ND'S technology to support MYtv


November 23, 2009 11.17




MYtv, the Israeli-backed DTH platform serving Ukraine, is to launch the region’s first personal video recorder service when it enters full programme service before the end of the year.


MYtv will use the ND'S XTV technology for its PVR and has also selected the MediaHighway middleware and video gard conditional access. Although initial broadcasts will be in SD, the Kaon-manufactured receivers will be HD capable.


“We aim to become the consumer’s first choice in entertainment and information by using the best available TV technology to enhance the television viewing experience,” said Albert Feldman, general director of MYtv. “We chose to partner with nd's because nd's has the technology, experience and market understanding to help us reach our goal.”


Start-up transmissions in MPEG-4/DVB-S2 are already underway on Thor 3 and will move to Intelsat-owned capacity on the recently launched Thor 6 within the next few weeks.




















Eutelsat hands out 14 Hot Bird Awards


November 23, 2009 10.34


CCTV’s International English channel CCTV-9, Sky News TG24 (Italy) and Yes Italia were amongst the winners at the Hot Bird TV awards, which were handed out at a festive ceremony in Venice, Italy, where more than 150 TV channels from over 20 countries gathered for the occasion.


CCTV-9 won the Eutelsat Special Award for its innovation in programme production and arrangement, as well as its introduction and promotion of China to the world. Yes Italia, a new channel from public broadcaster RAI, won a prize in the ‘National Window’ section, while the Italian Sky news channel TG24 was awarded the ‘Excellence award’. A special ‘Viewers choice’ prize went to Duna TV of Hungary. Duna TV previously won the award in 2006 and 2008, and by winning it for the third time has set a new record.


In the various thematic categories, the winners were: Best HD channel: HD Suisse; Best children’s channel: TeleNyanya (TV Nanny), Russia; Best cinema channel: Wojna i Pokój TV, Poland; Best cultural channel: Zakon TV, Russia; Best documentary channel: Vremya, Russia; Best fiction channel: M-Net Action, South Africa; Best lifestyle channel: Body In Balance, Germany; Best music channel: Trace Topical, France;Best news channel: BBC Persian and Best sports channel: Sky Sport 24.


The event was created by Eutelsat in 1998 and is a recognition for channels broadcasting via its satellites. The objective of the competition is to highlight quality thematic television production and new concepts that capture audience attention and enrich the viewing experience.










Roku Plugs 'Channel Store' Into Internet Set-Top

Roku is cracking open access to its Internet set-top device to third-party content providers -- adding 10 partners to its "Channel Store" this week -- as the company takes a page from Apple's iPhone App Store.
The Roku player, launched in May 2008, initially provided access only to Netflix's streaming-video service. Since then it has added access to video downloads from Amazon.com and MLB.tv's out-of-market Internet TV service.
Now Roku is introducing the Channel Store and the 10 new free channels: Blip.tv, Facebook Photos, Flickr, FrameChannel, Mediafly, MobileTribe, Motionbox, Pandora, Revision3 and TWiT. The Channel Store feature allows users to customize which channels they want to see on their menu.

Roku CEO Anthony Wood said the Channel Store strategy "will open new customer-acquisition avenues" with a wider array of content offerings. "Because we have created an open platform for development, customers can expect even more new content channels in the near future," he added.

The company in the next six weeks will publish a Web-based software development kit (SDK) for any content provider to create a Roku "channel," according to director of corporate communications Brian Jaquet. He said there isn't a fee to add a channel to the Roku service but added that the company reserves the right to approve all channels (the way Apple does for its App Store).
"We are a gatekeeper in the sense that we want to make sure it works, and that you have the rights to the content," Jaquet said. "If you want to put up South Park, you better be Viacom or someone else who the distribution rights to that."
Roku's Channel Store supports different business models, according to the company, including subscriptions (like MLB.tv and Netflix), pay-per-view or download-to-own (like Amazon.com) and ad-supported content.

Boxee is another startup developing an open Internet TV set-top platform. While Boxee's service has been entirely software-based to date, it's planning to offer its own set-tops in the future and the company has likened its strategy to the Apple App Store.

Roku has sold fewer than 1 million set-tops to date; Jaquet said only that it has "hundreds of thousands of customers."

The company offers three models: a $79.99 standard-definition-only box with composite output and 802.11b/g wireless; a $99.99 version with HD outputs and 802.11b/g; and the $129.99 "HD XR" unit that includes 802.11n and a USB port.
Netflix had hired Wood, founder of DVR startup ReplayTV, in 2007 to create an Internet set-top for streaming videos to the TV. Subsequently the video-rental company scrapped that idea and decided on a partnership strategy, whereupon Wood returned to Roku.
Privately held Roku's investors include Wood, Netflix and venture-capital firm Menlo Ventures. The company is based in Saratoga, Calif.
The Roku players are available to order from the company's Web site as well as Amazon.com. In addition to digital video players, Roku also sells a line of Internet radio line called SoundBridge.









PCI Geomatics Initiates Crucial Conversations In Denmark.


