(Oct 31, 2013) Trace Urban has signed a carriage deal with the Nordic countries’ leading pay-TV operator, Canal Digital. The new agreement will see the channel launch on their DTH platform in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland on November 1st.
Read more at Advanced Television
(Nov 1, 2013) Discovery Communications Inc., operator of pay TV channels such as Discovery, TLC and Animal Planet, on Thursday said third-quarter net income rose 24 percent, fueled by international growth.
Read more at Yahoo! Finance
(30-10-2013) Despite the potential worry of two tropical storms hitting, Elemental Technologies has declared as a success K-Opticom’s coverage of the Osaka Marathon the world’s first real-time 4K UltraHD high efficiency video coding (H.265 / HEVC) transmission.
Elemental pioneered the workflow for the historic event and used Elemental video processing to deliver live coverage of the eight-plus-hour race. Its Live systems provided HEVC encoding of 4K/59.94p material acquired from Sony PMW-F55 CineAlta 4K cameras located at the midpoint and finish line of the racecourse. Each camera was mounted with an AJA Ki-Pro Quad, sending source content to Elemental systems via live 3G-SDI interfaces. K-OPT , which provides fibre optic services for the Kansai Region of Japan, also developed the event’s official application, accessible via the marathon website and on iOS and Android devices.
Read more at Rapid TV News
(October 29, 2013) France 24 is launching a new version of its iOS app, compatible with all Apple mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, iPad Air and iPod Touch) available now for free.
The new trilingual application (French, English, Arabic) features streamlined design and very fast video loading for greater user comfort.
Optimised for Retina Display, this version has been completely redesigned for navigation on tablets and all video content (streaming or on demand) is now compatible with the Apple TV Air Play service.
Read more at Broadband TV News
Tata Sky Selects Cisco’s Videoscape Video Everywhere Solution to Deliver Multiscreen Experiences
NEW DELHI, India – October 31, 2013 – Cisco today announced that Tata Sky, one of the leading innovators in the Direct-to-home (DTH) space in the country has deployed the Cisco’s Videoscape Video Everywhere solution, a thin-client user interface application that enables new multiscreen experiences beyond the set-top box. Tata Sky is the first platform in Asia to deploy this solution. Rolled out first on iOS and soon to be on Android platforms, this live streaming service can be enjoyed on many mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets such as iPads.
The Videoscape Video Everywhere solution is a part of Cisco Videoscape Unity, a platform that delivers and monetises a new generation of compelling, differentiated video experiences, which are personalized, synchronized, and social. It offers best-in-class content management and exceptional user interface capabilities to enable consistent and synchronized experiences across all subscribers’ devices, including TVs, tablets, PCs, mobile devices and games consoles. It also provides industry-leading multiplatform security technology to provide the critical end-to-end content protection required to monetize premium content and services. With the advanced search and other content discovery features, subscribers will be able to enjoy unprecedented flexibility to find their favourite content and new content of interest quickly and easily.
Sue Taylor, Vice President Sales, Cisco Service Provider Video Software Solutions in Asia Pacific: “Video services have never been more popular or valuable. Video has moved beyond TV and to differentiate their offerings, video service providers have to take multiscreen experiences to the next level – delivering video in a more exciting, and engaging way. We are excited to work with Tata Sky on this journey of providing next-generation experience to its subscribers. With this solution, they may be able to watch live, on-demand, and catch-up video content on any iOS and Android device, anytime, anywhere. Furthermore, Tata Sky will be able to improve subscribers’ loyalty, speed time to market of new services and service enhancements as well as assure high quality even over unmanaged networks and devices.”
Vikram Mehra, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Sky: “We always strive to provide unparalleled services and superior experience to our consumers. Our subscribers’ will be able to take the video experience with them on the move; thereby transforming their handheld device into a fully-functional TV screen with an interface which is clean, simple and easy to navigate. Cisco’s global experience and technology leadership will help us to unleash a new generation of video experiences for our viewers and at the same time strengthen our competitive edge.”
