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Tag: Travelxp

  • Travelxp to launch in Canada

    Travelxp to launch in Canada

    MUMBAI: Travelxp, the lifestyle channel network with 100 per cent original production, is set to launch Travelxp 4K in Canada from 26 July 2018 on Telus Optik TV platform.

    Travelxp CEO Prashant Chothani said, “Canada is a large and important market with a highly evolved audience which is known to be amongst the largest spenders on international travel. We hope to add to their wanderlust with our unique, exclusive, premium and 100 per cent originally-produced travel content presented in 4K HDR quality for an unmatched experience.”

    The network launched in Singapore on the StarHub network and before that, in end-April, Travelxp had launched on UK’s largest platform Freeview too.

    Vivicast Media president Stuart Smitherman said, “Through the network’s new partnership with TELUS Optik TV subscribers can view Travelxp 4K’s content in full 4K High Dynamic Range for a viewing experience that is truly unmatched.”

  • Travelxp flies into Singapore’s StarHub

    Travelxp flies into Singapore’s StarHub

     MUMBAI: Travelxp, the lifestyle channel that reaches over 91 million homes, has planned to expand its reach in the major market of Asia-Pacific. The company has forayed into Singapore market in association with a local player StarHub that went on air on 3 July 2018.

    The content available will include all the genres such as cultural, heritage, travel and food among others. All of the platform’s subscribers will be able to preview the channel for free.

    Travelxp CEO Prashant Chothani said that it is the beginning of the network’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region and it will continue to take its world-class content across the globe in more language feeds. “Further launches in different international markets with more languages are on the anvil in the coming months,” he said.  

    Chothani further added, “Our partnership with StarHub would take Travelxp to all 4,49,000 subscribers of StarHub TV. The channel will include Chinese subtitles in the coming months, to appeal to and engage with a wider audience. It is going to be the mainstream channel, launched as the English one. Going forward, it will be localised in Chinese also.”

    StarHub head of content business unit Lee Soo Hui said: “We are delighted that our customers will be the first in Southeast Asia to enjoy Travelxp’s content. With Singaporeans being avid travellers, we are confident that Travelxp will resonate with every backpacker, guidebook follower, and adventure seeker.”

    The launch follows the channel’s addition to the UK’s Freeview platform at the end of April. It is now available globally in 91 million homes, in English, German, Czech, Slovenian, Serbian, Croatian and Bulgarian. In India, the company plans to add more languages to add to the Hindi, Tamil and Bengali audiences it currently serves.

    Speaking on the ad inventories, Chothani said that the process hasn’t started yet but will soon embark on it.

    As the emergence of digital platforms is growing steadily, the network as such has no plans or any deals with other OTT platforms for streaming its content. Chothani said that it is soon planning to come up with its own digital strategy by this year. He added, “As far as marketing and promotional strategies are concerned, StarHub is marketing heavily and they are doing all the marketing that is required.”

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  • Travelxp explores Nagaland this month; Strictly Street, Krazee Foodie return for second seasons

    Travelxp explores Nagaland this month; Strictly Street, Krazee Foodie return for second seasons

    MUMBAI: Travelxp, the world’s leading travel channel, continues to excite its viewers with its popular show ‘Xplore Nagaland’ and new seasons of ‘Strictly Street’ and ‘Krazee Foodie’ as it continues to bring an experience of new places, diverse cultures and exotic cuisine straight to viewers’ living rooms.

    Director – Travelxp, Nisha Chothani said, “I am delighted to announce that this this month with ‘Xplore Nagaland’, we are celebrating different, unusual but locally very popular culinary treats from all over North East India. We are also announcing the second season of our popular ‘Strictly Street’ and ‘Krazee Foodie’ shows, which are a celebration of street food from around the world. True to our traditions and in line with our industry benchmark standards, each of these shows have been shot and broadcast in 4K and HD quality with multicultural hosts, all of which will make for an immersive and engaging experience for viewers.”

    Xplore Nagaland:  Presented by celebrity Travelxp anchor Rohan Patoley, known mainly for his work in non-fiction, lifestyle-based series like Strictly Street, Food Highway and Foodicted on Travelxp. This weekly half-hour series will air everyday from 21st May 2018- 27th May 2018.

