4 October 2004
Asian pay TV growth, video piracy, opportunities from China and the roll-out of 3G services will top the agenda when the regions leading broadcasters and satellite and cable operators meet this year at the annual CASBAA Convention in Hong Kong from October 27-29.
This is a great time for the regions cable and satellite broadcasters to come together, with massive opportunities opening up in China and from the genuine convergence of broadband and wireless technologies, said Marcel Fenez, Chairman of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA).
The CASBAA Convention 2004 will hear from senior broadcast and studio executives, specialists on technology, and regulation and industry leaders from growing markets such as China, Korea and India. Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA, said this years line-up of speakers and topics goes well beyond the pay TVs industry traditional boundaries. With the focus on the key areas of advertising, technology and the China market, we examine some of the central issues of the day, Mr Twiston Davies said. The conference is all about approaching the new convergence technologies as platforms for delivery of multi-channel content. He said the event has also extended into vertical markets such as wireless and multimedia content which are becoming increasingly important to Asian pay TV operators and content owners.
The CASBAA Convention 2004 will be held at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from October 27-29.
1 October 2004
The BBC has completed the procurement for a 10-year Technology Framework Contract (TFC) with Siemens Business Services worth almost £2billion. As part of the landmark deal, Siemens Business Services has acquired BBC Technology Ltd, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Led by Tom White, Managing Director, Siemens Business Services, BBC Technology will be renamed Siemens Business Services Media Holdings Ltd.
The BBC has received approval for the sale from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and approval from the BBC Governors for both the procurement and the sale.
The two-part deal covering both contract and acquisition the first of its kind in the media industry means Siemens Business Services will work closely with BBC Technology Direction, the department responsible for the BBCs technology strategy and development, to deliver the BBCs technology services across the whole corporation for the next 10 years. The BBC expects to save around £30m per annum over the life of the contract.
John Smith, Chief Operating Officer, BBC commented: This deal marries both our legendary broadcasting experience in making great programmes with the resource and expertise of a global IT player ensuring the BBC can achieve its Building Public Value vision to secure our digital future.
The value and substantial savings created from the sale of BBC Technology and this procurement of our technology services is a significant step for us in ensuring the BBC is fit for the future and continues to create innovative programmes.
As part of the deal, Siemens Business Services will also provide the skills, expertise and investment to support the BBCs technology vision. This vision aims to put creative tools on desktop computers in the BBC by the end of the decade, enabling a revolutionary approach to programme making in a digital Britain.
John Varney, Chief Technology Officer, BBC said: The deal with Siemens Business Services is significant for the BBC as we enter a new phase in the way we work and operate. Technology is vital to the BBCs future and in ensuring we build public value in everything we do. We look forward to developing our relationship with Siemens Business Services to meet our technology vision over the next decade.
29 September 2004
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29 September 2004
SES ASTRA and 1-2-3.TV GmbH have announced the launch of a new concept in home shopping. On 1-2-3.TV, it is the customers who decide the price of each product by making an offer for each item by telephone. If that offer is one of the highest received for the items being presented, the purchase then takes place.
Managing Director Dr. Andreas Büchelhofer explains, “1-2-3.TV is the first of a new generation of home shopping services and as it is the customer themselves who determine what they pay for an item, they have the opportunity to buy items at very favourable prices indeed. We can afford to do this, as we exercise strict cost controls in all areas and are achieving even greater efficiencies in all our divisions – from purchasing to production to administration – than had ever been possible before.”
Alexander Oudendijk, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing at SES ASTRA, believes that this innovative TV format is a welcome new addition to ASTRA: “1-2-3.TV has filled yet another niche within the range of free-to-air television channels we offer, further enhancing the attractiveness of satellite television in the eyes of the public. We are hoping that this unique new service will achieve the same degree of success as that enjoyed by internet-based auction houses. ”
The new channel is available throughout Europe via ASTRA 19.2° East (transponder 47; downlink frequency 11170.75 MHz; horizontal polarisation) and in digital (frequency 12.46050 GHz; horizontal polarisation, symbol rate 27.5; FEC 3/4).
About 1-2-3.TV GmbH:
The companys registered offices are located in Unterföhring near Munich. In addition to managing directors Dr. Andreas Büchelhofer and Henning Schnepper, the company’s shareholders include the venture capital companies Wellington Partners, 3i, Target Partners and Cuneo AG. Managing Director Henning Schnepper explains: “With its financing package of up to EUR 20 million, 1-2-3.TV GmbH is the first media company to be set up with major venture capital backing since the end of the New Market here in Germany. Working together with our partners, we have been successful both in developing the concept for our new channel and in agreeing the financial backing for the project.” 1-2-3.TV GmbH is hoping to break even in its third financial year, by which time it expects to have achieved approximately half a million registered customers.
29 September 2004
Establishing a significant media asset management initiative, Buena Vista Television, part of The Walt Disney Company, has entered into a long-term contract with Teletrax, a subsidiary of Medialink Worldwide Incorporated.
This agreement marks the first time a digital rights management service has been charged with helping administer such a diverse portfolio of content including live, syndication, network and cable programming.
The Teletrax service holds vast potential to help content providers such as motion picture studios, TV sports and entertainment program producers and distributors, news organizations and advertisers unlock greater benefits from their video assets.
“We’re delighted that Buena Vista Television has adopted the Teletrax service, enabling them to make swift and informed decisions and exercise control over their highly valuable television portfolio,” said Andy Nobbs, managing director of Teletrax.
Buena Vista Television has joined the growing list of leading entertainment, news and media organizations that have contracted with Teletrax, both in the United States exclusively or globally. These include: Tribune Entertainment, Universal Domestic Television, Reuters Television, ABC Affiliate Promotions, NBC News Channel, Medialink and Australian-based Media Review International. A number of other entertainment, news and media companies are also currently testing the Teletrax service.
29 September 2004
Radio New Zealand has signed a contract with Thales for a new digital capable (DRM) short-wave transmitter for its international broadcaster Radio New Zealand International (RNZI). The new 100 kW short-wave transmitter will be operational in early 2006.
RNZI’s current analogue short-wave transmitter (also from Thales) is nearing the end of its serviceable life. The new Thales transmitter will work alongside it and then replace it completely as RNZI’s transmission mode into the Pacific.
Radio New Zealand Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Peter Cavanagh says the decision to purchase from Thales recognizes the very significant contribution the company has made towards the DRM system. They have the largest number of transmitters in service carrying a DRM signal and they offer an excellent product.
The contract follows an announcement earlier this year by the New Zealand Government about a funding boost for RNZI to move to digital short-wave technology. RNZI Manager Linden Clark says DRM offers an ideal solution for a service like RNZI. The new transmitter will transmit a digital (DRM) signal for rebroadcast across the Pacific on our 14 Pacific partner radio stations. The current analogue transmitter will continue to deliver an analogue short-wave signal to individual Pacific listeners.
RNZI is New Zealand’s international broadcaster, on air 24 hours a day with a service to the Pacific which reaches from Papua New Guinea in the west to French Polynesia in the east and covers all the Pacific region in-between. While broadcasting mainly in English, RNZI also carries news in Pacific languages, making it one of the most listened to, and respected, stations in the Pacific. The service was set up in 1990 with one analogue short-wave transmitter.
Peter Cavanagh says the new transmitter secures the future of what has become a vitally important service for the people of the Pacific region. Radio New Zealand International plays a significant part in increasing an understanding and awareness of New Zealands role in the Pacific.
