Satellite Radio : WorldSpace India Caput Finished Dec31

WorldSpace India: Caput Finished December 31
Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia has learned that the final nail in the WorldSpace coffin may have been hammered home in India. There the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry is unlikely to proceed with a satellite radio policy. Why? Because Worldspace India has announced that it is to close its operations in the country from December 31. India was the bright spot in the worldwide network of the pioneer of satellite radio with its own network of satellites. WorldSpace, which started its service in India in the year 2000, was operating with a wink and a nod from the Indian authorities. Some 4.5 Lakh in subscribers (450,000) in India will be affected by the abrupt announcement. Worldspace India, representing 95 per cent of WorldSpace's worldwide subscriber base was financed by its United States parent company WorldSpace Inc which has been under bankruptcy protection since October 2008. I am not sure whether the India announcement is a legal move prior to its operations being taken over by another broadcast outfit - thought to be Liberty Media Corporation which is thought to be buying many of the worldwide assets of WorldSpace Inc (but not India) for just US$18 million. Such a deal is likely to include the WorldSpace satellites and their support equipment. Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia notes that there are three obviously negative outcomes from WorldSpace India's decision. - 1. Some 300 local employees located in Bangalore have lost their jobs.
- 2. The customized WorldSpace receivers may well go to waste. And,
- 3. No subscription refunds. In the WorldSpace main website, there is the announcement that says that the investor buying WorldSpace assets is not including India operations. The notice advises subscribers in India that they may have recourse to get a refund from US bankruptcy proceedings. Details....http://www.worldspace.com/index_wsmsg.html say that subscription money paid by Indian customers is not being refunded. The sums involved are likely to be too small to begin with to make it worthwhile for subscribers to follow up in another jurisdiction half way around the world.

Vietnam :: REV Boosts IT Growth At Voice of Vietnam

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News can report that as a result of deliberations at the fifth congress of the Radio and Electronics Association of Vietnam (REV) a Five Year program of advancement in IT and telecommunications has been formulated. The program is to widen the scope and effectiveness into new technology research to include more universities across Vietnam and at the grass roots level. This move is presumably to tap into bright young talent across the whole spectrum of new technologies to the benefit of the IT and broadcast infrastructure. Two specific moves bode well for the future in tightly structured Vietnam. These are: to improve the quality of training and increase international co-operation. The current chairman of the Radio and Electronics Association of Vietnam (REV) is Nguyen Van Ngo. At the congress, the deputy general director of Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), Ms Hoang Minh Nguyet, acknowledged the active contribution by professors and doctors who help VOV research and apply advanced technologies. The REV/VOV developments should be positive news if you have related business with Vietnam and Voice of Vietnam Radio and TV and state telecoms. The REV Congress opened at the National Radio Centre in Hanoi on December 12. REV's website: http://www.rev.vn Vietnam Story Source

Korea IPTV Day : 1st Anniversary Celebrated by KCC

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News notes from a Korea Communications Commission(KCC) story in the Korea IT Times publication that December 12 is named IPTV Day. The date commemorates the first anniversary of IPTV service in South Korea. At a special ceremony at the Digital Media Fair 2009 in COEX, Seoul on December 10, contributors to the development of new media were awarded prizes. Agreements were signed also on the standardization of IPTV service and for the provision of traffic information to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The event was hosted by the KCC, the Electronic Times, and Dong-a Ilbo and attended by some 300 people, including lawmakers, government officials and academics. The media and IPTV industry specialists were at the event. Diary Date :It is worthwhile noting the Korea Communications Commission plans to hold exhibitions and conferences each year around the anniversary of the launch of the IPTV service to chart the present and future course of digital media, including IPTV in South Korea. KIIT Original story here KCC Website in English

