ITV

Tag: TV

  • BBC iPlayer gets a cautious go-ahead from Ofcom

    BBC iPlayer gets a cautious go-ahead from Ofcom

    MUMBAI: BBC Trust has given the green signal to BBC management to provide broadband audio and video services-iPlayer. They have, however, incorporated changes made by the BBC Trust on the recommendations made by the communications regulator Ofcom following a market impact assessment.

    The proposed BBC iPlayer would provide a seven-day catch-up service featuring a large proportion of programming available for download over broadband. It will also include simulcasting services over the internet and making selected radio programmes available as downloads without digital rights management restrictions.

    The BBC iPlayer had a public value test, following a three-month period of industry consultation. Some of the recommendations by Ofcom included reducting the storage duration of downloaded programmes for up to 7 days from the original 13 weeks that BBC had asked for.

    Ofcom observes that the demand for services delivered over broadband is developing rapidly. It suggests that over the next five years linear television viewing may fall by 20-30%, to be replaced largely by the increased use of on-demand services. A similar pattern is anticipated for audio programming.

    However, it adds that it would not be in the wider public interest for the BBC’s involvement to restrict competition, innovation or choice. It notes that “unchecked, the BBC’s power in nascent markets could harm the stimulus of competition necessary to ensure quality content for the long-term”.

    The BBC Trust said in a statement that the Ofcom market impact analysis forms only part of its public value test process, adding that “in reaching our eventual decision, we must also consider the potential public value created by the on-demand proposals”.

  • ICC pilots Media Notes publication in build up to the World Cup

    ICC pilots Media Notes publication in build up to the World Cup

    MUMBAI: With less than six weeks to go to the start of the cricket World Cup the International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched the first pilot edition of a new publication aimed at the world’s cricket media.

    Media Notes will be available to download from icc-cricket.com and will be produced on a regular basis in the build up to world cricket’s showcase event.

    The publication will promote major tournaments and ICC events, highlight the women’s game and also look at matches of significance involving the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate Members.

    And it will also keep readers up to date with the latest movements in the LG ICC Rankings, both for teams – the Test and ODI Championship tables – and individual players. The LG ICC Rankings are the only officially endorsed ratings for international teams and players.

  • Broadcasting Bill to be fair and open: Dasmunsi

    Broadcasting Bill to be fair and open: Dasmunsi

    NEW DELHI: “Investors in the broadcast sector must realise that the government’s policy is open, and when the (broadcasting) bill is ready, the world will see and realise this,” said information and broadcasting minister PR Dasmunsi at the inauguration of the three-day Broadcast Engineering Society Expo 2007 today.

    Dasmunsi said, “There is a huge potential for development of broadcasting in India and we have a lot of advanced technologies available with us. What we need to have is proper selection of technologies suiting our requirements.”
    I&B secretary SK Arora, in his remarks said that in devising a regulatory framework, the interest of the consumer is foremost in government’s mind. The business models have to suit the large number of our consumers. Policy framework and the business models have to be in sync to cater to the consumer interest, he added.

    Sharing with his audience the excitement of living in this amazing age of broadcasting revolution, he stressed nevertheless that the government would ensure a level playing field for all, and more than that, not allow most of the consumers to be deprived of the benefits of technology. Prices need to be controlled to keep them affordable.

    “We must allow full play of technology, business and management to take shape successfully,” he said, adding, “the regulatory regime is crucial for the success of innovative ideas and products.”

    He had a critique of the government sector too, which, he said, lacked management skills. “The public sector must realise the commercial aspects, and be acutely conscious of working out systems to facilitate innovations and business models to become successful,” Arora held.

    He stressed that the core philosophy of the government was simple: the consumer. “Everyone must keep this in mind,” he added for good measure.

    Prasar Bharati’s experience in introducing newer technologies (TV, FM radio, DTH, now digitalisation and mobile TV) has helped develop the regulatory environment.

    “We have depended on the technological expertise of Prasar Bharati while designing the regulatory regime,” he explained.

    He felt that though the regulatory framework must have adequate provision for segmentation and exploitation of the market by investors, the business models they develop must be appropriate and new technology is carried to the people at affordable prices.

