ITV

Tag: Tata Sky

  • TDSAT asks Tata-Sky, Sun TV Group to settle differences

    TDSAT asks Tata-Sky, Sun TV Group to settle differences

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has proposed to direct-to-home (DTH) player Tata-Sky and Chennai-based broadcaster Sun TV Group that they resolve their dispute between themselves.

    According to a tribunal official, the two parties are set to negotiate a potential settlement at a meeting in Chennai that is likely to take place by the end of week.

    Nonetheless, the tribunal dispute forum has also drawn up the date for next hearing before adjourning the case to 29 November if the attempts to achieve a “lucid response” through the discussion fails.

    Tata-Sky had moved the tribunal accusing the broadcaster of refusing supply of its bouquet of channels. The DTH player approached the disputes forum after repeated requests to provide the signals of the channels of Sun’s bouquet of channels on “non-discriminatory terms” proved futile.

    According to the norms laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), all content should be made available to all delivery platforms on a nondiscriminatory basis.

    Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran has set forth plans to enter the DTH space through the still to launch commercially Sun Direct TV. He runs a string of successful channels, which include SunTV, GeminiTV, SuryaTV, UdayaTV, KTV, TejaTV, UsheTV, KiranTV, AdithyaTV, Sun News, KiranTV, GeminiTV, TejaTV, Teja News, Udaya2 and Udaya News.

  • Star revenues to grow 15 % this fiscal: MPA

    Star revenues to grow 15 % this fiscal: MPA

    MUMBAI: The Star Group is expected to post a 15 per cent year on year revenue growth at $624 million for FY June 2007 with operating profit margins at 24.3 per cent or $151 million, according estimates by Hong Kong-based research firm Media Partners Asia (MPA).

    Star’s September quarter was relatively soft (historically soft for the broadcaster in Asia) with revenue up a modest 6 per cent Y/Y to $140 million (MPA estimate) and operating income up 8 per cent to $13 million.

    While subscription revenue grew by 6 per cent Y/Y, programming costs declined over the quarter. “This leverage, however, was offset by lower ad revenue at flagship STAR Plus in India, where the decrease in advertising reflected last year’s high base comparison when revenue grew 22 per cent Y/Y due to the successful broadcast of Kaun Banega Crorepati 2,” the MPA report said. Despite maintaining leadership position, Star’s ratings have softened with Zee TV posing a strong threat.

    Tata Sky, News Corp.’s 20:80 direct-to-home (DTH) joint venture with the Tatas, has acquired around 180,000 subscribers till October-end, after having launched its services in August. The company says it is on track to add a net one million subscribers per annum.

    “The early results have been encouraging,” the report quoted News Corp chief operating officer and president Peter Chernin as having said. “Any additions are sort of immediate additional subsribers for channels and the good news is that they are at least 100 per cent reporting, which is a nice positive phenomenon in India.”

    News Corp, parent company of Star, had a sluggish September quarter with operating income at $851 million, down 6 per cent Y/Y, with a strong performance at its cable network and newspaper businesses offset by softness at its TV, movie and digital satellite units. It saw also higher than expected costs at the company’s online properties. The company reported earnings of $0.27 per share, benefiting from a $261 million gain after the sale of Sky Brasil and $136 million from the sale of its 19.9 per cent stake in Chinese commercial broadcaster Phoenix Satellite TV, in which News Corp still holds a 17.6 per cent interest.

    The company, however, expects a strong full year in FY 07 with robust growth forecast for Star Group and aggressiv expansion of MySpace into multiple Asian markets, the MPA report said.

  • Non-supply of channels: Tata Sky moves TDSAT against Sun TV

    Non-supply of channels: Tata Sky moves TDSAT against Sun TV

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the south Indian media major Sun TV Group’s reluctance to make available channels to its direct-to-home platform.

    The petition, filed today before the tribunal, alleges that the Sun TV Group has refused to supply its bouquet of channels to the DTH player. The case is scheduled for the first hearing tomorrow (15 November).

    Tata Sky approached the disputes forum after repeated requests to provide the signals of the channels of Sun’s bouquet of channels on “non-discriminatory terms” proved futile.

    Tata Sky has sought an appropriate direction in the matter from TDSAT, alleging that Sun TV has quoted unreasonable terms for supplying its signals.