PCI Geomatics informed that the National Survey and Cadastre in Denmark (KMS), has selected GeoConference software to assist with the planning, monitoring, and coordination of land security and environmental activities.
GeoConference is a live geospatial meeting system that operates via the internet, and allows users to share maps, imagery and data simultaneously and interactively in real-time.
KMS has used and evaluated GeoConference for exercises related to oil spills at sea as well as security events that involved multiple agencies within Denmark. The National Survey and Cadastre’s vision is to deliver Denmark’s public sector, private companies and general public with accurate and updated geographic information about the territories and waters of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Since 2002, the National Survey and Cadastre has been responsible for Denmark’s national geographic infrastructure. The country is moving towards the implementation of a broad eGovernment strategy in which geodata will serve a central role.











Channel 4 kills 3D

It’s been a great week for TV viewing in the UK, at least if you like novelty glasses and you’re the sort with a hankering for 55 year old footage of the Queen’s Coronation, or a so bad, it’s still bad Frankenstein movie.
Yes, it’s been all about 3D TV this week, with Channel 4 supplementing some of its usual fare of teen sex and house-buying with some of the highlights of the 3D TV genre.

Apparently, there aren’t many highlights of the 3D TV genre. Channel 4’s contribution to the latest development in TV would appear to have been secretly funded by the hitherto underground 2D TV rebellion, so poverty stricken is its offering.
At IBC in Amsterdam this last September, broadcast service providers like nd's were showcasing their 3D efforts with content such as U2 concert footage or the 2008 Superbowl.

Not so in the UK, where Channel 4’s audiences were offered 3D viewings of the Paul O’Grady chat show, Her Majesty the Queen’s 1954 Coronation Year, Paul Morrissey’s Warholian excess-all-areas Flesh for Frankenstein movie, some magicians doing some magic and a collection of the ‘Greatest Ever 3D Moments,” which excluded the earlier offerings due to the fact they weren’t great, ever.
The glasses, with which Channel 4 viewers were to witness these epoch-ending programmes, were provided by UK retail giant Sainsbury’s, which has now unluckily hitched its brand to the lamest of ducks. One can imagine Sainsbury’s marketing juniors forced to shovel thousands of pairs of 3D glasses into an illegal landfill dump somewhere in the English countryside.
3D TV has enough problems without Channel 4 sabotaging its chances with an offering so feeble it really does seem as though the Channel has it in for the Third Dimension, based on some Dan Brown/Vatican/Freemason conspiracy.

Going back to nd's, they’re being properly careful about the 3D model. Judging by the superb sample content, the technology is more than capable of providing an arresting 3D experience, with a resounding “wow” factor.

However, nd's developers are trying to work out the potential psycho-physiological effects of watching 3D TV. For example, will prolonged 3D viewing cause any eyestrain, or headaches, or a fearful desire to jump behind the sofa when that Big Crown is brought down on the Queen’s Nice Hair

And of course, there is the debate surrounding a 3D standard. Britain’s Royal National Institute for the Blind contends 3D programmes should always have a 2D option, the 2D-Plus format.

The RNIB is concerned that people with visual impairment may experience hazards such as motion sickness, eye fatigue and even photosensitive seizures from “full” 3D pictures. ITV is one broadcaster that supports this move. If pursued into a standard, this 2D-Plus format may require new set-top boxes.
The European Broadcasting Union supports such an initiative, even going so far as to propose on-screen public warnings about the possible side effects of watching 3D for long periods.
However, BSkyB leads another strand of opinion, which believes there is no need for a new standard, let alone any special advice to the public. Sky’s option would work through existing HD set-top boxes.

Standards and seizures aside, the 3D debate also goes to the bottom line. How do you get a return on the massive investment required Technology manufacturers are happily at the front of the ROI queue, but channels are chafing at the back. In an always-bearish advertising market they won’t be able to charge more for commercial spots during 3D programmes. In turn, they won’t pay much of a premium for 3D content. Hence Channel 4’s cheapo 3D output.
Commercial broadcasters are still working out how to recoup investment on HD, let alone adding another somethingD. Perhaps Channel 4’s mind-numbing efforts were actually a deliberate attempt to make 3D so unattractive it will kill public demand and buy beleaguered broadcasters some time to get their HD money back.

Channel 4 has also provided another reason to reject 3D for the moment. It announced this week a unique Dragonfly 2D co-production with National Geographic, Pro Sieben and ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
They are going to crash a 300-seat passenger jet into a desert. That’s correct. Filled with luckless Crash Test Dummies, the jet will be filmed so we can all see exactly what things happen inside a big aviation disaster. Bad things.
The pilots will parachute clear from the jet, unlike the dummies, whose generally inanimate nature will discourage them from screaming, praying, repenting or otherwise responding to their fate. For them, it’s just another violent day at the office.

Plane Crash, as it has been so creatively titled, is a very good reason why 3D TV might be left well alone. It’s going to be terrifying enough in 2D. Imagine a full 3D version, with all those disintergrating, burning Channel 4 dummies flying into your living room.