BBC Kyrgyz :: TV Team into KNTR Co-Production Pub Affairs Series

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia has learned from BBC Kyrgyz television of its new (first??) 30 minute public affairs co-produced series with KNTR - Kyrgyzstan State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company. "SAPAR" was launched on December 2, 2009 at 1630hrs on KNTR's National TV Network 1. The subject was Climate Change. The deal was co-ordinated through Head of BBC Central Asia and Caucasus Service, Hamid Ismailov and Business Development Manager, West Asia, BBC World Service, Gemma Hayman. Kyrgyz politics keep the BBC team on its toes, as it sways between the West and Russian influences. It was of course a republic in the days of the old Soviet Union. BBC Kyrgyz has a 15 year track record with KNTR, with programming output being broadcast over KNTR FM radio: 103.7 FM (Bishkek); 102.2 FM (Batken) and 106.3 FM (Kerben); and nationwide on Kyrgyz State Radio's Channel 1.  Logo above is from the BBC Kyrgyz.com web site. Kyrgyzstan uses the Cyrillic alphabet.

Digital Broadcast | Al-Arabiya Installs SSL C200 Audio Console

UK's Solid State Logic (SSL) has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) that the Middle East's Al-Arabiya satellite TV news channel in Dubai has installed the SSL C200 HD digital sound console in the technical upgrade from analog to digital audio. Al-Arabiya part of the MBC Group of companies. The C200 HD console will substantially increase the number of input channels in Al-Arabiya's main news gallery. According to an SSL news release, Basheer Saad, News Channel Audio Supervisor at the MBC Group liked the C200 HD console for its analog style layout providing nearly instantaneous access to multiple controls, important for live-on-air mixing which allows audio engineers to focus on the mix rather than staring at a waveform on a screen. Solid State Logic Area Sales Manager, Paul Lindsay, said that in the C200 HD, Al-Arabiya had chosen a robust broadcast console appropriate to their needs. Al-Arabiya satellite TV channel continues to be one of dominant free-to-air, pan-Arab, news and entertainment broadcasters, reaching more than 150 million viewers in the Arabic Diaspora worldwide.

World Cup 2010 | TVNZ and Sky Confirm Sports TV Deal

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) e-mail inbox on October 10 received the official notice that the two New Zealand rivals, pay-TV operator, SKY Television and national broadcaster, TVNZ are linking up for the third time over World Cup Soccer, this time in 2010. This will be under a programming sub-contract agreement with Australasian rights holder, SBS. The deal is split thus: SKY NZ will provide full LIVE coverage from hosts, South Africa. The coverage includes also all the FIFA events leading up to the 2010 World Cup, including the Women's Under 17 World Cup which is being hosted in New Zealand later this month (October 2008) with SKY as the "host broadcaster" for the event. Every match in the Women's Under 17s will screen live on SKY with TVNZ showing the NZ games and the final delayed. Further events include the Women's Under 20 World Cup upcoming in November (including the NZ Under 20 team), and the Men's Under 17 and Under 20 World Cup events, along with the Confederations Cup through 2009, and the Women's Under 17 and Under 20 events in 2010. The SKY NZ/TVNZ rivals trumpet the World Cup deal as ensuring comprehensive (nigh on complete) coverage for New Zealand TV viewers. TVNZ's part of the programming pie will include eleven LIVE matches on TV ONE during the 2010 World Cup, plus daily highlights from all other games.   The prized 11 live games will be The Opening Match, then 4 matches from Round 2, 2 of the 4 quarter finals, both Semi's, the Final and the runner up 3rd and 4th Place event. TVNZ coverage does not end there. The 11 Games above will be re-run on the TVNZ Sport Extra channel on the Freeview platform, as well as LIVE coverage of an additional eleven games and highlights packages from all other matches.   DBVNA can't believe it. In the world of political niceties, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke positively 'enthused' over the New Zealand deal describing TVNZ and SKY NZ as "absolute leading broadcasters in New Zealand". Actually, who else could take on World Cup in the country? The two are the only TV players anyway with the resources (Sky also owns Prime TV) in the relatively small NZ market.

