Fashion TV extends coverage
Fashion TV extends coverage
By Chris Dziadul | March 5, 2009 | 11:06 UK
Fashion TV has finally made its debut in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, two months after its expected launch.
According to HN, the channel is on air for 24 hours daily and employing a single stream, reaching 680,000 homes in the Czech Republic and 350,000 in Slovakia.
As previously reported in Broadband TV News, the licence for Fashion TV in the two countries is held by a company named Carolinas Corporation.
The majority (70%) of the channel’s output is international, with the remainder produced in-house.
Canal Digital cements new TV2 deal
Canal Digital cements new TV2 deal
By Julian Clover | March 5, 2009 | 10:43 UK
TV 2 DenmarkCanal Digital has made a new agreement with Denmark’s quasi-commercial channel TV 2. From April 1 TV 2 will be broadcast as a digital channel on Canal Digital’s satellite platform for the first time.
“Our new agreement with TV 2 makes it first and foremost easier for our customers, especially when switched off the analogue signal on 31 October. Next, the agreement strengthens our satellite platform, said Jens Arnesen, managing director, Canal Digital Danmark.
“The agreement with Canal Digital TV 2 is a natural extension of similar agreements in the satellite field,” added TV 2’s Financial Director Peter Norm “The expected EU approval of TV 2’s plan will enable us to collect subscription payments from 2012 and although the agreement with Canal Digital will run until 2016, it will in this situation be renegotiated.”
Although the majority of Danish Canal Digital subscribers could already access TV2 through the platform’s hybrid DTT receivers the platform wants to ensure easy access to the channel.
The agreement also means that all viewers will be able to tune into the eight regional TV channels, regardless of where they lived.
TV5 gives up analogue in The Netherlands
TV5 gives up analogue in The Netherlands
By Robert Briel | March 5, 2009 | 08:27 UK
International French language broadcaster TV5 Monde has given up analogue distribution in The Netherlands. Ziggo, the country’s largest operator with 3.2 million homes connected announced it will stop analogue carriage of the channel and relocate it to basic digital.
The move is part of a scheme to bring down the number of basic analogue channels to 30 across the Ziggo network in order to make more room for digital television and other services. At the moment Ziggo has 1.1 million digital homes and the number is growing.
Last year, the number two operator in the country, UPC, removed TV5 Monde from both its analogue and digital tiers citing disagreement about the conditions of carriage of the channel. The channel remains freely available on satellite as an FTA channel on Astra and Eutelsat Hotbird.
New Russian DTH platform launches
New Russian DTH platform launches
By Chris Dziadul | March 5, 2009 | 08:18 UK
Russia has yet another DTH platform following the official launch of Raduga TV.
According to Parabola, the service is distributed by ABS 1 at 75 degrees East and offers subscribers a wide variety of both Russian and international channels, including all the Viasat services.
As part of a promotional offer until the end of April, it is being offered for R250 a month for a payment of six months in advance.
Raduga TV is operated by GTSS in association with DalGeokom. It employs Irdeto conditional access.
Russia’s CTC gets trimmed
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A year ago CTC Media, which specialises in broadcasting within Russia, was riding high with its share price at an impressive $31.75, benefiting from a booming Russian economy and strong advertising demand. That has now all changed.
CTC Media’s share price is now about $3.40 (but it has been even lower) although an investor note from Morgan Stanley gives some reasons for optimism. Nevertheless, the bank’s view is that the appetite for foreign investors to invest in Russian equities and companies has diminished.
CTC operates in a very competitive Russian market with 18 other TV channels. The two largest are effectively government-controlled which means that they may operate in a less cost conscious manner through a downturn. This could lead to a loss of market share for CTC, argues Morgan Stanley. CTC Media also reports its results (it is listed on the NASDAQ) in US Dollars.
That CTC Media has to make some cuts was inevitable. The Russian Rouble is down significantly against the Dollar (25%), and while only 20% of CTC’s operating expenses are in Dollars, there’s obviously a problem when 100% of income is generated in Roubles. The company has trimmed staff by 20%, and this, plus other belt-tightening, has helped bring the company back on an even keel.
