diversifying revenue and scaling our metadata business to meet increasing client demand,” said Tribune Company CEO Peter Liguori. 

     

    “The strategic investments we made over the last year expand Tribune’s presence internationally and enable us to offer a trusted solution to cable, Internet and consumer electronics clients globally.  I’m pleased that with What’s-ON we will have a new presence in markets with significant opportunity and What’s-ON’s founder and CEO Atul Phadnis and his team will work together with Rich Cusick and Tribune’s existing TV metadata team to grow this area of our business,” he added.

     

    India is the world’s third largest TV market, after the US and China, with an estimated 175 million homes and a growing base of digital cable subscribers, according to ABI Research.  The expansion of digital TV in Asia, featuring popular shows and movies, will enable Tribune to develop new technologies and services on top of its entertainment data that fuel discovery and recommendations on cable, satellite and over-the-top services.

     

    “We felt it was important to find a company that shares our vision for the business and understands the growth potential for TV data and services in Asia. And we believe we have found that with the Tribune team. Tribune’s portfolio of entertainment technology and metadata will provide us a solid foundation to grow the business and expand our services throughout the region,” said Phadnis.

     

    “Electronic program guides remain the primary vehicle for the discovery of TV shows and movies around the world,” said Rich Cusick, who oversees the TV metadata business for Tribune.  “While data remains the foundation of what we do, our evolution will be centered on data-driven services and features to help define new TV platforms and experiences for viewers around the world,” he added.

     

    What’s-ON will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Mumbai.  Its leadership team, including Atul Phadnis, will remain with the company.  Tribune’s Asian subsidiaries, including Tribune Digital Ventures Singapore, are purchasing all of the shares of What’s-ON for $27 million subject to standard adjustments.

     

    Edelweiss Capital served as the Investment Bank for What’s-ON.

  • Star Plus and Zee TV score high

    Star Plus and Zee TV score high

    MUMBAI: It was a ‘no different’ week, since none of the general entertainment channels (GECs) saw a change in their ranking. In the week 27 of TAM TV ratings, Star Plus and Zee TV emerged out as the clear winners.

     

    Star Plus crossed the 700 million mark yet again taking its tally to 703,493 GVTs, up from 659,904 GVTs. The channel’s top rated show Saathiya Saath witnessed a drop in the viewership and noted 9,402 TVTs, down from 9,650 TVTs. Its second highest rated show Diya Aur Baati Hum notched up and scored 9,231 TVTs, up from 9,179 TVTs. Another fiction offering, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai saw a huge jump in the ratings and stood at 7,401 TVTs, up from 5,974 TVTs.

     

    Second placed, Zee TV also witnessed a huge jump in the viewership. Most of its offerings have seen a growth in the ratings. Thus, the channel’s highest rated show, Jodha Akbar scored 7,998 TVTs, up from 7,254 TVTs, Kumkum Bhagya noted 6,263 TVTs, up from 5,436 TVTs, Qubool Hai registered 5,187 TVTs, up from 4,805 TVTs and India’s Best Cine Stars Ki Khoj opened reasonably well and garnered 3,482 TVTs.

     

    Despite a drop, Life OK continues its successful run at number three with 347,760 GVTs, down from 358,113 GVTs. The channel’s most popular show Savdhan India saw a slight rise and stood at 2,626 TVTs, up from 2,596 TVTs. Tumhari Pakhi scored 2,086 TVTs, up from 2,002 TVTs.

     

    Colors retained its number four position with a huge drop and recorded 320,019 GVTs, down from 320,019 GVTs. Almost all its properties have registered a drop in the viewership. Thus, Balika Vadhu garnered 4,098 TVTs, down from 4,380 TVTs, Beintehaa scored 2,191 TVTs, down from 2,413 TVTs. The channel’s non-fiction properties also saw a drop in the ratings. Thus, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa stood at 3,323 TVTs, down from 3,699 TVTs and Comedy Nights with Kapil maintained at 5,834 TVTs, down from 5,943 TVTs.

     

    Sony Entertainment Television (SET) retained its fifth position with 287,707 GVTs, down from 348,733 GVTs. CID, the channel leader scored big this week and recorded 4,145 TVTs, up from 3,700 TVTs. Maharan Veer Pratap, the second rated show saw a drop in the viewership and noted 2,989 TVTs, down from 3,744 TVTs.

