PRC Research on Cable Platform Shows IP Driven Growth in Domestic Demand

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) has learnt that latest IP research in the People's Republic of China (PRC) shows that demand for new TV services on its cable platform is driving increased replacement of standard definition (SD) "1-way set-top boxes" with high definition (HD) "cable+IP 2-way set-top boxes".
Authors of an upcoming report, IMS Research predicts that more than half of cable set-top boxes (STB's) produced for the Chinese PRC domestic market by the end of 2011 will be in HD as a result of government initiatives and increased competition with other platforms.
Recent directives by the Beijing Central Government for cable TV operators to converge voice and video networks has resulted in a boom for cable operators with the IP upgrades.
The IMS Research news release to Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) stated that in some urban areas, 2-way cable networks utilize last mile IP and use cable set-top boxes with an IP back channel. In general, in major urban areas such as Shanghai and Beijing, cable operators compete with IPTV services where the current business model lacks HD content and high bandwidth, and it is hoped that greater availability of HD content and a “catch-up TV” mentality will encourage further digitization and customer retention. “Conversion of China’s cable infrastructure to 2-way, IP-based, HD-capable networks will occur gradually over many years,” emphasizes analyst IMS Research, Anna Maxbauer, co-author of an upcoming report: The World Market for Digital Set-top Boxes & iDTVs – 2010 Edition. Ms Maxbauer noted that the costs of infrastructure and equipment upgrades will likely fall to operators and the government. Why? Because: "most consumers are interested in new features but are unwilling to pay extra for them,” she says. DBVNA does not have a business connection nor paid by IMS Research, which is a UK-based research house and a consultancy for a wide range of global electronics markets with offices in Austin, Texas and Shanghai, China. The PRC research above was issued from IMS Research in Austin, Texas.

Digital TV | Promo Media Helps Al Aan Dubai in Pan Arab Expansion

Zoya Sakr, Head of Sales and Marketing at Al Aan TV, Dubai (left)has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) that Promo Media of Beirut has been appointed Al Aan's on-air advertising and marketing representative for Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Sakr see this as a pan-Arab springboard in the fast growing satellite TV arena. Awareness levels of the Al Aan TV channel have increased remarkably in the region since its establishment in 2006. Imad Jomaa, Chairman of Promo Media said “viewers showed a markedly high preference for Al Aan TV content, with programs offering original programming presented in an innovative infotainment format. We are confident of representing the channel as this will lead certainly to mutual success”. Al Aan's content is based on constant research to identify and respond to the changing desires of the regional audience. The unique infotainment format is a first for the region. It means the viewer can benefit from the daily contact with the channel resulting in a pleasurable viewing experience. A recent study by Market Research firm, Ipsos showed that viewership of the channel has increased 80% from last year. DBVNA notes that Al Aan TV is a pan-Arab satellite TV broadcaster based in Dubai Media City. Distribution is by Arabsat or Nilesat. Al Aan targets the needs and aspirations of a young, dynamic and modern family audience with emphasis on the female viewer segment which shows strong support to the channel's programming approach. Al Aan TV website is in Arabic with a boiler plate page in English.

Digital Broadcasters | Japan Mobile ISDB-T Sales Off Y-O-Y

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia(DBVNA) notes that in Japan, mobile hand device sales to end users are on the slide. 1Q/2008 sales dropped to 13.2 million units a decrease of 10.1 per cent year-on-year, according to a report by Gartner, Inc (NYSE:IT) research findings. "There were no new phone features in the first quarter of 2008 that were strong enough to drive growth, unlike the first quarter of 2007. During that period a music player function was introduced as was an embedded digital broadcasting terrestrial ISDB-T tuner. These benefits persuaded users to replace their devices," said Nahoko Mitsuyama, principal analyst for mobile communications research at Gartner, based in Tokyo. The ISDB-T (HDTV type) Tuner contained integrated services. "The proportion of WCDMA devices sold in Japan decreased from 63.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2007 to less than 30 per cent in the first quarter of 2008. Conversely, the proportion of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) devices rose sharply from 1.9 per cent to more than 35 per cent in the same period," Mr Mitsuyama added. 1Q/2008 Asia Pacific Mobile Device Sales Up 26.6% Y-o-Y. Overall in Asia-Pacific though in 1Q/2008 sales remained bouyant. Some 114.4 million mobile devices were sold in the region. This represented a 26.6 per cent increase over the first quarter of 2007. India remained a high-growth market, and South Korea became a high growth market as well during the quarter, as consumers upgraded their handsets before the new extended contracts are put in place by operators in the second quarter of 2008. "Growth in Asia-Pacific was driven by a high number of new subscribers, lower-priced phones based on wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) technology, as well as low-cost global system for mobile communications (GSM) phones and ultra-low-cost CDMA devices," said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst for mobile terminals at Gartner, based in Mumbai, India. The data Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia(DBVNA) shows here is taken from the latest report by Gartner Inc (NYSE: IT). "Dataquest Insight: Market Share for Mobile Devices, 1Q08"is available at www.gartner.com.