    Tough roads, dangerous hills, gritty conditions and two bikers making their way through Nagaland, it is unexpected and unpredictable. Watch hosts Rohan and Vishal embark on their journey in exploring Nagaland as they engage in bouts of Naga wrestling, survive eating two Naga Raja chillies and much more. They also visit Mokokchung, the land of the Aos, where they explore villages, the 1000-year-old tree and dance to Ao beats. Konyaks were the fiercest Naga warriors known for their head hunting and Rohan and Vishal head to Mon to revisit the past. Do they survive their meeting with the Konyaks? Find out in this episode.

    Strictly Street Season 2: Travelxp HD has come out with the second of season of ‘Strictly Street – Out at Night’ featuring its very own and loved Rohan Patoley, in a funnier and wackier avatar than ever before. The show showcases the best and popular joints to eat out at night in urban India. Feel those late night hunger pangs? Let Rohan point you in the right direction. A variety of food joints from all strata helps one pick the joint that suits their pocket and palate. Not leaving out those inclined for some fun and frolic, the show will also feature certain night joints where one gets to experience the diverse cultural dance forms, the modern youth entertainment like live bands, night melas, and many more exhilarating experiences while enjoying the gastronomical delights on offer.

    Krazee Foodie Season 2: This time Krazee Foodie host Prashanth takes you to Kannur, Kerala where he samples traditional delicacy Ada pradhaman and Puttu with Kadala curry. He also visits a hill station called Pala and watches the sun set from an old lighthouse in Kozhikode before heading off to try some Ayakura Biryani followed by the traditional Halwa. Prashanth Neelamegam also visits the Guruvayurappan temple in Guruvayur and Palayur Church in Thrissur in a single episode and also samples some tender coconut Halwa. He also embarks on a journey to Vagamon and tries his hand at fishing before going off on a Jeep safari and then to Alleppey beach in Alappuzha for some coconut soufflé. He then tucks into breakfast at Vellappam followed by fish and prawn curry in Kochi before rounding his trip off with an Elephant safari.

  • Travelxp trains focus on production

    Travelxp trains focus on production

    MUMBAI: Travelxp has made its first big international landing. Come 30 April, it will launch in the UK through the popular Freeview platform. This will be driven by Travelxp Europe MD Sumant Bahl who also leads Travelxp UK from its Greater London office. The network plans to strengthen its content capability by setting up its production houses first in the UK and subsequently in Eastern Europe and thereafter in the Americas. Travelxp CEO Prashant Chotani said that the UK production house would serve as the hub for western, central and eastern Europe within the next four to five months.

    The channel has gone free-to-air in the UK while in every other territory, including India, Travelxp is a pay-TV channel. The company claims to have sold 100 per cent of its ad inventory for its UK channel.

    Travelxp is relayed in local languages in countries such as the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria. The channel also has Hindi, Tamil and Bengali feeds in India. It will get into more Indian languages, including Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, soon. France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary and Austria are also in the pipeline for launch.

    The channel has made aggressive marketing plans targeting the large mainstream audience in the UK with TV campaigns on mainstream television and digital billboard screens across the UK on buses, the underground, and on social media, amongst other initiatives.

    The network, which owns the IP for its content, has a digital platform in the works and details will be out by the year end.

    “We are confident that our popular, premium travel-related entertainment and infotainment-driven content will connect with close to 16 million Freeview subscribers all over the UK. Every television manufactured in the UK after 2008 includes an inbuilt Freeview tuner that enables it to receive channels from Freeview, which is operated by DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva,” Chotani said.

    With end-to-end in-house infrastructure of the latest technology and equipment, Travelxp’s lean crew teams produce programming in line with global standards. Only last week, it announced the launch of two new shows, Thali–The Great Indian Meal and City Breaks’ Uzbekistan series in seven global and three Indian languages.

    The UK content will include the channel’s six main categories of destination, lifestyle, food, culture, nature and heritage.

