Sony’s $271m Indian injection

June 14, 2012/LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sony Corp.’s television subsidiary is boosting its majority stake in Indian pay TV operator Multi Screen Media Private Ltd. for $271 million in cash.

Sony Pictures Television said Thursday it had agreed to buy 32 percent of the shares in the company from Grandway Global Holdings Ltd. and Atlas Equifin Private Ltd. That will boost Sony’s stake to over 94 percent.

Multi Screen Media operates television networks in India including the Hindi language entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television, movie channel Max, music channel Mix and other channels.

Read the full story at http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06-14/sony-to-pay-271m-to-boost-stake-in-india-tv-firm

Multiscreen video on the rise

12-06-2012, Multiscreen TV users tend to overall consume more content than living-room only watchers, according to a new white paper on viewing habits from the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and comScore.

The research finds that TV viewers look to online content to enhance rather than replace traditional viewing. A full 90% of consumers watch TV on a traditional set, 12% use online video, and a remarkable 60% of the media companies’ viewers watched TV while engaging with online content (video and otherwise) at the same time.

The trend offers new opportunities for marketers, but also ratchets up the complexity. “While TV remains the leading media channel, once TV-centric media brands now engage with their consumers across a variety of digital touchpoints,” said Joan FitzGerald, comScore’s vice president of TV and cross-media solutions, in a statement. “While this enhances the quality of brand engagement, it also increases the complexity of media planning and analysis by orders of magnitude.”

http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2012061222388/tv-online-multitasking-reaches-60-penetration.html?utm_source=newsletter_698&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=rapid-tv-news-current-edition-1206

Thailand: Satellite licenses

June 13, 2012 – Committee chairman Settapong Malisuwan said yesterday that the panel had concluded that this licence falls under the NBTC’s existing regulations on the granting of Type 3 licences, so any firm could apply.

However, the committee has yet to finalise the licence fee. Applicants will have to pay either a fixed fee to be determined later or the normal licence fee of 2 per cent of annual revenue. The committee has also yet to finalise the licence’s validity period.

To be eligible for a satellite network provider licence, an applicant must be a Thai entity as defined by the 2001 Telecom Business Act, which caps the maximum foreign shareholding in a local telecom operator at 49.99 per cent. The other qualifications are compliance with the NBTC’s regulations on the granting of Type 3 licences, which are for large network owners.

Settapong said applicants needed to request a separate licence for each of their satellites.

He added that those wanting to enter the satellite business had to get the Information and Communications Technology Ministry to seek orbital slots for them, as it is the ministry, not the NBTC, that represents Thailand in coordinating with the International Telecommuni-cation Union on reserving slots.

Settapong has said the telecom committee does not need to hold a public hearing on the regulations on this satellite business licence.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Satellite-licences-open-to-all-30184045.html

Apple embraces Youku

Jun 13, 2012 Beijing – Apple announced that the next versions of desktop and mobile operating system will integrate Youku and Tudou services for users to easily share videos to the web.

alt The move comes as part of Apple’s plan to solidify and expand its share of the China market, which is Apple’s second-largest market after the United States.

Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 6 will support video-sharing to Youku and Tudou. iOS 6 will also support Chinese voice recognition through Siri and improved Chinese text input and handwriting recognition.

According to mobile analytics firm Flurry, China accounted for 24% of iOS and Android device activation worldwide in February 2012, more than any other country in the world.

Jian Yao, chief technology officer of Youku, said the partnership with Apple takes Youku one step closer to reaching video bloggers everywhere.

Youku and Tudou entered into an agreement in March 2012 and are working towards completing the merger.

http://www.marketing-interactive.com/news/33479

Comcast and Paypal collaborates

14 Jun 2012 – Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) and eBay Inc. (EBAY) are at an early stage of discussion to enable Comcast’s subscribers to buy products featured in television advertisements and pay via eBay’s PayPal payment service. We believe that this is an effort by the company to compensate for the loss sustained from over-the-top video segment.