Digital Radio Australia Trials DAB+ For First Time

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) was informed today that following other Australian digital radio systems trials, terrestrial broadcasters started the technical trials using DAB+ technology in Sydney, NSW. The test is using upgraded multiplexers from digital broadcast vendors: Factum and Radioscape (the "MAP250" and "fusion, version 6" respectively). Testing is to focus on the critical bit rates as applied to speech programming and jazz and pop music. Of the move, Joan Warner, CEO of industry trade body, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) said that this is the first fully compliant high power broadcast of digital radio using DAB+ technology anywhere in the world. Ms Warner added that the test will send a very strong signal to the major radio receiver manufacturers that Australia is committed to launching digital radio using DAB+ and we will need a broad range of DAB+ digital radios in the market in time for our launch.” A number of radio vendors have indicated they will have DAB+ receiver products ready for overseas retail sale before Christmas 2007 according to CRA. In Australia, digital radio services will officially launch in January 2009 in the six capital cities Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and expect consumers will want to access the digital broadcast services with not only digital receivers, but by mobile handphones and mp3 devices also. The DAB+ test is being coordinated by Commercial Radio Australia on behalf of commercial radio stations and public broadcasters, the ABC and SBS. DBVNA understands that Australia heads up a new DAB+ task force set up by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union - the ABU. Other task force members include Brunei, New Zealand and Singapore digital broadcasters. Ms Warner, representing Australia, heads the DAB+ task force, which is to encourage the take up of DAB+ within the region and the development of a wide range of low cost DAB+ receivers in diverse broadcast environments such as in China, India, Kuwait and Russia.

DBVNA :: TVNZ Charter Renewal - Good News For DTV Vendors

This Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) message is directed at those involved in New Zealand's broadcast TV technology sector both at the individual company level as well as at the TV industry grouping level - to the opportunity for you to influence the digital direction of Television New Zealand (TVNZ). The reason is that it is now review time of the Television New Zealand charter as the country's national broadcaster. This takes place every 5 years. TVNZ faces the expansion of digital, responding to the changing needs of broadcaster - consumer/viewer interaction. Here is your opportunity to influence the choices and technology standards adopted by TVNZ as it moves into digital diversification both in digital delivery and content origination systems. The TVNZ says in its remit for Charter renewal: "of the 'high standards' it wishes to maintain in all areas. At the same time it intends to play a leading role in New Zealand television by setting standards of program quality and encouraging "creative risk-taking and experiment". I interpret that to mean that risks in content will require the need to have the technology available to support content experimentation. This is where manufacturers across all production and distribution areas can put to TVNZ's Engineering management proposals to make proprietary systems the preferred choice of TVNZ. There is no better time than at Charter renewal time when the corporation has to be legally open to new ideas and thinking in pursuit it license renewal - that is what the Charter review is all about. A TVNZ press announcement of earlier in July stated that the process for reviewing the TVNZ Charter is governed by the Television New Zealand Act 2003 which says the Charter must be reviewed every five years by Parliament. In preparation for the statutory review, TVNZ wishes to present the Minister of Broadcasting with a suggested redraft with the public's views on it. The way TVNZ wants to move forward and its proposals are presented online at http://www.tvnz.co.nz , use keyword: Charter Redraft. While the heightened publicity with advertisements on TV One and TV2 flagship channels of TVNZ are directed at a month long public debate, the actual TVNZ submission will not be made until later in the year to the Minister of Broadcasting. I suggest to you as a digital TV manufacturer or distributor, to consider making your move now to connect with TVNZ Engineering and push your case for them to adopt your new digital technology. Remember, that TVNZ will launch new digital channels later this year and early next with TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7 and increasingly in future years through TVNZ ondemand, the TVNZ website and other media devices. If you are involved in the audio - radio side of the industry, you will be aware of the process that Radio New Zealand went through in its recent Broadcast Charter renewal. TVNZ informed DVBNA that it was following the process Radio New Zealand adopted for its Charter review. To recap, there are two areas that caught the attention of DBVNA in the TVNZ management proposals that give a guide as to new technology requirements as TVNZ moves ahead in the digital TV arena: Innovation and Development of New Zealand talent, as set out as follows: - TVNZ to promote innovation, risk taking and creativity to extend the range of ideas and experiences available to New Zealanders by creative risk-taking and experimentation. Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point: - TVNZ to support and promote the talents and creative resources of New Zealanders and of the independent New Zealand film and television industry. The emphasis on the contribution on a greater contribution from the commissioning of outside production work.

Digital Broadcasters | Perth | New Radio Licenses

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has advised Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) that it is calling for local non-profit organisations to apply for two community radio station licenses up for grabs in the Perth, Western Australia marketplace. Deadline is August 16, 2007. The two FM frequencies being offered are 100.9 MHz and 90.5 MHz. 100.9 MHz became available after the ACMA cancelled the licence held by the Western Australian Aboriginal Media Association - WAAMA for breaches of its licence conditions. 90.5 MHz is currently shared by several groups on a temporary basis. Perth and neighbouring Fremantle with a population of over 1.5 million is a radio broadcast market with some 30+ radio stations. Most are commercial including horce racing, ethnic, Aboriginal news and tourist radio. A handful of community stations are operating already in Fremantle or Perth, including 89.7 Twin Cities FM, RTR-FM and Radio Fremantle. Tags: