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  • Benchmark Broadcast System is Now Adobe Certified Solution Partner

    Benchmark Broadcast System is Now Adobe Certified Solution Partner

    Mumbai: In September 2020, Adobe introduced the Adobe Certified Service Partners for Video and Audio program. The idea was to help system integrators gain high-level knowledge and confidence needed to deliver their services in three strategic areas: support, workflow, and system design, and in software integration. Systems integrators that meet proficiency requirements in all three areas become Adobe Certified Service Partners for Video and Audio.

    Ahead of the CXO Connect event, Adobe, senior manager and head of ACeSP Program, Michael Gamboeck and Benchmark COO, Eswaran MP got into a freewheeling conversation with Indiantelevision.com to discuss what this programme is all about, and how does this partnership helps in providing better services to their clients.

    Edited Excerpts:

    On the importance of this partnership and how it benefits one to become an Adobe certified partner

    Michael Gamboeck: Adobe delivers the best experiences for creatives and the best UX to our broad user base. With a partner like Benchmark we are completing the offering to our clients. Benchmark will consult, support and integrate Adobe technology for clients.

    Eswaran MP: Benchmark has been serving in the Broadcast Media industry for more than 20 years and has been successful in earning trust and confidence through the work delivered. Each customer is unique in the way they handle their process and use different sets of applications. Now, as an Adobe Certified Video Products Service Provider, Benchmark can serve the uniqueness of customers better in terms of integrating their workflow with Adobe suite of video products and related third party video applications. Benchmark sees a great potential in its handling these interactive customer requirements by creating extension panels, customising according to requirement and giving focused support to the customers, which would bring in more efficiency and ease of operation.

    On the services Benchmark plans to bring to the table as ACeSP and how it will help the video customers

    Michael Gamboeck: Video is still the most complex part of content creation today. Projects were complex always, but with the use of new technology, we have seen some big transformation in the video industry. First is a shift of the business models. For example, preference for VOD like Netflix. Second we do see a general transformation of technology toward standard IT. A vision mix is replaced with software and IP based solutions. The same is true for video editing, which is no longer a single editing suite. Now everyone in an organisation should be able to tell a story with the video. And last but not least, clouds. Remote workflows are the new standard. All of that are big challenges for our client, and this program aims to help our clients. Thanks to partners like Benchmark they will be able to focus on their strength and be agile when they are planning systems and solutions.

    Eswaran MP: Benchmark as Adobe Certified Service Provider (ACeSP) offers enhanced workflows. Customers would enjoy full advantage of the product features and seamless integration of Adobe products with their own creative production ecosystem. Benchmark offers automated workflows by streamlining content creation processes, removing repetitive drudgery and enabling professionals to focus only on the required creative process.

    On the global and India perspective:

    Michael Gamboeck: Globally, we are adding more and more partners to the program. We will support them with deep technical training and help them build solutions for our clients. That is needed for India as the rest of the world.

    On the certification and how it is going to enhance the overall business scope and potential

    Eswaran MP: With adobe certification, Benchmark team has been trained to produce Adobe extension panels to integrate with Newsroom system, MAM, editing system, etc., integrating scripts to customise the workflow and user interface according to the requirements, automating workflows to help customers focus on creative process and provide collaborative remote project management features.

    On what customers can expect out of this program

    Eswaran MP: Customers can expect to improve their efficiency by focusing on their core strength and take the full advantage of the product without the need to put extensive man hours into learning each tool and tricks. Benchmark as the trained service provider will work to provide those benefits and work with customers for their workflow. This program aims to expand on the importance of an automated and collaborative environment of production and introducing service partners such as Benchmark and its capability of providing such solutions to enhance overall customer experience of the Adobe suite of video products.

  • Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra settles 91% debt to 43 lenders

    Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra settles 91% debt to 43 lenders

    Mumbai: Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra has issued a second Open Letter sharing details of the debt resolution process and the steps taken to pay off the lenders. The Zee founder revealed that over 91 per cent of the debt has been settled to 43 lenders, and the remaining dues are in the process of being paid.

