Asia-Pacific Broadcasting (APB) November 2015 Volume 32, Issue 9

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NEWS & VIEWS
November 2015
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www.apb-news.com | NOVEMBER 2015 | VOLUME 32 | ISSUE 9
NEWS & VIEWS
W O R L D I N B R I E F
Alliance studies
unlicensed spectrum
SAN JOSE – The Wireless Broad-
band Alliance (WBA) and the
Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA)
have formed a strategic partner-
ship to study unlicensed spectrum.
Key goals include expanding
avail­­able spectrum, co-developing
guidelines to ensure interoperabil-
ity with the ecosystem, and pro­-
moting the usage of unlicensed
wireless technologies at both the
technical and regulatory levels.
Netflix subscription sees
spike in Australia
CANBERRA – About one out of
every 10 Australian households
now subscribe to Netflix, accord-
ing to SVoD data provided by Roy
Morgan Research. As of Septem-
ber this year, there are 968,000
Netflix subscribers in the country,
an increase of 113,000 from the
month before.
Tata Sky picks IBM
hybrid storage
MUMBAI – Tata Sky has selected
a new IBM hybrid storage system
to help it better serve its 30 mil-
lion customers. The satellite TV
broadcaster is using IBM DS8000
systems as its primary storage for
all critical workflows including
CRM, billing and disaster recov-
ery. The systems have brought
about improved response time
and higher efficiencies, according
to N Ravishanker, CIO of Tata Sky.
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CREATION
12
MANAGEMENT
16
DISTRIBUTION
20
Hybrid broadcasting
represents the future
by shawn liew
KUALA LUMPUR – While terres­
trial viewership has shown some
decline in the past few years, this
development is not at a level sub-
stantial enough to suggest that
linear TV is heading towards an
untimely demise.
However, the reality remains
that viewing habits have continued
to evolve towards the consumption
of on-demand content on more
connected mobile devices.
For incumbent broadcasters,
over-the-top (OTT) should be an
integral part of IBB (Integrated
Broadcast Broadband) or hybrid
broadcasting, which needs to be
embraced in the very near future,
urged Dr Amal Punchihewa, direc-
tor of technology at the Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU).
Speaking to APB at the suc-
cessful completion of a technology
workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Dr
X-PLATFORM
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NHK’s new Hometown Stories series
consists of programmes depicting
provincial Japanese lifestyles, culture,
industry and other Japanese-centric
content.
NHK hits close
to the heart
Dr Amal Punchihewa (first row, second from right), director of technology
at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, sitting raptly at the ABU’s IBB-
OTT workshop held last month in Kuala Lumpur. The key conclusion and
recommendation from the workshop was: For incumbent broadcasters, OTT
should be an integral part of IBB or hybrid broadcasting, which needs to be
embraced soon.
Amal said: “Traditional broadcast-
ing has been a one-way commu-
nication platform as it provided
little opportunity for interaction
due to the lack of an integrated
return channel.
“With the penetration and
popularity gained by broadband,
broadcasters can now make use of
broadband as a return channel to
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TOKYO – Japanese public broad-
caster NHK is adding a new pro-
gamme to its line-up — and it is
distinctly Japanese.
Hometown Stories will consist
of programmes produced by NHK’s
regional stations in Japan, and will
depict provincial Japanese life-
styles, culture, industry and other
content filled with a strong local
colour, according to NHK.
The programmes’ themes range
from long-running series featuring
local topics, to attractive “close-up”
human interest documentaries
about the Japanese people.
The first episode, School of
Hope: Ogijima, Seto Island Sea,
was produced by NHK Takamatsu
Station and broadcast on Oct 25.
Astro offers video-on-demand in the cloud
KUALA LUMPUR – Pick, Watch, Instantly —
these are the three key words for Astro, as the
Malaysian pay-TV operator last month launched
the new Astro OD (on-demand) offering.
Designed to enable Malaysian viewers to
personalise their TV viewing experience through
the selection of content and how it is watched,
Astro OD offers a wide range of entertainment
choices, including Hollywood blockbusters and
the best Asian fare.
Astro OD also represents a recognition of
the rising demand for video-on-demand (VoD)
services, and is Astro’s new complimentary way
of allowing viewers to consume content at home
or on-the-go, said Dato’ Rohana Rozhan, Astro’s
CEO at the unveiling of Astro OD.
She said: “Malaysians are sophisticated
consumers, increasingly online and connected,
increasingly plugged into the digital grid, [and]
increasingly watching content outside the home
— online and offline.”
Astro OD is available to Astro customers
through an Internet-connected Personal Video
Recorder (PVR) at home, or Astro on the Go
(AOTG) on a smartphone, laptop or tablet.
Non-Astro customers can also enjoy Astro
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