     

    Last but not the least, Sab garnered 275,947 GVTs, down from 279,874 GVTs. The channel’s top charter, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is achieving new heights every day with 7,019 TVTs, up from 6,895 TVTs. Chidiya Ghar is the second highest rated show with 3,012 TVTs, up from 2,824 TVTs.

  • DD National’s ‘Rangoli’ still a favourite

    DD National’s ‘Rangoli’ still a favourite

    NEW DELHI: Rangoli, Doordarshan’s slightly more modern version of the popular song-based Chitrahaar, has become the programme with the highest TVM – four – during the 8.00 am to 9.00 am slot on Sunday.

     

    Most general entertainment channels fail to capitalise on this early morning hour.

     

    DD sources told indiantelevision.com that the main reason was that the choice of songs for this specific programme is made with utmost care and based on the feedback of viewers. The songs included in the programme are mostly old melodious songs, which attracts those who love songs of an earlier era. This makes the channel number one during this time band.

     

    The rating is based on the TAM chart for the week 26 (22 June to 28 June’ 2014) when DD National attracted gross viewership of 4 TVM which was the highest amongst all GECs.  

     

    Earlier, DD National had claimed that it was the number one channel amongst all GEC’s in terms of time spent by viewers and the TAM data for week 26 indicates that it topped with 92 minutes TSV as compared to 90 minutes as recorded for Sony.

  • DD National tops in ‘time spent in viewing’ numbers

    DD National tops in ‘time spent in viewing’ numbers

    NEW DELHI: DD National is the number one channel among all GEC’s in terms of time spent by viewers and the TAM data for week 26 from 22-28 July 2014 indicates that it topped with 92 minutes TSV as compared to 90 minutes as recorded for Sony.

     

    The higher numbers indicate that after switching to the channel, viewers have preferred to continuously watch the channel rather than frequently switching to other channels.

     

    DD National is also reported to be ranked three in terms of overall average viewership in early morning time band of 6 am to 8 am. The viewership of DD National channel is rising rapidly during mid prime time band from 12 pm to 3 pm as it has slotted six new family based fresh serials during this band and renamed this band as DD Dopahar.

     

    However, an analysis done by Doordarshan itself indicates that the viewership of the channel can be higher if multi-system operators fully comply with the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 as many are still not complying with the ‘Must Carry’ clause and the carriage of the national channel is still badly affected in analogue cable networks.

     

    Thus, DD National channel is regaining its lost ground as it has also seen rapid growth in overall viewership numbers in prime time and morning prime time of Sunday.

     

    Its environment based programme Earth Matters directed by the renowned Mike Pandey is becoming popular among all sections of society, indicating that the channel is liked by viewers for wholesome entertainment and information based programmes and for lot of fresh programming dished out to viewers unlike other channels who are most dependent on repeat programmes and are run on six to eight hours cycle.

  • Ortel Communications to launch HD services

    Ortel Communications to launch HD services

    MUMBAI: Cable TV subscribers in Odisha will soon get to watch Hindi soaps in high definition (HD) provided they have an Ortel cable connection. The last mile owner (LMO) with 520,000 subscribers, Ortel Communications, has received its first batch of HD set top boxes (STBs) that will be deployed to digital TV households soon.

     

    1000 STBs from Skyworth are currently docked out of the 25000 boxes ordered. Priced at Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 per STB, the service will be launched within one month. “We are preparing a pack of 15 HD channels comprising popular channels of all major broadcasters for launch date. This will include channels like Star Plus, Star Sports, Sony, NGC, Movies Now, Colors etc,” says Ortel Communications CEO BP Rath.

     

    The headend capacity currently only allows the LMO to have 15 HD channels; however it plans to add more channels soon. “We intend to increase our capacity to around 250 SD and 50 HD channels in the next one year or so,” informs Rath. The LMO currently offers 200 SD channels. The pricing will be competitive with the DTH platforms. Though the final pricing for the HD channel pack hasn’t been finalised as yet, it is expected to be below Rs 100 per month with an initial three month free trial period.