But there are challenges ahead, says the bank’s note, with Russian advertising now suffering from the downturn, and likely to overall fall some 15% this year. However, the bank says: “Given its pricing advantages and national reach, we expect TV’s share of advertising will actually increase during this downturn from 55% to 60%, which we see as a long-term ceiling. In US dollar terms, we therefore look for a 61% and 3% contraction in the TV ad market in 2009 and 2010, respectively.”
Morgan Stanley is concerned by the acquisition of the DTV channel in Russia, and the C31 network in Kazakhstan, and in particular the amounts paid for the two stations, which with the benefit of hindsight were “extreme”.
“The $395m paid for DTV now represents 61% of CTC’s market capitalization. Through cost cutting we expect C31 to breakeven in EBITDA terms in 2009 and 2010 with modest profits by 2011. Assuming a 20% drop in content costs, we factor in a drop in EBITDA at DTV from $26m in 2008 to $20m in 2009 and $22m in 2010. This represents a margin of 39%,” says the bank’s note. Morgan Stanley also suggests that a write down of some $400m may be needed because of the high price paid for the recent acquisitions.
© Rapid TV News 2009
Microsoft adding HD to Windows-7
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]Next week’s DVB World show in Berlin will see a demo from Microsoft of its new HDTV Windows Media functionality which is part of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system.
Microsoft is partnering with Philips-founded semi-conductor company NXP to develop a new TV tuner that will operate within Windows, based on the DVB-T2 transmission standard.
“The prototype,” says a statement, “which comprises all major functionality of NXP’s upcoming DVB-T2 one chip solution and is designed for the Windows 7 release of the Microsoft operating system, paves the way for consumers to enjoy HD digital-terrestrial TV services on a Windows PC. With a TV tuner based on NXP’s technology, Windows Media Center users will be able to watch, pause, and record live HD TV wherever there is a HD DVB-T2 service.”
Commercial chipsets and software drivers based on the prototype are expected to be made available to PC OEMs and other tuner manufactures towards the end of this year.
DVB-T2 enables more channels, including HD services, to be broadcast. The UK is likely to be the first country to deploy DVB-T2 services with analogue switch-off already underway and the launch of Freeview HD in the autumn of this year.
“The PC is increasingly becoming a screen for watching television,” said Renaud Bordelet, Group Manager, Windows TV Europe, Microsoft. “Through this collaboration with NXP we ensure consumers will be able to use Windows Media Center to enjoy DVB-T2 services, such as Freeview HD, on the PC. DVB World is the first time we have demonstrated accessing a DVB-T2 broadcast in HD with Windows Media Center and we look forward to our OEM partners bringing the experience to consumers.”
Rolf-Dieter Gutsmann, Product Marketing Manager PC Video Systems, NXP Semiconductors, said: “Leaps in technology innovation are made possible when companies can combine their expertise, and we are particularly happy to have joined forces with Microsoft to support DVB-T2. NXP, building on its leadership in DVB silicon tuners and demodulators, is proud to show the first demonstrator of its DVB-T2 solution for the PC. DVB-T2 is an upcoming terrestrial transmission format which will start a new era of multimedia enjoyment, enabling superior quality of broadcast video on the Windows PC. OEMs will facilitate network operators to expand their range of coverage with cost effective hardware for PC tuner solutions.”
© Rapid TV News 2009
Lebanon's Murr TV will go back on air
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]Murr TV (confusingly known as MTV in the Lebanon) says it will go back on air at the end of March. It closed in Sept 2002 following a government ban. The channel’s web-site talks of it representing the silent majority of Lebanese and of transmissions recommencing on March 31.
“It will be a voice to serve freedom, and air the voice of the silent majority of all sects, regions and parties," said Michel Gabriel Murr, the station’s chairman and GM. "We will not be [backing any political group], and we will be neutral and realistic about all topics, from traffic lights to defence strategy."
A general election is scheduled for the Lebanon in June. It is not yet known whether transmissions will be limited to the station’s terrestrial output or whether it will go on to return to satellite broadcasting.
