Mobile value-added services company Handygo has launched a new application, ‘video caller’ that will enable incoming calls to a mobile phone to be accompanied by an audio-video clip.
TimesJobs.com is giving an opportunity to all employees to rate their bosses. Launched on Boss’s Day that was on October 16, the viral campaign has seen more that 300 responses already, with people nominating and voting for their bosses, accompanied by their comments. The campaign would go on throughout this month.
Consumer Internet and enterprise services company Sify Limited has changed its name to Sify Technologies Limited. This is in line with the company’s strategy to position itself as a technology company with deep expertise in IT infrastructure management.
Disney Channel plans to add fun to the Diwali festivity with its family entertainer, the unique ‘Diwali Dum Duma Dumdum’ contest. The contest will be on air during the Diwali season every evening from 5-8 pm on Disney Channel.
NDTV standalone revenues are up 46 per cent year-on-year. Revenues for Q2, FY-08 touched Rs 68 crore compared to Rs 47 crore in the same quarter last year. Operational expenditure of Rs 65.3 crore (standalone) includes costs incurred for the launch of Metro Nation Delhi.
TRAI has forwarded its recommendations today to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on various policy issues related to the Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) service. This is part of TRAI’s commitment to promote digital transmission in the cable TV segment. HITS is a satellite-based delivery platform for delivering multi-channel television signals to cable operators in digital form across the country.
Sadhna Media Pvt. Ltd would be launching the country’s first agro-rural based private television channel ‘Hariyali TV’ on October 18. The 24-hour channel would target to reach the Hindi-speaking belt mostly in the rural areas. The channel would be formally launched by Union Minister of Rural Development Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Sinha at a special ceremony.
Can the market deliver? This was one pertinent question asked at the day-long India Digital Networks Summit 2007 that was held at the Capital on October 17. Speaker after speaker at the Summit stressed on the revenue pressures on the broadcasters and suggested ways to overcome that.
The day-long India Digital Networks Summit 2007 held in the Capital on October 17 threw new light on India’s communications and entertainment industries. The Summit, in its third year, is the ultimate tool with which to navigate the digital maze on regulation, TV channel proliferation and fragmentation, CAS, DTH, broadband, investment, and expansion strategies.
Following a general body meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation has decided to honour all existing contracts that it has with advertisers. However, the cost input inflation surcharge of 25 per cent stays, which would be implemented on all the new deals. Also, the net rates would be implemented from April 1, 2008.
Mudra Group has announced the re-launch of Mudra Videotec to specialise in the area of entertainment marketing. It would be an independent entity within the Mudra Media and Content Services Group, which also includes media agency Optimum Media Solutions and specialist content production capability outfit Tantr.
Outdoor advertising agency JCDecaux, with presence in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region, has won the advertising contract for the Bangalore International Airport, which will open its doors to passengers on March 30, 2008. This exclusive contract, for a period of seven years, was secured following a competitive tender process. JCDecaux will be BIAL’s exclusive partner for all advertising inside and outside the airport, including the approach road to the airport.
Business publications see further decline in readership numbers as per the IRS 2007 Round 2 findings. The Economic Times (ET) and ‘Business Today’ continue their leadership positions in their respective segments. Interestingly, there is no change in the readership figure of ET.
Round 2 of IRS 2007 indicate that DNA has grown its readership base in Mumbai. Among the arch rivals in the Delhi market, it is seen that The Times of India continues to lead with a growth rate of 4 per cent contrary to Hindustan Times’ 1 per cent. While among the business dailies, The Economic Times continue to rule in both Delhi and Mumbai markets, Mid-Day makes it the fourth most-read paper in Mumbai after DNA.
All’s not well between the broadcasters and ad agencies with new problems emerging. The Advertising Agencies Association of India has stated that they did not agree with the net rates, as suggested by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation. The AAAI stated that net rates would amount to various problems for its members.
Even as IBF members have been clear in their meeting that they would honour existing deals and impose a cost inflation surcharge at a later date, many in the industry see this move as the IBF backing off from its surcharge proposal. Nonetheless, both ISA and AAAI state that they “welcome” this move.