     

    While Rath doesn’t expect good revenues from the service this year, he is optimistic of it being considerable next year. “We expect revenues from HD to kick in from Q3 of this fiscal, though not significantly. However, we expect to do Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore revenue next year,” adds Rath.

     

    It is pertinent to note that Odia channels don’t have HD services but Rath is optimistic that in the future there would be Odia HD channels as well. “Viewing of English and Hindi content in our markets is very sizeable and that will drive the HD services. In any case, the channel list will be similar to DTH operators and we will not be in any disadvantageous position,” claims Rath.

     

    Ortel currently has about 75,000 digital subscribers which it is looking at increasing to about 250,000 by the year end.

  • Star Plus, Zee TV & Life OK gain big

    Star Plus, Zee TV & Life OK gain big

    MUMBAI: The war for the ‘best among the rest’ continues even as the general entertainment channels (GECs) saw no change in the positions this week. In the week 25 of TAM TV ratings, while Star Plus, Zee TV and Life OK gained big, the other GECs saw a drop in the viewership.

     

    Thus, Star Plus continues to be at the top with 660,737 GVTs, up from 625,842 GVTs. The channel’s mythological series Mahabharat witnessed a slight drop and stood at 6,368 TVTs, down from 6,472 TVTs. Its fiction offerings also noticed a drop in the viewership. Thus, its chart topper Diya Aur Baati Hum recorded 8,953 TVTs, down from 9,361 TVTs, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai noted 6,087 TVTs, down from 6,185 TVTs. But that wasn’t the case with Saathiya Saath which saw a huge jump and scored 8,149 TVTs, up from 6,856 TVTs.

     

    Second placed Zee registers 400,337 GVTs, up from 375,662 GVTs. Its historic property Jodha Akbar scored 7,664TVTs, down from 7,736TVTs. Kumkum Bhagya saw a rise in the ratings and registered 4,943 TVTs, up from 3,538 TVTs. Qubool Hai garnered 4,402 TVTs, up from 3,791 TVTs.

     

    Despite a fall, Colors retained its number three position with 351,470 GVTs, down from 365,827 GVTs. Its first-of-its-kind property, Mission Sapne which allows celebrities from different walks of life to leverage their fame for the benefit of the common man, saw a drop in the ratings this week. It scored 1,668 TVTs, down from 2,836 TVTs. On the other hand, Comedy Nights with Kapil witnessed a jump in the viewership with 5,854 TVTs, up from 5,582 TVTs. Talking about the channel’s fiction offerings; Balika Vadhu saw a rise in the ratings and noted 4,473 TVTs, up from 3,938 TVTs.

     

    Life OK at number four witnessed 332,990 GVTs, up from 319,452 GVTs. Gustakh Dil scored 1,829 TVTs, down from 2,019 TVTs, Tumhari Pakhi noted 2,348 TVTs, down from 2,515 TVTs. The channel’s non-fiction properties Shapath garnered 2,676 TVTs, up from 2,510 TVTs.

     

    Sony Entertainment Television (SET) saw a fall in the ratings and garnered 297,528 GVTs, down from 300,118 GVTs. Maharan Veer Pratap recorded 3,148 TVTs, down from 3,341 TVTs. Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega also witnessed a fall and registered 2,085 TVTs, down from 2,222 TVTs. CID stood at 3,341 TVTs, down from 3,411 TVTs.

     

    Sab at number six garnered 279,412 GVTs, down from 286,993 GVTs. Its fiction offerings have worked well for the channel. Thus, the channel’s chart topper Tarak Mehta scored 7,034 TVTs, up from 6,159 TVTs and Chidiya Ghar registered 2,777 TVTs, up from 2,448 TVTs.

  • Colors back to third position in TAM TV ratings

    Colors back to third position in TAM TV ratings

    MUMBAI: In the week 24 of TAM TV ratings, the Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) have come back to their original ranking.  While Life OK enjoyed the third position in the ratings chart for the past two weeks, the channel is now back to being number four. The channel witnessed a huge drop in the viewership and reported 319 million GVTs, down from 371 million GVTs.