    In his first Open Letter issued on 25 January 2019, Chandra had apologised for the hardships faced by the lenders due to the liquidity crisis triggered by the IL&FS case and committed to repay the monies to the best of his abilities. The asset divestment process took a setback during the pandemic, which slowed down the overall debt resolution process, he wrote on Tuesday.

    “I am happy to report that we have come out of the financial stress situation by settling 91.2 per cent of our total debt to 43 lenders in 110 accounts. 88.3 per cent amount has been paid, while the remaining 2.9 per cent is in the process of being paid. We are making all the required efforts to settle the remaining 8.8 per cent of our total debt,” wrote Chandra. “I have no regrets for parting with a substantial ownership in the business and specially in the ‘jewels of the crown’. This was done to keep the family’s honor.”

    The Essel Group chairman further added that he intends to settle the remaining outstanding dues before the end of this fiscal year or before.

    He also shared that he does not regret the decision taken to part with a substantial portion of his ownership in his key businesses, attributing this decision taken to preserve the honour of his family, while reiterating the exit from the Infrastructure, Financial services & Print Media businesses.

    Elaborating on his next steps in terms of setting up a venture in the video space in the digital ecosystem, Chandra said, “I have earned a fair experience in the video business; hence I am exploring new ways / business opportunities in the “video in digital space” as well as AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning) in the video space, without getting into any conflicts with ZEEL, in any manner. I will provide the specifics very soon and you all will witness the initial phase of launch, of yet another pioneering venture.”

    Noted Investment Banker, Venture Capitalist and Stock-Market expert, Vallabh Bhansali said, “In nearly forty years of our friendship, he has always made me feel proud. His achievements as a visionary businessman pales before his act of honour to sacrifice all he built for the sake of it. So also his humility to admit his errors openly. In fifty years of my business career, I can’t think of a parallel.”

  • Akamai Tech & AVIA partner for Asia Pacific Media Summit

    MUMBAI: Where do you get 20 of the brightest minds in the media and gaming industry under one umbrella? Well, come 23 Jun 2021, they will be converging at the second virtual APAC Media Summit, which global cloud technology and security leader, Akamai Technologies, is producing in association with the Asian Video Industry Association (AVIA). 

    “It’s an event that both Akamai and Industry leaders look up to ever since we started in 2019. We had a phenomenal debut when we kicked it off in Mumbai, and we are happy that the journey did not stop because of the pandemic,” said Akamai India, Solutions engineering lead, Deepa Parikh. “2021 is going to be an interesting year. The pandemic has led to increase in digital adoption and increase in digital transformation, across industry sectors and especially in media. In that context, this APAC summit gains significance because the region has so much in common in terms of the operating environment, learnings and outlook.”

    The event will include a keynote conversation around content and monetization strategies and the future of streaming and an overview of the APAC media and gaming industry which has been growing by leaps and bounds. It will also focus on the innovations and tools that could help media houses and esports organizations to secure and protect their content and connect with key players.

    Registered users will get a chance to hear the experiences of industry leaders such as Disney+ Hotstar, president & head, Sunil Rayan; Seven West Media, Technology director, Scott Favelle; Rooter, founder and CEO, Piyush Kumar ; Kayo Sports & Binge, CEO, Julian Ogrin; IQyi, head of international business development, Anna Pak Burdin; Viettel Media, CEO, Vo Thanh Hai; Viacom18 Digital Ventures, COO, Gourav Rakshit; Akamai Technologies, vice president sales, and MD APJ, Parimal Pandya; Sky TV New Zealand, head of information and media security, Steve Lang; Akamai Technologies, APAC marketing director, Sheng Thong Hsin; Akamai Technologies, Regional VP sales APJ, Sid Pisharoti; Mobile Premier League, senior vice-president, strategy and operations, Naman Jhawar and Picture Board Partners, founder, Unmish Parthasarathi among many others. 

    Some of the key issues that are to be discussed during the summit include 

    • The future of video and its impact on business strategies 

    • Securing your content and customers – How is the ecosystem adapting together?

