(Nov 14, 2013) In July, Zee Entertainment, one of India’s largest broadcasters, adopted a new philosophy and tagline: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family. It comes after the company made a strategic shift last year when it set its aim to become a global broadcaster reaching out to a billion viewers by 2020 from 700 million now. By then, it also hopes to get over a third of its revenues from markets outside India. “We have achieved 65 per cent penetration with the South Asian diaspora, but the second and fourth generations are not as connected to India,” says Punit Goenka, managing director and CEO, Zee Entertainment.

Read more at Business Standard

15 November 2013 – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today announced it has signed Tampa Microwave as a terminal partner for land satellite terminals for its forthcoming Global Xpress high-speed broadband service.

Following type-approval by Inmarsat, the 65cm aperture COTS manpack terminal will offer government customers access to the global, secure coverage provided by Inmarsat’s next-generation Global Xpress (GX) satellite network

Global Xpress will offer an unprecedented combination of bandwidth and global coverage, with Inmarsat’s new Ka-band I-5 satellites providing high-speed uplink and downlink data rates, backed by Inmarsat quality standards, reliability and performance. Global Xpress will support government customers requiring highly transportable, secure and reliable terminals for missions of any kind.

Peter Hadinger, President of Inmarsat’s U.S. Government Business, said: “Inmarsat is pleased to include Tampa Microwave as a supplier of land terminals for our Global Xpress network. We intend to qualify the lightweight, portable terminal for Global Xpress operation over a tuning range of up to 1GHz, and to deliver a market-leading end-to-end, man-packable, military-grade satellite communications solution. While Tampa’s government customers have long relied on their terminals for military use, they will soon benefit from global high-rate secure operations that will be introduced across the GX network.”

Tampa Microwave’s Vice President of Advanced Development, Obie Johnson, said: “This collaboration with Inmarsat will give our terminal customers additional options in the performance of quick-reaction expeditionary missions during worldwide operations, accessing Inmarsat’s I-5 constellation bandwidth. We are looking forward to working with Inmarsat to make their service launch a success, and to growing our product and service relationships in ways that are beneficial to both companies and, most importantly, to our customers.”

Read more at here

(Nov 14, 2013) NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group has bought out its partners PBS and HIT Television Ventures in the cable network and on-demand service Sprout.

Read more at World Screen

NICKELODEON AND CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP COLLABORATE ON AN EXTENSIVE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS-THEMED CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE IN SINGAPORE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS LANDS AT SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT WITH THE WORLD’S TALLEST PINEAPPLE HOUSE STRUCTURE

PARTNERSHIP MARKS SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS’ FIRST AIRPORT COLLABORATION IN ASIA

SINGAPORE, 14 November 2013 – Nickelodeon, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), in collaboration with Changi Airport Group, today announced the landmark launch of an extensive SpongeBob SquarePants-themed Christmas experience at Singapore Changi Airport this holiday season, making it SpongeBob SquarePants’ first airport collaboration in Asia.

“SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the world’s most iconic characters and is beloved by fans everywhere,” said Indra Suharjono, VIMN Asia’s executive vice president and managing director. “Nickelodeon is all about creating surprising and playful entertainment experiences everywhere we go. Hence, we are thrilled to collaborate with Changi Airport Group in SpongeBob SquarePants’ first airport collaboration in Asia to give fans and visitors a fun, one-of-a-kind SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas holiday experience.”

From 15 November 2013 to 5 January 2014, Singaporean families and visitors going through Changi Airport can discover surprises with the following:

The world’s tallest SpongeBob SquarePants’ Giant Pineapple Housestructure at the heart of Terminal 3’s Departure Hall creates an extravaganza of sights and sounds that include ‘smoke bubbles’ lighting up the Bikini-Bottom inspired Pineapple House and a chance to do some sleigh pedaling. The Bikini Bottom-inspired House stands at 11 metres high.

The biggest SpongeBob SquarePants Super Bouncy Playground in Singapore at Terminal 3’s Departure Hall, where kids can take a tumble in the Krusty Krab Ball Pit, challenge themselves in the Pineapple House Maze and cruise their way down giant bouncy slides.

Spot SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends at famous places from around the world through stunning landmarks in giant topiaries such as Italy’s Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa, Russia’s St Basil’s Cathedral and Turkey’s Trojan horse.

Collect limited edition plush toys of SpongeBob and his friends at just $3 per plush toy when visitors shop at Changi Airport.*

Send customized Christmas greetings on Changi Airport’s website (www.changiairport.com/ChangiXmas2013) and stand to win a full set of SpongeBob’s plush toys.

Be among the first 1,000 Changi Rewards members to spend $1,200 during the promotion period to redeem the full SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends plush toys for free.