As part of the collaboration agreement, viewers with a PayPal account will be able to buy a product being advertised on television, donate money to political campaign and non-profit organization. Additionally, they can also ask advertisers to text information to their phones regarding a product and can collect coupons through PayPal to shop in retail stores like Home Depot Inc. (HD).

http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/comcast-join-paypal-192647426.html

Turner partners with BlueArk to launch Toonix online game

HONG KONG (June 13, 2012) – Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. has partnered with leading South Korean game developer, BlueArk Global, to create a multi-platform social game starring Toonix, Cartoon Network’s loveable online avatars.

Quirky and hugely entertaining, players or “planeteers” will go forth with the mission to save the Toonix universe by transforming lifeless planets into flourishing, sustainable communities. Fully customizable, planeteers can unleash their creativity to design their unique Toonix worlds, while building rich reserves of natural resources and volunteering for mini missions to rescue other Toonix. The cross-platform game will be available in Asia-Pacific on mobiles (iOS and Android), tablets and computers.

Mark Counsell, Turner’s Associate Director of Interactive Media said, “Toonix has really taken off across Asia Pacific as Cartoon Network’s fans love the ability to express themselves via their own personalized avatars. Our partnership with BlueArk takes the Toonix experience to an inter-galactic level with the launch of the first Toonix digital universe.”

Yangre Yim, BlueArk’s CEO, is equally excited by the potential of Toonix in the social gaming space. “We are thrilled to partner with Turner and work with this amazing digitally-inspired character. We will look to harness all the creative talent that exists here in South Korea to produce a truly next-generation, multi-platform gaming experience.”

The game is set for launch in late 2012 and its official name will be decided through a regional contest that runs until the end of June. Cartoon Network fans have been central to Toonix’s success and can continue to be part of its development by logging on to http://www.cartoonnetworkasia.com/contest/2012/06_toonix_name_the_game/.

The new social game complements other Toonix initiatives in development including mobile applications and original video content, set to debut on Cartoon Network later in the year.

More about Toonix…

• More than 15 million Toonix avatars created worldwide since its launch in 2008

• In Asia Pacific, a new Toonix avatar is created, on average, every minute of the day

• Other Toonix digital products include “Toonix Farm”, a mobile game created in China, and Toonix.com, an online social world for kids in the European region

[ends]

About Cartoon Network Asia Pacific

Cartoon Network, the number one kids’ channel in the Asia Pacific region, offers the best in original animated entertainment while drawing from the world’s most iconic cartoon library of Warner Bros., MGM and Hanna-Barbera titles. Original series showcased on Cartoon Network include the globally popular series Ben 10, The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time. Cartoon Network is available in 23 territories throughout the Asia Pacific region and is currently seen in over 65 million cable homes. Online, Cartoon Network Asia Pacific reaches nearly five million unique visitors a month.

Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of multiplatform news and entertainment content around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

About BlueArk Global

BlueArk is a leading digital content investment and development group in South Korea, specializing in game development and distribution across many genres and platforms. BlueArk has partnered with world class media and content companies to develop digital experiences for the mass consumer market.

For media enquiries:
James Moore
Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc.
Tel: (852) 3128-3720
Email: James.Moore@turner.com

MEASAT delivers Euro 2012 feed to Brunei

Kuala Lumpur, 14 June 2012 – MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (“MEASAT”) announced today a capacity deal with MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems (ASTRO) to carry the UEFA European Football Championship 2012 (“Euro 2012″) live for Brunei via the MEASAT-3 satellite. The Euro 2012 contribution service is provided to Radio Television Brunei (RTB) via MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre throughout the whole tournament.

The Euro 2012 is the 14th edition of European Championship for national football teams organised by UEFA. The tournament is hosted by Poland and Ukraine between 8th June and 1st July 2012. It is the first time that either nation has hosted the tournament. The tournament features 16 nations from all across Europe.

“MEASAT is delighted to provide satellite capacity to distribute the Euro 2012 feed in the region,” said Jarod Lopez, Senior Director, Sales and Marketing, MEASAT. “Euro 2012 joins other world-class sporting events on the MEASAT fleet of satellites.”

MEASAT OU services can be booked via the online WebOUS system, allowing customers to book capacity at short notice. The service is available across the MEASAT fleet of satellites.