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  • Travelxp launches new shows Thali-The Great Indian Meal, and City Breaks’ Uzbekistan series in 3 Indian, 7 global languages

    Travelxp launches new shows Thali-The Great Indian Meal, and City Breaks’ Uzbekistan series in 3 Indian, 7 global languages

    MUMBAI: Travelxp, the world’s leading travel channel reaching over 75 million homes and renowned for mainstream travel shows shot on 4K, has launched a new food-driven show and added three enticing destinations to its globally popular ongoing series.

    City Breaks Nisha Chothani, Director – Travelxp, said, “I am delighted to announce the launch of a unique new show, Thali – The Great Indian Meal, celebrating different, unusual but locally very popular culinary treats from all over India. We have also added three beautiful destinations from Uzbekistan to our globally popular series City Breaks. These shows have been created in the best Travelxp traditions of worldclass mainstream travel content shot in exquisite 4k and HD with multicultural hosts for immersive engagement, and will be launched on Sunday the 22nd of April in seven global and three Indian languages.”

    Thali – The Great Indian Meal:  Presented by celebrity Travelxp anchor Rohan Patoley, known most for his work in the non-fiction lifestyle-based series Strictly Street, Food Highway and Foodicted on Travelxp, this weekly half-hour series will air at 8:00 pm  every Saturday and Sunday, starting Sunday the 22nd of April 2018.

    Rohan will take food and travel aficionados on a quest to explore the flavors and assortments of one of the most traditional fares of India; the Thali. Viewers will explore various aspects of food ranging from street food to lost recipes and luxury cuisines in what will be a great window to understand the culture of every region through the local and unique delicacies it has to offer.

    Global and Indian audiences will get to savour the different, unusual, locally popular but globally not so well known  Thalis from India and the insightful stories behind different culinary flavors. The show will allow people who love travelling and exploring food of different countries, regions and communities to see India all over again through the culinary journey of the Thali.

    City Breaks to feature three exotic cities from Uzbekistan: Travelxp has added three beautiful, rugged, historic cities of Uzbekistan to its tentpole series City Breaks, which airs on weekends at 9:30  pm, and focuses on world cities that are great travel destinations. The series helps viewers see, know and become one with the history, culture and people of each city while savouring its sights, food and traditions. Starting Sunday the 22nd of April at 9.30 pm, City Breaks will feature these beautiful aspects in City Breaks Samarkand, City Breaks Bukhara and City Breaks Tashkent, presented by the celebrated, popular and glamorous Travelxp host, Alex Outhwaite.

    Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent are like a string of pearls on a timeline, each having a unique story to tell, and City Breaks’ Uzbekistan series will see the glamorous Alex  travel on a journey, shot in 4K, to Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, visiting markets and madrasas; indulging in local cuisines and exploring buildings ranging from the modern to historical monuments that were built during the times of Genghis Khan and Amir Timur.

    City Breaks is yet another example of the mainstream travel content Travelxp produces for discerning travel aficionados across the world. The cities from Uzbekistan are ancient and historical. Once part of the  erstwhile Silk Route, they are today progressing towards a modern outlook. Their rich history, elegant and magnificent architecture and pristine and rugged natural beauty are bound to appeal to lovers of great travel content worldwide.

    City Breaks has featured several beautiful cities so far, including  Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Prague, Sofia, Brussels, Budapest, Belfast and Dubai.

    With its new launches, Travelxp has opened a window to the world for the viewers to watch the evolution of thalis ‘from kitchen flame to worldwide fame’, and lesser explored destinations through 100% originally-produced content in High Definition and 4K.

    “Through these new shows, we wanted to bring our audiences great food and immersive travel destinations,” said Chothani. “Thali – The Great Indian Meal, will help audiences savour the delicious and unique culinary delights that vary across virtually every 50 to 100 kilometers in India, and City Breaks will present the aura and beauty of intriguing, architecturally brilliant yet simple cities of Uzbekistan – Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent,” she said. “These are a little offbeat, yet need to be on every avid traveler’s list. That is a part of Travelxp’s ongoing mission, and we hope to achieve it this time round too,” Chothani concluded.