    • Protecting your video consumption journey – Is your bottom line protected? 

    • Creating esports experiences during Covid and beyond – What are some of the recent/popular moats in enhancing gaming experiences whilst staying protected?

    The Indian media houses have been going through a digital transformation for a long time now and Akamai has been a long-term partner to many of them in India, right from being their technical infrastructure partner to being a trusted advisor helping them accelerate this evolution online and through their digital transformation journey. 

    Through this event, both Akamai and AVIA hope to highlight how some of the new trends in the video industry will play out over the coming year in the Asia Pacific region and how media organisations can position themselves for greater success in the new normal.

    “Over the last year, the pandemic gave another push to help these media houses further this digital transition. It has forced media houses to diversify, to pivot to new revenue streams and to secure their content and data. In addition, Akamai has also enabled Media houses to transition seamlessly to working remotely,” said Parikh adding that a lot of these digital media houses have been innovating their new revenue models and moving towards more subscription-based services and having new products bundled in.

    “They are not just relying on ad revenue but exploring other newer formats like podcasts, video reportage, webinars, and Artificial Reality/Virtual reality to enrich their information delivery. Another key trend has been growing vernacular language content consumption both digital print and video largely due to the growing mobile user base,” added Parikh, discussing some of the new trends that have shaped the industry over the last decade.

    This digital transformation has also been accompanied by the rapid growth of streaming video services, especially over the last six years. . According to a report by Media Partners Asia (MPA), the Asia Pacific online video industry grew revenue by 14 per cent to reach $30.5 billion in 2020, mainly due to the lockdown which scaled the adoption of online services. Total online video revenues are projected to reach $54.5 billion by 2025.

    With the rise in engagement during the pandemic, a lot of new data was generated by publishers, OTT providers, and social media platforms, which faced emerging issues around privacy, content scraping, and large-scale cyberattacks.

    “Content lies at the heart of any digital media platform. In today’s digital age, cyber-threats are common and happening in all different forms all across the globe. The most common form of attack on corporate enterprise networks is phishing and the presence of malware. The third layer that needs protection is the End-user data, which can come under threat of credential stuffing attacks and account takeovers. We, at Akamai, feel that digital publishers need to adopt a multi-layered approach and rely on a zero-trust framework to protect themselves from various cybersecurity attacks, ransomware, phishing, advanced persistent threats, identity frauds, web skimming and content encryption to keep them away from content piracy,” added Parikh.

    Some of these issues and topics will also take centre stage at the upcoming event. To know more about how these and other challenges can be addressed by Media companies, interested participants can register at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/mediasummitapac/524244/r/indianongamingnc

    “The attendees can really benefit from the collective insights of industry veterans, analysts, and thought leaders from across the APAC region. We look forward to hosting the summit this year,” she added.

  • AVIA appoints Celeste Campbell-Pitt as a new chief policy officer

    AVIA appoints Celeste Campbell-Pitt as a new chief policy officer

    KOLKATA: The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has appointed a new chief policy officer to be based in its Singapore office, a first for the role. Celeste Campbell-Pitt will join AVIA on 3 May, and work with the current chief policy officer John Medeiros, who will retire after the transition period. 

    Medeiros, who is based in Hong Kong, and joined the Association then known as CASBAA, in 2005 as ice president of government relations and regulatory affairs, has been chief policy officer since 2013.

    AVIA’s key focus has been to represent the combined positions of its members and engage in constructive dialogue with governments so they may better understand the curated video industry. The chief policy officer spearheads this goal, developing and executing policy initiatives relevant to the video industry, in consultation with and on behalf of AVIA member companies. According to AVIA, the role has evolved over the years and  become a lot more critical as regulatory policies continue to develop alongside the sweeping changes the video industry has seen in recent years.

    “This role is critical for AVIA and we have taken a long time to find the right person.  While taking over from John who has made the role his own will be no easy task, I am delighted that we have found Celeste who has such a passion for the industry and a clear vision for how to build and develop the role,” AVIA CEO Louis Boswell said.