MEASAT will be showcasing its satellites services during the 23rd International Communications and Information Technology Exhibition and Conference (CommunicAsia 2012) from 19 – 22 June. For more information, please visit MEASAT’s booth at 1T3 – 01, Level 1, Hall C, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore.

About MEASAT

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to leading international broadcasters, DTH platforms and telecom operators. With capacity across a fleet of five communications satellites, MEASAT is able to provide satellite services to over 145 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia.

The MEASAT fleet includes the state of art MEASAT-3/3a satellites at 91.5°E which support Asia’s premium DTH and video distribution neighbourhood, MEASAT-2 at 148.0°E, MEASAT-5 at 119.0°E and AFRICASAT-1 at 46.0°E. The MEASAT fleet will be further strengthened with the addition of AFRICASAT-1a at 46°E in Q4 2012 and MEASAT-3b at 91.5°E in Q4 2013.

Leveraging facilities at the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre, and working with a select group of world-class partners, MEASAT also provides a complete range of broadcast and telecommunications solutions. Services include 3D, high definition and standard definition video playout, video turnaround, co-location, uplinking, broadband and IP termination services.

For more information, please visit www.measat.com.

Contact:
Chan Ming Yang
MEASAT
+60 (3) 8213 2154
mingyang@measat.com

UEFA kills True rebroadcast

Pay-TV firm admits fight to air footie games is lost

14/06/2012 – The Union of European Football Associations has vetoed a request by its broadcast rights holder GMM Grammy to rebroadcast tournament matches to pay-TV operator True Visions.

Uefa yesterday sent a letter to Grammy to reject its sub-licensing request.

alt

In a letter to Grammy Sport managing director Kobkiat Sangwanich, Uefa’s media rights manager Ian Wilson said the request had come too late since the tournament was already well under way.

True Visions cannot transmit any Euro 2012 programmes because it is not owned by Grammy, or affiliated to the company, the letter said.

“True Visions had an earlier opportunity to acquire Uefa Euro 2012 rights from Uefa directly. Furthermore, GMM Grammy delivers greater free-TV exposure in Thailand through the sub-licensing of rights to free-TV (channels 3, 5 and 9) and we are very happy with this free-to-air broadcast platform,” he said.

Read the full story at http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/297931/uefa-kills-true-rebroadcast-bid

Gulfsat expands business with Eutelsat

New capacity contract on EUTELSAT 8 West A to serve Middle East broadcast markets

Paris, 13 June 2012 – Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Gulfsat, a leading service provider and satellite specialist in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced the signature of a new contract for capacity on Eutelsat’s EUTELSAT 8 West A satellite at 8 degrees West. With this new multi-year lease, Gulfsat’s fourth transponder with Eutelsat, the Kuwaiti operator is securing long-term access to satellite resources with premium reach over the Middle East.

Gulfsat already broadcasts more than 40 flagship TV channels from EUTELSAT 8 West A, including MBC Group’s Al Arabiya news channel and Al Arabiya Al Hadath. The additional resources will support further growth at a key reference for Direct-to-Home broadcasting across the Middle East.

Mustafa Mourad, Chief Operating Officer of Gulfsat declared: “We are delighted to pursue our longstanding relationship with Eutelsat that over our five years of collaboration has shown its total commitment to helping Gulfsat grow our broadcast business through high-quality satellite resources. We look forward to further strengthening of viewer choice from EUTELSAT 8 West A”.

Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet, Eutelsat Communications Chief Commercial Officer, said: “This new contract adds further weight to the strong partnerships that Eutelsat nurtures with key players across the Middle East. It opens the door to further development of premium broadcast channels at the 8° West platform whose proximity to our 7° West neighbourhood facilitates Direct-to-Home reception of over 540 TV channels.”

About Gulfsat – (www.gulfsat.com)

Established in 1995 and headquartered in Kuwait, Gulfsat Communications is one of the leaders in the communications service industry and pioneers in satellite communications. Gulsat designs, integrates, installs and provides advanced satellite solutions for enterprises, government organisations, broadcasters and home users. Gulfsat is a subsidiary of United Networks, which is part of KIPCO group, the region’s leading investment group.

