News

CASBAA asks for clarity on Thai “must-carry”

Pay-TV operator TrueVisions and Euro 2012 broadcast rights holder GMM Grammy could face future licensing hurdles as a result of their dispute over televising the football tournament.

12/06/2012: The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) says the spat _ which has resulted in viewers missing out on early Euro 2012 games as the True platform broadcasts have been blocked _ will be taken into account when the two companies seek to renew their licences.

The regulator is also fining TrueVisions 20,000 baht per day for its failure to broadcast the Euro 2012 matches to their subscribers as ordered.

The tournament started on June 8, and the final match will be on July 1. The fine will be imposed until TrueVisions restarts broadcasts of the matches, NBTC vice chairman Nathee Sukolrat said.

The games are shown on terrestrial channels 3, 5 and Modernine TV and have been viewable on televisions with aerials, but TrueVisions’ broadcasts of these stations via satellite or cable have been scrambled during the matches.

Read the full article at http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/topstories/297620/nbtc-issues-tv-football-spat-threat

SES Unveils IP-Based in-Home Distribution of Satellite TV Signals

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BETZDORF, Luxembourg, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), together with leading industry partners, has announced the introduction of SAT-IP, a new IP-based satellite reception technology that demodulates and converts satellite signals to IP for further in-home distribution to any IP-enabled device.

Unveiled at the annual SES Industry Days, the SAT-IP communications protocol is established as a new standard for satellite in-home distribution. A live demo of SAT-IP multiswitches showing the distribution of satellite programmes over various IP-based infrastructures (CAT5 Ethernet, Power Line, Plastic Optical Fibre and Wi-Fi) was presented to more than 200 industry experts from consumer electronics manufacturers to broadcast platform operators at the two-day conference.

In a SAT-IP environment, IP-enabled devices such as tablets, PCs, laptops, smartphones, any connected digital TV, game consoles and media players will be able to receive satellite programming. This means that consumers will be able to enjoy the benefits of watching TV programmes on different devices and screens. With SAT-IP, large varieties of satellite offers including the most important lineup of HD channels will be accessible for consumers on IP-enabled devices in highest and original satellite picture quality and without using internet connectivity. SAT-IP will become an official standard which is open to all manufacturers and allows them to develop a neutral environment of multiple devices. Current prototypes already allow for the reception of up to eight HD TV programmes on eight different screen devices at home.

Thomas Wrede, Vice President Reception Systems, said: “SAT-IP is a quantum leap for the industry and the TV viewers and shows SES’ role in pioneering technological developments in the media and TV industry. We see how consumers are increasingly complementing their TV viewing experience with alternative devices. With SAT-IP, we put ourselves at the top of the trend and ensure that viewers can watch satellite TV potentially on any IP-based device at home and with an unrivalled flexibility when they move around.

“Our new way of connecting devices will allow millions of consumers to enjoy satellite TV on multiple screens with the highest convenience and quality. With SAT-IP, we also give an important impulse to the industry, creating an open standard that allows manufacturers to realise innovative distribution solutions.”

The first SAT-IP based products are scheduled to be available later this year.

The renowned SES Industry Days, currently in its fifth year, is a platform for the industry to come together and share and develop new ideas. The event offers opportunities for industry leaders from all around the world to shape the next generation of technologies for satellite reception and distribution.

About SES:

SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: http://www.ses.com.

For further information please contact:

Markus Payer
Market Communication & PR
Château de Betzdorf
L-6815 Betzdorf
Luxembourg
+352-710-725-500
http://www.ses.com

Thailand watchdog drawing up list of programmes that can be broadcast

June 11, 2012 – The national broadcasting and telecom regulator has drawn up rules on the telecasting of copyrighted programmes on free TV channels to guarantee those viewing them – whether via a TV antenna, the pay-TV set-top boxes, or any other platforms – will have equal access to some of these copyrighted programmes.

The move is in response to requests to the watchdog by pay TV operators – as well as the holders of the broadcasting rights of highly popular programmes – to set clear rules regarding the broadcasting of copyrighted programmes on free TV channels.

Natee Sukonrat, broadcasting committee chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), said the committee was drawing up the ‘must carry’ rules to oblige all cable TV, satellite dish TV, and pay TV operators, and the future terrestrial digital TV operators, to air all free TV channels.