    The inauguration ceremony also saw BES president AS Guin, David Astley, secretary general of AsiaPacific Broadcasting Union, and Roger Crumpton, CEO of International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers address the more than 300 persons attending the function.

    ‘BROADCASTING MULTI-FACETED, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL’

    In his keynote address, Crumpton said that broadcasting is not only a multifaceted affair, as the title for this year’s Expo suggested, but a multidimensional one, in which the engineering challenges were just huge.

    Especially in India, he added, explaining that whereas only 19 per cent of the people in the US and 20 per cent in the UK were under 15, the figure is 35 per cent for India, and with this population the multiplicity of platforms is not important: content is everything.

    “It does not matter on what platform they are accessing it, but they want it where and when they choose and what they choose. This is the young demographics we are dealing with, which is cash-positive and time-negative,” Crumpton said.

    What was important in his speech was that he made presentations of when the first TV sets came and then the first colour TV sets came and it all seemed to people like him, and these are the people who are having to design technologies and content, so this aging generation of experts need to be in synch with the young demographics facing them.

    The challenge is that for this generation, there must be a clear agenda for creation and delivery of content, which will be constantly repurposed in real time, a situation where broadcasting will face this problem. Because there is a paradigm shift from tapes-based programming to file-based one, he explained.

    “There has to be a radical shift,” Crumpton argued, “for training, qualifying and accreditation systems.”

    And he saw a huge opportunity for India. He says this paradigm shift, combined with an ageing skilled workforce in the West has already started creating problems of skill shortages in the globally $11 billion broadcasting market, which is also facing revenue streaming threats from telecom and IPTV.

  • Samsung strengthens DTV position in the US

    Samsung strengthens DTV position in the US

    MUMBAI: Electronics major Samsung captured the number one market share position for digital televisions in the US in 2006, according to The NPD Group’s retail tracking service.

    NPD VP industry analysis Stephen Baker says, “The industry’s overall DTV unit sales have grown 54 per cent and three million more digital TVs were sold in 2006 than 2005; and within 2006, Samsung sold more digital televisions than anyone else in the industry.

    “Samsung is the only television manufacturer that demonstrates market strength in all four digital TV categories, which includes LCD, plasma, Microdisplay and Flat Tube. According to NPD’s monthly sales data Samsung’s share position improved throughout the year with Samsung leading the market in units and dollars within the second half of the year.”

    Samsung became America’s choice for digital TVs in 2006 with total Digital TV unit share of 20 per cent, which is a significant lead on the competition. In addition, Samsung demonstrated strong category leadership in Flat Panel TVs with number one unit share of 21.5 percent and number one dollar share of 25.1 percent; Samsung grew its LCD market share (10″ and larger) to the number one position in 2006 (from the number four position in 2005) with a market share of 15.1 per cent; and its SlimFit™ line of flat tube CRT TVs claimed an overwhelming 46.1 percent unit share and a 43.7 per cent dollar share in 2006, according to NPD data.

    Samsungsays that it is the only manufacturer that produces, and is committed to leading, in all four major digital television technologies: LCD, Microdisplay, Plasma, and Flat Tube. Strong 2006 sales across each category catapulted Samsung to the number one position.

    Samsung Electronics America executive VP, consumer electronics division Tim Baxter says, “Achieving a number one market position is a significant milestone for Samsung and we are very proud that for the first time, the American public has made us their first choice for digital televisions.

    “Samsung has demonstrated its growth to demand-brand status within the highly competitive Digital TV landscape. We attribute our success to a combination of manufacturing strength, commitment to all four digital television technologies and our leading product designs.”

    In 2006, Samsung launched its 51/52 series of LCD HDTVs, which the company nicknamed Bordeaux for its wine-glass curve at the bottom of the sets. For the first time, Samsung’s TVs offered consumers a choice of luxurious lacquer-like piano-black or smooth white-pearl exterior that not only complemented consumers’ home design but enhanced it as well.

    People the firm says no longer had to hide their TVs inside bulky, space-consuming furniture; Samsung provided them with design choices that accented their home décor.

    Samsung adds that it is one of the largest panel manufacturers in the world. In fact, the company consistently increases its R&D investments each year. In 2005 alone, Samsung’s R&D investments reached 5.41 trillion KRW. Recently, Samsung SDI (one of Samsung’s group affiliates) expanded the capacity of its plasma development facility in Cheonan, Korea.

