Neo Sports for Sale?

Reference

For founder-promoter Harish Thawani, fresh trouble is brewing. TheOneAlliance, the brand of the joint venture company between Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Discovery, has terminated the distribution contract of Neo Sports Broadcast's two sports channels.

"We terminated the contract with Neo Broadcast on 3 January. We had specifically mentioned in the contract that the deal would be valid if Neo had the BCCI rights. We have communicated to them about the scrapping of the contract," MSM Discovery president Rajesh Kaul told Indiantelevision.com, without disclosing the size of the contract.

"After deciding to end the distribution contract, it is highly unlikely that Sony will look at buying Neo. The Times of India Group may be a contender. Or even Mukesh Ambani via Network18. These are entities who could be looking at entering the sports broadcasting market. But the big debate could be valuation," said a media analyst.

It seems Indian Sports broadcasting would see rise of new sports broadcaster in 2012 after Nimbus/Neo was out of BCCI boat. It would really be interesting if group like Times Network (who runs channel like Times Now, ET Now, Zoom and Movies Now) or Network 18 (who runs channels like CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18 along with Hindi news channels and soon to start newly acquired channels from ETV) would own Neo channels. Or would Neo bounce back?

Also interesting to see who gets BCCI rights for Cricket broadcast right for all Internation and Domestic matches played in India (hosted by BCCI).

Vodafone India CC is clueless about my 3G data plan status

Yesterday I wanted to activate Rs 99 - 100 MB 3G plan on my Vodafone prepaid. I sent "Act MI100" sms. But I got replay as "RESPONSE_STATUS:1007: MI100 is already active on your Vodafone prepaid". I was surprised, but thought if its active, I would try to deactivate it first, so I sent "Can MI100". I got reply as my request received and status will sent shortly (But I didnt get any update for 2 days now). So I called CC.
First CC girl was totally clueless about 3G, and told me to visit Vodafone store. I again called CC, this time he said that deactivation message was received in their system, and in 3-4 hours my first 3G pack will deactivate, then I can again activate.
I also tried method about complaint form online. After giving complaint online, I got call in 1 hour, but the person said same thing, that my 3G pack will get deactivated, then I can activate 3G pack again.
Today morning I again called CC on direct number for 3G services. But the girl was again clueless saying that I dont have any data plan active, and told me to try *111# (which I had tried already) to check my active data plan. And *111# menu also replied that I dont have any data plan.
But still I am not able to activate 3G plan for MI100 by Rs 99.

I am not sure if Vodafone backend system has gone bad about my 3G data plan status, but their CC are totally clueless, and completely helpless for my issue.

I need "change"

I have recently seen decline in all sorts of change/coins. If we go to any shop, the cash vendor is very reluctant to give Rs 3~4 back in form of coins, instead they ask us to give Rs 1~2 so they can give Rs 5. But if they have to return Rs 5, even then they are reluctant, and ask us instead to give Rs 5 coin. Some of them are smart and keep Rs 5 currency notes in very bad/torn state, that we can't accept it, and give Rs 5 to them.

I asked several shopkeepers that why they don't give "change" back and give chocolates, to that he replied that they too don't get coins and have to "purchase coins" with 12~14% commission (to get 100 Re 1 coins, they pay Rs 112~114).

Why are we facing this scarcity of coins? where are all the coins minted getting lost? Is there some racket behind disappearance of coins?

I once heard from somebody that we can get coins in exchange of currency notes in bank, is such facility available at any banks?

Indian Rupee Symbol Codes

Copy and paste below codes in forums to display new Rupee symbol in your post. The images are arranged in increasing size, so select according to your text size.

[IMG]http://i33.tinypic.com/2hewo5d.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i35.tinypic.com/2d8l444.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i38.tinypic.com/a5cbqo.jpg[/IMG]

Codes from imgur hosting site, incase tinypic link doesn't works.

[IMG]http://imgur.com/7r0SC.png[/IMG]


[IMG]http://imgur.com/lSDuF.png[/IMG]


[IMG]http://imgur.com/oGZwX.png[/IMG]


[IMG]http://imgur.com/oGZwX.png[/IMG]



Make habit of using new Indian Rupee symbol

ZEE Marathi on Zee Cafe UK!

Zee has launched its new hybrid channel "Zee Café" in UK. Unlike the Indian version having English shows, the UK version consists of News, Live Sports and regional programmes from Zee's Marathi & Bangla channels. Zee Café was launched on 15 July and it broadcast exclusive first test between India & Sri Lanka.

Its good chance for viewers to have their favourite regional shows on their television in UK!

ZEE CRICKET channel - Zee & Cricket...!!!

Now Zee is planning exclusive Cricket channel, may be named as Zee Cricket, on the lines of Neo Cricket & Star Cricket

Zee plans launch of cricket channel

“Zee has applied to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for a host of channels including a cricket and a golf channel. We believe there is a market for specialised sports offerings. We also realise that cricket drives sports revenues,” a source familiar with the development said.

Ten Sports will continue to be a multi-products channel, filled with properties such as WWE, tennis and motor racing among others. “The channel will also show cricket content. There will be several live events where there will be a need to simulcast. WWE is also a very strong daily content. Ten will continue to be a flagship brand,” the source said.