About Tata Sky
Launched in 2006, Tata Sky is a JV between the TATA Group and STAR. The company has invested in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, partnered with global leaders to provide superior technology and set-up high-end 24×7 call centers across the country manned by multi-lingual customer service associates.
The Tata Sky brand has achieved significant milestones, industry accolades and is rated as the No 1 DTH brand by the ET Brand Equity 2012 most trusted brand survey. Recently Tata Sky+ HD has been rated as the ‘Product of the Year’, 2013 in the DTH category. The company has a presence in over 19,000 towns with a subscriber base of over 11.5 million connections, as on April 2013.
For more information on Tata Sky, visit www.tatasky.com
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Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Oct 31st. Curated by CASBAA’s staff, News Views carries on in the tradition of Market Watch to keep you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer |
In India, TRAI’s Chairman Rahul Khullar has made a name for himself as a firm and decisive advocate for policies he favors. He told CASBAA a couple of months ago that driving digitization of the Indian cable industry was within his agency’s authority, and he intended to proceed full speed ahead. He’s also been a tenacious advocate of the 12-minute ad cap for TV channels, which has met a lot of criticism within the industry. |
Sara MaderaDirector, Member Relations & Marketing |
Is this the end of childhood? Following the banning of tag and playing ball in schools in the US, a popular cartoon in China, accused of being too violent, is being forced to tone down its content. This month the state broadcasting authority announced plans for stricter limits on violence in animated television shows and producers have promised to ensure that cartoons “promote good and lash out at evil” and “advocate social morality and family virtues”. |
Jenny SetnickerHead of Advertising Development |
Are we still watching TV? Statistically, we are watching more television content and from a growing range of multi-devices. While we’re gravitating to digital platforms and social networks, what is deemed popular is being produced by large entertainment companies. A comforting note that TV networks remain kings of content. |
Jane BuckthoughtAdvertising Consultant |
Nielsen’s latest data of Ad Spend for 1H 2013 shows growth of 3.5% globally with Asia Pacific tracking at a healthy 6.4% increase Y.o.Y. Indonesia, China and the Philippines all contributed to double-digit ad growth in Asia-Pacific for the first half of 2013, with expenditures reaching $51 billion. |
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer |
Slaves of the Internet, Unite! There has been a wave of writing lately by musicians and artists and writers, protesting that “Internetization” of creative pursuits is resulting in impoverishment for those dependent on copyright – a combination of piracy and unwillingness by the tech industry to pay for content. |
Desmond ChungAssociate Director, PR & Communications |
The countdown to the Sochi Winter Olympics has begun with less than 100 days to go. However, countries are already jockeying for position in the MPAA Most ‘Notorious’ Piracy Markets race. Leading the competition? Ukraine, Canada, China and Russia…just don’t expect any gold medals to be handed out! |
Godfrey ChanMember Relations & Marketing Executive |
With the free-to-air TV licensing spectacle fresh in the minds of Hong Kongers, citizens of the SAR can now share their opinions on the latest TV drama looming on the horizon – and I don’t mean the premiere of a new soap opera! Starting on 1 Nov, the Communications Authority will conduct a one-month public consultation exercise for the renewal of the domestic pay TV service licence of PCCW Media Ltd. |
Mandy WuRegulatory Assistant |
A victory for MPAA and our industry, right from my hometown! Vancouver’s Isohunt.com, a bit torrent website, has been ordered by the courts to be terminated and the owner to pay 110 million in fines. Meanwhile, halfway ‘round the world, a court in London ordered access to 21 other torrent sites to be blocked by UK ISPs, this time on a complaint from the music industry. |
| Some additional links you might be interested in: |
Top Gear, Sherlock and Orphan Black air exclusively on AXN India
(31 October, Thursday, Mumbai)… BBC Worldwide in India today announced a deal with AXN India providing the broadcaster with more than 60 hours of BBC’s factual entertainment and drama programmes.