Read the full article at http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Watchdog-drawing-up-list-of-programmes-that-can-be-30183891.html

Subhash rejects digital delays

NEW DELHI: Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra has urged the Information & Broadcasting ministry to stick to the 30 June deadline for the switchover to digital addressable systems (DAS) in the four metros.

The media baron feels that any postponement of digitisation would “send a wrong signal to the stakeholders as well as investors so far as the policy implementation is concerned”.

Chandra, however, said that even if the government considers extending the date because of non-arrival of digital set top boxes, this should not be more than 60 days.

In the letter which was addressed to I&B minister Ambika Soni, a copy of which is with Indiantelevision.com, Chandra said digitisation should be completed by 30 June in areas which are presently under conditional access system – South Delhi, South Mumbai, South Kolkata and whole of Chennai – which will show the government’s intent in implementing its policy.

Any extension, he said, should be announced only in the last week of June “after detailed deliberations with all the stakeholders so that pace of deployment of STBs is not affected because of any negative sentiments” arising out of any deferment.

“While I appreciate the concerns regarding the availability of STBs, the blanket extension of 5-6 months would adversely affect the STBs off-take and would create a mis-impression in the minds of the stakeholders that Government is not serious in implementing the digitalisation initiative,” Chandra said in the letter.

http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k12/june/jun71.php

Cross media controls for India?

If you were a journalist would you rather work for a media house owned by industrialist Mukesh Ambani or one owned by YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy? Currently, that may seem like a no-brainer: a Congress government in Andhra Pradesh or anywhere else would show less alacrity in setting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) upon the assets of a media company owned by an Ambani. You would be financially far more secure in the corporate arms of one than the other. But that is because the YSR Congress is not in power in Andhra Pradesh today. If it was it would be a different story. You only have to go back to 2008 when Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was alive, leader of the party that is now harassing his son Jagan. The latter was riding high, and able to launch an attractive 23-edition newspaper at one shot.

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Two developments last month have revived the debate on trends in Indian media ownership. The Aditya Birla group announced that it had bought a 27.5% stake in Living Media India Ltd, which publishes India Today and owns TV Today Network Ltd. And across Andhra Pradesh, journalists were out in the streets in support of their colleagues at Sakshi, the newspaper owned by Jagan Reddy. Its bank accounts were frozen after the CBI homed in on Jagan Reddy in a disproportionate assets case. The high court quickly “unfroze” the accounts.

In a third development, the ministry of information and broadcasting wrote to a new chairman at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) asking it to look afresh at the issue of cross-media ownership. Trai has done so before and made recommendations to the ministry.

The two noticeable media acquisition trends in evidence are those by corporate and political entities. Historically, neither is a new trend—back in the 1950s and 1960s, the Tatas, Birlas and the Sahu Jain group owned The Statesman, Hindustan Times and The Times of India, respectively. Political parties in West Bengal and Kerala have long owned newspapers as have political families such as the Pawars and Dardas in Maharashtra.

But over time the big business ties loosened for various reasons; the Tatas got out of The Statesman, the Birlas split and are no longer a monolithic business house, and the Sahu Jain group lost their non-media businesses and became a de facto media house. Now that we are into a different season of need, the corporate acquisition of media is growing again. Media entities have multiplied but not diversified their financing model. Media houses that were successful earlier are making losses (eg. the Dainik Bhaskar group and Zee launched DNA in Mumbai with disastrous financial results), with everybody chasing the same advertising. So they are more open to investors than before.

Business, meanwhile, is ready to rediscover the charms of media ownership for more than one reason. It is a powerful, profile-conferring industry. And given an increasingly uncertain political and regulatory environment for business, the imagined clout of the media is a welcome factor.

You could argue that the relationship between a politically powerful media house such as Eenadu and a business conglomerate such as Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) with its offshore investment in the state, has had its useful moments for both. Rajasekhara Reddy’s attack on Eenadu owner Ramoji Rao’s chit fund business and the central government’s denial of permission to the Blackstone Group Lp to invest in Eenadu and ETV, drove Rao to seek an investment from financier Nimesh Kampani, which was later revealed to be an investment by RIL.

The advent of satellite television, its accessibility and the exposure it gives has also led to a substantial increase in political media since the early 1990s—there are some 33-plus TV channels, newspapers or magazines with political connections.