  • Travelxp launches on T-2 platform in Slovenia

    Travelxp launches on T-2 platform in Slovenia

    MUMBAI: Travelxp, the travel genre channel has launched in yet another international market. With its latest launch in Slovenia, Travelxp has opened a window to the world for the viewers of Slovenia through the T-2 platform. Travelxp HD will be available with 100 per cent localisation in Slovenian language and brings premium travel and lifestyle programming filmed in over 50 countries across the globe to Slovenian homes.

    The T-2 platform is among the first ISPs to offer VDSL and over own FTTH network triple play services in Slovenia. With the launch, Travelxp is now present in 75 million TV homes through multiple leading platforms across the world.

    Travelxp CEO Prashant Chothani said, “Travelxp now reaches 75 million TV homes across the world through leading platforms. It is a matter of immense satisfaction that withinseven short years of its launch, Travelxp has become the leading travel channel brand across the world, dedicated to producing top class, contemporary travel content that forges memorable experiences for viewers and travellers globally.”

    Travelxp offers 100 per cent originally-produced premium travel and lifestyle programming with a classic mix of path-breaking travel and lifestyle content in high definition and 4K. With travel content filmed in more than 50 countries across the world with multicultural hosts from all over, Travelxp brings to the audiences a never seen before experience of traveling from their homes. It brings the world closer than ever to viewers, who love the extraordinary images, in-depth research and the captivating narration that together create the world’s most loved premium travel content created and broadcast on Travelxp channels worldwide.

    T-2 content acquisition manager Svetlana Manojlovic said, “We are the first Slovenian operator who offered to our users Travelxp channel, which is very welcomed by users who are excited about traveling around the world and like to fill their leisure time to see unexplored destinations around the world.

    Not only, they will be able to enjoy many documentary content in HD resolution, we are proud that this month, as the first in Slovenia, we will also offer this program in 4K technology to our users. It provides a user-friendly viewing experience with flawless resolution and full color. Namely, we are the first Slovenian operator to announce the introduction of 4K TVs and TV programs in 4K resolution. This confirms our long-term commitment, to ensure the quality and popular content of various genres and upgrade the user experience of our users. At T-2, we will continue our efforts to maintain the reputation of the operator with the most satisfied users with the help of partners such as Travelxp and develop into a market leader with the best quality products and services.”

    “Travelxp is already a loved and prominent channel in the Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian and Czech languages,” Chothani said, adding, “Slovenian is the fifth language of the CEE Region that Travelxp is now available in. We are the single largest producers of travel content in the world with unmatched quality and experience and will continue to take our premium travel content filmed in HD and UHD to delight travel aficionados in more and more countries and regions worldwide. Our aim is to leave a mark on the world with first-rate and unparalleled programming that will resonate with travelers all around the globe.”

  • 2017 for infotainment and lifestyle channels

    2017 for infotainment and lifestyle channels

    MUMBAI: The infotainment and lifestyle genres can’t compete with GECs when it comes to ratings but that doesn’t dampen the spirits of channel heads. New shows are constantly launched to engage the tight community of viewers that channels in the category command.

    According to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data, the lifestyle genre managed to grab more attention than the infotainment genre in 2017. There was a 15 per cent growth in the year 2017 as compared to the previous year. Infotainment genre had garnered 17.6 million impressions in the year 2016, whereas in 2017 the ratings increased to 20.2 million impressions. In 2016, the lifestyle genre had 4.2 million impressions and in 2017 it had 5.2 million impressions. Lifestyle segment grew by 24 per cent, which is more than the infotainment segment’s 15 per cent growth.

    Discovery managed to hold on to its strong position with an effective programming line-up. Sony, in partnership with BBC, launched Sony BBC Earth. The latest entrant in the market fared quite well whereas the other infotainment channels fought steadfastly, refusing to give an inch away.

    In the lifestyle category, food is what got Indian audiences drooling with Living Foodz giving others a hard time in displacing it from the throne. 

    Let’s delve into what infotainment and lifestyle channels did last year and see how they entertained audiences.