Earlier this year, Zeel hiked its stake to 95 per cent in Taj TV Limited Mauritius and 100 per cent in Taj Television (India). For the increase in stake, Zee paid the Bukhatir Group a total consideration of $44.145 million.

The acquisition gave Zeel access to telecast rights for over 100 days of international cricket from the Pakistan Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket Board, West Indies Cricket Board, South Africa Cricket Board and Zimbabwe Cricket Board.  

Now it looks very surprising that Zee is (also) starting a Cricket specific channel. Zee was once denied broadcast rights by Indian Cricket board BCCI on basis on non-experience and unavailability of technical facitilies for Sports broadcast, even though Zee had started sports channel 'Zee Sports'.

To take revenge, Zee even started its own Cricket league - Indian Cricket League (ICL). But after BCCI's strict restriction & recession, ICL was suspended (or stopped). But BCCI is perhaps not aware that ZEE is main broadcaster of Indian Cricket even now in US on 'Zee Sports USA' and in UK/Europe on 'Zee Cinema' and newly launched channel 'Zee Cafe'
Besides ZEE has got access to Ten Sport channel's Cricket broadcast rights after acquiring major share of 'Ten Sports'.
So now India could soon have 3rd Cricket channel, latest from Zee. Ten Sports may be reserved for Motor Sports, WWE, Tennis like sports and Zee's own flagship channel 'Zee Sports' could turn into Football centric channel. (and also plans are on for Golf channel). Some good times awaits for Zee in Sports broadcasting?

Asia Cup Cricket 2010

Ok, apart from FIFA WC in June 2010, we also have Cricket's Asia cup of 50 over format. With all attention to Football WC associated with declining popularity of 50 over format, Asia cup is organised in Sri Lanka (during Monsoon season!). And yet another India - Sri Lanka encounter on cards, viewers are hardly worried to follow it.
India & Sri Lanka have won their 1st games, and now have to see response to India - Pak match and final winner of tournament, past 2 times Sri Lanka being the champion!

Stop the irritating vuvuzela sound for FIFA WC 2010 on TV

Whenever I watch FIFA World cup matches on TV, 1 thing that highly irritates me is the vuvuzela sound on TV. Many people have commented against it, about its affect on health on deafness, we would like broadcasters of tournament to simple suppress this noise and let enjoy the matches!

India HD – High Definition Television Era begins

In 1982 with Asian Games held in India, our country saw the entry of colour Television. Since then many things changed in history of Indian Television. India’s national broadcaster spread throughout country on its Terrestrial network. Then in 90s came era of Satellite television through Cable TV network.

In first decade of 21st century, we saw another emerging medium Direct-to-Home (DTH), and even people from remote regions could receive 100s of channels in their homes. Now in 2010 another revolution in Indian Television is about to begin. It’s High Definition Television (HDTV).

HDTV provides sharper & clearer picture with resolution of 1280x720 pixels or 1920x1080 pixels as against 720x480 pixels of Standard definition TV. HDTV also provide Widescreen cinema experience with Surround sound (operator’s content choice).

India already saw first entrant of HDTV through Cable network ‘ICC Cables Network’ of Pune who offered limited HD content and also DTH Operator ‘Sun Direct’ who offered Tamil & Telugu programmes along with National Geographic HD channel & IPL HD feed through broadcaster. But with 2010 Commonwealth Games broadcasted in HD by Doordarshan, many other DTH operators like Reliance Big TV, Airtel Digital TV, DISH TV and TATASKY have plans to launch their HD service. On 05 May 2010, Reliance announced its HD+DVR (Digital TV Recorder, STB with internal recording facility) offering STB at Rs 7490 and plans to launch HD channel in coming months. Soon by 27 May 2010 Dish TV also announced to launch its HD service with major attraction being FIFA 2010 World cup in HD in agreement with broadcasters ESPN-STAR. Although no official news from Airtel & TATASKY (and Videocon too!), but these operators could also surely testing their HD service capability in background and we could hear some announcement from them soon. Already channels like National Geography & Discovery ready to launch HD service in India, many abroad TV contents & Sports content is available in HD format.

Now with prices of LCD/LED TVs coming down and many TV manufacturers selling HD ready TVs, Indian are ready to embrace new experience of Television viewing knows as High Definition Television aka HDTV!
Source:-
ICC Cable Networks Pune HD - http://www.iccnetwork.net/new/iccnetwork.html
Sun Direct HD - http://www.sundirect.in/HD/index.php
Reliance Big TV HD - http://www.bigtv.co.in/hd_dvr.html
Reliance Big TV HD news - http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/may/may28.php
DISH TV HD news - http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/may/may183.php
HDTV Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television

Mobile Intereference with TATASKY?

I faced a very strange problem while watching IPL on MAX. My PC is near TV, and while watching IPL on MAX, sometimes I used my Airtel mobile for internet browsing by using mobile as modem. Whenever I started using internet, picture & signal on MAX channel and all other Sports channel gone very bad, though other channels were working fine. I later realised it happened only when mobile is being used nearby for internet.
I am really surprised to see this problem and wonder what could be causing that.