Since its launch in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has emerged a pop culture phenomenon. The series has been the most-watched animated program with kids 2-11 for more than 14 consecutive years, and over the past several years, it has averaged more than 100,000,000 total viewers every quarter across all Nickelodeon networks globally. As the most widely distributed property in Viacom history, SpongeBob is seen in over 170 countries and translated in more than 35 languages.

For more information, visit www.changiairport.com/ChangiXmas2013.

*Public Area: Visitors can take home a plush toy at S$3 when they spend S$60 (S$120 for supermarkets). Collect a new character each week. Transit area: Spend S$150 and get any plush toy at S$3. Choose from six characters.

-end-

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 34th year globally and 15th year in Asia, is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family. Creating surprising and playful entertainment experiences everywhere it goes, Nickelodeon has a portfolio that includes television programming and production around the world, plus special events, consumer products, digital offerings, recreation, books, feature films and pro-social initiatives. Nickelodeon’s brands are seen globally in more than 450 million households in over 100 territories via more than 70 locally programmed channels and syndication. For information about Nickelodeon in Asia, visitwww.nick-asia.com.

About Viacom International Media Networks

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Game One and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 600 million households in 170 territories and 37 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom’s blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.

Media Contacts:

Viacom International Media Networks
Adeline Ong, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Asia
t: (65) 6420 7240 m: (65) 9366 7323
e: adeline.ong@vimn.com
Twitter: @VIMNAsia_PR

Loh Bi Feng, Senior Executive, Corporate Communications, Asia

t: (65) 6420 7154 m: (65) 9002 9607

e: loh.bifeng@vimn.com

Flexible MPEG-4 encoders enable increased data input to deliver unique, localized content to the consumer

SUWANEE, Ga., Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — ARRIS Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRS) today announced The Weather Channel®, has optimized its network to deliver more regionalized data and linear services while reducing bandwidth demands using the ARRIS DSR-4440 and DSR-4460 integrated receiver decoders (IRDs).

“Millions of people around the United States consistently access The Weather Channel for news, updates and their latest weather forecasts from anywhere, any time and on any device,” said George Lott, vice president of localization and broadcast engineering, The Weather Channel. “We’ve worked with ARRIS for years and knew they were ideal to help us optimize bandwidth utilization and ready our network for delivery of more personalized services to the consumer.”

The Weather Channel is upgrading its satellite network using ARRIS MPEG-4 SE-6000 encoders and IRDs to address immediate needs for network capacity for more regionalized data, as well as future unique content experiences. The multi-format IRDs enables MPEG-4 distribution via satellite to affiliates and offers backward compatibility with legacy systems. The overall distribution system increases satellite throughput and future-proofs The Weather Channel brand for the delivery of more personalized services to their customers’ TV sets and connected devices.

“The Weather Channel stands in an ideal position to offer unique content experiences to deliver to consumers their media, their way,” said Bruce McClelland, president, network & cloud, global services, ARRIS. “We worked closely with The Weather Channel to bolster their network for greater bandwidth optimization and flexible MPEG-4 distribution capabilities. Our flexible solution enables The Weather Channel to offer more personalized, localized services in the future.”

About DSR-4440 and DSR-4460 Integrated Receiver Decoders
The ARRIS DSR-4440 and DSR-4460 IRDs decode MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 services over QPSK and DVB-S2 8PSK modulation. The IRDs replace legacy analog and MPEG2 infrastructure, and will deliver simultaneous video and audio, as well as provide robust set of data decapsulation features.

Service and content providers are often looking for innovative ways to improve their network efficiency. The overall ARRIS solution enables more content on more devices by increasing available bandwidth, optimizes current infrastructure, and enables future applications for tomorrow’s entertainment experiences.

The Weather Company: Where the World Gets its Weather
Through The Weather Channel, weather.com, Weather Underground, Intellicast.com, and third-party publishing partners, the company provides millions of people every day with the world’s best weather forecasts, content and data, connecting with them through television, online, mobile and tablet screens. Through WSI and Weather Central, the company delivers superior professional weather services for the media, aviation, marine and energy sectors. The Weather Company is owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, visit www.weather.com/press.

About ARRIS
ARRIS is a premier video and broadband technology company that transforms how service providers worldwide deliver entertainment and communications without boundaries. Its powerful end-to-end platforms enable service and content providers to improve the way people connect – with each other and with their favorite content. The Company’s vision and expertise continue to drive the industry’s innovations, as they have for more than 60 years. Headquartered north of Atlanta, in Suwanee, Georgia, ARRIS has R&D, sales and support centers throughout the world. For more information: www.arrisi.com

ARRIS and the ARRIS Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. 2013. All rights reserved.

SOURCE ARRIS Group, Inc.

The Weather Channel: Melissa Medori, melissa.medori@weather.com; or ARRIS: Kalia Farrell, +1 215-323-1059, kalia.farrell@arrisi.com

(Nov 13, 2013) ITV is launching a new international service that will make it possible for ex-pats and holiday makers to watch their favourite soaps while abroad.

Read more at Broadband TV News