TV drives Rostelecom growth

Russia’s Rostelecom ended 2015 with 8.6 million pay-TV subscribers, an 8% increase on a year earlier.

Of these, 3.4 million, or 26% more than a year earlier, received IPTV services.

In its latest set of results, the company notes that following a post-audit review the annual growth figures were slightly higher, at 9% and 27% respectively.

Rostelecom also notes that while its revenue decreased by 0.5% year-on-year to R297.4 billion (€3.8 billion) in 2015, growth in the IPTV base helped revenues from TV services increase by 27%. The revenues were also boosted by a rise in the consumption of VOD services and higher ARPU.

Rostelecom’s OIBDA in 2015 amounted to R100.8 billion (-2%), while its net income was R14.4 billion (+9%).

In his comments, Sergei Kalugin, president of Rostelecom, revealed that the company would launch a national quad-play offer this year.

Cyfrowy Polsat rings in the changes

Poland’s leading DTH platform Cyfrowy Polsat has announced a number of far-reaching changes to its offer, including the introduction of a service named Cyfrowy Polsat GO.

According to Satkurier, the service will give online access to catch-up TV, linear channels already available on DTH and both paid and free VOD content.

It adds that Cyfrowy Polsat GO, which has replaced ipla on decoders, is currently available in the VOD menu of the Evobox PVR, PVR HD 7000 and HD5500. It will also become available in other proprietary decoders by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, The NBCUniversal International Networks channel 13 Ulica HD has made its Polish debut on Cyfrowy Polsat.

13 Ulica HD is the third NBCUniversal International Networks channel now available in HD Poland, joining a portfolio that consists of Universal Channel, Universal Channel HD, 13 Ulica, Scify Universal, E! Entertainment and E! Entertainment HD.

Separately, Cyfrowy Polsat has added four more channels – Polsat Café, Polsat Play, Comedy Central Family and TVN Style – to its DVB-T-delivered mobile TV service TV Mobilna.

TV Mobilna now provides subscribers 12 encrypted channels, along with 12 radio stations and unencrypted DTT channels, in its Ekstra package.

Skylink looks to OTT and HD

Skylink will launch OTT services in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the next month or two, according to Jaromir Glisnik, member of the board of directors, M7 Group.

He added that it would use hybrid satellite/IP receivers and that such services had already been made available by the M7 Group in Benelux and Austria.

Glisnik also said that this would be the last month that Skylink uses MPEG-2 and that it will switch over entirely to DVBS-2 by 2017.

He spoke at some length about the importance of HD services for Skylink.

DTH services serve 69% of Slovak HDTV homes and 49% of Slovak TV homes as a whole.

At the same time, Skylink serves 49% of HDTV homes from Astra 23.5 degrees East) and 33% of Slovak TV homes as a whole.

He added that Skylink is oldest and largest DTH platform in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with 700,000 customers in the latter.

It offers 130 TV channels, 48 of which are in HD, and plans to provide HD versions of all the most popular channels by the end of this year.

Skylink is available to every home in Slovakia, with costs starting at €2.60 a month.

US pay-TV continues to lose subscribers

The thirteen largest pay-TV providers in the US, representing about 95% of the market, lost about 385,000 net video subscribers in 2015.

According to the Leichtman Research Group this compares to a loss of about 150,000 subscribers in 2014, and a loss of about 100,000 subscribers in 2013.

The top pay-TV providers account for 94.2 million subscribers — with the top nine cable companies having over 49.0 million video subscribers, satellite TV companies about 33.7 million subscribers, and the top telephone companies nearly 11.5 million subscribers.

“2015 marked the third consecutive year for pay-TV industry net losses, yet the total number of subscribers for major pay-TV providers (including DISH’s Sling TV) has declined by less than one million since the industry peaked in 1Q 2012,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc.

“2015 also saw significant shifts for cable and Telco providers. The top cable providers cumulatively had their best year since 2006, and had about 870,000 fewer losses than in 2014. Telcos had about 1,170,000 fewer net additions than in 2014, and had their worst year since they began providing video services in 2006.”

Other key findings include: The top nine cable companies lost about 345,000 video subscribers in 2015 – compared to a loss of about 1,215,000 subscribers in 2014; Top cable MSO losses were the fewest in any year since 2006.

Satellite TV providers added 86,000 subscribers in 2015 (including gains from DISH’s Internet-delivered Sling TV) — compared to a gain of 20,000 in 2014; Not including gains from Sling TV, DBS providers lost about 450,000 subscribers in 2015.

The top telephone providers lost 125,000 video subscribers in 2015 – compared to a gain of about 1,050,000 net additions in 2014; Telco net adds in 2015 were the fewest in any year since the services started in 2006.

In 4Q 2015, the top pay-TV providers added about 110,000 subscribers – compared to about 90,000 in 4Q 2014.

Top cable MSOs added about 125,000 subscribers in 4Q 2015 – their first quarter for net video additions since 1Q 2008.