    When contacted by Indiantelevision.com, Tata Sky managing director and CEO Vikram Kaushik today refrained from commenting on the development.

    Earlier speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Kaushik mentioned, “We are in talks with Sun TV, the most popular network in the southern states, but no commercial agreement is expected soon. We gave them a proposal and are in negotiations with them. But a deal is still far away.”

    A point of note is that Tata-Sky is simultaneously also battling for Zee-Turner channels. Although the tribunal has directed Zee Turner Ltd, distributors of Zee and other channels, to provide its signals to Tata Sky, the issues of pricing, capacity and other related issues have yet to be sorted out.

    According to the norms laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), all content should be made available to all delivery platforms on a nondiscriminatory basis.

    Interestingly, Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran has set forth plans to enter the DTH space through the still to launch commercially Sun Direct TV. He runs a string of successful channels, which include SunTV, GeminiTV, SuryaTV, UdayaTV, KTV, TejaTV, UsheTV, KiranTV, AdithyaTV, Sun News, KiranTV, GeminiTV, TejaTV, Teja News, Udaya2 and Udaya News.

  • BBC World is available on Tata Sky

    BBC World is available on Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: BBC World is now available on DTH service provider Tata Sky.

    BBC World regional director distribution and business development, Europe, Middle-East & South Asia Gerry Ritchie says, “We are very excited about our new association with Tata Sky. At a time, when India is witnessing rapid growth and change in the television and entertainment industry, Tata Sky provides us with an ideal platform to reach our target viewer with an interest in international news and events. This new agreement with Tata Sky will introduce BBC World to new viewers and increase the channel’s audience reach.”

    Tata Sky MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik said, “It is our endeavour to provide Indian viewers with a world-class satellite television service, offering the best in home entertainment. Since the launch of our service in August, we have continuously expanded our offering to include India’s most popular television channels and a host of exciting, interactive services.

    “The availability of BBC World on our platform reiterates our commitment to provide our subscribers with access to top-of-the-line content, in this case, the best of international news.”

  • Harris Broadcast Communications to provide end-to-end broadcast system to Tata Sky

    Harris Broadcast Communications to provide end-to-end broadcast system to Tata Sky

    MUMBAI:The battle for supremacy between Dish TV and Tata Sky has gone up by one more level with Harris collaborating with Tata Sky Ltd., to deliver its satellite television service via an end-to-end system that converts, processes, synchronizes and distributes digital program content.

    Tata Sky is the satellite television service for the Tata Group and Star Network in India.

    Designed to support 120 channels, Tata Sky’s facility uses Harris’ Integrator router for station routing, asserts an official release.

    “At Tata Sky, we continuously invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide Indian audiences with a world-class satellite television service, offering unparalleled entertainment with pristine picture quality and sound,” said Tata Sky Ltd managing director and CEO Vikram Kaushik. “The Harris broadcast equipment will help us boost the quality of our digital transmission, enabling us to deliver top-of-the-line services to our customers.”

    According to the release, Tata Sky’s facility houses Harris NEXIO servers, for use in their test center; integrator router for station routing; a panacea router for clean switching; 6800+ and NEO modular interface products for video processing; the NEO MTG-3901 master timing generator system; the IconLogo modular branding solution; an IconStation master control graphics and channel presentation system; Videotek test and measurement products; the NEO SuiteView multi-source display processor; and the CCS Navigator software application and NUCLEUS user-configurable network control panel for control and monitoring.

    Harris Broadcast Communications division president Tim Thorsteinson said, “Tata Sky promises to revolutionise home entertainment in India, and we are extremely pleased to work with them in this venture.”

  • India not on EchoStar radar ‘in the near term’

    India not on EchoStar radar ‘in the near term’

    HONG KONG: Regulatory blips and other on-ground problems notwithstanding, India is too big a market to be ignored for long by investors, says Scott Zimmer, senior advisor to EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen.

    “Both India and Vietnam are big markets… (however) it also means bigger opportunities, bigger challenges and bigger hurdles,” Zimmer says.

    Headquartered in Colorado in the US, EchoStar Communications Corporation is a public company with approximately 21,000 employees. The company and its subsidiaries deliver direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television products and services to customers worldwide, apart from recent interests in mobile television.