     

    The week has brought back reasons to cheer for Colors. It was a big win for the channel as it saw a huge hike in the ratings. It noted 365,827 GVTs, up from 349,916 GVTs. So what worked wonders for the channel? Its first-of-its-kind property, Mission Sapne which allows celebrities from different walks of life to leverage their fame for the benefit of the common man saw a rise in the ratings. It scored 2,836 TVTs, up from 1,458 TVTs. On the other hand, Comedy Nights with Kapil also witnessed a jump in the viewership with 5,582 TVTs, up from 4,353 TVTs.

     

    Sab was another gainer for the week as it registered 286,993 GVTs, up from 261,401 GVTs at number six. Its fiction offerings have worked well for the channel. Thus, the channel’s chart topper Tarak Mehta scored 6,159 TVTs, up from 5,898 TVTs, Jeanie Aur Juju noticed 3,075 TVTs, up from 1,284 TVTs and Chidiya Ghar registered 2,448 TVTs, up from 2,180 TVTs.

     

    Coming back to the numero uno Star Plus, the channel continues to top the ladder with 625,842 GVTs, down from 647,073 GVTs. The channel’s mythological series Mahabharat is adding new numbers every week as it scored 6,472 TVTs, up from 5,965 TVTs. Its chart topper Diya Aur Baati Hum witnessed a fall in the ratings as it scored 9,361 TVTs, down from 9,626 TVTs. The second highest rated show Ye Hai Mohababtein also saw a drop in the viewership as it scored 6,263 TVTs, down from 6,644 TVTs.

     

    Despite a fall, Zee TV retains its number two position with 375,662 GVTs, down from 382,949 GVTs. Its historic property Jodha Akbar scored 7,736 TVTs, down from 7,864 TVTs. Kumkum Bhagya saw a rise in the ratings and registered 3,538 TVTs, up from 3,246 TVTs. The channel’s dance property DID Lil Masters 3 stood at 3,143 TVTs, down from 3,241 TVTs.

     

    Life OK’s fiction properties saw a drop in the ratings. Gustakh Dil scored 2,019 TVTs, down from 2,543 TVTs, Tumhari Pakhi noted 2,515 TVTs, down from 2,594 TVTs. The channel’s non-fiction properties Shapath garnered 2,510 TVTs, down from 2,698 TVTs and Savdhan India scored 2,348 TVTs, down from 2,550 TVTs.

     

    In the movie genre: Zee Cinema reported 206,409 GVTs, up from 197,218 GVTs; Movies OK scored 142,870 GVTs, up from 139,727 GVTs; &pictures garnered 97,216 GVTs, up from 88,669 GVTs; Zee Anmol earned 65,919 GVTs, down from 70,721 GVTs and Max registered a fall, as it recorded 242,263 GVTs, down from 308, 987 GVTs.

  • Sony bets big with Big B’s ‘Yudh’

    Sony bets big with Big B’s ‘Yudh’

    NEW DELHI: After actor Anil Kapoor hit the small screen with the limited episode series  ‘24’, megastar Amitabh Bachchan is all set to launch himself as an actor on television with the series ‘Yudh’ commencing on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) next month.

     

    While ‘24’ on Colors was confined to just 24 episodes, Bachchan’s series will run for 20 episodes.

     

    Though the telecast schedule is not out yet, the series is expected to be aired at prime time from Monday to Thursday. Bachchan’s ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ is also slated to commence around the same time.

     

    ‘Yudh’ also stars senior actress Sarika along with Aahana Kumra, Pavail Gulati, Avinash Tiwari, Nawazuddin Siddique, Kay Kay Menon and Tigmanshu Dhulia among others.

     

    Bachchan revealed that he had approached the channel with the aim of doing a television series, after which he had been put in touch with Endemol. Though he had taken on Anurag Kashyap as the creative director, Shoojit Sircar also joined in as creative director. Bachchan’s Saraswati Creations is also a co-producer of the new show.

     

    The thespian said in reply to a question that the story of any film or TV series is of prime importance, followed by the director who is the captain. The actors were only puppets who followed the directives of the director.

     

    He denied that he was ever satisfied with what he had done or achieved. “Feeling satisfied is like ‘death’ for any creative artiste,” he said, adding it was erroneous to think that a senior actor did not need much preparation. “I take every performance as a new test,” added Bachchan.

     

    “Working on a TV series is a unique experience, compared to the big screen,” Bachchan said, revealing the first poster of the serial.