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 Broadcast | Noor Dubai TV | Launches Sept 1

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) can tell you that the United Arab Emirates' largest cross platform publisher, the Arab Media Group (AMG) is launching 'Noor Dubai' a new free-to-air satellite TV channel broadcasting locally-originating programs. AMG has chosen today, September 1, the auspicious first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. "Noor Dubai" TV channel is a natural extension of AMG's popular Noor Dubai radio station on FM 93.9 MHz. Like its radio counterpart, the TV channel aims to embody the social and cultural values of the UAE Noor's unique style of presenting daily life in the country. Nahla Al Fahad, Head of Radio Television Projects, commented: "Noor Dubai has always been a popular radio station that clearly speaks to the residents of UAE, both nationals and non-nationals alike, and reflects their thoughts and concerns. We wanted to expand the base of the Noor phenomenon by bringing it to television, to give the special Noor 'feel' a face and a visual identity." DBVNA notes that Noor Dubai distribution is on Arabsat Badr 4 satellite, transponder frequency 12169 Mhz. Aside from publishing, the Arab Media Group owns and operates the FM-based, Arabian Radio Network (ARN) across the UAE, including Dubai Eye 103.8, Dubai 92, Pulse 95.3, City 1016, Hit 96.7, Noor Dubai 93.9, Al Khaleejiya 100.9 and Al Arabiya 99. Virgin Dubai, a branch of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin International brand, was added in March 2008. The Arabian Television Network (ATN), AMG's TV subsidiary operates MTV Arabia and Nickelodeon, and now Noor Dubai TV from September 1, 2008.

Bernama TV Starts Internet News Feeds

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) can report that Bernama TV, the Internet based network of Malaysia's state run news agency will launch its first live-feed Internet news channel on Sept 3, 2008. Bernama TV's Internet online feed will operate on a time delay of 2 - 3 minutes after broadcast on Bernama's news output on Astro Channel 502. The intention behind this latest addition to Bernama's website is to reach the Malaysian Diaspora around the world, especially the youth segment of the audience that is IT savvy. More importantly online users want news immediately as events unfold without delay. An official dry run for this new service was the debate recently between Malaysian Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. A huge audience of Internet users in 44 countries accessed the Bernama server to watch the televised "live" debate. Online users were located in Norway, China, South America and western countries. Bernama says that the new service is free. It will be supplemented by video-on-demand feeds for individual news stories and will be advertiser supported. DBVNA believes that Malaysia's ruling party, UMNO, is working hard to stem the loss of support from the mainstream Malay population as witnessed by the recent by-election win of Anwar Ibrahim in Penang. UMNO through Bernama TV, belatedly is recognising the reach and power of the Internet with young Malaysians.

Digital Vendor | Jampro Antennas in New Delhi Move

Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia :: Aditya Jain has joined Jampro Antennas as Regional Sales Manager for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Mr Jain will operate from New Delhi. In his position of Regional Sales Manager, he will serve existing clients and work with Jampro US headquarters in Sacramento, California to develop strategies to target emerging markets. Jain joins Jampro following a tenure as Sales/ Marketing Manager for QuantM Net Technologies in New Delhi, India, an IT Systems Integrator and IBM partner. He was previously Accounts Manager of Horizon Broadcast Electronics (HBE) in Gurgaon, India. Jain holds an EE (Electrical engineering degree) from the Birla Institute of Technology / Science. Jampro, the antenna specialist supplying RF systems worldwide for TV/DTV/FM/DVB-T and DVB-H has been providing antenna systems to the Asia-Pacific region since the early 1960's and says it today leads the way with new technologies. Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia understands that a major Jampro recent regional project was a complete upgrade of the TV antenna system for the state broadcaster - Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) providing multi-frequency, full coverage of the island nation. Jampro is in a major expansion phase, having enhanced production facilities in Sacremento in January 2008. Jampro is attending Singapore's BroadcastAsia2008: Stand # 7G1-08.