    Samsung Electronics is currently planning to open a Gen8 LCD manufacturing facility in TangJeong, Korea. Because the company designs and manufactures most of its own components, it can maintain the utmost control over production quality and manufacturing costs, giving the company a distinct market advantage.

    About five years ago, Samsung decided to focus its TV resources almost exclusively on its digital television product line. The company recognized that each of the four digital TV technologies brought different advantages – and price points – to consumers and it decided to invest in each of them.

    The firm says that due to its manufacturing strength it is able to bring price-competitive televisions to market while maintaining our profitability. So its early decisions and investments are paying off.

    Samsung attributed its success to a combination of manufacturing strength, commitment to all four digital television technologies and product designs

  • WWIL likely to raise $100 million via QIP

    WWIL likely to raise $100 million via QIP

    MUMBAI: Wire & Wireless India Ltd (WWIL), Zee Group’s demerged cable company, is likely to raise $100 million through qualified institutional placement (QIP) to fund its expansion programme including digitalisation and acquisition of cable operators.

    “WWIL is likely to raise $100 million via QIP as part of its fund raising programme but will take a final decision on this soon. Everything will depend on the market conditions,” a source close to the company says.

    When contacted, WWIL managing director Jagjit Singh Kohli said the exact amout and instrument has not yet been decided. “I will be able to comment after we have decided and taken the shareholders’ approval,” he added.

    WWIL is making a preferential issue of convertible warrants to Jayneer Capital, a promoter group company, up to Rs 1.31 billion as part of its fund raising programme. This will translate to around 5 per cent equity in WWIL. The conversion price of the warrants into equity shares will be at Rs 122. The company has convened an EGM (Extra Ordinary General Meeting) on 26 February for shareholders’ approval on the issue of preferential warrants.

    “The dilution, along with the warrants, will be around 20 per cent at the current prices if WWIL takes up the $100 million mopping up exercise through QIP,” the source says.

    WWIL has aggressive plans to expand its digital cable business and had earlier projected a fund requirement of Rs 7.14 billion over two years.

    The company recently announced that it would seek shareholders’ approval for raising up to $250 million (approximately Rs 11.25 billion). The board which met on Monday considered all the fund raising options including issue of ADR (American depository receipt), GDR (global depository receipt), equity, debt, debentures, FCCB (foreign currency convertible bond), QIP (qualified institutional placement) and convertible warrants.
     

  • Creative Eye Q3 net profit at Rs 3.3 million

    MUMBAI: Creative Eye Ltd’s net profit has posted a net profit of Rs 3.3 million in the third quarter of the current fiscal, up from Rs one million a year ago.

    The company’s revenues stood at Rs.55.2 million as against Rs 39.3 million during this period. For the nine-month period ended 31 December 2006, Creative Eye had posted a net profit of Rs 6.4 million on a revenue of Rs.155.9 million.

    Creative Eye will launch Tulsi Mere Angan Ki, a social programme, on Doordarshan at 8.30 pm every Saturday from 10 March.

  • BES Expo booming and globally accepted

    BES Expo booming and globally accepted

    NEW DELHI: All the stalls at the BES Expo 2007, to be inaugurated on 1 February, are packed. BES estimates it would need to add 20 per cent more space in the coming year, a significant rise in global visibility for the lone Indian broadcast engineering show, says AS Guin, President, BES at a press conference here today.

    Three hundred participants are here this year, among them 16 which are coming here for the first time, Guin, who is also All India Radio’s engineer-in-chief, states.
    In fact, two major participants, Joseline Josiah of Unesco’s adviser in communication and information in Asia and Ed Homan, director of operations, Ideal Systems Asia Pacific, specifically mentioned that it is the phenomenal growth of BES as an organisation, just one among the three broadcast engineering institutes in the world, that made them participate in this year’s Expo.

    Homan made a brief but sharp point in stating that there were earlier only two major such Expos, IBC and NAB. “The fact that people like us have decided to come here is because BES has earned tremendous respect as an institution and is seen globally for the tremendous work they have done in the field.

    Though Josiah’s project on community radio is the socially most exciting among the ones to be showcased here during the three-day exposition, Nokia stole the show, as a partner of Doordarshan’s project on mobile television project that is under trials at the moment.

