ITV

Tag: Tech TV

  • Tech TV lands in Comcast lap

    Tech TV lands in Comcast lap

    MUMBAI : Comcast Corporation has finally bought Tech TV, thus finishing its long rumoured sale on 25 March 2004.G4, the Comcast-owned television network devoted to video games and the gamer lifestyle, has signed an agreement with Vulcan Programming Inc. to acquire Tech TV. Comcast will merge TechTV with G4. The new network will be headed by G4 CEO Charles Hirschhorn and the operations will be based in Los Angeles, where G4 has just moved into a new studio.

    Though executives have not commented on the price of the acquisition, it was reportedly slightly less than $300 million. But it still remains to be decided whether the production will continue at TechTV’s current San Francisco studios.

    The channel would be available to 44 million cable and satellite customers nationwide would create a network which will serve the purpose of complementing Comcast’s growing content portfolio and expands G4’s distribution.G4 founder and CEO Charles Hirschhorn, will be the CEO of the combined network says, “This merger is a win for G4; a win for TechTV; and a win for our advertising and affiliate partners.”

    He further states, “The result will be one compelling TV channel that showcases the fun and entertaining side of games and technology with the distribution necessary to achieve broad appeal”

    For at least 30 days, viewers will see no changes in the appearance of TechTV or G4, while the deal is subjected to regulatory approval.

  • Tech TV to merge with Comcast’s G4 channel

    Tech TV to merge with Comcast’s G4 channel

    MUMBAI: In its bid to boost its programming assets and subscriber reach, Comcast is all set to acquire TechTV, next month.

    Cable television major will merge Paul Allen’s computer-info channel with it’s fledgling G4 channel.

    Report in Variety indicated that the deal is likely to be worth around $300 million.

    The merger of G4 and Tech TV is intended to combine the best original programming of each into a new tech-savvy, videogame-focused network reaching around 45 million, say the reports.

    G4 currently claims 12.5 million, nearly 10 million of which overlap with Tech TV’s roughly 43 million base. The deal will be a welcome cash infusion for Allen’s investment vehicle Vulcan Ventures, which is currently grappling with unprofitable stakes in Charter Communications and DreamWorks.

    The reports indicate that the merged network will be targeted to the highly desirable male 18-34 demo.

    EchoStar, a satellite distributor owned by Charlie Ergen, still retains a 10 per cent stake in TechTV, which Comcast is also negotiating to buy out.

  • The Niche Channel Option: Miles to go for India

    The Niche Channel Option: Miles to go for India

    Developed television markets like the US have a bouquet of channels, with some mainstream entertainment channels and other niche channels. But that kind of scenario is some time away for the Indian market. Reason: the absence of conditional access, which can work as a tap for consistent subscription revenue.

    That was the consensus at the session focusing on niche broadcasting.

    Chaired by former Star India chairman and Tara promoter Rathikant Basu, the session had a distinguished panel: History Channel managing director Carl Meyer, Tech TV sales & marketing head Rasa Urmonas, ESPN Software India managing director Manu Sawhney, Carlton Television producer – cultural diversity- Parminder Vir and Doordarshan director general S.Y. Quarishi.

    Both Urmonas and Myer pointed out that niche channels are not cheap to create: tremendous funds are needed to do research, and programming teams to implement concepts for informative channels such as the ones they individual lead. Urmonas said that she was on a fact finding mission in India and the trip had been an eyeopener for her..

    Sawhney said it was imperative for a niche channel to know its audience and deliver quality content better than general and other channels. Niche channels especially those like sports – which arouse passion – have universal appeal, he said, especially cricket in India.

    Vir presented a case study of how British Asians who number 3 million and have a lot of disposable income, are being wooed back to terrestrial TV. “By 1995, we had lost nearly 70 per cent of our audience to cable and satellite channels,” she revealed.

    A cross-industry platform, the Cultural Diversity Network – consisting of various broadcasters to pool together resources – has been set up, she said. “We had a conference in 2001, we drew up a gameplan and we are implementing it,” she says. “And the audiences are coming back,” she says.

    DD DG Quarishi emphasised that as a pubcaster his network has a responsibility to deliver educational, agricultural and cultural programmes which are targeted at niche audiences, even if these generate no revenue. He added that the state-owned network is now looking at DTT (digital terrestrial transmission). which will provide subscribers a 12 channel bouquet through a set top box priced at Rs 500 in the near future. He mentioned that advertisers interested in reaching specific audiences have shown interest in advertising on some of DD’s niche shows.

     

  • The Niche Channel Option: Miles to go in India

    The Niche Channel Option: Miles to go in India

    Developed television markets like the US have a bouquet of channels, with some mainstream entertainment channels and other niche channels. But that kind of scenario is some time away for the Indian market. Reason: the absence of conditional access, which can work as a tap for consistent subscription revenue.

    That was the consensus at the session focusing on niche programming

    Chaired by former Star India chairman and Tara promoter Rathikant Basu, the session had a distinguished panel: History Channel managing director Carl Meyer, Tech TV sales & marketing head Rasa Urmonas, ESPN Software India managing director Manu Sawhney, Carlton Television producer cultural diversity Parminder Vir and Doordarshan director general S.Y. Quarishi.

    Both Urmonas and Myer pointed out that niche channels are not cheap to create: deep pockets are needed to do research, and for programming teams to implement concepts for informative channels such as the ones they individually lead. Urmonas said that she was on a fact finding mission in India and the trip had been an eye-opener for her.

    Sawhney said it was imperative for a niche channel to know its audience and deliver quality content better than general and other channels. Niche channels especially those like sports – which arouse passion – have universal appeal, he said, especially cricket in India.

    Vir presented a case study of how British Asians who number 3 million and have a lot of disposable income, are being wooed back to terrestrial TV. “By 1995, we had lost nearly 70 per cent of our audience to cable and satellite channels,” she revealed.

    A cross-industry platform, the Cultural Diversity Network – consisting of various broadcasters to pool together resources – has been set up, she said. “We had a conference in 2001, and we are implementing its findings,” she says. “And the audiences are coming back,” she said gleefully.

    DD DG Quarishi emphasised that as a pubcaster his network has a responsibility to deliver educational, agricultural and cultural programmes which are targeted at niche audiences, even if these generate no revenue. He added that the state-owned network is now looking at DTT (digital terrestrial transmission). which will provide subscribers a 12 channel bouquet through a set top box priced at Rs 500 in the near future. He mentioned that advertisers are interested in reaching specific audience have shown interest in advertising on some of these audience-specific programmes.