Archive for November, 2008
Rupee’s fall sees HD TV plans hit a wall
Source: Business Standard With a subscriber base of around 10 million since its launch in 2003, the DTH television service has not been finding it so easy to dislodge the cable operators from people’s homes. In its efforts to attract more people, the HD TV was expected to play a big part. But, the HD (high-definition) TV rollout is expected to slow down, thanks to the depreciating rupee. When the rupee was stronger the industry had it better. The set-top boxes, used to unscramble the signals, gets costlier as the rupee gets weaker as these set-top boxes are imported. The price rise comes at a »»»
BSNL forays into IPTV service
Source: Indianexpress.com Ludhiana: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited would soon start its much-awaited Internet Protocol Television (ITPV) service in the city. With this, Ludhiana will become first city to have this service in Punjab. According to official sources, “BSNL is all set for the soft launch of the service in the first week of December. After successful feedback, it will be launched at commercial level in the city.” Through the service, BSNL will provide 120 television channels to its broadband subscribers at a monthly rental of Rs 150. Subscribers will also have to deposit a security »»»
Government to open up FM radio
Source: Daily News & Analysis NEW DELHI: Live broadcast of commentaries, information regarding sporting events, traffic and weather can be treated as non-news and non-current affairs programmes, and therefore can be aired by all private FM radio stations, according to the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry. This is the government’s view on permitting news once the third phase of private FM radio is rolled out, in response to the recent recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Currently, news and current affairs programming is not permitted on private »»»
TRAI endorses govt views on FM radio
Source: The Economic Times NEW DELHI: Telecom and Broadcast regulator TRAI on Friday endorsed the government’s views of limiting the news and current affairs for FM radio and has said that the same may be reviewed after three years. “The categorisation of content to be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast is acceptable to TRAI. The scope of such content may be enlarged after three years,” TRAI said. The government has conveyed its views on FM Phase III policy to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and sought its recommendations on this issue. No news »»»
Asin- The brand ambassador for Tata Sky
Source: Sify.com Asin was on a house boat in Punnamada Lake in Alapuzha, one of the top holiday destinations in Kerala, where the annual Nehru Trophy boat race happens. The cherubic actress was not holidaying there but instead shooting an ad for Tanishq for which she is the brand ambassador (see pic). For Asin, it was a sort of home coming as she was continuously shooting in various parts of the globe for the last one year. The lush green areas surrounded by paddy fields and stretches of coconut palm groves was indeed a welcome change for the actress who got a chance to be away from the hustle »»»
Broadcasters, DTH cos, film producers bet on pay-per-view
Source: The Economic Times BANGALORE: With direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television growing in popularity, film producers, broadcasters and DTH service providers see pay-per-view (PPV) buying of movies emerging as a significant contributor to revenues. Indian television viewers are just beginning to get the option of PPV, which allows them to view movies or individual programmes for a fee. Movies are seen as especially well-suited for the pay-TV model, allowing subscribers the option of viewing in the privacy and comfort of home at a time of their choice. “Mobile content, gaming and PPV will »»»
Upcoming elections drive mobile DTH sales of Dish TV
Source: Business Standard The pressing need for politicians to stay connected and updated through satellite television — even while on the move — is driving the sales of Dish TV’s mobile DTH units, specially in states like Delhi, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh that go in for Assembly elections shortly. There are five private direct-to-home (DTH) operators in the market so far but only Dish TV provides a mobile DTH unit that costs about Rs 1.45 lakh per unit. This can be fitted on a car, bus or any sports utility vehicle (SUV). A mobile DTH unit comes in with a special built-in roving antenna »»»