     

    “I would be prepared to work on television again if I get the right story and a good chance,” he added.

     

    The story revolves around a businessman who suffers from an incurable disease but does not want to reveal it to his family.

     

    Sarika, who has appeared on screen with Bachchan for the fourth time and the second time since her return to Bollywood said, “Working with him was always a novel experience as he helps the other artistes and puts them at ease.”

     

    “The series is different from the work I have done so far on the big screen,” she added.

     

    The series has been made like a movie on the small screen.  “It is like a film shown in episodes,” said Kashyap and Sircar.  “All the stereotypes that TV series have so far been associated with have been avoided,” informed Kashyap.

     

    MSM CEO N P Singh said that the marketing of the series will not be done through the normal route and there would be no hoardings. Apart from the promos on TV and use of social media like Facebook, there would be ground events in various cities where he expected Bachchan and other stars to be present.

     

    Informing about the on-ground activities, Singh said, “The next event is at the Bombay Stock Exchange.” When asked for the reason, he said the series has Bachchan as the head of a construction business empire with around 10,000 employees and “therefore it is appropriate to release the poster at the BSE.”

     

    Not revealing the exact marketing spent, Singh informed that 50 per cent of the total expenses reserved for the series were aimed to be spent after the completion of the entire shooting.

     

    “The expenditure on the series is the highest ever for a fiction show which is close to 200 times more than the normal expenses,” informed Singh.

     

    The series will be aired only after the entire shoot is complete. Singh said that while talks were on with sponsors and advertisers, “Cadbury has a special bond with Bachchan and is on board as title sponsor.” He admitted that the advertising tariff will be somewhat higher than the normal series as it demanded a premium rate as compared to other shows.

     

    MSM senior EVP and business head Nachiket Pantvaidya  informed that the entire shooting had taken five to six weeks during which 20 hours of filming was done.   

     

    He said that the series hoped to break new ground as far as advertisers were concerned as the channel was now being seen in more than 70 countries and could also be accessed on the app that came free.

  • Indian regional cinema finds home in Max 2

    Indian regional cinema finds home in Max 2

    MUMBAI: It was in April that indiantelevision.com broke the news of Multi Screen Media (MSM) planning to launch a second movie genre channel, christened Max 2. The channel which is already on air currently runs movies from the MSM library. But plans are much bigger.

     

    The tagline for the newly launched channel is ‘Jab Dekho Tab Naya’. “The channel currently airs movies which our viewers have grown up watching. From the older movies to the most recent ones. But this is not all,” informs MSM India CEO NP Singh.

     

    Max 2 will be a clear differentiator from its competition. Says Singh, “The objective of the movie channel is to get good cinema made in India to our viewers.”

     

    He elaborates, “While a lot of the movie genre channels air Hindi dubbed Telugu action movies, other regional language movies like, Marathi, Gujarati among others, do not reach mainstream media. And they are beautiful movies. Our aim is to bring those to Max 2.”

     

    The network is surely going an extra mile to differentiate its new movie channel from the rest.

  • FIFA World Cup coverage promises to be a game-changer

    FIFA World Cup coverage promises to be a game-changer

    NEW DELHI: Unlike the 3D that dominated the best viewing of the last FIFA World Cup, the second biggest tournament on the global sporting calendar after the Olympics, the entire media is concentrating on 4K and even more superior technologies.

     

    Bedeviled by significant infrastructure problems that have reached all the way from the airports that will receive the international arrivals to the stadia of the 12 host cities that will stage the games, hamstrung by the communications problems caused by an overloaded telecoms system and marred by protest and unrest, broadcasters the world over have learnt the painful lessons that modern Brazil is at best an awkward place to operate in.

     

    With the tournament just around the corner (12 June- 13 July in Brazil), the consensus is that host broadcaster HBS has done its best in ensuring diversity connections and implementing an impressively redundant form of production that has seen 12 identical, containerised production centres built in Germany and shipped over to Brazil.

     

    Moving equipment around the country, especially after the group stages are over, was always going to be a major problem, and it is one that HBS has decided it does not want to be involved with. All of which is part of the reason why EVS loaded 234 servers on a container ship bound for Rio sometime in March. But it is what some of those servers are doing when they are installed that is probably the real story from Brazil 2014.