    Campbell-Pitt comes with over twenty years of business and legal experience in the media and entertainment industry across both Europe and Asia. Before joining AVIA, she was consulting with various global media and technology companies as well as private equity firms that were looking to expand into the Asia Pacific region.

    Campbell-Pitt was previously the vice president and head of Business Development and Advertising Sales at Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, after her stint at Endemol Shine Asia Group as the director and head of Commercial and Operations. She has also held senior legal counsel positions in international media companies including Star, Turner, and Channel Four in the UK.

  • Streambox-US Video technology pioneer to enter India

    Streambox-US Video technology pioneer to enter India

    New Delhi : Streambox, the industry leading pioneer in delivering unique IP based video streaming solutions over low bandwidth connections, has announced the opening of a new sales office in Mumbai to address the vibrant post-production markets in India and southeast Asia.

    “We are truly excited to launch in India, one of the largest and most active markets in the post-production and television broadcast industries," said Streambox CEO and co-founder Bob Hildeman. "Streambox products are a perfect fit for India’s rapid growth in media production and associated activities, such as film, post production and broadcast.” 

    Streambox offers end-to-end solutions for remote collaboration across a wide range of workflows, including editorial reviews, colour grading reviews and audio. According to the company, the collaborators can view and hear a live, colour-accurate audio/video stream in their edit suites, at home on cloud-based workstations, or even using an iPad or iPhone. 

    The company has appointed Sanjeev Kr Sinha as the country sales manager for India and southeast Asia. Sinha brings more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing in the broadcast, cable TV, OTT post-production, and education industries, said the company on Wednesday.

    "We are thrilled to have Sanjeev join our team and taking a leading role in our business expansion in southeast Asia" said Hildeman.

    Sinha added, “I am very excited to work for a global pioneer like Streambox. I see huge potential for Streambox products in the post-production and video market in India and southeast Asia, which is the hub of post-production, broadcasters and film production activity in this region.”

    Streambox has developed optimised technology that can pack functionality like HDR and 12 bit 4:4:4 RGB processing into pixels, and intelligent utilisation of available network paths to achieve higher rates of transport and playback based on its proprietary leading edge ACTL – Advanced Compression Technology Level 3/5 codec and state of the art Low Delay Multi-Path Protocol.

  • Wakefit.co’s rewind song ‘Bhaad Mein Jaa 2020’ wins internet

    Wakefit.co’s rewind song ‘Bhaad Mein Jaa 2020’ wins internet

    Bengaluru: As a tumultuous year comes to a close, the trials and tribulations of 2020 was encapsulated in a funny, witty and topical video by sleep and home solutions company, Wakefit.co. The video, which has amassed more than 1.6 million views across the internet in three days, came at an opportune time to wrap up the highs, the lows, the untoward surprises and the eventful twists of 2020 and resonates with what people went through during the year. 

    The video was a raging success among netizens, as it struck an instant chord with people whose lives have been turned upside down due to the pandemic and being cooped up at home. Using the hashtag, #BhaadMeinJaa2020, some claimed that it captured the emotions of the year aptly while others declared it was the best video of 2020. The video reached more than 13 million people across social media within three days.

                 

     

    Wakefit.co director and co-founder Chaitanya Ramalingegowda said, “We really wanted to sum up 2020 on a lighter note and give people something to chuckle about after a grueling few months this year. We created an independent YouTube channel called Home Time and released this video, which is our way of bidding 2020 goodbye once and for all. At Wakefit.co, we believe in creating content that makes people smile while also bringing to light the need for sleep and home wellness. We are thrilled to have received such an overwhelming response for our video from netizens.”

    The film has been designed and conceptualised by Spring Capital.

    Wakefit.co recently raised series B funding of Rs 185 crores from Verlinvest and Sequoia Capital India and plans to bolster its expansion plans in the year to come. The company will also double down on its marketing wherewithal and continue to create content that adds value to the lives of its consumers. 