    “We are always looking for opportunities in various parts of the world and India is no exception,” Zimmer told Indiantelevision.com here today on the sidelines of the annual convention of Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa).

    However, he added that there are no immediate plans from EchoStar to invest in India, though Zimmer spent a few days recently in Mumbai to have first-hand information on Asia’s largest market after China.

    In the short to medium term I don’t see ourselves making any commitment in India. But it’s too big a market to be ignored for too long by anybody,” Zimmer said.

    According to him, whenever EchoStar gets into India it would be with a local partner and it’s “important to find the right partner.”

    “India does have some DBS services (read DTH platforms) and I expect some more players to come,” Zimmer said, adding that the Zee group should have its work cut out to take on a “gorilla” like Tata Sky.

    While Tata Sky, India’s second pay DTH platform, is a joint venture between the Tatas and News Corp, the Subhash Chandra-controlled Dish TV is chugging along without a foreign partner.

    Indian media norms allow foreign direct investment of up to 20 per cent in a DTH venture and it is a subject of much debate within the industry whether this percentage should be increased or not.

    Zimmer, however, refused to make any comment when asked whether he had held exploratory talks with the Essel/Zee group during his last visit to Mumbai.

    “It would be improper on my part to make any sort of comment … (but) both the Zee Group and EchoStar share same sort of heritage in the sense that both grew from scratch,” Zimmer said.

    Still, the man advising the legendary Ergen points out that while EchoStar’s competitor’s during the early stages were also growing in the US, the Zee group in contrast has a “gorilla like the Tatas” competing with it.

    Zimmer also feels that what could be shying away some foreign investors from India is the presence of “strong and dominant” Indian companies like the Tatas and Reliance.

    As per EchoStar’s website, the company story began in 1980 when chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen entered the satellite television industry as a distributor of C-band TV systems. Joined by his wife, Candy, and friend, James DeFranco, 
    EchoStar Communications Corporation was formed.

    In 1987, EchoStar filed for a DBS license with the Federal Communications Commission and was granted access to orbital slot 119° West Longitude in 1992. The company started its own DBS service on 28 December, 1995 with the launch of EchoStar I satellite.

    That same year, EchoStar established the Dish Network brand name. EchoStar II, launched on September 10, 1996, and expanded Dish Network’s capacity. Presently, the 14 owned or leased satellites that make up the EchoStar fleet have the capacity to provide thousands of channels of digital video, audio and data services via Dish Network service to homes, businesses and schools throughout the United States.

  • Tata Sky starts receiving Zee-Turner channels

    Tata Sky starts receiving Zee-Turner channels

    MUMBAI: It took a rap on the knuckles today by the sector tribunal, but finally, DTH service provider Tata Sky can now claim to have a “complete” channel offering. Zee-Turner this evening provided the signals for its channels after an order issued earlier in the day by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

    “Now they (the Zee-Turner channels) are on,” Tata Sky MD & CEO Vikram Kaushik told Indiantelevision.com. “The channels were delayed by Zee-Turner and the tribunal directed them to provide the signals,” he added.

    Coming down heavily on the distribution network, TDSAT chairman Justice Arun Kumar was quoted by Press trust of India news service as saying, “tricks would not work … at least I did not expect this from you … you are more interested in earning money rather than implementation of the order.”

    During the proceedings Zee-Turner, a 74:26 joint venture between Zee Telefilms and Turner International India, a sister concern of Time Warner, contended that Tata Sky was yet to address issues “regarding territory and piracy” mentioned in their terms and condition, the PTI report said. In its response, Tata Sky accused Zee-Turner of unilaterally deciding the terms and conditions under which they would provide signals.

    Zee Turrner had given an undertaking last Wednesday (20 September) to TDSAT that it would provide all the 32 channels in its bouquet at an interim pricing of Rs 75. Tata Sky is already offering 75 channels at an introductory price offer of Rs 200.

    Zee Turner claims had then told Indiantelevision.com that it had got what it wanted. “We wanted our entire bundle of channels to be taken and at that price. This falls in line with the latest TDSAT directive,” Zee Turner CEO Arun Poddar had said.