     

    Apart from the Ultra HD effort, it is remote production that this year’s World Cup really moves the goalposts. Not just simply an add-on, remote production lies at the heart of the HBS production workflow in Brazil, according to a report by the National Association of Broadcasters in the United States.

     

    16 EVS XT3 servers are to be installed at each venue and, alongside them, two of the company’s C-Cast Agents which represent the sharp end of its connected content production architecture.

     

    C-Cast Contribution will be used to link the IBC and the 12 venues across the country together, live streams passing through the two C-Cast Agents at each venue where they will then be transcoded and transferred into an Amazon Cloud-based infrastructure. About 45 seconds later at the most they will then hit the C-Cast Central servers, which will then govern the material’s distribution on the network. This means passing the footage on to the Adobe Premier-based HBS production teams (there are 36 Premier suites in the IBC) and other rights holders at the IBC and further afield too. The servers automatically generate proxy files, allowing the various remote teams to access content at low resolutions, create clips and then import a high bandwidth version.

     

    “I think in total there are 75 media rights licenses distributed for the IBC in Rio, and in addition there are offsite production teams that have web browse access from their own home cities, and there are 83 licenses distributed so far for that,” comments EVS SVP Marketing Nicolas Bourdon.

     

    There have probably been more distributed, as this is far more than just a plain vanilla distribution of the nine feeds from each venue round the world. Mirroring the way the C-Cast second screen app works, the remote teams can add content — including camera angles and highlights — that have not been made part of the world feed into their coverage, switching it from a gallery as if they were in a truck outside the stadium.

     

    With this new solution, the number of broadcasters deciding to ‘dial-in’ from their home territories into the FIFA MAX server in Rio makes it feel like a genuine game-changer.

     

    FIFA’s estimates are that around 50 million people will be downloading its official application, which is being white labelled and has been picked up by more than 100 rights holders so far.

     

    “Broadcasters can have a white label app that they can put their own logo on,” explains Bourdon. “Viewers can then access different types of content, up to six live camera angles, clips and key actions from a game, statistics, and a full language translation of all the logs and captions.”

     

    C-Cast Central manages availability of material via APIs, and while the white label smartphone and tablet apps, not to mention a customisable web player (based around deltatre’s Diva system), are proving popular, many of the major broadcasters around the world are folding the multiple C-Cast streams into their own fully-featured apps. Add these figures to FIFA’s 50 million and you undoubtedly have the biggest outing yet for the technology.

     

    Content will reside on an Amazon server farm controlled by EVS from where it will be passed to deltatre’s platform (deltatre is also the main data provider from the tournament). From there it will be either be encoded for delivery using Elemental technology over the Akamai CDN or, if the stream is to be integrated into a broadcaster’s own efforts and a third-party CDN, via the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

     

    Expect to see some interesting new features crop up too. HBS will be using the as yet unreleased C-Cast 3.0 out in Brazil, with the idea that this will then be productised into C-Cast v3.1 in time for IBC.

     

    Four years ago, Sony was limbering up to broadcast 25 matches from South Africa in stereo 3D. Measured against that, the 4K effort for Brazil 2014 seems relatively minor: a mere three matches being captured in the format, all from Rio’s Maracan? Stadium.

     

    However, the significance is the same: the company is using the World Cup to seed demand for the format that it hopes will break through to the mass market by the time of the following Olympics. Maybe this time it will work.

     

    4K trials — indeed trials of pretty much all of the World Cup workflow — were held at the Confederations Cup last summer and though the Telegenic truck that was shipped from the UK for them isn’t available this summer, the crew will still be sourced from the British OB provider, albeit working in a 4K-capable Globocast truck.

     

    The matches will probably represent the most comprehensive coverage afforded a 4K production yet, with 12 Sony F55 cameras slated for each game and a number of the speciality cameras from the standard HD broadcast also being upconverted for the occasion.

     

    It seems that the final will now be actually broadcast in 4K format as opposed to being simply beamed into cinemas or destined for a souvenir film for online distribution. Names are not being discussed as yet, but it seems that there is a queue of interested broadcasters and, according to Sony, “More than one will broadcast the feed.”