  • AVIA hosts the Satellite Industry Forum focusing on video in the satellite world

    AVIA hosts the Satellite Industry Forum focusing on video in the satellite world

    KOLKATA: The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) will be hosting this year’s Satellite Industry Forum (SIF) as a virtual conference, taking place over two days, from 24 – 25 September, 9.30am – 11.30am (SGT).

    As Asia’s leading satellite conference, the theme of Video in the Satellite World will look at the key conversations driving the industry today, with industry leaders sharing their thoughts on The State of the Satellite Industry with the Impact of COVID-19, a view on Asia with the outcomes from WRC-19, and weighing the Bear vs Bull Case for 5G. There will also be much conversations on the coming year, as we look at Satellite Financing and what to watch for in 2021, if it will truly become the landmark year for 4K UHD, and what will Drive Global Growth for the industry in the next decade.

    Speaking at the Industry Leaders Talk will be Christophe Cazes, CEO of Eutelsat Asia. In this opening panel, Cazes will be sharing his perspectives and predictions on the satellite industry over the course of the coming year.

    “Satellite industry in Asia has been undergoing a big transformation with the emergence of new players and the launch or investment in satellites of new generation. The COVID-19 situation will either be a catalyst or a disruptor of these trends,” said Cazes.

     This year, the conference will also be taking a look at Women in Satellite, a predominantly male industry, for a conversation on their perspectives, challenges and ideas for putting together best practices to strengthen gender equality both in the sector and within our organisations, as well as their perspectives on what the industry might look like in the coming year. This panel will bring together  KISPE Space strategic business manager Anita Bernie; SES Networks SVP global government Nicole Robinson; EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) secretary general Aarti Holla-Maini; Mynaric USA  president Tina Ghataore.

    “I’ve seen a small shift in women being invited to speak at satellite forums – and not just on topics related to diversity in the industry – but clearly more needs to be done. I look forward to the day when I’m invited to speak and I see around me panelists reflecting both gender and cultural diversity,” commented Ghataore.

    Other key speakers joining the Satellite Industry Forum this year include:

    Marc Halbfinger, CEO, PCCW Global

     Yew Weng Soo, VP sales and market development, SES Video, SES

    Terry Bleakley, regional VP, Asia Pacific, Intelsat

    Shakunt Malhotra, MD, Asia, Globecast

    Roger Tong, CEO, AsiaSat

     Lon Levin, president and CEO, GEOshare

    Alvaro Sanchez, CEO, Integrasys

    Paul Estey, EVP, Customer Relations and Advisor to CEO, Maxar Technologies

     Mark Dankberg, CEO, ViaSat

    The Satellite Industry Forum aims to deliver as close an experience as possible to a physical event. All delegates will be able to enjoy a full event platform which will include access to the live conference sessions, virtual networking opportunities as well as meeting rooms to connect and engage with industry peers during the conference. All sessions will also be available for catch-up viewing on demand after the live event. 

  • ONMOBILE takes 25% equity in AI-powered visual retention firm ROB0

    ONMOBILE takes 25% equity in AI-powered visual retention firm ROB0

    MUMBAI: Mobile entertainment company OnMobile Global Ltd has acquired 25 per cent equity stake in rob0, through its subsidiary Onmobile Global Solutions Canada Ltd, in exchange for an investment of CAD 1000,000.

    Bangalore-based OnMobile offers a wide array of products such as videos, tones, games and contests. It has an addressable base of more than 1.68 billion mobile users and over 100 million active subscribers across several geographies. rob0 is an AI-powered visual retention analytics service created by and for video game developers. This innovative Plug&play SaaS shows precisely when and why players leave from day 1.

    This transaction will allow rob0 to accelerate its growth as the most innovative AI-powered visual retention analytics solution for video game developers.

    This investment reaffirms the importance of OnMobile's strategy to become a leader in the mobile gaming market. In addition to its current subscription-based offering of premium games and kids apps, available to more than 50 carriers in over 30 countries, this transaction sets the table for OnMobile to soon introduce a one-of-a-kind gaming offering. Amongst the various synergies, OnMobile will be able to leverage the vast gaming knowhow of the rob0 team, which brings several years of experience in the industry, having played key roles for some of the most prominent games behemoths like Electronic Arts, Gameloft and Twitch.