© Rapid TV News 2009
TVNZ in Tivo down under buy?
New Zealand broadcaster TVNZ has reportedly bought into Hybrid Television Services, the Seven Media Group venture to sell TiVo in Australia, for A$15 million (US$9.5 million).
Seven is looking to sell up to two-thirds of its 100% stake in Hybrid, with the deal apparently offloading a third to TVNZ, which is a state broadcaster but funded partially by commercials. TVNZ is one of the key players in New Zealand’s satellite and terrestrially-delivered Freeview digital TV platform.
A report on Australian online news and commentary service Crikey claims a deal has already been done and TVNZ wants to launch TiVo in New Zealand. The box would be marketed as picking up the Freeview platform. In Australia, there is no monthly subscription fee for the TiVo service.
PVR products are already on the market in New Zealand, marketed as MyFreeview boxes.
Seven Media Group, which is itself a joint venture between Seven Network and private equity house Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), is under financial pressure. Seven recently wrote down its investment in the company to zero as the group labours under a pile of debt brought in when KKR purchased the stake back in 2006. Asset sales are clearly on the agenda to reduce some of that debt.
© Rapid TV News 2009
Tiscali sale to BSkyB over?
One month ago the sale of broadband supplier Tiscali’s UK assets seemed a certainty, and expected to take place by about now. But the further erosion of Sterling’s value against the Euro has placed the deal in jeopardy. Tiscali boss Mario Rosso now seems to be saying the deal is almost impossible to pull off.
A year ago Tiscali’s UK assets were worth around £600m. Carphone Warehouse made a bid of £450m for Tiscali’s British assets, a price which now seems extremely generous. The BSkyB ‘bid’ is reportedly to have been less than £450m. Tiscali, as well as being a poorly regarded broadband supplier, is perhaps better known as the owner of the Video Networks/Home Choice service, which has struggled since inception.
However, Tiscali’s share price has tumbled 83% over the past year and trading in its shares was suspended Friday Mar 6. A Board statement from Tiscali said: "Given the time frame of the negotiations with BSkyB for the disposal of certain UK assets of the Tiscali Group, which have not resulted in an agreement to date, due to the worsening of the market environment in which the potential buyer also operates, the Board of Directors has acknowledged that it is de facto impossible to proceed with the above mentioned negotiations."
Tiscali has also asked its bankers to suspend its interest payments due this week, and will be placing what it describes as a “new plan” to its Board on March 27. Long term debt stands at €500m, and it has payments to meet this week (on March 11 and 13 for a total of €11m).
© Rapid TV News 2009
Iranian police seize sat-dishes
Police in the town of Natanz in Esfahan Province, Iraq, have confiscated satellite dishes and equipment.
BBC Monitoring, in a report sourced from Iranian TV, said some 200 dishes and reception equipment were seized by police from Barzud Base in the town of Natanz. The BBC reports that video shown on state-run TV showed “hundreds of dishes” scattered on a pavement.
© Rapid TV News 2009
Bravia TV sets to take e-cash payments
Bravia TV sets to take e-cash payments
RFID readers embedded in remote control handsets
The new Bravias can suck e-money off a mobile phone
Using a TV for surfing the web has always been pretty much a bust, but the imminent rise of downloads direct to TV sets looks a sure bet for online media success in the living room.
The only problem might be how to pay for movies rented through that channel. Typing credit card numbers in through a remote just isn't going to appeal to folk, while subscription packages won't suit everyone.
RFID the key
Over in Japan, Sony already has a possible answer in the shape of a range of new Bravia TV sets with remote controllers that can process e-cash payments.
The KDL-series Bravias will go on sale in Japan in April complete with RFID FeliCa chip readers embedded in the remotes. Thanks to the popularity of RFID cash in Japan – whether in phones or in standalone cards – the Bravia models could prove tempting.
Next steps
So far, Sony has managed to get two e-cash providers onboard, but the rest are sure to follow.
Once that happens, selling and paying for just about anything through the TV will become as natural as flipping channels.
