News

20% Indian homes connected to digital TV

13-06-2012

Only 20% of homes in India’s metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai have been issued with digital set top boxes ahead of the mandatory switch off of their analogue cable TV networks at the end of this month.

The cities require a combined total of 12.5 million digital set top boxes (STBs), yet only 2.9 million have so far been installed, according to data provided by stakeholders to the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting, the Financial Express reports today.

Mumbai has the highest STB penetration rate (47%) of the four metros that feature in the first phase of India’s ambitious target to digitise its entire cable TV network nationwide by the end of 2014. However, with the 30 June deadline just a few weeks away, Kolkata has only reached 19% of cable homes, and almost three quarters of Delhi’s cable residents are still without digital STBs.

AXN’s Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition Creates Ratings Magic

Singapore, 15 June 2012 – AXN, Asia’s home of thrilling entertainment, has premiered its latest original production, Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition, to top ratings in its timeslot across English general entertainment channels in Southeast Asia. Viewership was particularly strong in Malaysia where it was the highest rated program across all English language channels on Astro among PMEB audiences in its timeslot.

Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition is a six-part magic series that was shot on location in Hawaii featuring Japan’s favourite magician and one of the world’s most illustrious illusionists, Cyril. He stars as different members of his ‘family’ including Grandma Magi, Uncle Richard and Cousin Tiny on a hilarious and magic-filled vacation in Oahu, Hawaii. Hidden cameras pick up on the action as Cyril’s ‘family members’ amaze unsuspecting holiday makers with their spontaneous magic tricks. The new series follows AXN’s 2009 original production Cyril: Simply Magic, which was seen by more than 11 million viewers across Asia and was also the top rated program in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.

“With the success of Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition, AXN has proven once again that magic is a winning formula with universal appeal. We are proud to have grown our partnership with a world class talent such as Cyril, to thrill AXN audiences once more in our second collaboration. We expect Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition to continue to awe and inspire audiences across Asia on AXN.” said Mr Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

The strong premiere of Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition comes off the back of AXN’s publicity tour which took Cyril to key cities across the region including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Mumbai. During the tour Cyril met the local media, AXN’s partners and clients, as well as lucky subscribers of the channel who won the opportunity through a viewers’ contest. Not only did attendees of these AXN events get a sneak preview of Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition, they were wowed by the up-close-and-personal interaction with Cyril and his live magic performances, including as Grandma Magi levitating 9 metres above ground in front of the Pavilion shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, seen by thousands of shoppers and was widely reported in the news.

Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition is an original production from Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan’s AXN Mystery, Charis Entertainment and Focus Group Limited.

-Ends-

About AXN & AXN HD

AXN offers viewers a thrilling ride with an exciting slate of programs designed to exhilarate and help them escape the humdrum of daily routine. The leading English general entertainment destination among upscale, affluent adults aged 18-39, the channel delivers first run, exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, adventure and competitive reality programs from around the world, as well as made-in-Asia original productions.

Launched first in Asia in 1997, AXN has become an international channel brand that is now seen across 60 countries globally including Latin America and Europe. In Asia, the channel is now watched by more than 104 million homes across 21 countries, including close to 50 million households on a time-block basis in China. AXN has also been available in high-definition (HD) since March 2009.

AXN Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates pay-TV channels beTV, Animax, Sony Entertainment Television and ONE. See www.axn-asia.com for more.

Media Contacts

Madison Communications Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
David Chau
Tel: 852 2881 1787
david@madison.asia

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

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