    INFOTAINMEN

    Discovery

    Discovery Channel India had enough shows lined-up for the whole year. The channel premiered Christiano Ronaldo– The world at his feet and Sleeping Giant– An Indian football story, as well as Taking Fire- live from Afghanistan-a story of a band of brothers deployed to defend one of the US’ farthest fling outposts at the gateway to one of the deadliest places on earth: the mouth of the Taliban-held Korengal Valley in Northeast Afghanistan.

    The channel aired a special short capsule feature series highlighting the work done under Namami Gange programme during Independence Day. A four-episode series Breaking Point: Commando School Belgaum gave viewers a glimpse of the thirty-five days gruelling course that the officers must undergo to be a part of India’s elite commando force. The series has been produced by Sparkle Works Films.

    HistoryTV18

    History TV18, a JV between TV18 and A+E Networks, came up with OMG! Yeh Mera India by Krushna Abhishek again-the third season showcasing another set of unique stories from across India such as an orphanage for animals like leopards, jackals, crocodile and porcupines, a barber who cuts and styles hair by igniting it with a gas lighter and a physically challenged ace-cyclist.

    The network also launched Serial Killer Earth was a 10-part series that explored mother nature while Barbarians Rising was an epic saga of the fall of the Roman Empire. History TV18 also launched a weekly video series– BossWomen to tell stories of Indian women, with an aim to collaborate, create and celebrate positive, inspirational, lesser-known, role model worthy women of India.

    Sony BBC Earth

    Launched in March 2017, Sony BBC Earth came up with many shows—Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Monumental Challenge etc. Also premiered were Spy in the Wild and three other shows—Extreme Mountain challenge, Extreme River challenge and-Deadly 60- Pole to Pole featuring Steve Backshall.

    LIFESTYLE

    Living Foodz

    The channel partnered All Things Nice, a wine and spirits consultancy, for the fifth edition of celebrating India’s finest to recognise the winners of the Indian Wine Consumer’s Choice Awards 2017 in association with lifestyle partner Living Foodz.

    Utsav-Thalis of India takes viewers on a journey across 18 cities and offers a peek into India’s rich culinary heritage. The show explores each region and unravels fascinating anecdotes about its people, the regional delicacies, local ingredients. 

    Another show that grabbed eyeballs during the year for the channel was Femme Foodies. Conceptualised in-house by Living Foodz, the show is based on the unique concept of ‘gourmet on wheels’.  

    FYI TV18

    This year, FYI TV18 launched a wedding-based show My Big Bollywood Wedding, exploring behind the scenes settings of the traditional and modern in today’s ‘Bollywood’ wedding culture amongst Indian – Americans. Small Budget Big Makeover featured the stories of different families across India and each makeover unravelled the story behind the change.

    TLC

    The network owned by Discovery Communications, focussing on educational and learning content, premiered a bold new short-format series The Poetist,— aiming to give a platform to leading female artists from across sections of society to use their art to express and stand up for what they believe in.

    Travelxp

    The network opened a window in 2017 for the viewers of Slovakia Czech Republic and Germany, through its fully localised launch on Slovak Telekom. Travelxp is already fully localised in Serbian and Croatian apart from the primary English feed.

    Viewers weren’t short of new shows to pick from this year. Let the appetite keep growing in 2018 as well.

  • Travelxp localises for Slovakia & Czech Republic

    Travelxp localises for Slovakia & Czech Republic

    MUMBAI: Travelxp opens a window to the world for the viewers of Slovakia and Czech Republic, through its fully localised launch on Slovak Telekom. The channel’s foray into Slovak is a very important step for the channel as it further expands its reach, strengthening its foothold in the Central Eastern European (CEE) region. This is the third language after Serbian & Croatian in which Travelxp is fully localised apart from the primary English feed.

    With travel content filmed in more than 40 countries across the world with multicultural hosts from all over, Travelxp brings to the audience a never-before-seen experience of travelling from their homes.

    “After localising the Travelxp service in the Czech language, our endeavour is to gradually showcase more content originating out of Slovakia and Czech Republic. Taking local content globally and getting global content locally is the core philosophy of Travelxp. We would be working with independent content producers in the region to have the local perspective as diversity of content is key to Travelxp’s offering,” said Travelxp Europe director Sumant Bahl.