If both trends are here to stay, what do they spell for media independence in terms of the journalism practised? A self-respecting media industry should be able to put necessary walls in place between business and editorial. But guess who has been steadily chipping at the wall? Not corporate-owned media but family-owned media with its documented penchant for paid news.

Effective media regulation has eluded us so far. Trai’s writ has been extended to media but its recommendations on media ownership and cross-media ownership remain unimplemented. It suggested merger and acquisitions guidelines for the sector. But if these were made, one is not aware that anything kicked in, in January this year, when RIL entered into its complex financial arrangement involving the Network18 and Eenadu groups.

Meanwhile, major challenges loom. How to keep television content and carriage ownership separate? Should telecom companies be allowed to invest in media? Should there be restrictions on political ownership of media? This last aspect is never touched upon by either Trai or the information and broadcasting ministry.

There is also insufficient regulatory recognition of media expanding into other sectors of the economy. Media houses that have acquired corporate scale now have business arms which are investing in power and construction. The Bhaskar (DB Corp. Ltd) and Zee (Essel) groups, to name two. As the trend grows, will the media influence give muscle to their corporate arms? And what sort of capitalism would you call that?

Sevanti Ninan is a media critic, author and editor of the media watch website thehoot.org. She examines the larger issues related to the media in a fortnightly column.

http://www.livemint.com/2012/06/06220324/Ownership-worries.html

NBTC steps into Euro 2012

June 7, 2012 – It is still uncertain whether subscribers of TrueVisions will have a chance to view the Euro 2012 soccer tournament on free-TV channels via their True set-top boxes, though the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will step in to look into the matter.

The NBTC will convene a meeting today with TrueVisions and free-TV operators – Channels 3, 5, and 9 – to seek ways to prevent problems for consumers.

This follows a complaint by TrueVisions to the watchdog on May 31 that its customers were confused and worried that they might not be able to watch the prestigious tournament – which will be aired from June 8 to July 2 – on Channels 3, 5, 9 via their set-top boxes.

The NBTC’s broadcasting committee chairman, Natee Sukonrat, said yesterday that according to the commission’s principles, free-TV operators had to treat pay-TV operators on a non-discriminatory basis.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/NBTC-steps-into-Euro-2012-broadcast-dispute-30183665.html

IBM and PCCW Solutions collaborate to deliver a next-generation cloud services platform with PureSystems

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New platform enables PCCW Solutions to launch Enterprise Solutions Superstore

Hong Kong, June 7, 2012 – IBM (NYSE:IBM) and PCCW Solutions, the IT and business process outsourcing flagship of PCCW Limited (SEHK:0008), today announce that IBM will power PCCW Solutions’ integrated cloud services platform with the just announced IBM PureSystems, a new breed of “expert integrated systems”. This will enhance PCCW Solutions’ customer experience by providing customers with access to agile and all-inclusive cloud services from a single trusted source.

As one of the leading IT services companies in Hong Kong, PCCW Solutions provides its enterprise customers with a full spectrum of cloud computing services, supporting large enterprises with cloud services tailored to their needs, as well as serving small and medium sized enterprises with public cloud services. To address a fast rising local market demand for public cloud services which is growing 40% CAGR to reach US$ 295M in 2015 , PCCW Solutions launches “Enterprise Solutions Superstore” with IBM PureFlex, a member of the PureSystems family.

“IBM PureFlex addresses our need for a fully integrated and optimized infrastructure that radically simplifies computing to ensure high quality services and enhanced customer experience,” said Mr. George Fok, Managing Director, PCCW Solutions. “Riding on our cross-border data centers and extensive experience in managing complex computing infrastructure operations and mission critical systems, PCCW Solutions launched the Enterprise Solutions Superstore Alliance that brings together Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to offer highly flexible and proven applications to customers on the cloud via Software-as-a-Service model, as well as using that as a basis to serve our enterprise customers for cloud services tailored to their needs.”

PureSystems is based on IBM’s decades of experience in designing systems and expertise in running IT operations for tens of thousands of clients in different industries around the world. The systems family integrates both physical and virtual IT elements, offering clients an alternative to today’s enterprise computing model, where multiple and disparate systems require significant resources to set up and maintain.

“PureSystems represents a new breed of ‘expert integrated systems’, and is a major step forward into a new era of computing that is radically simplified. With PureSystems, we have reduced the cost and complexity of IT management, essentially changing the economics of IT and delivering on the true promise of the cloud,” said Mr. Tony Tai, General Manager, IBM China/Hong Kong Limited.

