NDTV imagine A Channel for 6 to 60

On, November 14, 2007 NDTV Imagine Ltd. announced the launch of its Hindi general entertainment channel. With an engrossing line-up of fresh and distinctive programming, the channel, also christened NDTV Imagine will go on air in January 2008 and is targeted at the entire television viewing audiences, from 6 to 60 across all demographics. The channel will offer programming across genres, ranging from light-hearted family soaps to period dramas and from high voltage music and dance entertainers to the most glamorous events in the entertainment business.

NDTV Imagine is spearheaded by Sameer Nair, a seasoned media professional with over 20 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry. The management team is further strengthened by experienced professionals from the media business, which include Shailja Kejriwal, EVP- Content; Harsh Rohatgi, EVP- Revenue Management and New Ventures; Manoj Vidwans, EVP- Marketing, Research and Communication; Gaurav Gandhi, EVP- Business Operations and Ancillary Revenues and Kuljeet Singh, EVP- Broadcast Services and Facilities. The multi-faceted film director Karan Johar is a creative consultant and brand ambassador to this initiative. 

Broadband Recommendations

Slow growth of broadband is a serious concern. In spite of good growth potential for broadband, the slow growth requires in depth analysis of all impediments and discussions on various options to boost broadband.

After doing an indepth study TRAI has submitted the broadband recommendations to the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication. A summary of these recommendation is given below:- 

December 2007

Saturday, December 01, 2007 -- 53 foreign TV channels including BBC, CNN, Discovery and National Geographic asked to get mandatory clearance from the ministry of Home Affairs by 31 December.

Lagging The Target

Year end has come and the "Year of Broadband" has not proved to be so. The broadband penetration has only reached 2.7million from 2 million last year, an increase of 35 %. But we have a target of 20 million to be accomplished by 2010.1 feel it is our policies that are to be blamed. Unless it is a concerted effort on the part of our government to sincerely follow the recommendations of the regulator and also make such policies that may unleash all our resources, it will not be enough. Our land lines(ADSL) are not adequate for broadband .We are banking too much on wireless which is still far away as the spectrum issue has not been resolved yet. Mobile has not gone beyond 144kbps in providing broadband. This way TRAI's recommendations to the government will not have any meaning.

We are still failing to understand the potential of cable networks in carrying broadband. So far they have the highest bandwidth carrying capacity. We only have to harness this resource and find ways and means to consolidate it through proper guidelines and policies. 

IPTV is another non starter. Since last eighteen months our telcos are tying to create a hype to sell the product but it is still much short of consumer expectations .Only announcements do not create a market. Content and delivery, both are lacking in the implementation.

On the broadcasting front the TRAI order for fixing tariff in non-CAS areas from 1st December 2007 has met with its first hurdle as broadcasters have challenged it in TDSAT. None of the pay channel broadcasters have announced their a-la-carte rates as directed by TRAI. Even the Broadcast Bill which the I&B Minister had assured to be presented in the winter session has once again been deferred due to lack of response from the broadcasters Inspite of a slow progress in digitalization of cable networks, there is no end in the launching of new channels .Not only this, the channels are being launched in bunches (bouquets).There are already about 300 Channels allowed to down link in India. INX, BAG Television, TV18, UTV are some big names but there are many smaller ones waiting for registration. 

I wonder how will our analog cable systems carry it all. Sure, this is going to bring a hike in carriage fee but what about survival? 

We have introduced two new columns in this issue; Gadgets for Executives and programmes on the channels hope our viewers like it. Feedbacks are appreciated. 

With this we wish all readers a very happy and prosperous new year and hope many of us can fulfill their dreams and hopes in the coming year. 

—— Lt. Col. (Retd.) K K Sharma

Editor

Source: http://cablequest.org/articles/editorials/item/1821-lagging-the-target.html

Source: http://cablequest.org/articles/editorials/item/1821-lagging-the-target.html

Software-Based Master Control & Playout Solution DREAM OR REALITY?

As IT and consumer technology make increasing advances into the broadcast production environment, an area which still remains largely hardware-dependent is the transmission suites themselves. The production and delivery of a moderately complex television channel may involve a dozen or more discrete hardware components linked together by an automation system. 

With the continued emergence of new platforms and distribution channels, the costs associated with this conventional approach are a considerable barrier to entry into the broadcast market for new players. Furthermore, the industry is seeing an increased demand from new and emerging markets for less complex solutions. 

All About Set-Top-Box

“Tremendous revenue opportunities exist in driving interactivity between the 60 million digital set-top boxes, 175 million personal computers and 210 million mobile phones in the U.S...” said Michael Rivkin, CEO, Develop-On-Box, parent company of Zodiac Gaming. (April, 2006)

November 2007

Thursday, November 1, 2007 -- 3 TV journalists sustain injuries when a ruling JD(U) MLA Anant Singh and 4 of his associates hit them with stones, rifles, stick and butts.