Titles comprise of four series of Top Gear, two series Orphan Black and three series Sherlock. The deal includes the presale of Top Gear (series 21 & 22), Orphan Black (series two), and Sherlock (series three). All programmes will be seen exclusively on AXN India throughout India and its subcontinent.
Myleeta Aga, SVP and GM of BBC Worldwide Asia, and Content Lead commented: “This new acquisition by AXN is the largest we’ve had with the broadcaster to date. I’m very excited that viewers in India will now have access to some of the most popular and high quality drama and factual entertainment programmes that have come out the BBC in the past year or so.
Top Gear is the world’s largest and most popular motoring programme and is the ‘most watched factual programme’ in the world, according to the Guinness World Records. Sherlock has won multiple awards and catapulted its stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Martin Freeman (Watson) to international stardom. The first series of Orphan Black has received critical acclaim, won a number of accolades and has made a break-out star of Tatiana Maslany. “
“We are very happy to extend our relationship with BBC Worldwide “, said Arpit Mankar, Programming Head of AXN India. ” The first of our BBC acquired programmes, Sherlock (series one) will premiere on AXN India on 4 November on the Mon-Thu 9.30 pm timeband. We are confident that the series will be well received by our audiences; so much so that we’ve already ordered Sherlock series three even while it’s in production. Top Gear has innumerable fans in India and we are happy to now be the home of the latest series of Top Gear in India. Orphan Black has received such great reviews that we’ve acquired both series’ – even though series two is still being shot. The thriller is bound to take viewers by surprise!”
Top Gear (series 20) started airing in mid October every Friday 9 pm while Sherlock (series one) will launch on November the 4th. Orphan Black is set to premiere first and exclusively on AXN this December.
– Ends –
For more information, please contact
Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide Asia
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com
(October 30, 2013) US technology major Cisco is in talks with Indian cable TV operators to help them offer broadband services by upgrading their existing networks.
Cisco is offering a technology that will enable cable TV players to start offering two-way communications required for Internet services. In addition, the company has roped in its venture capital fund unit Cisco Capital to finance the technology upgrade.
Speaking to Business Line, Sanjay Rohatgi, Managing Director, Service Provider, Cisco India and SAARC, said, “Most of the multiple-system operators (MSOs), who we are talking to, have plans to drive the cable broadband scenario. Our country is starved of bandwidth and as we move into the regional areas, cable broadband and the 4G technology will be a perfect complement to each other.”
Read more at The Hindu Business Line
(Singapore, 30th October 2013)… BBC Knowledge topped viewership charts in September to emerge number one among 11 factual channels in Singapore*
The channel was the most watched pay TV factual channel among PMEBs (professionals, managers, executives, business people) last month, with factual entertainment programmes proving a popular genre among viewers.
Top Gear, Undercover Boss USA, Ewan McGregor’s Cold Chain Mission and natural history series, South Pacific all helped propel BBC Knowledge to number one status.
“We are very pleased that BBC Knowledge has attained number one status again. Last June, we topped the charts due largely to London Calling, a two month programming stunt on BBC Knowledge and BBC Entertainment celebrating all things British,” said Mark Whitehead, SVP & GM SE Asia & Channel Lead Asia at BBC Worldwide Channels Asia. “BBC Worldwide has a long-standing commitment to our audience – to produce and deliver high quality, intelligent content that informs, educates and entertains our audiences the world over. This number one ranking goes to prove that audiences in Singapore and the region understand, recognize and appreciate quality programmes and it is clear that our channels meet their exacting standards. We believe that this is the primary cause of our number one rating this September”
* cable PMEB individuals/Kantar Media Singapore/ September 2013
– Ends –
For more information, please contact
Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide Asia
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com
Hong Kong, (October 30 2013) – It’s been a great Q2 and Q3 for Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), operator of the largest bouquet of pan-Asian channels dedicated to Asian entertainment. Two of CTE’s channels, CELESTIAL MOVIES HD (CM HD) and KIX HD, outperformed its competitors while Thrill saw tremendous viewership growth in the Philippines.