IBM PureSystems combines three major advances to offer clients an alternative to today’s enterprise computing model.

  • Integration by design – PureSystems introduces a new concept in system design that integrates and optimizes the server, storage and networking into a highly automated, easy-to-manage machine. This deeply integrated “scale-in” design provides for increased density, meaning that PureSystems can handle twice as many applications compared to some IBM systems, doubling the computing power per square foot of data center space.
  • Built-in Expertise – IBM has embedded technology and industry expertise through first-of-a-kind software that allows systems to automatically handle basic, time-consuming tasks such as configuration, upgrade and application requirements. Based on patterns of expertise, PureSystems’ new software capability makes IT easier to deploy and manage by converting technology expertise into reusable, downloadable packages based on patterns.
  • Simplified experience – PureSystems offers a single-view integrated management system and broad open ecosystem of optimized solutions which makes every part of the IT lifecycle easier.

Mr. Tai said, “It’s our great pleasure to collaborate with PCCW Solutions to bring to Hong Kong a next-generation cloud services platform built on PureSystems, supporting PCCW Solutions’ business needs and growth.”

Mr. Fok added, “We are delighted to collaborate with our technology partner IBM to propel our cloud services to the next level. By offering a fully integrated cloud platform with the Enterprise Solutions Superstore, PCCW Solutions is committed to providing end-to-end IT capabilities to help customers improve their time-to-market, maximize operational efficiency and drive business transformation.”

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About IBM

For more information about IBM Hong Kong, go to: www.ibm.com/hk

About PCCW Solutions

PCCW Solutions is the IT and business process outsourcing flagship of PCCW Limited, which also holds interests in telecommunications, media, property development and investment, and other businesses.

Responsible for a growing number of large-scale IT projects in the public and private sectors, PCCW Solutions holds a wealth of experience and expertise and is viewed as a major industry player in Greater China. To learn more about PCCW Solutions, please visit www.pccwsolutions.com.

About PCCW Limited

PCCW Limited (SEHK: 0008) is a Hong Kong-based company which holds interests in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.

The Company holds a majority interest in HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider. HKT meets the needs of the Hong Kong public and local and international businesses with a wide range of services including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses such as customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting, and contact centers.

PCCW also owns a fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong, which includes a highly successful IPTV operation, now TV. As the provider of Hong Kong’s first quadruple-play experience, PCCW offers a range of innovative media content and services across four delivery platforms – fixed-line, broadband Internet access, TV and mobile.

Also wholly-owned by the Group, PCCW Solutions is a leading information technology outsourcing and business process outsourcing provider in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In addition, PCCW holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, and overseas investments including the wholly-owned UK Broadband Limited. To learn more about PCCW, please visit www.pccw.com.

For more information, please contact:

Florence Ma
IBM China/Hong Kong Limited
Tel: +852 2825 7626
Email: maky@hk1.ibm.com

Ivan Ho
PCCW Group
Tel: +852 2883 8747
Email: ivan.wy.ho@pccw.com

May Sze
Text 100
Tel: +852 5191-3426
Email: may.sze@text100.com.hk

Intelsat EpicNG satellite platform

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June 7, 2012 – Intelsat has introduced the Intelsat EpicNG satellite platform, a new series of satellites based upon a high performance, open architecture design. Intelsat EpicNG will be deployed for wireless and fixed telecommunications, enterprise, mobility, video and government applications requiring broadband infrastructure across the major continents.

The Intelsat EpicNG platform is an innovative approach to satellite and network architecture utilising multiple frequency bands, wide beams, spot beams and frequency reuse technology. A complementary overlay, Intelsat EpicNG will be fully integrated with Intelsat’s existing satellite fleet and global IntelsatONESM terrestrial network.

Read the full article at http://advanced-television.com/index.php/2012/06/07/intelsat-epicng-satellite-platform/

High demand for APAC satellite

June 4, 2012–At the 45th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank’s Board of Governors in Manila last month, the mood of the 4,000 delegates from 48 Asian countries was upbeat, mixed with a sense of pride. Amid the recession in Europe and the tepid economic growth in North America was the revelation that the combined national wealth of India, China and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could exceed that of the U.S. and European countries put together in the next 18 years, according to an ADB study.