RTR-Planeta expected to resume broadcasting in Taj
RTR-Planeta expected to resume broadcasting in Tajikistan soon
The administration of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company (VGTRK), which owns the RTR-Planeta Channel, has agreed to a 50 percent increase in the fee paid to Tajikistan’s open joint-stock company Teleradiocom for technical services, the Teleradiocom director general Suhrob Aliyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, they have received a letter from the VGTRK administration, in which they say that thy have considered Teleradiocom’s request for increasing the technical service fees by 50 percent and are ready to sign a broadcasting contract for 2009. “Today, we are sending a letter to them, asking to send the signed contract as soon as possible in order to resume broadcasting,” Aliyev said.
Teleradiocom terminated RTR-Planeta broadcasting in the country on 2 March because of lack of a broadcasting contract for this year. RTR-Planeta is an international 24-hour general channel in Russian available throughout the world via cable and satellite.
Swedish media giant announces merger of Bulgaria b
Swedish media company Modern Times Group will merge its broadcasting assets in Bulgaria into a single entity. In a press release, the company said it has reached agreement with Apace Media Plc to merge part-owned Balkan Media Group Limited into Modern Times Group subsidiary Nova Televizia. The Swedish company has owned 50% of Balkan Media, with Apace holding the remainder, since March 2007 and completed the 100% acquisition of Nova Televizia in October 2008.
“This change will substantially simplify the ownership structure of our operations in Bulgaria and is in line with our overall media house strategy,” Modern Times chief executive Hans-Holger Albrecht said.
Following the non-cash transaction, Modern Times will own 95% of the enlarged Nova Televizia group and will continue to fully consolidate the results of the combined operations, the company said, while Apace will own 5% of the merged entity.
The assets being transferred from Balkan Media include Diema, Diema Family, Diema 2 and MM channels in Bulgaria, as well as Albanian language channel ERA TV in Macedonia. Nova Televizia operates the Nova TV channel, which is Bulgaria’s second most watched television station.
France: GlobeCast launches African satellite TV se
Text of press release by Paris-based satellite network provider
GlobeCast has announced that its African DTH [direct-to-home] platform has successfully started transmissions on SES Astra’s Astra 4A (Sirius 4) satellite. African broadcaster VoxAfrica is one of the first channels to sign up for the new platform which provides sub-Saharan Africa’s widest and most powerful coverage.
VoxAfrica called on GlobeCast to provide capacity and distribution its programming to Africa. The new platform on Astra 4A, located at 5 East is the first Ku-band DTH platform with coverage over sub-Saharan Africa, providing broadcasters with the opportunity to reach households across the continent.
GlobeCast has contracted one transponder on the satellite that facilitates uplink from Europe and is compliant to distribute services to IPTV or terrestrial network head-ends.
The new platform, which is an alternative to the pay TV bouquets in sub-Saharan Africa, responds to a strong demand for free-to-air Ku-band coverage of this crucial region. Several African broadcasters are already in contact with GlobeCast to secure positions in this coveted space and extend their audience to 56 African countries.
Malaysian government ‘may pay most digital costs’
The Malaysian government has said it may be able to subsidise the bulk of the cost of switching to digital broadcasting, the New Straits Times reports.
Information Ministry Secretary-General Kamaruddin Siaraf said yesterday that viewers in Malaysia would not face the burden of paying more for digital transmissions if the government assumed responsibility for the system. “If the ministry is allowed to take the lead, we may subsidise the bulk of it, which would be the cost of replacing the transmitters.”
He was commenting on a statement by Abdul Rahman Ahmad, CEO of Malaysia’s biggest media company, Media Prima Berhad, that the industry cost of converting from analogue to digital could exceed US$270 million. Although Media Prima welcomed the proposal to switch to digital broadcasting, it expressed concern about the extra cost to the people and the industry.
Consumers are required only to purchase a set-up box to be fitted to television sets to receive digital signals once the digital system is in place in 2012. “We estimate that the set-up box will cost between RM300 (US$80) and RM500 (US$135) and that it would be a one-off purchase with no monthly charges,” Mr Kamaruddin said.
