ITV

Tag: WorldTel

  • Convergence conference in Mumbai next month

    Convergence conference in Mumbai next month

    MUMBAI: At the legislative level, the convergence bill looks to be in limbo but there is a huge amount happening in the IT space, especially as regards the call centre business.

    To keep bring to the table the potential that is still waiting to be tapped, the Indian Merchants’ Chamber today announced that India’s “first ever” international conference on “Communications Convergence: The Multi-billion Indian Opportunity”.

    The conference, which will be held from 12 to 14 December at the Taj Hotel in south Mumbai, will focus on the following:

    *Business segments as defined by the regulatory framework and their prospects;

    *Legal and financial framework for investments and

    *Current competitive scene and investment climate.

    Among those listed as international speakers are NEC Singapore MD Noel Hon Chin Chun, WorldTel chairman Sam Pitroda (videoconferencing), Polycom Inc’s Asia-Pacific V-P Leo M Cortjens and net2phone Western Europe MD Bryan Rowe.

    Union minister for parliamentary affairs, communication and information technology Pramod Mahajan will address the valedictory session. Also invited are Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna and Reliance chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani.

  • Nimbus bags cricket ad sales contract with DD

    Nimbus bags cricket ad sales contract with DD

    Close on the heels of an agreement with Prasar Bharati for TV production of international cricket in India from 2002 to 2004, Nimbus has signed another deal with the pubcaster. 

    This time, for exclusive handling of all ad sales on the cricket series between India and Zimbabwe currently being aired on DD. The arrangement between DD and Nimbus, which claims to be the only tenderer to make it to the financial round, visualises a minimum guarantee of Rs 70.02 million and a revenue share of 70:30 in favour of DD. Nimbus will begin with the production of the TV pictures of the India-Zimbabwe series in February 2002, ending with the Australian tour of India in 2004, as per the agreement signed earlier this month.

    All five series are to be aired in India exclusively over Doordarshan. Prasar Bharati, which owns the world rights, has also licensed broadcasts over several international networks across the world, claims Nimbus. WSN won the contract, after a pre-qualification process followed by a financial tender, winning over rival bids made by TWI and WorldTel. The contract is for a sum of Rs 284 million (approx $ 5.80 million).

    World Sport Nimbus, a joint venture between the UK based World Sport Group and India based Nimbus Communications, has recently acquired from World Sports Group, its 50 per cent equity in Global Cricket Corporation (GCC). GCC’s other 50 per cent equity is owned by News Corporation. GCC holds the commercial rights of all ICC cricket till 2007. Claiming that the acquisition had been on the cards for quite a while, WSN director Venu Nair says, “This completes our participation not just in the management of the commercial rights of the ICC business but also in its ownership.”

    WSN has also been commissioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to produce and distribute a weekly global cricket show titled ICC Cricket World for worldwide distribution. The show has been licensed to Channel 4 in the UK for free TV. Negotiations for airing in India, Middle East, Australia, South Africa and several other territories are at an advanced stage for the show that premieres in late February 2002.

  • Big players in fray for live cricket coverage on DD

    Big players in fray for live cricket coverage on DD

    DD has sought bids from Indian and foreign production houses for live television production of these cricket matches to be conducted under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. 

    Eligibility criteria for the prospective bidders include, at least three years’ experience in production of live television signals of world-class standard for one-day international cricket and test matches and experience of producing programming, including sports programming (preferable cricket events) for at least three major international sports, according to the tender documents. 

    The successful bidder will have to provide a minimum of 17-camera coverage and provide a computer scoring system. 

    Industry experts said that these conditions ensure that only the likes of WorldTel, BBC’s Channel 4 and Kerry Packer’s Channel 9, in addition to TWI, remain in the fray for the TV production rights. 

    The last date for submission of bids (pre-qualification and financial) is November 11, 2001. The pre-qualification bids shall be opened on the same day and qualified bidders will be announced. 

    Bids have also been invited from producers for programmes to be telecast on the new edutainment channel from the DD stable-DD Bharati-scheduled for launch on January 26, 2002. 

    The channel will air four hours of health programming, six hours of children’s programming and four hours of music, dance and fine arts related programming. Bids, along with pilot episodes, are to be submitted by November 9, 2001.