Sun Direct, a unit of Sun TV, has become the first DTH or cable operator to start transmission using next-generation HEVC compression technology in India. The company has introduced two HEVC — short for high-efficiency video codec — channels on its GSAT-15 beams. HEVC, also known as H.265, requires only 55%-60% of the bandwidth compared […]
India’s oldest English television news broadcaster NDTV officially denied that it has been sold to Ajay Singh, the promoter of SpiceJet. “We wish to inform you that the promoters of the Company have not entered into any agreement for sale of their stake in the Company to any person,” NDTV Ltd said in an official […]
The National Stock Exchange has again sought a clarification from NDTV after the Indian Express reported that SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh was now the biggest shareholder in the media company. UPDATE: NDTV has denied the rumors. According to the newspaper, Singh has acquired a 60% stake in the media company, restricting existing promoters led by […]
Balaji Telefilms will make its digital content available Vodafone’s Play multimedia app, the telecom operator said. Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO – ALTBalaji said the aim of his company was to make the content more widely available. “Our content caters to the Indian language, urban mass audience and is targeted at the 18-35 years demographic. The early […]
In one of the biggest film acquisitions in recent times, NFAI has added 162 films to its collection. The entire collection came from Famous Cine Laboratory in Mumbai. NFAI or the National Film Archive of India is aimed at preserving Indian film heritage. “We thank them for depositing these films at NFAI,” said Prakash Magdum, […]
Shares of New Delhi Television Ltd spiked another 10% today to Rs 62.40, prompting the BSE to write to the company to seek clarification on any undisclosed development. With this, the total gain in NDTV shares in the last four days is 76%. The company, however, said it was not aware of any development that […]
Star India, part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, has won the rights to broadcast Indian Premier League matches for the next five years, edging out Sony India. The company bid Rs 16,347 cr for the privilege, edging out other groups such as Discovery. This comes to about Rs 3,250 cr per season and Rs 54 […]
Dish TV, one of India’s biggest DTH operators, has slashed the rates of HD and standard-definition channels to Rs 17 and Rs 8.50 each, plus a tax of 18%. Together, the cost of a single HD channel would come to around Rs 20 and that for a regular channel will come to Rs 10. The […]
Tens of thousands of five-star ratings given to Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV mysteriously disappeared over night, pushing the rating on the channel’s official page to a low of 2.1 stars out of 5.0. It is not clear why the ratings were removed. Over the last three days, the channel has come under a ‘rating attack’ […]
Vodafone India said it tied up with Discovery Communications to offer 12 of its channels on its ‘Play’ app. These channels include Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery HD World, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Kids, Investigation Discovery (ID), Animal Planet HD World, TLC HD World, Discovery Tamil and sports channel DSPORT. “Vodafone Play is […]
Smriti Irani, who recently took on the role of the union minister for information and broadcasting has started off with a bang by alleging that the country’s largest news wire distributed photo Chennai floods claiming them to be those of the floods in Gujarat. Unlike her predecessors, who would bring such matters to attention through […]
NDTV, the oldest television news channel in India, was forced to withdraw a headline that portrayed gang violence in Dhule in Maharashtra as yet another case of ‘lynching’ in India after readers objected. Many commenters felt that the channel, which has been attempting to project itself as ‘Liberal’ outfit standing up to a ‘right wing’ […]
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp announced yet another acquisition in India with the agreement to purchase Bangalore-based GyanMatrix Services Private Limited. The company, which provides software solutions for media and publishing companies, will be renamed News Technology Services, and be significantly scaled up. The News Corp team came in touch with the Gyan Matrix as part […]
Social network Facebook said it has tied up with the Election Commission of India to remind Indians to register themselves to vote. “Starting from 1st July till 4th July, the voter registration reminder will be sent to people on Facebook in India who are eligible to vote,” Facebook said, on a day when the company […]
Content app ALTBalaji said it has signed on with Opera TV, a platform that powers smart TVs, DVD players and other instruments. “All Smart TVs, Blu-ray disc players and Set-top boxes powered by Opera TV will provide instant access to over 250 hours of original content from ALTBalaji. Simultaneously, ALTBalaji Subscribers will now be able […]
PVR, India’s largest multiplex chain, said it opened its 127th property at Grand Galada Centre Mall in Chennai. The facility will have five screens and is equipped with 2K projection, 7.1 Digital Dolby surround sound and Dolby ATMOS. The screens also support 3-D, the company said. With this, the company now operates 584 screens in […]
ALTBalaji, the video app from Indian film and television content producer Balaji Telefilms, has joined the Amazon Fire TV platform, joining around 5,200 apps already on the platform. The e-retailer launched its video device in India two months ago at Rs 3,999 — slightly costlier than the competing product from Google, Chromecast. Both these devices […]
Den Networks said it sold its home shopping channel to Pimex Broadcast Private Limited based in Noida. Den entered the business under a joint venture with Jasper Infotech, the holding company of e-commerce firm Snapdeal.com, two years ago. “The name of DEN and Snap deal will be dropped off from the branding,” said the cable […]
Sun Direct, the DTH arm of Sun TV, could end up benefiting from the financial troubles faced by Anil Ambani Group’s Reliance Communications. Speaking to media yesterday, Reliance Communications top honchos said the company was looking at various ways to reduce debt, including a sale of its DTH business. However, DTH services are notoriously difficult […]
After Zee Entertainment, it is the turn of Sun TV to slash its channel prices with effect from Sept 1 in anticipation of the implementation of new channel pricing rules by TRAI. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had, three months ago, announced that media companies and cable and DTH companies will no longer be […]