    In fact, Pawan Gandhi, Nokia’s Singapore based head of mobile TV and Video Experience division, was practically mobbed by the media for a dekko at the mobile set he was carrying to demonstrate the ongoing project under trial. The crystal clear image and the easy channel surfing system surprised many.

    Gandhi said that the system could carry ten channels per band and in its dialogue with DD, they have felt it necessary to run at least 30 channels. The sets are at the moment not available in India, and the ones launched in Vietnam costs $700 to 800, and is a high-end product.

    Guin added that, as in the case of DD’s DTH, DD Direct Plus, which initially cost a packet per household, so in the case of DD’s mobile TV project, “prices are bound to come down as the demand rises,” hence, those who want will be able to afford this equipment in the coming days.

    Ashish Bhatnagar, honourary secretary of BES, said: “The government has silently ushered in a revolution in the form of community radio to be operated by NGOs.” He said that this is among the most promising projects in hand and will see thousands of radio centres coming up across the country.

    The government’s programme with Unesco is to make people aware and empower and train them to handle radio stations on their way, Adhikary added.

    Josiah, asked to address the media, spoke of an amazing range of products, especially those with multiple facilities, including what she described as “more than a radio”, rather a community multimedia centre with provisions for radio, Internet and other forms of communication.

    Josiah said that Unesco has been working for the past 30 years in the field of community radio and developed models relevant to various countries and cultures. These will be on show at the pavilion and there will be presentations and demonstrations.

    Another advancement BES is seeking to make is to help launch broadcast engineering courses in universities, under affiliation to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, the apex body in the region.

    Dialogue is going on this, Guin said, and the BES hopes to see this happen very soon. Guin also said that though the BEShas been holding these Expos for the past 12 years, from this 13th year, they would send reports to the government about participation and developments and results achieved at the fairs.

    The expo will be inaugurated by information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi tomorrow, at Hall No. 7D, Pragati Maidan, Delhi.

  • Moser Baer set to enter Kerala home video market with 101 Malayalam titles

    Moser Baer set to enter Kerala home video market with 101 Malayalam titles

    MUMBAI: Moser Baer Ltd is expanding its home video business. The company plans to come out with Malayalam films in the VCD and DVD formats.

    The entry into this market will be with Tiger which has Suresh Gopi, Murali and Gopika as star cast. This will be released in both VCD and DVD formats.

    “We plan to launch 100 other titles from our library of over 600 Malayalam titles, both from catalogue as new films. This is the first time that a launch of such an unprecedented scale of titles will take place in Kerala. While all the titles will be introduced in VCD format, 12 key titles are planned to be introduced in DVD format also,” the company said in a statement.

    Moser Baer has already lined up 26 distributors in Kerala and stocks shall be available immediately in around 5,000 outlets which will be scaled up in future. “We will be advertising the concept of low cost, original VCDs and DVDs in local TV channels and press starting from 1 February,” the company said.

    On 10 January, Moser Baer launched over 101 Tamil titles in Tamil Nadu. The company releases video content on DVD and Video CD formats using its proprietary and patented technology which it claims “enhances quality” and significantly reduces cost.

    Moser Baer is in final negotiations to acquire copyrights/exclusive license of more than 7000 titles in all major Indian languages. “This initiative in Kerala is poised to bring a paradigm change in the home video market. We believe this will lead to much higher consumption of content on home video, and encourage people to build libraries and eschew piracy. We have planned distribution to reach virtually every town where there is a movie loving family. Our rich library, world-class packaging and production, and unbeatable value propositions for customers will surely propel Moser Baer and this new venture into the top end of the market in a very short time,” said Moser Baer executive director Ratul Puri.

    The new initiative will release titles in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi languages. “With 18 CFAs, 400 distributors and a dedicated sales force, this division will also set up owned and branded outlets at about 300 locations in addition to its alliances with large format stores. One such branded outlet was already inaugurated and isfunctioning at Pondicherry,” the company said.

  • Star looks to give mobile users a Plus experience

    Star looks to give mobile users a Plus experience

    MUMBAI: In an effort to tap into the burgeoning mobile sphere, Star India is launching the platform Plus by the end of February.