About Eutelsat Communications (www.eutelsat.com)

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 28 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world’s three leading satellite operators. As of 31 March 2012 Eutelsat’s satellites were broadcasting more than 4,250 television channels, of which 1,100 broadcast via the HOT BIRD video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which reaches more than 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group’s satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat’s broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve consumers, enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 750 commercial, technical and operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30 countries.

For further information

Press

Vanessa O’Connor, Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91, voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frédérique Gautier, Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Marie-Sophie Ecuer, Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91, mecuer@eutelsat.fr

Investors & Analysts
Lisa Finas, Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com
Léonard Wapler, Tel: +33 1 53 98 31 07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

BBC Knowledge is Singapore’s Top Pay TV Factual Channel during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Weekend

(Singapore, 13 June 2012) … The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events have proven a hit for BBC Knowledge’s audiences in Singapore.

From the start of the London Calling programming season on June 1, through the Jubilee weekend, to June 5, BBC Knowledge not only achieved the highest share of viewing across all individuals 4+ among the factual set, the channel was also the most watched pay TV channel in Singapore1. In fact, the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations gave the channel its best performing Sunday-Tuesday performance in terms of share percentage since its launch.

The Singapore premiere airing of three part The Diamond Queen led the way on June 1, taking BBC Knowledge to the number one spot among factual pay TV channels2 for most of primetime (SIN/HK 8 – 11pm). The first and exclusive premiere of Crowning a Queen on Monday June 4 at 8pm, and Days that Shook the World – 1953 Coronation on June 5 at 8pm continued the channel’s winning streak, winning their timeslots among the factual set.

Together with the three live events, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Thames River Pageant on Sunday 3 June, the concert and the Services of Thanksgiving and Royal Procession on June 5, BBC Knowledge clinched the number one spot among non-kids, English language pay TV channels in Singapore.

“In 2012, BBC Worldwide embarked on a strategy to deliver global events to global television audiences. BBC Knowledge and BBC Entertainment channels in Asia and around the world aired Sport Relief, Planet Earth Live in March and May. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June was special for us. We are extremely pleased with the performance of BBC Knowledge in Singapore, and are happy that our viewers in Singapore and Asia have enjoyed the Diamond Jubilee events and programmes on BBC Knowledge,” Said Mark Whitehead, SVP and GM of BBC Worldwide Channels in Asia.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events, broadcast live on BBC Worldwide’s channels in all inhabitable continents are part of London Calling, a two month long programming stunt across BBC Knowledge and BBC Entertainment in Asia.

London Calling on BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge channels around the world also includes exclusive dramas, comedies and documentaries featuring the best of British talent. Highlights of the season include The Underground on BBC Knowledge, a documentary about the world’s oldest underground train network, and the wickedly funny Twenty Twelve on BBC Entertainment which follows the fictional Olympic Deliverance team as they prepare for the London 2012 games

In Asia, BBC Knowledge is available in Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

ENDS

1. Source: Kantar media: non-kids English language channel among all Pay TV channels

2. Among pay TV adults 25+

For further information, please contact:

Jeanne Leong
Communications, BBC Worldwide Channels
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com

Notes to Editors:

London Calling airs between June and August on BBC Entertainment (Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Asia, India, Latin America and the channel’s pan-European service3), BBC Knowledge (Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Italy, Asia and Australia), BBC HD (Latin America, Poland, The Nordic region and Turkey), UKTV (Australia and New Zealand) and BBC World News (global). The season will also be available to users of BBC.com and to users of the global BBC iPlayer but will vary territory by territory.

About BBC Worldwide Ltd.

BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Brands, Consumers & New Ventures, with digital ventures incorporated into each business area. In 2010/11, BBC Worldwide generated profits of £160 million on sales of £1158 million and returned £182m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

You can now Click to tweet: BBC Knowledge is Singapore’s Top Pay TV Factual Channel during the Queen’s #DiamondJubilee Weekend http://bbc.in/LwTNoY @BBCKnow

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