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda predicted a healthy GDP of 6.9 percent for developing Asia and the Pacific this year, which is expected to climb to 7.3 per cent in 2013. “These three region and countries (India, China and ASEAN) are on a path to significantly improve the quality of life of their citizens–in aggregate approaching half of the world’s population by 2030,” he said.

For the satellite industry, the ADB disclosure only confirms a growth trend that had been going on in Asia for some time. It also assures the satellite industry of continued development to serve 4 billion people in 51 countries of Asia, 60 percent of the world’s population, and provide 30% of the earth’s landmass with services already enjoyed by the developed countries of the world.

Driven by the continued strong demand for satellite services in the Asia Pacific region, the industry’s most important drivers — high-definition TV conversion, DTH television and intercontinental video transmissions– remain in high growth mode. Multi-year contracts of satellite operators are enabling the industry to maintain a dependable revenue stream despite the turmoil in other parts of the world. Transponder fill rates have remained generally high with good revenues from transponder leasing and purchase of satellite equipment by Asian countries remain buoyant. Even more encouraging, as Asia’s economic growth increases, the market for satellite services keeps getting bigger.

http://www.satellitemarkets.com/news-analysis/strong-demand-driving-asia-pacific-satellite-market

Turner Appoints Vice President of Cartoon Network Enterprises

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Licensing Expert Melissa Tinker to Grow Asia Pacific Business

HONG KONG (June 7, 2012) – Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. has named Melissa Tinker as Vice President of its licensing and merchandise division, Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE).

Ms. Tinker’s appointment coincides with CNE’s robust expansion across the region which includes branded learning centres and themed destinations in addition to the growth of traditional categories of toys, apparel, home entertainment, publishing and lifestyle products.

Ideally placed to drive further growth for CNE in Asia Pacific, Ms. Tinker brings over 15 years of industry experience focused on crafting licensing strategies for brand expansion, and was a major force behind the success of many popular kids’ and family entertainment brands.

Reporting to Sunny Saha, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Entertainment Networks, Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Ms. Tinker will assume the leadership of CNE’s regional licensing & merchandise strategy, planning and network collaboration for Turner’s hit franchises such as Ben 10, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and The Powerpuff Girls.

“Melissa is joining the CNE team at a time of unprecedented growth for our business in Asia. With Melissa’s proven track record within the industry, CNE will be taken to even greater heights as she identifies innovative partnerships that create more opportunities for brand engagement,” said Mr. Saha.

Ms. Tinker joins CNE after six years at Chorion in Australia where as Senior Vice President of Licensing, Asia Pacific, she turned an underperforming region into one that exceeded annual sales targets for brands including Mr. Men and Little Miss, Noddy, Octonauts, Beatrix Potter and Olivia.

Prior to Chorion, Ms. Tinker was a Business Manager at Haven Licensing where she managed a portfolio of leading international and domestic licensors: Universal Studios, MTV Networks/Nickelodeon and ACP.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Cartoon Network and to be working alongside such a dynamic and experienced team. I see endless opportunity with such powerhouse brands and the exceptional content Turner has to offer. I am very much looking forward to developing regional initiatives to support the franchise partners and introducing new partners to the business,” said Ms. Tinker.

Over the past four years, Cartoon Network Enterprises has experienced significant double digit growth in Asia Pacific, and last year achieved a 27 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue.

Over 350 million products were purchased across the region for Cartoon Network’s key properties including Ben 10, Ben 10 Alien Force, Ben 10 Ultimate Alien, Gwen, The Powerpuff Girls and Generator Rex. This year, the award-winning The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time will launch ranges expected to be equally as popular.

– ends –

About Cartoon Network Enterprises

Cartoon Network Enterprises, a division of Cartoon Network, works towards driving long-term value for the Network and its hit properties including the Ben 10 franchise, The Powerpuff Girls, The Amazing Adventures of Gumball, Adventure Time and Chowder. The division is specifically responsible for setting up new businesses leveraging the equity of the characters via consumer products, promotional licensing, home videos, interactive games, publishing, themed entertainment and events. Cartoon Network Enterprises works with a host of partners in the Asia-Pacific region, including Bandai, Mattel and D3 Publishers among others.

For more information, please contact:
James Moore
Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc.
Tel: +852 3128 3720
Email: James.Moore@turner.com

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