    The channel offers 100 per cent originally-produced premium travel. Lifestyle programming is being distributed to over a 50 million homes globally, with a classic mix of path-breaking travel and lifestyle content in High Definition and 4K.

    Slovak Telekom marketing expert Andrej Miklanek said, “Telekom traditionally brings high-quality family and sports content to its customers. Enhancing the portfolio with Travelxp is another boost to the quality and attractiveness of our TV services.”
    The channel has selected HEVC encoding with 10 bits os colour depth (one billion colours), at 50 frames per second.

    It broadcasts in 10 bits REC 2020 colour space using the new HDR (high dynamic range) standard developed by the BBC and NHK that creates richer and more dynamic images by increasing the contrast ratio between the lightest and darkest areas of the screen and expanding the volume of colours displayed. This standard uses HLG (hybrid log-gamma) technology, enabling legacy standard dynamic (SDR) displays to decode the HDR standard.

    Travelxp IFC Media MD Jozef Pipek said, “Our next goal is to develop also Travelxp 4K which can bring to audience unforgettable travel experiences in the highest picture quality”

  • Travelxp’s Prashant Chothani’s 4K HDR TV global mission

    Travelxp’s Prashant Chothani’s 4K HDR TV global mission

    MUMBAI: Prashant Chothani is probably India’s most underrated TV professional and entrepreneur.  The 49-year-old founder of the infotainment channel Travelxp looks more like a typical Kutchi baniya businessman probably involved in the commodities trade. But, Chothani is actually a wiz at all things tech, all things high definition and all things Ultra HD.

    He has been beating a pioneering 4K or UHD HDR (ultra high definition – High Dynamic Range) trail globally. In the process, he’s been getting oodles of accolades worldwide — at almost every 4K gathering  – apart from his home country, India, where almost everyone scoffs at what they call a technology which is years away. Especially considering the rickety cable TV infrastructure that distributes television channels to more than 100 million homes. Chothani is the only Indian who has been co-opted on the Global Ultra HD Forum, which is the organisation responsible for setting standards for the format.

    Since a prophet is respected but in his own home, Chothani has been pushing his Travelxp 4K HDR channel globally. And he’s got a big supporter in the world’s top two satellite operators – SES and Eutelsat – who have been goading him to spread his tentacles even further. Says he: “SES and Eutelsat have been going all out to promote the 4K ecosystem. We have partnered with them for our launches.”

    Earlier this year, he rolled out Travelxp 4K – the world’s first 4K HDR travel channel – in the US with the help of the satellite company SES. The greatest potential is, of course, in Uncle Sam, where operators serving close to 30 million TV homes are currently testing 4K delivery.

    “Operators are hungry for 4K HDR channels. There’s a lot of demand, but limited supply. And, they are awaiting 4K boxes,” says Chothani. “Subscribers are already signing on, as we have signed distribution deals with three small to medium-sized operators.”

    On 1 October, Travelxp 4K HDR  was officially launched in Europe off Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13E.

    Says Chothani: “The majority of operators are planning to launch 4K services in the next six months, and they were waiting for a HDR channel. That is where we come in. The operators will now start testing and sampling it.”

    Hotbird’s market-leading penetration in cable and IPTV networks across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, gives it a wide footprint to get Travelxp the widest coverage. There are plans to widen it even further by taking the channel to APAC and Latin America in the next few months.  To date, Chothani’s company Media WorldWide has a clutch of 10 channels under its belt. 

    At the time of writing Chothani was in Russia, exploring a distribution deal for Putin’s land, and he chatted with Indiantelevision.com over Whatsapp.

    Travelxp 4K has close to 50 hours of 4K HDR content –arguably the largest library globally. “It costs close to $500,000 to produce a good hour of 4K HDR content,” he says. “If you dig for gold, how much you spend to get it is your creativity. But, the market price is what you get when you sell the gold.”