Celestial Movies HD (CMHD), the #1 HD channel for Chinese Malaysians on ASTRO*, rolled out the biggest Chinese blockbusters of the year to celebrate the channel brand’s 10th anniversary. Three of the movies featured in the “Celestial Biggest Stars, Biggest Blockbusters” program campaign won their timeslots across all movie channels among ASTRO 4+ subscribers in Malaysia.** The three movies are Jackie Chan’s CZ12 (Aug 4), one of Jackie’s most expensive and biggest productions in recent years; Young and Dangerous: Reloaded (Aug 11), the 2013 remake of the iconic gangster franchise; and The Last Tycoon (Aug 18), featuring Chow Yun Fat’s triumphant return to the Shanghai Bund.
KIX HD, the ultimate destination of action entertainment, also outperformed in Malaysia. On July 13, KIX HD aired the action blockbuster The Medallion and it became the #1 most-watched English movie across all HD channels in 2013 for ASTRO 4+ subscribers.***
In the Philippines, Thrill, Asia’s first and only movie channel dedicated to the widely popular horror, thriller and suspense genres, also reported a buoyant increase in ratings with Q3’s ratings rising 150% from Q2.**** Thrill is widely distributed in the Philippines with carriage on Sky Cable (Ch. 73), Cablelink (Ch. 49), Destiny (Ch. 11) and with provincial cable system operators through CPI.
*Source: Nielsen Malaysia, May 2012 – Sep 2013, ASTRO Chinese 4+.
**Source: Nielsen Malaysia, CZ12 (August 4, CM: 21:05:00-23:10/ CMHD: 21:00-23:05), Young and Dangerous: Reloaded (August 11, CM: 21:05-22:55/ CMHD: 21:00-22:50), and The Last Tycoon (August 18, CMHD: 21:00-2259), Across movie channels (HBO, HBO HD, FMP, FMP HD, MAX, Sundance HD), ASTRO 4+
***Source: Nielsen Malaysia, Jan – Sep 2013, ASTRO 4+
****Source: Kantar Media, Urban Philippines, Apr – Sep 2013, Cable 2+
###
Media Contact:
Pauline Poon
Celestial Tiger Entertainment
T: 852 2239 6131
E: pauline.poon@celestialtiger.com
About Celestial Tiger Entertainment
CELESTIAL TIGER ENTERTAINMENT (CTE) is a diversified media company dedicated to entertaining audiences in Asia and beyond. The company focuses on the operation of branded pay television channels, content creation and content distribution targeted at Asian consumers.
CTE operates a powerful bouquet of distinct pay television channels including: CELESTIAL MOVIES, the most broadly distributed 24-hour Chinese and Asian movies channel in the world; CELESTIAL CLASSIC MOVIES, the gateway to an unparalleled array of Chinese movie masterpieces; CELESTIAL MOVIES HD, the latest Chinese movies in high definition; KIX, the ultimate in action entertainment; Thrill, Asia’s only horror and suspense movie channel; and KIX HD, featuring the best of action with a late-night dose of thrillers in high definition.
As one of Asia’s largest vertically integrated independent entertainment companies, CTE produces original content which complements its channels business. CTE is also the exclusive sales agent for Hollywood studio Lionsgate in Greater China and Southeast Asia, and represents Lionsgate’s television content and vast feature film library in Japan and Korea as well.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, CTE’s majority shareholders are Saban Capital Group, a leading private investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries; Celestial Pictures, a major Asian entertainment company wholly-owned by Astro, the owner and operator of the leading DTH platform in Malaysia; and Lionsgate, the world’s largest independent filmed entertainment studio.
For more information, please visit www.celestialtiger.com.
