18 January 2005
On 18 January Sony Europe announced the availability for download of operation manuals for the majority of its broadcast and professional products launched since 1997. Listening to customer requests for information, Sony has responded by up-loading more than 2,500 pdf files onto www.sonybiz.net, its website for broadcast, professional and business
customers. The manuals, in multiple languages, are freely accessible for
download following registration on the website.
The manuals, covering 1,780 different models, are accessible either from the relevant product information page for current models or by searching for the required product in the support section of the site. This approach allows manuals for both current and older, discontinued products to be accessed. In the broadcast industry where equipment is often hired, on-line access to manuals is most useful for customers, especially when out on location.
“Value-added content such as free access to Sony operation manuals is particularly important for pre-sales, giving potential customers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the products capabilities before committing to purchase,” commented Andy Harding, Senior Manager eBusiness Solutions, Sony Professional Solutions Europe.
18 January 2005
As reported in the UK Financial Times on 15 January, Walt Disney, the US entertainment and media group, has ousted the president of its international entertainment business in a shake-up of its channel content and distribution business.
David Hulbert, who led the international TV business for almost five years, left the company after Disney promoted two other executives and changed its reporting structure for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Anne Sweeney, co-chairman of Disneys Media Networks division, who unveiled the changes commented: This reorganisation is simply the next step in our ongoing efforts to increase effectiveness and streamline communication among our television properties in these important territories.
17 January 2005
Australias metropolitan commercial radio stations attracted advertising revenue of $556.6 million in 2004, a 14.8 per cent increase over 2003, according to new figures released on 17 January by industry body Commercial Radio Australia. The data was compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the five major capital city markets. It showed Brisbane recorded the strongest growth in advertising revenue over the 12 month period ending December 2004 (up 24 per cent), followed by Melbourne (up 18 per cent) and Perth (15 per cent). Sydney, which accounts for about 40 per cent of revenue, grew by 11 per cent and Adelaide by six per cent.
The result was the industrys strongest growth rate in many years, reflecting the buoyant advertising market, said Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia. A lot of new advertisers have been attracted to radio this year because it offers the best value of all main media in terms of reaching large audiences per advertising dollar. Were looking to build on this momentum in 2005 because radio continues to be extremely competitive, particularly when compared with some of the significant rate rises reported for other media.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers data showed strong advertising conditions continued in the month of December, with metropolitan advertising revenue for radio up by 14.7 per cent to $50.3 million, compared with December 2003. The growth rate for the six months ending December 2004 was 13.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2003.
The industry will continue to make a concerted effort in 2005 to sell the strengths of radio as an advertising medium. Its successful brand campaign which has been running for 18 months will be refreshed and kicks off on February 1 with a new batch of 45 second creative spots to be run nationally on all radio networks. The first ads will target the FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) and finance sectors, focusing on radios flexibility and emotive impact, TV ad avoidance and radios ability to reach consumers who are often too busy to read newspapers, Ms Warner said.
Ratings data shows radio increased listeners in 2004, particularly among the key 25-39 demographic in 2004.
The first radio ratings period of 2005 officially commenced this week, with survey results to be released on February 22. There will be eight surveys conducted by Nielsen Media Research during the year in each of the five mainland capital cities. The cities will be in survey for 39 weeks with over 50,000 respondents to be surveyed nationally.
17 January 2005
Many customers already restored to normal operations
Intelsat, Ltd. announced on 16 January that its IS-804 satellite experienced a sudden and unexpected electrical power system anomaly on January 14, 2005, at approximately 5:32 p.m. EST that caused the total loss of the spacecraft. In accordance with existing satellite anomaly contingency plans, Intelsat is in the process of making alternative capacity available to its IS-804 customers. The satellite, launched in 1997, furnished telecommunications and media delivery services to customers in the South Pacific. Intelsat and Lockheed Martin Corporation, the manufacturer of the satellite, are working together to identify the cause of the problem. Intelsat currently believes that there is no connection between this event and the recent IA-7 satellite anomaly as the two satellites were manufactured by two different companies and their designs are different.
A number of Intelsat-operated satellites in the region are being utilized to restore service to affected customers, and many end users of IS-804 capacity are already operating normally using replacement capacity. Intelsat has also begun working with other fleet operators where necessary to ensure the quickest possible restoration of service for customers. “The loss of a satellite is an extremely rare event for us, and our first priority must be restoration of service to our customers,” said Conny Kullman, CEO of Intelsat, Ltd. “Intelsat remains firmly committed to the region that was covered by IS-804, and all necessary effort and assets will be allocated to ensure Intelsat satellite coverage throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”
Intelsat expects to record a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $73 million to write off the value of the IS-804 satellite. The IS-804 was not insured, in accordance with Intelsat’s practice of insuring only those satellites with a net book value greater than $150 million.
Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation for the sale of Intelsat dated August 16, 2004, among Intelsat, Ltd., Intelsat (Bermuda), Ltd., Zeus Holdings Limited (Zeus Holdings), Zeus Merger One Limited and Zeus Merger Two Limited, the total loss of the IS-804 satellite gives Zeus Holdings the right to not consummate the acquisition of Intelsat. Zeus Holdings has advised Intelsat that it is evaluating the impact of the IS-804 failure.
17 January 2005
Leading satellite services company GlobeCast announced on 17 January that PlayMonteCarlo, from OpenTV subsidiary BettingCorp, has signed up to its global distribution network. Interactive gaming channel PlayMonteCarlo will be available on BSkyBs platform, uplinked via Eurobird 28.5°E from GlobeCasts Brookmans Park teleport. GlobeCast will also house the interactive servers that power PlayMonteCarlos service. The servers will be controlled via a VPN, enabling remote access from PlayMonteCarlos production centre in London.
BettingCorp vice president operations Sean Eyen said: GlobeCasts reliable and scaleable bandwidth services were the obvious choice for BettingCorp. We are excited to utilise their global footprint in order to support an expansion of our PlayMonteCarlo gaming service and other BettingCorp technology powered services on interactive televison through our growing partner network. GlobeCast is perfectly placed to help us achieve this.
PlayMonteCarlo is a fixed-odds games portal available on Channel 7 of Sky Digitals Interactive Main Menu (IMM). It is also available through the Sky Active and Sky BettingZone interactive portals. The 24-hour service offers a number of fixed-odds games such as roulette, slots, keno and dice in both play-for-fun or play-for-real-money modes.
GlobeCast head of UK channel distribution Juliet Bayliss said: Its a great start to the new year signing up a company such as BettingCorp. They are the latest in a wide range of broadcasters to choose GlobeCast for their DTH delivery requirements and it is a measure of our flexibility and range of services that they have chosen us. We now deliver more than 500 channels worldwide and many of those are looking to expand into new territories. We are well-placed to help them.
