Western companies that are investing in web 2.0 pioneers in China beware: there are risks, according to Paul Verna, senior analyst at U.S.-based internet market research firm eMarketer. By 2011, the number of Internet users in China is expected to grow to 246 million, up from 134 million in 2006, eMarketer predicts. Verna says, “On the flip side, the potential pitfalls of investing in Chinese Web 2.0 start-ups should not be overlooked. The spectre of government censorship remains a major … [Read more...] about Risks seen in investing in China’s Web 2.0 entrepreneurs
MCCS and STAR launch Marathi news channel STAR Majha
Mumbai- Media Content & Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), a 74:26 joint venture between ABP Pvt Ltd. & STAR Group Ltd., launched on June 21 STAR Majha (My Star), 24-hour news channel in Marathi. Rajiv Khandekar is the editor of the channel headquartered in Mumbai, with its bureau network spanning across Maharashtra and India. STAR Majha will draw on MCCS’s resources to produce news and current affairs programming. Dipankar Das Purkayastha, Executive Director & COO, ABP Group, … [Read more...] about MCCS and STAR launch Marathi news channel STAR Majha
Steward departs in MTV Networks exec shuffle
Singapore- Christopher Steward, Executive Vice President, Viacom Brand Solutions and Southeast Asia, has decided to leave MTV Networks in yet another executive reshuffle. Amit Jain has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Managing Director, MTV Networks India, China and Southeast Asia, relocating to Singapore from Mumbai, where he was Vice President/Managing Director for MTV Networks India. Jain will report to Bob Bakish, President, MTV Networks International, as well as sit on the … [Read more...] about Steward departs in MTV Networks exec shuffle
CASBAA warns of ‘critical threat’ from C-band allocation to BWA technologies
Singapore- The allocation of C-band (3.4 GHz - 3.7 GHz range) spectrum to WiMAX services by regional administrations could trigger a potentially disastrous "spectrum grab" by Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies, industry leaders warned at the CASBAA (Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia) Satellite Industry Forum 2007 on June 18 in Singapore. Wireless broadband technologies were described as a “critical threat” to operations of the Asia Pacific satellite … [Read more...] about CASBAA warns of ‘critical threat’ from C-band allocation to BWA technologies
China vows to punish corrupt TV censors
Beijing- TV censors who collect unwarranted fees from drama producers will be “strictly dealt with,” according to Li Jingsheng, director of the TV drama administration bureau under the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). Li’s statement follows accusations by writer Wang Shuo that TV drama censorship officials have received bribes from producers. Since 1997 some producers have had to bribe the censors with "censorship fees" in order to obtain a green … [Read more...] about China vows to punish corrupt TV censors
Shanghai Television Festival generates US$91.8 million worth of deals
Shanghai: The 13th annual Shanghai Television Festival, which ran June 11-15, clocked deals worth more than 700 million yuan (US$91.8 million), according to the organizers. Some 1,038 TV series were traded at the event, a little less than last year's total. New media deals, mostly for broadband video web sites, accounted for a big increase in revenues, although representing just 2.9% of the total trading value, the Shanghai Daily reported. "The increase in spending among new media in copyright … [Read more...] about Shanghai Television Festival generates US$91.8 million worth of deals