    Star is hoping this initiative will help users go beyond using the mobile for text and voice. It is being positioned as a solution for consumers to catch up on television, sports, movies, shop and bank on the go.

    Speaking on this, Star Mobile Entertainment senior VP Viren Popli says, “The mobile service is a particularly valuable tool for those who do not have access to the net. They can access the digital world. You do not need to change your phone. You need GPRS to download the application for free. There will be a monthly fee of around Rs 2 for the content. Of course ringtone downloads or purchases will be billed separately.

    “Once a user downloads the application he will see nine buttons. These are TV, Sports, Music, Movie, Lifestyle, Community, Downloads, Info Services and Help. TV has a TV guide. We also offer mobisodes of our shows. This is basically a summary of the episode that has just aired. You can also get wallpapers. As far as information services are concerned we have a few partners. For banking we have tied up with HDFC. It allows you to access your account, ask for a cheque book.”

    Popli adds that in the travel, segment there are two partners – Travelguru and makemytrip.com. One can buy tickets and make hotel reservations. Star has also tied up with Infomedia for the Yellow Pages service. Here you can search for phone numbers. For astrology there is a tie-up with Dinesha Speaks. The sports section has a news desk for cricket, hockey, golf, tennis etc. One can also get ball by ball updates.

    In the movies section one gets clips, news and reviews. For music the firm has tied up with Universal Music. One can get information on new releases, classics etc. One can listen to clips before deciding whether or not to make a purchase. Popli adds that as of now five to 10 per cent of mobile phones in India have GPRS. Hopefully in two years time with services like this launching 30-40 per cent of phones will have GPRS.

    He says that the service took six to seven months to set up. One criteria was that the user should not have to change his/her phone. Also the interface needed to be easy to use. Right now the interface is in English but Star is looking at making it available in other languages as well. Going forward Plus’ aim will be to add to the depth and breadth of the services it offers.

    For instance, in TV in the future one might get other channels’ schedules and have clips from there besides the Star bouquet. That is one reason why Popli says the name Plus was given to the service to separate it from the Star brand name. The firm is also examining the possibility on introducing mobile blogs, mail as time goes on.

    In the Lifestyle section one can get information on cars courtesy a tie up with Overdrive. Then there is a tie-up with T3 for gadget news. Computing information comes courtesy Chip. Design tips will be provided by Better Interiors. Fans of audio can learn what is happening thanks to a tie up with AV Max. If one wants to buy a car for example one can put in a price range and then see what is available. A review will be there and then one can ask for a test drive.

    The Community section will offer Midnight Chat on Channel [V] as well as shopping. One can also blog here.

  • Mobile entertainment market could hit $ 77 billion by 2011

    Mobile entertainment market could hit $ 77 billion by 2011

    MUMBAI: Juniper Research predicts that the mobile entertainment market is set for a new era of rapid growth as 3G environments become more commonplace, applications built for mobile predominate and more users in the mass market exploit the mobile phone as a multifunctional communications and entertainment device.

    The value of the mobile entertainment market, including music, games, TV, sports and infotainment, gambling and adult content is forecast to increase from $17.3 billion in 2006 to nearly $77 billion by 2011, driven by mobile TV, video rich applications and a buoyant Asian market. This may be rapid growth but there are still a number of barriers.

    Juniper Research Mobile Entertainment Series principal author commented,” The face of mobile entertainment is expected to change significantly over the next five years as next generation mobile services continue to be rolled out around the globe and take up steadily increases. As 3G services become commonplace, sophisticated mobile entertainment products and services can reach the mass market and provide the sort of anywhere anytime entertainment that has been predicted for some time, but not really delivered.”

    However, he added a note of caution, “Whilst the potential to generate dramatically increased revenues is certainly there, many uncertainties affecting sections of the market still exist and could put a break on growth – the development of legislative environments for mobile gambling and adult content, and the success of broadcast mobile TV trials currently underway or planned, are just two examples.”

    Dramatic changes in service delivery are forecast, but some aspects of market structure will not change. The Asia Pacific region currently provides the largest market for Mobile Entertainment services and contributes over 40% of global revenues. Despite more rapid growth in North America and in developing markets, the Asia Pacific region is forecast to retain its leadership through to 2011, when it will still contribute 37% of global revenues.