    The final hearing will be on 18 October where the issues of pricing, capacity and other related issues will be decided.

    It may be recalled that Zee Turner was willing to provide all its channels at a price of Rs 75 while Tata Sky wanted to select the channels it wants at half the price of cable TV rates.

  • Tata Sky on track for one million subscribers, unveils interactive edutainment service for kids

    Tata Sky on track for one million subscribers, unveils interactive edutainment service for kids

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky Ltd. is putting together a product offering that would help it ramp up one million subscribers in the first year of operations. The latest in this effort: a new interactive service, Active Wizkids, aimed at kids in the age group between 3-6 years.

    “We are enhancing our product offering virtually every week with more channels and functionality,” says Tata Sky managing director and CEO Vikram Kaushik.

    The result: Tata Sky has crossed 100,000 subscribers within the first 15 days of launch and almost 30 per cent of these subscribers are from rural areas.

    “Our service is on track to reach one million subscribers by the end of the first year,” says Kaushik.

    Kaushik expects the Zee-Turner channels to come on board soon as the dispute is up for final hearing in a Delhi court next week. The DTH service provider is also in talks with Sun TV, the most popular network in the southern states, but no commercial agreement is expected soon. “We gave them a proposal and are in negotiations with them. But a deal is still far away,” says Kaushik.

    Tata Sky is currently offering 75 channels and eight interactive services at the introductory price of Rs 200 a month. “We may look at new pricing later. But for a consumer who takes our service, the introductory offer is at least for four months,” says Kaushik.

    For Active Wizkids, Tata Sky has partnered with IL&FS and the product was developed after a year of research. The aim is to make learning an entertaining activity for children, through games, audio instructions and animated mascots. These games encompass a variety of subjects ranging from mathematics to english and general knowledge. It seeks to be applicable to children’s differential learning styles, to hone their basic learning skills.

    Tata Sky claims Active Wizkids to be a first of its kind interactive edutainment service in the world that would enhance a child’s classroom learning through entertaining, yet educational games.

    Developed by an in-house team at Tata Sky, the service has four sections called Beginners, Juniors, Seniors and Happy Times, attempting to make it as age, time and activity appropriate. The television-based service will be refreshed on a daily basis to avoid monotony and is supported by four friendly mascots, each representing a specific learning style. Jimbo the baby elephant, represents listening, the Busy rat represents doing, Spiky, the teenage alligator, represents looking or observing and Hi Ho, the donkey with his big muscles, represents playing.

    In connection with this, another child centric service available on Tata Sky’s platform is the Parental Control service which allows parents to regulate what their children watch on television. The Parental Control service not only allows an entire channel to be blocked out, but also allows blocking of movies based on parental ratings across channels, reiterating Tata Sky’s commitment to transferring control and convenience into the hands of consumers.

    The DTH service has 11 localized language options. However, Active Wizkids is presented in English. Explaining the rationale behind using this medium of communication, Kaushik says, “We have observed that parents are keen to have the basic education of their kids in English. Our focus is on learning of alphabets and numbers. Though we are initially aiming at the 3-6 year olds, we will expand this age category in future,” says Kaushik.

    Tata Sky has strengthened its distribution network to cover 3200 towns and cities, with 12,500 dealers across the country. The service is backed up by three call centres in Pune, Hyderabad and Chandigarh which receive about 10,000 calls a day.

    So how does Kaushik view the battle between cable TV and DTH? “There will be a restructuring in TV distribution. Going forward, DTH and cable will co-exist. In the US, 70 per cent of the market is dominated by cable TV while in UK DTH enjoys 70-80 per cent of the slice,” says Kaushik.

  • Max goes the Extraaa mile for Champions Trophy

    Max goes the Extraaa mile for Champions Trophy

    MUMBAI: Cricket weds entertainment! With the Champions trophy in cricket kicking off in less than a month’s time on 7 October 2006, Max is adding more muscle to its wrap around show Extraaa Innings.