    To get more value out of the content, Chothani has dubbed the Travelxp HD and 4K HDR content filmed all over the world with multicultural hosts in several languages. The programmes are currently available in English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Serbian, Croatian, Czech and Dutch, and more languages are slated to follow suit.

    The channel has selected HEVC encoding with 10 bits of colour depth (one billion colours), at 50 frames per second. It broadcasts in 10 bits REC 2020 colour space using the new HDR (high dynamic range) standard developed by the BBC and NHK that creates richer and more dynamic images by increasing the contrast ratio between the lightest and darkest areas of the screen and expanding the volume of colours displayed. This standard uses HLG (hybrid log-gamma) technology, enabling legacy standard dynamic (SDR) displays to decode the HDR standard.

    While Chothani has a long way to go with Travelxp 4K HDR, his HD channel has travelled a lot, and is available in around 50 million homes globally.

    “There are other launches planned for the HD service,” he says with a gleam in his eyes. “Very soon. Very soon.  We will be in about 100 million homes in SD and HD worldwide by end-2018.”

    He adds: “We were amongst the first to launch HD programming in India. Now, we are amongst the first in 4K HDR in the world when HD is on its way down worldwide. A year down the line when UHD HDR will have taken root globally, Travelxp 4K will be in every 4K basic packs of most operators by virtue of it being the first mover and because of the quality of HDR content.”

    Chothani would like to make an appeal to the regulator and the TV industry in India.

    “The first round of digitisation of cable TV saw some plain vanilla set-top boxes being brought in to meet deadlines,” he says. “Now, planning for 4K HDR needs to be borne in mind when set-top box standards are drawn up. It requires very little extra investment in hardware and software. This will prevent regrets in the future. I would like Indians to enjoy the experience of 4K HDR from an Indian TV channel provider. ”

    Clearly, this is a man for whom 4K HDR is not just a business,  it is a passion. And, that is the first ingredient needed to achieve success.

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    July: 2 Viacom & 3 south channels among 9 permitted, far short of MIB’s March target

  • Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) today announced that Travelxp 4K, an international travel channel, will make its Ultra HD debut next month on SES’s growing Ultra HD distribution platform serving cable operators and multichannel television platforms throughout North America.

    Offering audiences compelling stories from faraway places, the world’s first 4K travel channel, Travelxp 4K,is set to launch on the SES-1 satellite, one of a trio of SES satellites (SES-1, SES-3, AMC-18) that are home to the region’s leading Ultra HD distribution platform. Travelxp4K, licensed to multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) by Vivicast Media, is the latest in a series of Ultra HD channels to join SES’s Ultra HD platform, home to nine linear Ultra HD channels as of January. SES has now signed distribution agreements with more than 30 Ultra HD channels globally, of which 21 are commercial.

    Travelxp 4K, a venture of Celebrities Management in India, features hundreds of hours of world class travel programs filmed all over the world. The 4K channel follows the success of Travelxp HD, which offers 100% originally-produced premium travel and lifestyle programmingdistributed to over 50 million homes globally. Travelxp 4K will showcase global travel content with breathtaking images in 10 bit REC2020 color space with HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) HDR (High Dynamic Range).

    “Travelxp4K is all about bringing the world to homes in stunning resolution. 10 bit REC2020 with HLG HDR will make the viewing experience more immersive and vivid. It’s not just about more pixels in 4K but better pixels,” explained Travelxp 4K CEO Prashant Chothani. “We are delighted to offer viewers a closer and more fascinating look at the world’s most beautiful travel destinations, cultures, and heritage like never before with our 100% original and exclusive 4K programming. By joining SES’s growing Ultra HD bouquet and content distribution platform, Travelxp 4K is well-positioned to reach significant audiences across North America.”

    “SES has created the best and largest bouquet of stunning 4K programming in a single location around the world,” said SES vice president of business development in North America Steve Corda. “People across the U.S. and North America are purchasing Ultra HD TVs at a record pace, with a surge expected this holiday season. Millions of television viewers are now expecting to watch 4K programming on their new screens, and cable operators and other television platform providers are on the verge of satisfying this growing demand with the historic home delivery of linear Ultra HD in the coming weeks and months.”