    With its Plug & Play SaaS, rob0 is a pioneer in the gaming industry. Its AI-powered visual retention technology allows game developers to detect the exact moment in gameplay where users stop playing, saving them hundreds of hours of observation time and minimizing significantly their go-to-market risks.

    “We are very excited about this strategic investment. The combination of OnMobile and rob0 will provide immediate business value and will be the springboard to our enriched mobile gaming offering. Furthermore, it will bring tremendous value to game developers wanting to make their games highly engaging to end-users.”, said OnMobile Global chairman-CEO François-Charles Sirois.

    “We couldn't have hoped for a better partner than OnMobile to help rob0 embody its vision and become an essential solution for game developers. We are thrilled to bring our expertise and participate in the success of OnMobile's new gaming offer,” said Technologies rob0 Inc co-Founder and CEO Richard Rispoli. 

  • Aajtak.in is the No. 1 Hindi News Destination across Desktop, Mobile, APP, Video & Social

    Aajtak.in is the No. 1 Hindi News Destination across Desktop, Mobile, APP, Video & Social

    New Delhi: Aajtak.in has again established its dominance in Hindi news space across digital platforms (Desktop, mWeb, App & Social). The latest Comscore data (February 2020) is a clear reminder of the trust of the Indian consumers on the Sabse Tez news brand. Here’s how Aajtak.in reinforced its top spot, among all verticals of the digital segment:

    Desktop

    Aajtak.in continues to hold the top spot in the Desktop segment. With 2.80 Million Unique Visitors on Desktop, it has become the go-to news source across the country, providing the most relevant and topical news with well-researched opinions and polls. (Comscore, MMX, Custom List of Hindi News Publishers, Unique Visitors, FEB’20, India)

    Mobile

    Whether it is mWeb or Mobile App, Aajtak.in has engaged users through both publishing platforms. With over 53 Million Unique Visitors, It holds the No.1 position on mWeb. While content consumption and engagement is growing in India for mobile app, with over 500 million minutes spent & 4.41 million unique visitors, Aaj Tak mobile app continues to be the No. 1 Hindi news destination. Mobile is the preferred medium for most of the daily news consumers, as they get their news on-the-go, whether its short snippets of topical information or long-format content or even video. (Comscore Mobile Metrix, Custom list of Hindi News Publishers, Mobile Web & App, FEB’20, India). 

    Video

    With over 1.5 Billion Video Views in a month, Aaj Tak holds the title of No. 1 Hindi News Video Publisher across publishing platforms.

    Social Media

    With 23 Million Social Media Post Interactions and a collective social fan base of 65 million, Aaj Tak has become the voice of the people on social media as well and is the No.1 Hindi news brand on Social Media (Source: Crowdtangle, Post Interactions, Facebook & Instagram, FEB’20).

  • An ode to women’s power

    An ode to women’s power

    MUMBAI: It’s a befitting ode to all the women out there; a wake-up call for her to realize her true value and potential. This 1.30-minute-long video, produced by Jigsaw Pictures, is based on the creative by Leo Burnett, Mumbai, for Reliance Fresh & Reliance Smart. It tells the story of domestic violence, which unfortunately cuts across all social strata and age group.

    The video celebrates the virtues of a woman and exhorts them to understand her true values and shun stigmas associate with unwanted scars and colour. So it’s sign off is: “Women. It’s time. #ChooseYourColour.”

    It has already received 7m views and almost 40k shared from Reliance Fresh & Smart. “We received immense response from across the strata of the society. Many likes and shares more from FB, YouTube channel, and thousands from WhatsApp as well,” said Rajnish Lall, Founder & Creative Producer, Jigsaw Pictures.

    “The idea stirred me even as a man. The timing, Women’s Day-Holi, is a great opportunity. The concept was great. The trigger was heady for me not to be a part of this. Then all of us became a great team and we made this happen,” he added.