DirecTV net adds of 214,000 subscribers in 4Q 2015 were higher than in any quarter since 4Q 2010
AT&T U-verse lost 240,000 subscribers in 4Q 2015 – compared to a gain of 73,000 subscribers in 4Q 2014.

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Satellite TV remains on top in Germany

DTH satellite continues to be the most-used TV reception method in Germany with 17.9 million households ahead of cable TV with 16.5 million households.

The market share of DTH satellite reception rose from 46.8% (2014) to 47.1% while cable operators faced a small decline from 43.6% to 43.4%.

1.9 million households use DTT with its market share dropping from 5.7% (2014) to 5.0%. 1.7 million households have opted for IPTV; its market share climbed from 3.9% (2014) to 4.6%.

These are the key results of the new Astra TV-Monitor 2015 which market research institute TNS Infratest conducts yearly on behalf of Astra satellite operator SES. The interviews of the total of 6,000 households throughout Germany took place at the end of 2015. The figures refer to the main reception device of each household, usually the large TV set in the living room.

The total number of TV households in Germany amounts to 38.1 million. 20% of them are able to receive HD channels, corresponding with a market share of 52%. In 2014, the share amounted to just 45%. Among satellite households, the HD share is 11.0 million (61%), among cable customers 7.8 million (47%).

Ultra HD continues to become more important: 1.1 million Ultra HD TV sets stood in German living rooms at the end of 2015. For 2016, the market researchers from industry association gfu expect a sale of 2.4 million Ultra HD TV sets. In total, 3.5 million Ultra HD TV sets would then be found in German living rooms at the end of 2016.

In addition to showcase service UHD1 by Astra/HD+, three regular Ultra HD channels are currently transmitted from the Astra position 19.2° East: Insight, Fashion4K and pearl.tv.

Sky launches Virtual Reality unit MARCH 17, 2016 14

Sky is launching a new unit to create original virtual reality content putting viewers at the heart of the story.

Sky VR Studio will release its first content on Friday; two films shot during Formula 1 testing in Barcelona, designed to transport viewers to the pit lane, into the team garages, and out onto the track.

The two F1 VR experiences, which were produced in conjunction with Formula One Management and Williams Martini Racing, will be made available via the Facebook 360 Video platform. The full VR experience will also be available on the Oculus platform, and viewable on the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift headsets.

Later in the year, Sky will look to distribute content through a dedicated Sky VR app.

Sky News has already shot footage in the VR format.

Gary Davey, Sky’s managing director of content said, commented: “The Sky VR Studio allows us to add a new dimension to storytelling, taking viewers to extraordinary places and offering a unique perspective on a whole host of events. The development of VR technology is moving at an incredible pace and excitement is building about its potential.”

The team, which is led by Executive Producer Neil Graham, includes production staff with rare and valuable experience in VR film making. It will be bolstered with the addition of award-winning VR director Richard Nockles, who directed Sky VR Studio’s F1 film, and is behind a wide range of VR projects for a number of global brands.

It’s anticipated some 20 films will be shot in VR over the course of the year.

DISH TV PARTNERED WITH PANASONIC INDIA FOR HD EXPERIENCE

The DTH operator, Dish TV tied up with Panasonic India to make HDTV viewing experience larger than life for its new subscribers. The deal with Panasonic will allow customers to avail the new Dish HD+ connection at a special price of just INR 999 (US$) with one-month free subscription of New Super Family/ Jumbo Family Pack + Full on HD Pack.

This special offer is available on all Panasonic TV sets above 19 inches and outlets across the country. This combo offer will provide an HD experience for Dish TV subscribers with 45 HD channels. Additionally, recognizing the customer’s needs and expectations, Dish TV has recently taken a step ahead in the world of HD entertainment by broadening the choice for its HD customers with a maximum number of 50 HD channels. Further, in an another consumer friendly initiative in a nation where cricket is like religion, Dish TV offers free viewing of ongoing cricketing events for its new subscribers, even if they have not subscribed for sports channels.

In his remarks, Arun Kapoor, CEO of Dish TV declared that: “Dish TV has always been at the forefront for being pioneers and introducing a host of customer- centric products and services. This esteemed partnership with Panasonic India is another positive step in building customer loyalty. With significant increase in TV viewership over the last couple of years, we are consistent in our efforts to make TV viewing a delightful experience for our customers”.

“This collaboration is meant to enthrall our consumers with lucrative offers to experience high end technology and quality pictures on their Panasonic LEDs. This offer will enable our customers to watch multiple entertainment channels through a Dish TV connection. The offer can simply be availed by giving a missed call and getting the High Definition connection at the doorstep. Looking at the bigger picture, this partnership highlights Panasonic’s cause to support and promote the digital India initiative across all cities of India,” said Ashish Sasidharan, product head and Consumer Electronics at Panasonic India.