    Max executive VP and business head Albert Almeida notes that Max turned cricket into an entertainment property. This way it was able to hook in women and kids as well. This time he says that the Extraaa Innings content has been beefed up. For starters, in addition to the hosts Mandira Bedi and Charu Sharma, whom Max calls the first couple of cricket it has roped in television stars Rohit Roy and Shonali Nagrani as well. Roy will co-present various segments of Extraaa Innings. Nagrani will be the roving reporter. “Having said that Extraaa Innings will continue to be a judicious mix of serious cricketing action for the hardcore cricket buff and wholesome entertainment for the family,” Almeida adds.

    They will be joined by many experts on the game including former English opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott, former Indian cricket coach John Wright who will provide an insider’s touch, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who should add spice to the show, Barry Richards and Ian Chappell. On each match day Eztraaa Innings starts at 12:30 PM There will be a two-hour pre show, a show during the lunch break and a one-hour post show.

    A dual feed: Sony COO NP Singh says that this time around there will also be a Hindi feed on Sab. Three India matches, the semi finals and final will be aired on Sab. Maninder Singh, Atul Wassan and Saba Karim are among the commentators for this feed. The aim is to reach out better to places in the North like UP.

    Almeida says that Extraaa Innings haws been beefed keeping in mind factors like Indians increasingly becoming technologically savvy, they see cricketers as celebrities who do other things (like Sachin has his own restaurant).

    Max will organise a talent hunt using Extraaa Innings to promote it. The hunt looks for a roving reporter who will join the team to cover World Cup in the West Indies next year. There is also an interactive game Predict 2 Win, which allows fans to win prizes. The Gully Cricket initiative has been turned into a mobile game, which can be played by visiting the mobile portal 2525. Then the mascot of Max the tiger Deewana will now be a part of Extraaa Innings. There will be Deewana’s countdown of her game, his ratings of the game, players etc. Then there is also a Max Makeover.

    Here one will see fashion experts comment on the style quotient of the players.

    Of course features that were there before will return.
    These include Q&A. Here fans get to ask questions to the panel through SMS. Then there is Voice of India.

    Here Max’s expert panel will ask the audience to voice their opinion on issues. Answers can be sent through SMS or the internet. Message Board is a platform where viewers can send in goodwill messages to the Indian team through SMS. Another section India On tour offers a sneak peak into the daily routine of the Indian team. This will take them behind the scenes to the nets, practice matches etc.

    The DTH Plan: Sony CEO Kunal Dasgupta says that Max is talking to both DTH platforms Tata Sky and Dish TV regarding putting in interactive features. One feature will allow viewers the option to choose one of four angles to watch the match. Max also plans to offer highlight packages.

  • Tata Sky launches pay-per-view service

    Tata Sky launches pay-per-view service

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky has announced the launch of Showcase, its dedicated pay-per-view movies service. With this service, Tata Sky promises to offer new Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters to the customers.

    Showcase, the pay-per-view will launch with the movie Taxi No. 9211, screening on multiple channels, offering subscribers a number of convenient viewing options. The movies will be screened without any ad breaks.

    Priced at Rs 75 per movie, the service will provide viewers with a convenient and economical alternative to watching movies in cinema halls, according to an official release.

    The original prints of all the films will be sourced directly from their producers and digital satellite television transmission will ensure DVD quality picture and CD quality sound throughout the movies.

    Also, another advantage for subscribers is that they can chose to watch the movies at a convenient time, when they are free from household responsibilities.

    Tata Sky Ltd MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik said, “The launch of Showcase helps us propel our objective to provide our subscribers with maximum convenience. This service can be enjoyed equally by every family member and undoubtedly will recreate the experience of watching a movie in the theatre, in the comfort of the home. The freedom to choose the time of viewing and the liberation from advertisements while watching one’s favourite movies will be universally welcomed.”

    To purchase a movie, a subscriber will need to call the Tata Sky helpline and make a request for the movie, indicating the desired time slot. Orders can be placed up to five minutes prior to the film’s start, informs the statement.

    Tata Sky’s satellite television service currently offers viewers 61 popular television channels including Star, Sony, Discovery, Disney, MTV, NDTV, ESPN Star Sports, National Geographic, Eenadu, TV Today, Asianet and many more.

    In addition, the service offers a total of six interactive services including Actve Khabar, Actve Newsroom, Actve Star News, Actve Games, Actve Sports and an on-screen guide. The service is available at a special price of RS 200 per month, inclusive of all taxes.