MEDIA MARKETS
|
THE CHANNEL
THE CHANNEL
|
ISSUE 1 2014
|
07
IN BRIEF
INDIA DVB-T2
For the move to digital TV by
2017, India’s Doordarshan
has chosen Harris Broadcast
to deploy a new DVB-T2
transmission infrastructure
across the country. The
Harris solution allows PSB
Doordarshan, which broad-
casts in over 40 languages,
to roll out multiple channels
serving different communities
as well as offer multiple HD
channels. The first of the
two transmission contracts
adds HD channels to digital
multiplexes in four major
metropolitan areas. The
second contract is for 19
Maxiva ULX transmitters for
digital roll-out to the regions,
initially in SD with the
potential to upgrade to HD.
TVIGLE ON PS3
Tvigle has launched its app
for Sony PlayStation 3,
bringing Russia’s biggest
library of free-to-view
licensed video content to over
1.2mPS3 consoles in Europe’s
largest online video market.
Tvigle founder/CEO Egor
Yakovlev says connected
devices are growing at an
explosive rate in Russia and
tapping into this segment is
vital for further growth. Tvigle
has 7,500 partner sites, a
unique advertising network,
and its Video Publisher
platform allows publishers
to create and monetise
video projects online.
DISCOVERY ID
XTRA
Discovery Networks is launch-
ing Discovery ID Xtra, a new
mystery and suspense channel
set to roll out in around 105
markets across Central &
Eastern Europe, Middle East
and Africa this year. Paul
Welling, SVP Head of Channels
sees increased demand and
opportunity in the market for
factual mystery and suspense
content that targets mainly
female viewers. Discovery
launched ID (Investigation
Discovery) in the US in 2012,
where the channel has risen
to the no. 7 ranked network
for women aged 25-54 years.
.
China STB outlook
The set-top box market in China
will decline to a projected
130.8m units at the end of this
year (down 12%), even though
China will continue to export
STBs in big numbers to less
developed countries, according
to IHS Inc. By 2017, China STB
shipments for both domestic
usage and exports will barely
exceed the hundred-million mark.
While regulations from
China’s central government as
well as the country’s increasing
urbanisation will continually
push up the number of TV
viewers in the state, China’s STB
market will suffer negative
growth, the victim of a maturing
space. In 2013, the domestic
cable and satellite STB
segments were affected after the
government ended financial
incentives meant to encourage
shopping among the Chinese.
Migration from analogue to
digital also slowed during the
first six months of 2013, mainly
because local governments
stung by financial cutbacks
reduced subsidies to cable TV
operators. However, to gain fresh
markets, manufacturers are
investing resources in the high-
definition STB segment, banking
on stable growth that will come
from the population migrating to
digital.
Chinese STB makers are also
keen on exporting their products
to developing countries. Here
standard-definition STBs and
low-cost HD STBs could play key
roles in penetrating export
markets due to their affordability.
The market for cable STBs is
forecast to grow to 15m and
satellite STBs to 60m in 2015.
Players seeking to gain
access to the Chinese STB
market will find it hard to enter
the tightly held space, currently
controlled by the big names in
China’s STB industry.
Eutelsat partner for Expo 2015
Eutelsat Communications has
announced that it will be the
official and exclusive satellite
partner of Expo Milano 2015
(‘Feeding the planet, energy for
life’). Eutelsat will leverage its
innovative technologies and
global footprint to support the
three key platforms of this
Universal Exhibition: the Cyber
Expo which will enable
individuals to tour the event
virtually, the ICT Ecosystem
outside the Milan site and the
Smart City inside the 1.1 square
km exhibition area.
Working in close collaboration
with Expo 2015, Eutelsat will
launch a dedicated video channel
at its popular HOT BIRD
neighbourhood that will
broadcast news, features,
country highlights and key events
from May to October 2015. Using
its global footprint and most
flexible media, broadband and
connectivity technologies,
Eutelsat will also provide turnkey
services to exhibitors, country
pavilions and broadcasters to
enable them to provide
immediate coverage with the
highest image quality to
audiences beyond Milan.
/
SES for
SIS LIVE
Leading satellite operator SES
has concluded an agreement
with SIS LIVE to provide Ka-band
capacity on ASTRA 1L located at
19.2 degrees East.
The long-term deal will
enable SIS LIVE to deliver
satellite newsgathering services
to the UK's news and content
providers ITN and ITV. SIS LIVE,
which operates the largest
outside broadcast and satellite
uplink fleet in Europe, has
become the first major SNG
organisation operating DVB and
IP services on Ka-band capacity.
Managing Director David
Meynell said that having been
heavily involved with the first
major automated service for ITV
and ITN 10 years ago his company
has a deep understanding of the
day-to-day needs of fast-moving
newsgathering organisations.
SIS LIVE delivers around 80% of
live news feeds across the UK and
also designs and manufactures
an award-winning range of
satellite and broadcast products.
